The Reds signed catcher Alex Jackson to a minors deal, as per Jackson’s MLB.com profile web page. Whereas not specified, the contract presumably contains an invite for Jackson to attend Cincinnati’s large league spring camp. Jackson selected to grow to be a minor league free agent final month after he was outrighted off the Rays’ 40-man roster in September.
A veteran of 5 Main League seasons, Jackson’s 58 video games and 155 plate appearances final yr represented a brand new profession excessive for the backstop, although he did little or no with the chance. Jackson hit solely .122/.201/.237 over these 155 PA, together with his 29 wRC+ was a whopping 71 % beneath the league-average 100 wRC+ threshold. These numbers primarily matched Jackson’s profession .132/.224/.232 slash line in 340 PA with the Rays, Brewers, Marlins, and Braves.
It has been one thing of an surprising profession arc for Jackson, whose was seen as one thing of a hit-first catcher when the Mariners chosen him sixth general within the 2014 draft. Jackson as an alternative morphed into a top quality defensive backstop who has merely been unable to hit large league pitching. The Rays had been content material sufficient with Jackson’s protection to present him semi-regular taking part in time in 2024, however lastly moved on by eradicating him from their 40-man roster in September.
Cincinnati declined its membership possibility on Luke Maile and Austin Wynns grew to become a minor league free company after the season, leaving the Reds in sore want for a backup catcher to spell starter Tyler Stephenson. Jackson and Stephenson are the one catchers within the group with any MLB expertise, and it’s seemingly the Reds will herald one or two extra catchers to compete with Jackson in Spring Coaching.
