‘I’m Ready To Turn That Page’ With New Swing, Isaiah Jackson Poised To Take Offensive Step

(Photo: Spencer Barnes/WCSN)

Being a prospect is generally a good thing in the sports world. The term describes an athlete that is young and surrounded by high expectations. Although they might have not achieved anything in the professional ranks, the assumption is that with the right development, they will one day be productive at the highest level.

At least, that’s how Arizona State junior center fielder Isaiah Jackson sees it. To him, being called a prospect is a compliment because others recognize the talent that you possess and the opportunity you have to blossom into a star. There’s uncertainty, but the fact that experts in a specific sport believe in your abilities is flattering.

“A prospect is potential, that’s essentially what it means,” Jackson said. “Knowing that you have that potential and other people see it as well as yourself, that’s a good feeling.”

As a member of a talented 2022 Sun Devils’ recruiting class, the Cinega High School standout was ranked as the No. 2 overall Arizona high school prospect by Perfect Game and was taken by the Houston Astros in the 18th round of the 2022 MLB Entry Draft. The makings of a future big-leaguer were present: an imposing frame, high bat speed and freak athleticism.

Jackson grades out well in most of the five baseball tools. Elite defense combined with speed, a strong arm and the ability to hit with power are the reasons the Vail, Arizona native was drafted.

Originally recruited by former ASU head coach Tracy Smith as a sophomore in high school, Jackson decided to remain committed to the Sun Devils when they hired Willie Bloomquist — a massive retention for ASU’s new skipper. Through his first two seasons in Tempe, Jackson continued to be regarded as a strong prospect even if his offensive numbers didn’t always reflect that.

But at a certain point, merely having potential isn’t enough.

There comes a time where although an athlete is well-regarded, their results simply aren’t cutting it. That’s been the case for Jackson — after hitting .256 across 105 games in two seasons, he knew something needed to change. With a completely overhauled swing and newfound confidence, he’s ready to break out and reach the potential he knows he holds.

“Somebody said it earlier in a good way,” Jackson said. “I’ve kind of just been a prospect since I’ve been here, I haven’t really been a player. I’m ready to turn that page and be a player, put it all together.”

Make no mistake, Jackson was selected by an MLB team before seeing a single pitch in college for a reason, and that raw talent was often displayed during his tenure at ASU.

Jackson’s best tool is his defense. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, the speedy outfielder can quickly cover significant ground and possesses the athleticism to make difficult plays. A Pac-12 All-Defensive Team selection in each of his first two seasons as a Sun Devil, he was even featured in the No. 1 spot on SportsCenter Top 10 for a spectacular home run robbery at UCLA last April.

“He’s the best center-fielder in our conference,” Bloomquist said. “Hands down.”

There were flashes when Jackson was at the plate, too. Less than three months into his collegiate career, he clobbered a walk-off grand slam to beat then-No. 19 Oregon State, the first time a Sun Devil had accomplished such a feat since at least 2000. Through the first six games of the 2024 season, he went 10-for-27 with four homers and 14 RBI.

For the most part, though, he left much to be desired on offense, lacing that consistent hit tool to take advantage of his ultra-athletic frame. In 348 career at-bats at ASU, Jackson struck out 109 times compared to only 36 walks. He didn’t perform poorly, per se, but struggled to put together consistent stretches of strong hitting and get on base regularly.

After his sophomore campaign, Jackson went to the Cape Cod Baseball League to play for the Bourne Braves. Over the summer I interned with the Braves and got to watched him hit on a daily basis for 40+ games. After starting in center field on opening night for the Braves, Jackson only recorded 57 at-bats despite remaining with the team for the entire summer, and he struggled, hitting .193 and recording 20 strikeouts to 15 walks.

Instead of improving over the summer Jackson dealt with many of the same inconsistencies that plagued him in Tempe.

There is a reason behind the rising junior’s up-and-down results: not buying into one specific approach or movement. Whether it was getting advice from his brother, Andre, a pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan, or former coaches and scouts, many of the movements he implemented while hitting weren’t repeatable. His intentions may have been in the right place, but those unsteady numbers stemmed from not relying on consistent mechanics.

He knew that he was capable of more, and upon returning to Tempe, he didn’t want to have inconsistencies hamper his performance this season or damage his stock in the upcoming MLB Draft. Something needed to change, and Jackson was willing to do whatever it took. Fortunately for him, he had newly-hired hitting coach Jason Ellison, a resource that wasn’t at his disposal before.

“(Not trusting one thing or person) took a toll on me the past few years,” Jackson said. “I haven’t really done what I wanted to or what I think I can (during) my first two years. So I came back here and I said,‘I’m just going to buy into what you guys got for me, and then luckily, (Ellison) came in the door at the same time.”

Ellison, an MLB scout for over a decade and former high school teammate of Bloomquist, brought his knowledge to Tempe after one season as the hitting and outfield coordinator at Washington. Though he’s been with the program for a short time, his major league background and baseball acumen have commanded the respect of ASU’s hitters. Jackson even believes he’s capable of being a big-league hitting coach.

It isn’t just the experience that Ellison brings, though; it’s also his ability to understand what works for different players. Many coaches can diagnose an issue with a hitter’s swing, but far less figure out what changes are required. According to Jackson, Ellison has the latter down to a science.

The former six-year major-leaguer recognizes talent when he sees it and, after extensively studying Jackson’s film, knew that with the right adjustments, the junior could finally take the next step he’d been searching for through much of the past two years.

“There was a lot of talent there, you could tell, and the ability to be a good hitter,” Ellison said. “But I just think the positions he was putting himself in, some of the moves he was using were pretty difficult to repeat, so (he) got himself in some bad spots and had trouble getting out of that to repeat a good swing.”

Jackson and Ellison began a series of conversations and quickly got to work. The process was difficult at times — Ellison admitted they made “pretty drastic adjustments” to Jackson’s swing — but it was ultimately for the better. Jackson now has a “lower-maintenance swing” that allows him to maintain positions and easily repeat movements.

That progress showed once fall ball rolled around.

By all accounts, Jackson was exceptional during offseason scrimmages, with Bloomquist even saying he’s looked the best he’s looked in his entire collegiate career. When he clobbered a 420-foot, 109-mph blast in ASU’s first scrimmage of the fall, he felt all of the work he put in pay off. His swing was finally back, and so was his confidence. Things only improved from there.

“It was just a breath of fresh air,” Jackson said. “I think every swing I’ve had, every game that I’ve had, going pitch to pitch… They’ve all felt way better than they have. I understand, I’m controlling what I can control, and I feel like I’ve executed the things that I can control to the best that I can, and that’s all I can ask for.”

With a rekindled belief in himself and a reconstructed swing, Jackson views this upcoming season as a clean slate. It’s something that he’s taken quite literally, even changing his walk-up song from OutKast’s So Fresh, So Clean fans have loved hearing over the Phoenix Municipal Stadium’s speakers whenever he stepped into the batter’s box.

Five months ago, a desperate Jackson needed to face the music. If he wanted to get his hitting back on track and finally break free of that prospect label, major adjustments were in order, and he fully bought in. Only time will tell if these changes will translate to results on the diamond, but all signs point to the junior finding his swing and blossoming into the dominant player he knows he can become.

“(Jackson) is the best I’ve seen him look since he’s been here,” Bloomquist said. I anticipate him having a nice year. I think he’s got a lot to prove.”