Cubs Promote Prospect 8/5/12
By: Scott Leber
Updated: August 5, 2012
LOS ANGELES - The Chicago Cubs today selected the contract of outfielder Brett Jackson and recalled infielder Josh Vitters from Triple-A Iowa. Outfielder Tony Campana has been optioned to Triple-A.
Both Vitters, who will wear uniform number five, and Jackson, who will wear uniform number seven, join the first major league rosters of their professional careers and will be available for the Cubs this afternoon against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
Vitters was selected by the Cubs in the first round (third overall) of the 2007 Draft and Jackson was selected by the Cubs in the first round of the 2009 Draft (31st overall).
Jackson, 24, joins the Cubs after batting .256 (104-for-407) with 22 doubles, 12 triples, 15 home runs, 27 stolen bases, 66 runs scored and 47 RBI in 106 games with Iowa this season. The left-handed batter and right-handed thrower posted a .338 on-base percentage and a .479 slugging percentage to contribute to an .817 OPS. Jackson had 49 extra base hits, 47 walks and 158 strikeouts with Iowa this season.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Jackson made his Triple-A debut last season and combined to bat .269 (159-for-592) with 35 doubles, 14 triples, 25 home runs, 33 stolen bases, 105 runs scored and 73 RBI in 154 games with Iowa.
Drafted by the Cubs out of the University of California-Berkeley, Jackson entered the 2012 season, his fourth in the organization, ranked as the club's top prospect by Baseball America. He is a career .282 hitter (435-for-1,540) with 83 doubles, 34 triples, 55 home runs and 91 stolen bases in 402 minor league games. He is a native of Berkeley.
Vitters, 22, joins the Cubs after batting .304 (126-for-415) with 32 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs and 68 RBI in 110 games with Iowa this season, his first-ever stop at Triple-A. He had a .356 on-base percentage and a .513 slugging percentage to post an .869 OPS. Vitters tallied 51 extra base hits, 30 walks and 77 strikeouts with Iowa this season. He was named a 2012 Pacific Coast League mid-season All Star.
The right-handed batter and thrower was selected by the Cubs out of Cyprus Valley High School, where he was named the 2007 Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year for California. Vitters just two years ago began the season with Single-A Daytona before advancing to Double-A Tennessee midway through the 2010 campaign and spending his first full season in Double-A in 2011.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Vitters owns a career .283 (555-for-1,962) batting average with 127 doubles, nine triples, 64 home runs and 297 RBI in 529 minor league games covering six seasons.
Campana, 26, is batting .259 (41-for-158) with five doubles, five RBI, 21 runs scored and 26 stolen bases in 70 games for the Cubs this season.
