Chicago Cubs outfielder Brett Jackson is off to a hot start this spring, but the club's top prospect is still expected to begin the season with Triple-A Iowa. Cubs manager Dale Sveum spoke with Doug Padilla of ESPN Chicago on Wednesday, and he noted that there just isn't much room on the roster right now.
You don't want the guy to sit on the bench. He needs to go play still. Unfortunately there isn't an opening right now for that to happen. You still have to remember that developing is just as important as anything else, too. There are just no job openings, unfortunately for him. It's just one of those things, timing and a numbers thing.
Clearly, Sveum is trying to make it clear that Jackson hasn't done anything to prevent himself from making the team. It's just that the roster in its current construction doesn't really need another full-time outfielder, and the club isn't willing to promote Jackson only to stick him on the bench.
Jackson is 5-for-13 (.385 BA) with a home run so far this spring. For now, the Cubs will go with a trio of veterans- Marlon Byrd, David DeJesus and Alfonso Soriano- as their primary outfielders.
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