Former first-rounder Brett Jackson may not have made the Triple-A debut he hoped for, but that hasn't taken the shine off the fact that he's one step away from the Majors.

The outfielder, selected 31st overall in the 2009 Draft, went 1-for-5 with a double and a run scored in the Iowa Cubs' 8-4 loss to the Oklahoma City RedHawks on Thursday.

"I'm happy to be here and I'm very excited for this opportunity. It wasn't a great game for us as a team tonight, but I'm excited about being able to put on this uniform," Jackson said.

"I felt good at the plate. After a couple days off, my timing felt good and I was happy with how I approached the left-hander. It's all about making progress from here on out. Every day is an opportunity to learn more."

Ranked as the Cubs' No. 1 prospect, Jackson batted first and played center field. He grounded out to third base in the first inning before doubling and scoring in the third.

"It was a 2-2 breaking ball," Jackson said of his first hit in an Iowa uniform. "He threw it down over the plate. I stayed on through it and hit it off the center-field wall. After hitting that ball hard and putting two others in play, I'll try and take that into tomorrow."

The 22-year-old, selected as a Southern League All-Star last month, struck out swinging in the fifth frame, grounded into a fielder's choice in the seventh and struck out to end the game.

With his debut behind him, Jackson is focused on doing what it takes to make it to the Majors.

"Being this close, it's definitely exciting. It's something I can taste and that continues to motivate me," he said. "Every day is an opportunity to work harder and get better at something. Every day I try to move a little bit closer.

"My pro career has been about polishing my tools, about improving my throwing, my defense, my offense, every aspect of my game. I'm constantly trying to work on my game. I want to excel as a hitter and a base-runner and be a great center fielder."

Fueled by a red-hot start, Jackson hit .256 with 10 homers, 32 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 67 games with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League. He hit .317 in 22 games in April, but missed almost three weeks of action in the middle of May with a hand injury.

"It was difficult, but it was one of those times that I look back on and really appreciate. I didn't think that at the time, but it was a tough period of adjustment coming off the DL and seeing my numbers drop," Jackson explained.

"It was one of the first times that I really struggled as a professional, but I'm glad I experienced it because it made me a better player. It slowed me down, but in the bigger picture, it has made me stronger."

Jackson batted a combined .297 with 12 homers, 66 RBIs and 30 stolen bases across two levels between the Class A Advanced Daytona Cubs and Tennessee last year after hitting .318 between the Cubs' Arizona League affiliate, the short-season Boise Hawks and the Class A Peoria Chiefs in his rookie year.

"It's been three years and it's been a long journey, but in retrospect, I've moved pretty quickly through the system. I've been lucky to play with some great players and coaches. It certifies that I love the game and it shows that hard work pays off.

"I think I've come a long way and I'm close to becoming the type of player I wanted to become. That is something I enjoy and that makes me proud as a player and as an athlete."