Mariners' Jackson on fast track to success

Born on Dec. 25, Alex Jackson has Mariners fans thinking Christmas has come early. Still just 19, the athletic right fielder is already Seattle's top prospect, despite logging just 82 at-bats in the Rookie-level Arizona League.

Widely considered the top prep hitter in the 2014 Draft, the California native was taken sixth overall with the Mariners' first overall pick. Jackson played behind the plate in high school, but Seattle selected him as an outfielder and that's where he is expected to stick moving forward.

With above-average hitting and power tools and a plus arm, Jackson projects to be one of the most exciting teenagers in the lower levels of the Minors this season. MiLB.com spoke with MLB.com's No. 29 overall prospect about bettering himself in Spring Training, turning down a chance to play collegiate ball at Oregon and his expectations for 2015.

MiLB.com: The season is about one week away now. How has Spring Training gone?

Alex Jackson: I got into camp in Scottsdale on Feb. 22. When I arrived, I participated in the mini-camp we had. It's a camp for the players prior to the start of Spring Training, so I've been pretty busy. Other than that, I just enjoyed being back out in Arizona and playing the game that I love.

MiLB.com: Can you describe some of the drills you took part in in mini-camp?

Jackson: A lot of the drills we do in mini-camp are position-related skills, more technical stuff. For outfield drills, we have worked on first steps, quickness, reading balls, that sort of stuff. Just things to help you better yourself as a baseball player. I wouldn't say there are just specific skills I do, but a lot of it is maintenance. What aren't you doing very well at the moment or what aren't you feeling comfortable with doing at the moment and just working on that. It's definitely a mixture of drills, never just one single drill. There were 40 or 50 players there, it's a decent amount. There are some very fun players to be around, very good players all around, good teammates. It was definitely an enjoyable experience.

MiLB.com: How much access did you have to the Mariners' Major Leaguers and coaches?

Jackson: What actually happens is that we started mini-camp when the pitchers and catchers reported for big league camp. When they were participating in Spring Training, we were in mini-camp and then we went into our Minor League Spring Training. We use all the back fields and the Major Leaguers use the main field and the complex. We have full access to everyone, all the front-office guys, all the coaches, Major League, Minor League, rovers, coordinators, everybody. They look at everyone and it's not excluded to Major League or Minor League. Sometimes the Minor League coaches will look at the big league team workout and the Major League coaches and manages will come over to us. There's a lot of exposure to everyone in the organization, not just at the Minor League level.

MiLB.com: Looking back at 2014, you appeared in 23 Arizona League games. How would you evaluate that experience?

Jackson: It was definitely a very good time. Unfortunately, I ended up getting hurt which slowed things down, but I enjoyed the time I was playing. I felt I adjusted to the game very well because it is a different pace. The talent level definitely jumps up and it does take adjusting to, but I thought I adjusted pretty quickly and that allowed me to play my game and have fun. The consistency is a little bit better, but the speed of the game is the biggest thing. Certain things happening quicker and that was the biggest adjustment.

MiLB.com: You played in a lot of showcases in high school against some of the top prep talent in the country. Did that give you an advantage heading into pro ball?

Jackson: I would definitely say it has helped me, but I wouldn't call it an advantage because there's a lot of guys out there that are always working hard in the offseason and facing guys that are throwing hard and that have advanced pitching. I would say it helped me get ready for pro ball, but I wouldn't necessarily say it gave me an edge over the other players because all those players are pursuing their professional career and they are trying to face better pitching prior to that.

MiLB.com: Looking ahead to this season, what expectations do you have?

Jackson: Right now, I'm just trying to keep everything healthy and play my game. I don't want to set expectations for myself, because once you do that, you start pressuring yourself and start pushing instead of letting everything else flow naturally. Sometimes the best thing is to go into things with an open mind and just see what comes of it. I'm just going to go out there and work hard and put 100 percent effort into everything. Whatever happens, happens. You have to be able to build off of that.

MiLB.com: It's been a crazy 12 months for you. How much has your life changed over the past year?

Jackson: This time last year, I was just getting ready to play high school ball. I was out playing baseball again. That's pretty much what I do. I'm a baseball guy and I love playing the game. I was out there playing, and going to school and looking forward to the Draft. It was definitely a very hectic time. But I wouldn't say my life has changed. I'm still 19, still a young guy. I'm trying to enjoy being a kid a little bit. It's one of those things where a lot has changed, but at the same time, I want to keep the state that I was in prior to the Draft -- just enjoying myself, doing what I love, working hard. That's one of the biggest things, you have to make sure you do that because you never know what's going to happen. I just want to make sure I keep my head on straight, compete and have fun. I would say a lot of maturing has happened and that has surprised me. From coming out of high school to now, it's not even been a full year yet. There has been a lot of maturing, and that's because you're around the older guys and being around a different speed of game.

MiLB.com: The Mariners gave you a seven-figure signing bonus when they drafted you. How humbling is it to see a Major League team make that kind of commitment to you at such an early stage in your baseball career?

Jackson: It does feel great and it's definitely an honor. It feels good. But at the same time, you don't want to just settle and say you're done. You can't say that you've done all the work now. That was the beginning of a new chapter and you have to hit that new chapter running. This is only the beginning of hopefully a long career for me, and there's a lot to look forward to.

MiLB.com: You had committed to play baseball at Oregon. Was there ever a part of you that still wanted to go to school instead of turning pro?

Jackson: There was a chance. You never know what is going to happen. There was always a chance I could have gone to college, but there are certain circumstances where you have to be ready to do one or the other. The opportunity presented itself and I felt that was the better way to go. It was a personal decision, but there definitely was a chance I was going to go to Oregon.

MiLB.com: Gary Patchett and Seattle's West Coast scouting team followed you a lot in the two years before you were drafted. How much did your relationship with the front office help shape your decision?

Jackson: Regarding Gary and the front office, I would say our relationship was good. We were always talking. He's a great guy and he never bugged me. When I was busy with school work or preparing for a game, he'd always let me do my thing, but let me know that he was there for me. Gary's a great guy and he has a tremendous amount of respect for people, as I have a tremendous amount of respect for him as a person, as a scout and as a friend. He's a great dude and he treated me very well during that whole process.

MiLB.com: You were a catcher in high school, but Seattle signed you as an outfielder. How did you come to play those two positions in school?

Jackson: It started from a young age. I played shortstop growing up, I caught growing up, I played a bunch of positions. Coming into high school, I played outfield my first year and catcher the rest. I just wanted to stay versatile and be able to play a lot of different positions. The Mariners decided I could fit in the outfield, so I'm going to go out there and give it my all so hopefully good things will come.

MiLB.com: Do you miss not catching?

Jackson: There are some times, like when a runner is stealing, you want to be out there, but my job is to play the outfield now so that's my main focus.

MiLB.com: Pre-Draft scouting reports praised your ability to hit with power from the right side. Where did that power come from?

Jackson: That's a tough one. Part of it is just natural power coming from the family, and I definitely have to thank the man above for blessing me with that. But a lot of it is just hard work and swinging the bat a lot, playing different sports and taking care of your body. There's a lot that goes into it. I played soccer growing up and that has helped with being able to run. For a bigger guy I'm able to run decently. I'm not a burner, but I can get from point A to point B in a decent time for a bigger guy.

MiLB.com: In terms of your offense, what have you been working on at the plate over the winter and spring?

Jackson: There are things I need to work on to be more consistent to put barrels on balls, but that's about it. You have to be able to make minor adjustments. You know your swing the best, and when things aren't going right, you have to know how to get back to where it is. That goes along the lines of being more consistent with my swing. I always have been happy mechanically. Yes, there are minor little things that may get out of whack, but I've been happy my whole life with my swing.

MiLB.com: When you're not working in the cage, how do you spend your free time?

Jackson: There are many things. Just trying to keep myself busy, whether it's golfing, playing ping pong, playing pool, hanging out with my little brother. I just like to stay active. There's always that sense of competitiveness, but sometimes it's just nice to sit back and enjoy yourself and relax. My brother [Jacob] is a big-time athlete, so there's always competitiveness between us just being older brother, younger brother.