Either/Or: Jaff Decker or Brett Jackson

by John Sickels on May 13, 2025 5:09 PM EDT

If you could have outfield prospect Jaff Decker of the Padres, or outfield prospect Brett Jackson of the Cubs, who would you pick and why?

Jackson has much better physical tools, of course, and is showing substantial progress with the bat. But Decker is two years younger and was a monster in the Midwest League last year. He's just getting back on the field now after a spring injury, so I felt this was a good time to pose the question.

Poll

Who would you rather have?

Jaff Decker

407 votes

Brett Jackson

264 votes

671 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 24 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

For my real baseball team?

jackson. Better athleticism, defense, positional value

for my fantasy team, Decker

-1 and only member of the Nick Weglarz fan club!

by Jgaztambide on May 13, 2025 5:12 PM EDT reply actions

I agree.

by hrv1978 on May 13, 2025 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

does your fantasy team score points for OBP and lack of steals?

by PissedMick on May 13, 2025 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Remembering people saying Jaff has a bad body. Exactly what’s the difference between him and Travis Snider because when Snider first got called up I saw a bad body on him too.

by hrv1978 on May 13, 2025 5:22 PM EDT reply actions

Nowhere near as bad...

Jaff “Double” Decker “Sandwich” looks like he could eat Travis Snider in a single sitting. I know that “we aren’t selling jeans” but Dacker may be the only player to be sponsored by a circus tent company.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on May 13, 2025 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

lol

PPPPPPUNTO 4 MVP 2010

by punto4mvp on May 14, 2025 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Definitely Brett Jackson

by Jeff Reese on May 13, 2025 5:48 PM EDT reply actions

I'm biased in favor of Jackson

So I won’t vote…although I really do like Dacker.

One thing has bugged me about Jackson this year. He’s improved in terms of batting average, walks, and cutting down on strikeouts. However, his power has fallen through the floor. Is it the FSL? Are the Cubs tweaking his approach? What’s going on?

by Outshined_One on May 13, 2025 6:17 PM EDT reply actions

Jackson

I’m certainly biased a bit, as a Cubs fan, but I’ll take the CF with a good glove, good approach, and power potential. The power not being there right now is a bit troubling, but keep in mind that his power didn’t really come until last year, and he’s clearly been focused on his approach in the early going. It’s not a pitch recognition or natural ability issue, so at some point, I believe we’ll start to see the power come through.

by toonsterwu on May 13, 2025 6:27 PM EDT reply actions

I like Decker's bat a lot

and I’d probably take him first for fantasy purposes. Jackson’s all-around game is already superior, though. I think he also has less chance of flame-out, but you never know with Cubs prospects I suppose

by PrincetonCubs on May 13, 2025 6:48 PM EDT reply actions

Decker

compare his stats with Prince Fielder at the same age, same league ,same bad body ,same results

"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers."

by fourfingerwoo on May 13, 2025 6:51 PM EDT reply actions

Cubs fan

so I’m biased, but Decker does have a 25.7% K rate.

tremendously tremendous

by Crease Monkey on May 13, 2025 6:55 PM EDT reply actions

Are some of you Cubs homers

going to forget that Decker is two years younger, and showed a hell of a lot more power than Jackson in a pitchers league?

And for the broheim that brought up the K-rate. Their is only a five point swing for Jackson in the affirmative. If they both are consistently posting high OBP’s, I really don’t think that will matter all that much. And considering Deckers power advantage, I have to swing it to the big man in this debate.

The only thing that Jackson has going for him that Decker doesn’t is raw athleticism. And even then I’d rather have a left fielder who will hit 30 HR’s a year with an OBP near .390, than a doubles hitting center fielder.

Albert Pujols is a god, and you my friend should be doing no less than graveling at his feet.

by CoolCat23 on May 13, 2025 9:50 PM EDT reply actions

I'm not forgetting that

But I’m quietly confident that Brett Jackson will be a 20-25 HR guy that carries a good average. I just don’t think Decker’s bat is going to be that much better to balance out the positional advantage of Brett Jackson being a potential top notch defensive centerfielder. And I say this as someone that really loves Decker and thought BA’s ranking of the MWL was a bit ridiculous.

by toonsterwu on May 13, 2025 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree w/ toonsterwu

I too love Decker’s bat, but as an overall skillset, I think you’re maybe discounting too much the negatives Decker brings to the table in defensive value and speed/baserunning. He may have more raw power for the long term, but the difference in hitting stats the 2 guys put up longterm beyond homers may not be that different. Jackson has also showed significant improvements in approach/discipline in a short time in the majors.

by PrincetonCubs on May 14, 2025 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

I understand what you mean.

Decker had a higher ISO, but Jackson actually had the higher ISO in the MWL. It seems that Jackson is evolving as a hitter, kind of like Stubbs did, so it is uncertain how much power he will be able to produce. I’d like to see how Decker hits vs. higher-level pitching and how his conditioning holds up but he has good upside for sure.

by dtung on May 14, 2025 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

but

Jackson has a much smaller sample size, and he’s a college player who’s a year and a half older than Decker. I’m not sure how useful a straight comp of their MWL performances is.

by blackoutyears on May 14, 2025 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Right

I wasn’t comparing their performances as much as refuting the statement that Decker “showed a hell of a lot more power than Jackson [last year].” This year Jackson hasn’t shown much power and it seems he’s changed his approach so we’ll see how that plays out.

by dtung on May 14, 2025 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

eh

I see them as both mediocre league average major league players with little fantasy relevance. Possible comp for Decker is a poor man’s Russell Branyan…

I’ll take Jackson for the toolz

PPPPPPUNTO 4 MVP 2010

by punto4mvp on May 14, 2025 10:58 AM EDT reply actions

???

What’s the basis for that comp? I don’t think Decker has anywhere near that kind of raw power and he has much better plate discipline and contact ability. I see some similarities to Daric Barton maybe…

by blackoutyears on May 14, 2025 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

He's got way more pop than Barton

"The A's have to be setting some record this year for simultaneously maximizing team quality and player anonymity. I guess that’s sort of their thing though." - Luke in MN

by hero66 on May 14, 2025 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Based on?

Barton seemed to project pretty good power as a minor leaguer. Dude slugged .511 as an 18-year-old in the MWL. Decker slugged .514 in the same league as 19-year-old. So unless you have a time machine, let’s wait and see how Decker’s power actually plays out. Regardless, the obvious point is that if you’re looking for a comp Barton is a heckuva lot closer than Branyan in almost any way you can think of.

by blackoutyears on May 15, 2025 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions