Prospect Spotlight: Jackson Lovich
- Jared Goldstein
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Selected by the Yankees in the 16th round of the 2025 MLB Draft, Jackson Lovich is quickly proving to be one of the biggest steals of his class. Originally drafted by the Mets in the 19th round out of high school, Lovich opted to attend Missouri State to boost his draft stock, that decision has paid off handsomely. In his final collegiate season, he caught scouts' attention by slashing .357/.430/.622 with a 1.052 OPS. Beyond his elite bat-to-ball skills, Lovich showcased valuable defensive versatility; when a thumb injury sidelined him from playing first base, he seamlessly took reps at third base, shortstop, and across the outfield.
According to an SI.com draft report, Lovich treats every position with the same focused approach: “He takes the same approach to each position and doesn't view them as different. Lovich just views it as doing his job, which helps him adapt to whichever position he plays that day. This allows flexibility for any future team that might make him a part of its staff.”
That defensive flexibility has shown up at Tampa, where he's played multiple positions, but
it's his offensive production that's taking the Florida State League by storm!
In his brief 6 game stint in the 2025 season, he put together 14 hits (6 of them for extra bases) and slashed .636/.692/1.000/1.692 walking 4 times and striking out only 3 while swiping 3 bags in the process. In the small sample size the underlying metrics were off the charts posting a 69th percentile or better in 12 of 18 metrics. He showed great character in the 6 games sample size and didn't bend to the transition of college to pro level baseball.
2026 wasn't much different for him, after struggling out of the gates a little bit in this season he has quickly reminded people why he was extremely highly regarded out of the draft. In 34 games this season he has posted a .302/.384/.633/.1.017 slash line with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs, as well as posting a 10.7 BB% and swiping 11 bags. He's also posted a wOBA of .426 which is in the 96th percentile and a 164 WRC+ while also having one of the most impressive bat to ball metrics in minor league baseball.
His metrics in the 70th percentile or above include: wOBA, xwOBA, avg EV 90th% EV, max EV, barrel%, hard hit%, LA sweet spot%, Z- swing%, and swing%.
Another impressive trait about Jackson Lovich is the ability to take the ball wherever he wants on the field, mostly hitters tend to pull the ball because of the natural look of any swing. But for Lovich this season that has been his least used side of the field. He has a pull% of 18.3 with a straight% of 52.7 and a oppo% of 29.0. Six of his eleven home runs this season have gone to the opposite part of the field.
Lovich has also been crushing both RHP and LHP this season with splits of .450/.542/1.100/1.642 with 4 home runs vs LHP and .277/.356/.555/.911 and 7 home runs vs RHP.
All in all Jackson Lovich is looking like yet another late round draft steal out of the Yankees organization who currently have 2 players out of the 7th and 12th round leading their team in Cam Schlitter and Ben Rice. Though it is still early, it is very hard to not get excited about Jackson Lovich who has taken the minor leagues by storm.
Every Prospect. Every Level. Every Day.
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