​The 2026 MLB Draft is almost here, with the first round beginning on July 11, 2026, so it’s time to start assembling capsule profiles of players the Texas Rangers could target with their top picks. The Rangers hold the 16th overall pick in the first round, the 54th pick in the second, and the 89th pick in the third. In the days leading up to draft day, we’ll roll out write-ups on players who might wind up being selected by the Rangers with one of their first three choices. Today’s focus is University of Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson.
Daniel Jackson stands 6’2” and weighs about 200 pounds, a right-handed hitter who has emerged as a significant offensive presence for the Bulldogs. After graduating from high school in the Atlanta area in 2023, Jackson began his college career at Wofford, where he played as a freshman before transferring to Georgia. He has spent two seasons in Athens and capped his collegiate trajectory by winning the Golden Spikes Award in 2026. He will turn 22 in November.
Jackson is best described as a bat-first hitter with power that often outpaces his contact skills. His swing-and-miss rate is a notable feature of his profile, and while he has demonstrated the ability to catch up to velocity, secondary pitches continue to pose a challenge. However, his strikeout rate improved considerably during his junior season, signaling progress in his approach. The standout tool in his profile is his power, which is plus and present to all fields. That raw pop makes him a potential middle-of-the-order presence if he can refine his contact and plate discipline.
Defensively, Jackson has experience at catcher and has logged time at the outfield corners, suggesting athleticism that could translate to a different position if needed. He served as the everyday catcher for both his freshman year at Wofford and his junior year with Georgia, though his sophomore campaign saw him split time between catching and the corner outfield spots. He possesses a strong arm that projects well in right field, and there are reports that his receiving and overall catching instincts have improved this season. Despite that progress, there’s still a considerable amount of work necessary for him to lock down a primary catcher role at the major league level. If he does remain behind the plate, he may require more development to handle the defensive demands. If a move becomes necessary, he could function as an average defender in a corner outfield spot, aided by his notable athleticism and speed.
Jackson’s production as a freshman at Wofford was eye-popping: .357/.460/.599 across 253 plate appearances, with 12 homers, 31 walks, and 45 strikeouts. Moving to a higher tier in the SEC as a sophomore, he slashed .240/.365/.612 in 148 plate appearances, with 14 homers and 44 strikeouts against 19 walks, and he added 12 stolen bases in 12 attempts. He took a major leap forward in his junior year, posting an extraordinary line of .379/.473/.803 with 32 homers in 319 plate appearances, while fanning 64 times and drawing 44 walks. He also contributed on the bases with a clean 26-for-28 stolen-base record, underscoring his speed and basestealing instincts.
In terms of draft rankings, Baseball America has listed Jackson at No. 36 on their board, MLB Pipeline has him at No. 28, and Kiley McDaniel has him as high as No. 20 on his top-150 list. Keith Law places him at No. 82, and Fangraphs ranks him at No. 26. Baseball Prospectus does not include him in their top-30 draft board. The variety in rankings reflects the evaluators’ differing emphasis on his upside, balance of tools, and defensive position questions.
I’ve wrestled with whether to publish this profile, primarily because of the SEO value versus the quality of the scouting information. Still, Jackson’s combination of raw power, athleticism, and a potential path to a lineup-changing bat makes him a compelling subject for a Rangers prospect profile. With a springboard of plus power to all fields, obvious upside for a middle-to-upper tier slugger, and a profile that includes notable athleticism that could help him transition to a corner-outfield role if needed, Jackson is a candidate worth tracking for teams seeking a high-upside impact bat in the middle rounds or even the back end of the first round.
For the Rangers, a player like Daniel Jackson would present an intriguing blend of power potential, athleticism, and offensive upside, balanced by defensive questions and swing-and-miss risk. His development between a collegiate environment and pro ball would be critical to monitor, particularly his ability to refine his secondary pitch recognition and plate discipline while maintaining or improving his power output. If he continues to progress defensively behind the plate or proves adaptable enough to handle a corner outfield position, he could become a valuable multi-positional contributor in the organization. As the draft approaches, Jackson’s name should remain on the radar for teams looking to add a dynamic, power-heavy bat with room to grow.