Bo Jackson Scouting Report

Bo Jackson's tools were ranked above average & he hadn't even played baseball year before scouting report came out: twitter.com/Alleycat17/sta…

— April Whitzman (@Alleycat17) May 7, 2013

Bo Jackson played 694 games in the Majors between the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox and California Angels. Jackson finished his MLB career with 86 doubles, 14 triples, 141 home runs and 415 RBIs. But was the Alabama native always expected to find success?

In short, the answer is yes. Scouts believed in him as much as they did while he was playing than before he even made his debut in September 1986. They loved his power, ranking it as "very good" with the potential to be "outstanding" and sure enough, Jackson (recognized then as Edward Vincent) hit 15 home runs in five of his eight seasons.

Every tool of his was ranked at the very least as above-average. And what makes that aspect even cooler? At the time that he was scouted, he had only just recently played the game! “A complete type player with outstanding skills,” scouts wrote. “Can simply do it all and didn’t even play baseball last year.” He did not play baseball as he was pursuing a career in football. Scouts were also accurate in their expectations of him in football, as he won the Heisman Trophy in 1985. Despite finding football success, Bo chose a career in baseball while finding success in both sports as years passed.

One of the my favorite things on the scouting report is that Jackson’s habits, dedication and agility are ranked as being excellent, and it is added that he is not only dedicated to the game and to athletics but his family as well. “I have gotten to know his mother and these are good people; they are a very close family and will remain so.” A player with excellent power, above average speed AND good values? Sounds like a player that was destined for success, and Jackson certainly lived up to the hype.

Do you have a favorite Bo Jackson moment? Comment below.