3/23 Jackson, Rizzo sent to Minor League camp

Brett Jackson and Anthony Rizzo were among the players assigned to the Cubs’ Minor League camp on Friday.

“I’ll keep trying to force their hand at Iowa and knock the crap out of the ball,” Jackson said.

The Cubs’ No. 1 pick in 2009, Jackson was batting .276 with two homers and seven RBIs this spring. The Cubs have three regular outfielders in Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd and David DeJesus. Jackson knew that, but still held out hope that he could be in Chicago on April 5.

“You always work for something like that and plan for the worst and expect the best and that’s what I did,” Jackson said. “Obviously, it would’ve been great to start with the team but I know that I’m close and I believe I’m going to play in Chicago for a long time. This is another step I have to take and keep working and keep playing hard and hopefully I’ll be back sooner than later.”

Jackson had joked with Byrd about how he was going to take the veteran’s job.

“I’ve learned a lot and I’ll continue to grow as a player,” Jackson said. “I look forward to something bright.”

On Thursday, Jackson belted a two-run homer in the Cubs win over the Rangers.

“I’m going out with a bang,” Jackson said, laughing.

How close is he?

“They think if I’m not really close to ready, they think I’m ready, and I think I’m ready,” Jackson said. “It’s all about numbers from now on and how I perform in Iowa and what’s going on with the team here. Rizzo, myself, we’re going to go to Des Moines and knock the ball around a little bit and hopefully we’ll be back sooner than later and able to help the team.”

– Carrie Muskat