Austin Jackson, one of the Yanks’ premier position-player prospects, will be taking some questions from bloggers later this afternoon. Eric SanInocencio, a frequent RAB commenter and writer for Baseball Digest Daily, will speak to Jackson as part of the live BDD Talk Radio podcast. A-Jax will be fielding questions on his progress this season, his recent hot-hitting and what he hopes to accomplish next year. You can listen live at noon eastern time or follow that link for the show’s archive later on.

And, yes, we’ll have some more in-depth trade analysis shortly after noon.

While in Trenton to profile Mark Melancon, Times reporter Tyler Kepner sat down for an interview with Austin Jackson as well. The Q-and-A — posted on the Bats blog — offers up some insight into Jackson’s decision to forgo basketball for baseball and how the youngster’s speed can change a game.

Via Pinstripes PA, Getty Images has the “photo day” pics available. You should definitely check ‘em out, but here are the highlights:

• Joba must have that Thinner disease. Dude’s downright skinny.
• Jason Giambi definitely avoided the In-N-Out burgers this winter. Wait, didn’t he say that a few years back?
• Here are your top two position prospects.
• Jesus!
• Andrew Brackman is one big dude.
• Brian Bruney lost a ton of weight. Hopefully he practiced throwing strikes with the empty cans of Slim Fast.
• The Fat Relievers™ aren’t so fat anymore; I’d say … husky.
• Check out Ross Ohlendorf. Tell me that kid doesn’t look like he was born to wear pinstripes.

Make sure you take a look at all the photos. Good stuff. Some of ‘em remind me of yearbook picture day.

Kyle Galdeira sings the praises of Austin Jackson. It’s a nice, quick read that’ll get you even more pumped about the kid, if that’s even possible. Ch-ch-check it out.

From Baseball Prospectus. Unfortunately, you’ll need a subscription to read the whole thing:

A high-profile signing (the Yankees stole Jackson from the college basketball ranks), Jackson made his debut in Low-A last season with unimpressive results. His return to Charleston was headed down the same path this season until Jackson caught fire in June, and he hasn’t looked back, dominating the Florida State League. Jackson has more power than most on this list, and he’ll take a walk when he needs to. The question will be contact. Jackson deserves some credit for cutting down on his strikeout rate from last year–when he whiffed 152 times in 134 games–but I’m not sure I buy it completely. Jackson has just 27 strikeouts in 168 at-bats in Tampa, but can we count on such a torrid streak continuing? Jackson’s strikeout rates in 2008 will be the best indicator of his future.

The article also mentions Brett Gardner, comparing him to Jason Tyner except with more discipline at the plate. That doesn’t bode so well for Brett. But the outlook for Ajax is a bit more impressive.