Cubs to keep Jackson on slow track to majors

Saturday’s trade of center fielder Marlon Byrd once again raised the question of whether the Cubs will bring up center-field prospect Brett Jackson.

The answer remains a steadfast no. Or at least a steadfast “not yet.”

Jackson, the Cubs’ top draft pick in 2009, entered Sunday’s game at Class AAA Iowa with a hitting line of .254/.346/.492 with 2 homers, 8 RBI, 21 strikeouts and 9 walks in 67 at-bats.

Team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer repeatedly have said the Cubs will not rush Jackson or first-base prospect Anthony Rizzo.

Field manager Dale Sveum talked more about that plan Sunday.

“We want to stick with (it),” Sveum said specifically of Jackson. “Develop him. He still needs to develop. He’s still striking out a little too much. He needs to be a little more conscious and a little bit better in that situation because if you’re striking out that much in Triple-A, then it’s going to be that much more with big-league pitching.

“The development part is big for everybody. I think until you get those 500 at-bats at Triple, that’s something I think the organization, that Theo really wants to impress on a young guy, is you’re going to stay and play and develop.”

Ouch, that hurts:

Shortstop Starlin Castro got a big scare in the seventh inning, when he was hit on the left elbow by a pitch from Reds starter Johnny Cueto. Castro immediately hit the ground, but he stayed in the game and tripled in the ninth inning.

“I felt like it broke my whole arm the first time he hit me,” Castro said. “But after I lay down and ran the bases, the hurt was gone and I felt pretty good.”

Castro had a big ice pack on the elbow after the game.

He has 2 triples in the last two games and has reached base safely in 55 of his last 56 games.

The wishing Wells:

Starting pitcher Randy Wells was officially called up from Class AAA Iowa on Sunday. He worked 5 innings, giving up 6 hits and 2 runs while walking five and striking out two. Of the 93 pitches he threw, 31 came in the first inning.

“I felt good,” he said. “I just put myself in a couple of jams. The pitch count got up there. Obviously, the walks were pretty negative. I battled through it. Getting back out there was fun. I wish the outcome were a little better.”

Dempster on Byrd:

Veteran pitcher Ryan Dempster said he will miss Marlon Byrd, who played for the Cubs from the beginning of the 2010 season until being traded.

“He was a pro’s pro,” Dempster said. “He came in every day and played as hard as he could. He was as prepared as anybody. We’ll miss that around here. I enjoyed every moment of it as a teammate and as a friend. I wish him nothing but the best.”