Jackson Melián

Jackson Melián (born January 7, 1980) is a Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder. Considered a top prospect, Melián received a large signing bonus from the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB) when he was 16 years old, but he never played in MLB.

Melián, represented by Scott Boras, signed as an international free agent with the New York Yankees in 1996, receiving a $1.6 million signing bonus.

Melián was considered a top prospect. He was rated by Baseball America as a Top 100 prospect four times: in 1997 (#40), 1998 (#98), 1999 (#72) and 2000 (#72). Melián was selected to play in the 2000 All-Star Futures Game.

In July 2000, the Yankees traded Melián, Drew Henson, Ed Yarnall, and Brian Reith to the Cincinnati Reds for Denny Neagle and Mike Frank. Prior to the 2002 season, he was claimed on waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Reds. On June 9, 2002, the Brewers traded Melián to the Chicago Cubs for Robert Machado. He signed with the Yankees as a minor league free gent prior to the 2004 season, but was traded to the Atlanta Braves on June 24. He signed as a minor league free agent with the Detroit Tigers prior to the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

In 2014, Melián returned to Venezuela where played for Caribes de Anzoátegui winning 3-2 against Tiburones de La Guaira.

Melián's father, Vincent Melián, was a long-time scout for the Atlanta Braves and lifelong fan of the Yankees. He named Melián after Reggie Jackson. In 1998, Melián's parents were killed in a car accident while following their son's team bus in Hickory, North Carolina.

Melián considered pursuing an Olympic swimming career, instead opting to play baseball.