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Drue Hackenberg

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Drue Hackenberg
Atlanta Braves
Pitcher
Born: (2002-04-01) April 1, 2002 (age 22)
Lehighton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Drue David Hackenberg (born April 1, 2002) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Atlanta Braves organization.

Amateur career

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Hackenberg played baseball and football at Fork Union Military Academy,[1] then transferred to The Miller School of Albemarle, where he was coached by Billy Wagner.[2][3] In Hackenberg's first season at Virginia Tech, he pitched 92+23 innings and recorded a 3.30 ERA that led him to earn All-ACC First Team and Freshman All-American honors.[4][5] In 2023, Hackenberg pitched 85+13 innings and produced a 5.70 ERA.[6] In Hackenberg's college career, he pitched 178 innings, with a win–loss record of 15–10 in 31 appearances, and struck out 186 batters.[7][8]

Professional career

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Hackenberg was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.[9][10] On July 13, he signed with the Braves for an over slot deal worth $2 million.[11][12][13] Hackenberg made his first professional appearance for the Augusta GreenJackets on August 29, 2023. He faced the Salem Red Sox and threw 2+23 innings with five strikeouts and one walk.[14] The following month, Hackenberg was promoted to the Mississippi Braves.[15] Hackenberg started the 2024 season with the Rome Emperors,[16] and returned to Mississippi in June.[17][18] While facing the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on July 21, Hackenberg set a personal and Mississippi Braves franchise record for strikeouts, with sixteen.[19]

Personal life

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Hackenberg's parents married in June 1994,[20] and he is the youngest of four children.[1][4] His father Erick was a third-string quarterback for the Virginia Cavaliers football team, and left the University of Virginia entirely to sell cars before enrolling at Susquehanna University, where his own father had graduated, to join the River Hawks football team as a starter.[21][22] Drue Hackenberg's mother Nicole (née Miller) played volleyball for the Lehigh Mountain Hawks,[1][23] and later became a volleyball coach.[22][24] His older brothers are Christian, who was selected in the second round of the 2016 National Football League draft by the New York Jets, Brandon, who was a first round pick in the 2021 Major League Soccer draft, and Adam, who was selected by MLB's Chicago White Sox in the eighteenth round of the 2021 draft.[6][25]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Berman, Mark (July 8, 2023). "Virginia Tech's Drue Hackenberg awaits his turn in draft spotlight". Retrieved July 10, 2023. Republished by the Richmond Times-Dispatch
  2. ^ Harvey, John (August 7, 2020). "Miller's Drue Hackenberg verbally commits to Virginia Tech baseball program". Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  3. ^ Harvey, John (May 12, 2021). "Miller School student-athletes sign to play college sports". Daily Progress. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "CHS grad, VT pitcher drafted by Mets". Radford News Journal. July 14, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  5. ^ Anne-Parker Coleman (July 10, 2023). "Braves select Miller alum Drue Hackenberg at no. 59". WCAV. Retrieved July 13, 2023. The Miller School of Albemarle alum spent the past two seasons at Virginia Tech where he went 5–8, striking out 99 batters with a 5.70 ERA in 2023. In his freshman year campaign Hackenberg boasted a 3.30 ERA as he helped the Hokies to an ACC Coastal Division title. That year Hackenberg also earned first team All ACC and third team All-America honors.
  6. ^ a b Berman, Mark. "Virginia Tech pitcher Drue Hackenberg selected by Atlanta Braves in MLB Draft". The News Virginian. Retrieved July 13, 2023. The right-hander went 10–2 with a 3.30 ERA, 87 strikeouts and 19 walks in 92+23 innings as a freshman in the 2022 season, when he helped Virginia Tech win the ACC's Coastal Division and an NCAA regional. He recorded the most wins by a Tech pitcher in nine years, earning first-team All-ACC and third-team All-America honors. Hackenberg's ERA rose to 5.70 this year. He was 5–8 with 99 strikeouts and 26 walks in 85+13 innings. Hackenberg became the fourth member of his family to be drafted. His brother Christian, a former Fork Union and Penn State quarterback, was chosen in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. His brother Brandon, a former Penn State soccer player, was chosen by Orlando City in the first round of the 2021 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. His brother Adam, a former Miller School and Clemson catcher who now plays Double-A baseball, was chosen by the Chicago White Sox in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
  7. ^ Bowman, Mark. "Braves' No. 59 pick latest in line of pro athlete bros". MLB.com. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Braves Nation: That Hackenberg name sure sounds familiar". Atlanta Journal Constitution. July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  9. ^ Berman, Mark (July 9, 2023). "Virginia Tech's Hackenberg, UVa's Gelof drafted". Roanoke Times. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  10. ^ Berman, Mark (July 10, 2023). "More Virginia Tech and Virginia players chosen in Major League Baseball draft". Roanoke Times. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  11. ^ "Braves sign 20 of 21 2023 Draft picks". MLB.com. July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  12. ^ "In the region: Hackenberg reaps big bonus from Braves". Roanoke Times. July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  13. ^ Toscano, Justin (July 14, 2023). "Braves Nation: Signing of draftees (with bonuses) is underway". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "Ceballos Debuts in Flying Style as Augusta Hangs 11 on Sox in Win". MILB.com. August 29, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023. Republished by The Augusta Press
  15. ^ Harris, Chris (September 7, 2023). "Rangel promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett, Hackenberg promoted to M-Braves". MILB.com. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  16. ^ "Rome Emperors announce Opening Day roster". Coosa Valley News. April 5, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  17. ^ Burns, Gabe (July 10, 2024). "Braves' Drue Hackenberg Gets The Most Out Of His Stuff". Baseball America. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  18. ^ Harris, Chris (June 25, 2024). "Behind Hackenberg's quality start, M-Braves beat Biscuits 4-1 to start the second half". MILB.com. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  19. ^ Van Doren, Kenny (July 21, 2024). "Braves No. 9 prospect stacks up MiLB season-high 16 strikeouts". MLB.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  20. ^ "HACKENBERG-MILLER". The Morning Call. June 26, 1994. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  21. ^ "A SECOND CHANCE AT SUCCESS ERICK HACKENBERG RIGHT ON TARGET AT SUSQUEHANNA". The Morning Call. November 3, 1994. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Taking The Road Less Traveled Hackenberg's Career Has Been Far From Ordinary". Times Leader. November 13, 1994. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  23. ^ "A Blue Chip's Early Years: A look at Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg's path to State College". pennlive. February 6, 2013. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  24. ^ McCall, Amanda (November 24, 2014). "My Coaches' Corner: Nikki Hackenberg". WPMT. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  25. ^ DeGuzman, David. "Virginia Tech's Drue Hackenberg looks to follow his athletic brothers and turn pro". WFXR. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
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