How Acquired
The Braves drafted Drue Hackenberg in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Not only was he a slight surprise coming off the board that early in the draft, but he came significantly overslot
at a $2M signing bonus with a $1.36M slot value due to being sophomore eligible out of Virginia Tech. What Were Expectations?
Expectations were pretty high for Hackenberg this year coming off a strong 2024 season. Hackenberg pitched to a 3.07 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 25 starts and 129 innings across three levels in 2024, including four very strong starts in Triple-A at the end of the year. For reference he came in ranked as our #13 prospect on the preseason list.
2025 Results
Injuries and ineffectiveness limited Hackenberg to 74 innings over 21 starts in 2025. He made 18 of those starts in Double-A, despite reaching Triple-A last year, and pitched to a 6.99 ERA and 1.89 WHIP with 56 strikeouts to 52 walks in 65.2 innings there. His other three starts were in the FCL, and he pitched to a 5.40 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 8.1 innings with an 11 to two strikeout to walk rate there. Combined he had a 6.81 ERA, 1.82 WHIP, and 67 strikeouts to 54 walks between the two levels.
What Went Right?
The short answer to this is basically nothing went right for Hackenberg in 2025. If you really pressed to say something positive about his season, you could say he seemed to maybe just slightly turn a corner in August. After missing June injured, he made his first three July starts in the FCL before getting crushed in his final two July starts with Columbus, giving up 12 earned runs in six and two thirds with 13 hits and six walks. His next start came on August 2nd, and he actually had his best month of the season, during his next five starts. Hackenberg had season best marks of a 4.09 ERA and 1.64 WHIP, though with 17 strikeouts to 16 walks over 22 innings.
What Went Wrong?
Pretty much everything went wrong this year. Hackenberg started off with what may have seemed to him as a slightly disappointing assignment, and things only went downhill from there. His command and stuff both took significant steps backwards this season, then he missed time with injury.
2026 Outlook
The 2026 season will be a massive one for Hackenberg’s career. Not only is the former second round pick set to hit age-24 in April, but he will need to rebound from last season. Hackenberg will need to show the stuff and command that he showed in 2024, hoping that his health played a role in both slipping last year. Where he opens the season will likely be decided by how he looks in camp, but the 2026 season is shaping up to be one where he finds himself either close to/in Atlanta, or out of the organization if he can’t recapture any of his 2024 form.
