For the second-straight year and third time in the last four, Virginia Tech had at least one player selected in the top 70 picks of the MLB Draft with ace Drue Hackenberg just heading a little south to start his pro career.
Drue Hackenberg was selected 59th overall in the 2nd round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves. He is the 9th highest selection in program history for Virginia Tech Baseball. The only Hokies selected higher previously are OF Gavin Cross (2022), P Joe Saunders (2002), P Brad DuVall (1987 & 1988), 1B Franklin Stubbs (1982), C Johnny Oates (1966), P Denny Wagner (1997), and P Ian Seymour (2020).
Hackenberg will head to the pros after two seasons at Virginia Tech during which he went 15-10 in 32 games (31 starts) with a 4.45 ERA, 186 strikeouts to only 45 walks, andnan opponents' batting average of .287 in 178 innings. During his standout 2022 season, Hackenberg earned All-ACC First Team and Freshman All-American honors following that up with a slow start in 2023 before looking much more like his dominant 2022 self in the second half of the 2023 season.
We will have more as this story develops.
