Atlanta Braves take Drue Hackenberg/RHP in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft

The Atlanta Braves select Drue Hackenberg in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft

Hackenberg is a four-year sophomore from Virginia Tech that had a great 2022 but regressed in 2023. His ERA went from 3.30 to 5.80 between last year and now. The Braves are hoping they can find the perfect formula to get him back to that 3.30.

Drue Hackenberg MLB Draft Snapshot

Name: Drue Hackenberg

Position: RHP

School: Virginia Tech

Measurables: 6'2/220

Stats: 5-8 with a 5.80 ERA, 99 K's, 26 BB

At his best, Hackenberg is a sinker-slider guy with the chance to be a durable workhorse-type of starting pitcher. His fastball touches 95 mph and usually sits around 93, featuring good sink to get ground-ball outs. His 83-85 mph slider flashes above average and can miss bats, especially getting chases out of the zone, but it isn’t a true out pitch. He doesn’t throw his changeup often, but it does have the chance to be average with some sink to also get contact on the ground. - Top Baseball Draft Prospects | MLB.com

Looking at the Atlanta Braves in the 2023 MLB Draft

The Atlanta Braves have a bonus pool of $8,341,700 for the 2023 MLB Draft, which is 22nd in baseball - the largest pool belongs to the team with the #1 overall pick, Pittsburgh, at $16,185,700.00, while the smallest is Philadelphia at $5,185,500.00.

Atlanta's first selection is #24 in the first round, and they have received an additional compensatory pick at #70 for Dansby Swanson signing with the Chicago Cubs.

Check out our MLB Draft Primer for Atlanta's full list of picks and slot value.

Atlanta's Picks in the 2023 MLB Draft

Round 1 Pick 24 Overall - Hurston Waldrep/RHP Florida
Round 2 Pick 59 Overall - Drue Hackenberg/RHP Virginia Tech
Round 2c Pick 70 Overall
Round 3 Pick 94 Overall
Round 4 Pick 126 Overall
Round 5 Pick 162 Overall
Round 6 Pick 189 Overall
Round 7 Pick 219 Overall
Round 8 Pick 249 Overall
Round 9 Pick 279 Overall
Round 10 Pick 309 Overall

Recent Top Atlanta Braves MLB Draft Picks

2022: (1-19) RHP Owen Murphy, prep
2021: (1-23) RHP Ryan Cusick, Wake Forest
2020: (1-25) LHP Jared Shuster, Wake Forest
2019: (1-9) C Shea Langeliers, Baylor & (1-21) SS Braden Shewmake, Texas A&M
2018: (1-8) RHP Carter Stewart, prep - did not sign
2017: (1-5) RHP Kyle Wright, Vanderbilt
2016: (1-3) RHP Ian Anderson, prep & (1-40) LHP Joey Wentz, prep
2015: (1-14) LHP Kolby Allard, prep, (1-28) RHP Michael Soroka, prep & (1-41) 3B Austin Riley, prep

Check out Braves Today on Socials!
Follow Braves Today on Twitter!
Like Braves Today on Facebook!
Check out the homepage for more Atlanta Braves News!
Subscribe to Braves Today on YouTube!
Get Exclusive Braves Merchandise from FOCO