The Braves have always been an organization that prefers to push their top talents up the organizational ranks quickly. If you perform, you will be rewarded, and it’s worked out nicely for them in the past. Most recently, two top draft picks from Atlanta’s 2023 class have been promoted to AA Mississippi, Drue Hackenberg and Lucas Braun.
The Atlanta Braves are promoting RHP Drue Hackenberg to Mississippi (Double-A).
Hackenberg had a 3.64 ERA along with 62 strikeouts in 59.1 innings for the Rome Braves.#Braves
— Chase Ford (@_chaseford) June 24, 2024
The Atlanta Braves are promoting RHP Lucas Braun to Mississippi (Double-A).
Braun had a 4.34 ERA along with 75 strikeouts in 64.1 innings for the Rome Braves.#Braves
— Chase Ford (@_chaseford) June 24, 2024
Drue Hackenberg is currently ranked as the 10th-best prospect in the Braves system, and if the last name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the brother of former Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg.
Drue was the 59th overall pick in last year’s draft by the Braves and boasts a 3.64 ERA with a 9.4 K/9 over 12 starts for High-A Rome this season. Coming into the draft, most saw his potential as that of a guy who could potentially round out a rotation at the back end. However, the Braves clearly believe there is something more there, as they not only took him in the second round but handed him an over-slot signing bonus for $2 million.
Lucas Braun was taken in the sixth round of the same 2023 MLB Draft. Like Hackenberg, most see him as an arm that could eventually be a back-of-the-rotation starter one day, featuring a fastball in the low-90s, slider, curveball, and changeup. In 12 appearances (11 starts) for High-A Rome this season, he owns a 4.34 ERA and 10.5 K/9 and is currently MLB Pipeline’s 24th ranked prospect in the Braves organization.
—
Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.