Adam Hackenberg

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #29 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High
  
  Track Record: The Hackenberg family boasts a trifecta of pro athletes: Christian, who was a college football star drafted by the New York Jets; Brandon, who was a first-round pick in the Major League Soccer draft; and Adam, who played three years at Clemson before joining the White Sox organization as the 18th round pick in 2021. His second pro year was spent primarily at High-A Winston-Salem, with late season action at Double-A Birmingham followed by an assignment to the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Hackenberg is a defense-first catcher. Offensively, he needs to improve his approach to get more of a line drive stroke to go along with his plus raw power. It's a slow bat and a stiffer swing with effort, which often causes him to mishit balls. He's consistently graded as the best defensive catcher in the system, and moves easily behind the plate. He's an aggressive framer with solid leadership skills who is overall an above-average defensive catcher now, who could become a plus defender in the future. Hackenberg has a plus arm and regularly records sub-2.00 pop times. He threw out 32 percent of runners at both levels this season.
  
  The Future: He'll return to Double-A Birmingham in 2023. Hackenberg will continue to get plenty of time behind the plate as he advances through the system and profiles as a backup catcher.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 35. Power: 45. Speed: 40. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #30 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Hackenberg comes from an athletic family. His brother Christian was a quarterback drafted by the Jets. His other brother Brandon was a recent first-round pick in the 2021 Major League Soccer draft. Adam spent two years as Clemson’s primary catcher.
  
  Scouting Report: Already ranking as the top defensive catcher in the system, Hackenberg moves easily behind the plate and understands the game well, with a chance to be a plus defender. Blessed with a plus arm, Hackenberg threw out 44% of the basestealers during his stint with Kannapolis. He has more power in his bat than he showed in college, with good barrel-to-ball skills and ability to control the zone. He has average raw power but he shows the ability to get to it in games.
  
  The Future: Hackenberg is advanced enough to start 2022 at High-A Winston-Salem, where the White Sox will get an indication whether his strong start is indicative of a step forward offensively.
  

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #256 prospect in 2018 draft
  A big, 6-foot-2, 225-pound backstop with a mature body, Hackenburg stands out for his plus raw power and tremendous arm strength--drawing 70 grades from many scouts who have seen him throw from behind the plate. Hackenburg had a very loud tournament at last fall's World Wood Bat Association World Championship in Jupiter, Fla., catching for the Canes' National Team and splitting time behind the dish with Anthony Seigler. Offensively, he doesn't have great feel for the strike zone currently, but his swing is solid enough to allow his power to play in-games. There is some work to do in cleaning up his actions behind the plate, as Hackenburg's receiving and blocking are both below-average and he has some stiffness, but he is athletic enough to make the necessary adjustments and could develop into an above-average defender. A Clemson commit, Hackenburg is one of the smartest kids in his high school class.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High
  
  Track Record: The Hackenberg family boasts a trifecta of pro athletes: Christian, who was a college football star drafted by the New York Jets; Brandon, who was a first-round pick in the Major League Soccer draft; and Adam, who played three years at Clemson before joining the White Sox organization as the 18th round pick in 2021. His second pro year was spent primarily at High-A Winston-Salem, with late season action at Double-A Birmingham followed by an assignment to the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Hackenberg is a defense-first catcher. Offensively, he needs to improve his approach to get more of a line drive stroke to go along with his plus raw power. It's a slow bat and a stiffer swing with effort, which often causes him to mishit balls. He's consistently graded as the best defensive catcher in the system, and moves easily behind the plate. He's an aggressive framer with solid leadership skills who is overall an above-average defensive catcher now, who could become a plus defender in the future. Hackenberg has a plus arm and regularly records sub-2.00 pop times. He threw out 32 percent of runners at both levels this season.
  
  The Future: He'll return to Double-A Birmingham in 2023. Hackenberg will continue to get plenty of time behind the plate as he advances through the system and profiles as a backup catcher.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 35. Power: 45. Speed: 40. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High
  
  Track Record: The Hackenberg family boasts a trifecta of pro athletes: Christian, who was a college football star drafted by the New York Jets; Brandon, who was a first-round pick in the Major League Soccer draft; and Adam, who played three years at Clemson before joining the White Sox organization as the 18th round pick in 2021. His second pro year was spent primarily at High-A Winston-Salem, with late season action at Double-A Birmingham followed by an assignment to the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Hackenberg is a defense-first catcher. Offensively, he needs to improve his approach to get more of a line drive stroke to go along with his plus raw power. It's a slow bat and a stiffer swing with effort, which often causes him to mishit balls. He's consistently graded as the best defensive catcher in the system, and moves easily behind the plate. He's an aggressive framer with solid leadership skills who is overall an above-average defensive catcher now, who could become a plus defender in the future. Hackenberg has a plus arm and regularly records sub-2.00 pop times. He threw out 32 percent of runners at both levels this season.
  
  The Future: He'll return to Double-A Birmingham in 2023. Hackenberg will continue to get plenty of time behind the plate as he advances through the system and profiles as a backup catcher.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 35. Power: 45. Speed: 40. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Hackenberg comes from an athletic family. His brother Christian was a quarterback drafted by the Jets. His other brother Brandon was a recent first-round pick in the 2021 Major League Soccer draft. Adam spent two years as Clemson&#39s primary catcher.
  
  Scouting Report: Already ranking as the top defensive catcher in the system, Hackenberg moves easily behind the plate and understands the game well, with a chance to be a plus defender. Blessed with a plus arm, Hackenberg threw out 44% of the basestealers during his stint with Kannapolis. He has more power in his bat than he showed in college, with good barrel-to-ball skills and ability to control the zone. He has average raw power but he shows the ability to get to it in games.
  
  The Future: Hackenberg is advanced enough to start 2022 at High-A Winston-Salem, where the White Sox will get an indication whether his strong start is indicative of a step forward offensively.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Hackenberg comes from an athletic family. His brother Christian was a quarterback drafted by the Jets. His other brother Brandon was a recent first-round pick in the 2021 Major League Soccer draft. Adam spent two years as Clemson’s primary catcher.
  
  Scouting Report: Already ranking as the top defensive catcher in the system, Hackenberg moves easily behind the plate and understands the game well, with a chance to be a plus defender. Blessed with a plus arm, Hackenberg threw out 44% of the basestealers during his stint with Kannapolis. He has more power in his bat than he showed in college, with good barrel-to-ball skills and ability to control the zone. He has average raw power but he shows the ability to get to it in games.
  
  The Future: Hackenberg is advanced enough to start 2022 at High-A Winston-Salem, where the White Sox will get an indication whether his strong start is indicative of a step forward offensively.