​There were some notable performances from two Braves pitching prospects on Tuesday night, even though the final results didn’t align with the early promise. Drue Hackenberg looked as sharp as he has in quite some time through the first five innings of his start, showcasing a blend of command and stuff that has only flashed in recent seasons. Cedric De Grandpre reached the 100-strikeout milestone with another strong showing for Columbus, firmly placing himself among the names to watch for the second half as he continues to put up impressive whiffs numbers.
In the Box Score, DaShawn Kiersey Jr., CF, went 2-5 with a triple and 2 RBIs, posting a line of .259/.311/.372. Drue Hackenberg, SP, delivered 5.2 innings of work, allowing 4 hits and 4 runs (4 earned) while walking 4 and striking out 7; his ERA stood at 5.68. Blake Burkhalter, RP, contributed 1.1 scoreless innings with 1 hit allowed, 1 walk, and 1 strikeout, giving him a 0.00 ERA on the night. Hackenberg’s outing stood as one of his best starts of the season, and despite the late stumble, the first five innings provided clear positives to take away.
Before the late struggles, Hackenberg had limited the Redbirds to a single run and a single walk while piling up seven strikeouts. One recurring issue in Hackenberg’s career has been his ability to locate his curveball consistently, a pitch that carries the potential for multiple strikeouts. This game highlighted how effective that curveball can be when it stays around the strike zone, evidenced by 10 of the 14 whiffs coming from his curveball alone. He leaned on the curve frequently, using it 42% of the time on the night, and he avoided most hard contact during that stretch. While his fastball lost some velocity late, this outing represented Hackenberg’s deepest foray into a game this season in terms of innings and his second-highest pitch total. Building stamina will be crucial moving forward, especially given the injuries he has battled, which have hindered his ability to sustain effectiveness late in starts. His cutter and curveball remain his two strongest offerings, and his location with both pitches was solid on this night, illustrating the potential he possesses when he’s at his best. The injuries he has endured have subdued the momentum he displayed a couple of seasons ago, but Hackenberg remains a clearly capable prospect if he can stay healthy for the remainder of the season.
As for the offense, the Stripers did not light up the ball in this game, but they benefited from a favorable string of batted-ball outcomes and converted that luck into early runs. The top four hitters in the second inning reached base, with Brewer Hicklen delivering the night’s most solid contact on a hard single. The Stripers kept the pressure on, adding three runs in the frame. Adam Zebrowski came up short of a home run but contributed an RBI via a sacrifice fly for the second run, and Cal Conley added the final score to bolster the lineup’s early momentum. The combination of timely hitting and beneficial batted-ball luck helped the Stripers manufacture a lead in the middle innings, even if the power numbers were not the story of the night.
Looking ahead, Hackenberg’s ability to sustain his performance beyond five innings will be a focal point as he continues to rebuild durability in conjunction with his developing command. The curveball’s effectiveness when properly located will remain a key indicator of growth, and his progress in refining the fastball’s late-life velocity will influence his staying power in longer outings. For De Grandpre, continuing to pile up strikeouts and maintain a consistent presence in the upper levels of the organization should keep him squarely on prospect watch lists as the season progresses. With continued development and health, both players have a path to contributing at a higher level and potentially impacting the Braves’ pitching depth chart in the months ahead.