Two Former Montezuma Braves Picked in MLB Draft

                       Adam Hackenberg

              Will Wagner

By Dean Barker
Former Montezuma Braves Adam Hackenberg and Will Wagner were selected in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB Draft on Tuesday, July 13.

Wagner was drafted by the Houston Astros with the 538th pick. Hackenberg was drafted by the Chicago White Sox with the 545th pick.

Braves head coach Chris Rush was very happy to hear the news about two of his former players.

“I am very excited for these two guys,” Rush said. “They have worked hard over the years to better their game and to separate themselves from others and to make themselves some of the best in their positions and sport.”

Hackenberg played with the Braves in 2020 and made the All-RCBL team as catcher. He hit .258 for the Clemson University Tigers with 17 RBIs as a junior this year. While he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2018, Hackenberg decided to go to Clemson instead.

Wagner was an infielder for the Braves in 2017 and 2020, as well as with the Liberty University Flames. After hitting .200 in 2017 for Montezuma, Wagner returned in 2020 to hit .350 with six homers. Wagner made the ASUN All-Conference First Team in 2019, and made the pre-season team in 2020.
 
Rush said that while these players are gone, they are still impacting the 2021 Braves ball club.

“Many of our returning players this year are trying to model the way these two guys played the game, Rush said. “Will and Adam were not just good athletes, but they were good young men with great attitudes.  Our players this year see how Will and Adam’s hard work has paid off and it challenges them to better themselves every time they take the field.”

He also is confident that these two players will be able to do well in professional baseball.

“Both these guys have dreamed of this opportunity for a long time and I feel confident they will do everything within their power to excel at the next level,” Rush said.