BLACKSBURG – After toasting the program's historic 2022 season with its most decorated All-American class to date, the Virginia Tech baseball team has equipped itself with another crop of national stars as three Hokies have garnered 2023 Preseason All-American praise from respected outlets.
Junior outfielder Jack Hurley leads Tech's contingent of 2023 Preseason All-Americans as a consensus selection in four (of four) national listings that have been released. Sophomores Carson DeMartini and Drue Hackenberg – who both earned consensus 2022 Freshman All-American honors for their breakout campaigns – have also gained 2023 Preseason All-American status with Hackenberg collecting three (of four) such selections.
Fans can purchase the 15-game flex season pass, which entails all five ACC home series, including the likes of Boston College, Clemson, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Virginia.
JACK HURLEY
≫ Second Team: Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, D1Baseball, Perfect Game
What Gavin Cross was to Virginia Tech during its legendary 2022 season on the diamond, Jack Hurley stands to uphold with the Hokies in 2023.
Like his former outfield mate, Hurley's sophomore season landed him All-ACC First Team honors before setting out for a summer tour with the country's best on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Now a junior, he heads into 2023 with the third best returning batting average (.375) and slugging percentage (.664) among ACC players, looking to build on his All-American stat line that featured 23 doubles, 14 home runs, 55 RBIs and his 1.116 OPS.
Draft eligible in 2023, Hurley enters February ranked by Baseball America as the No. 34 prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft – the fifth highest among ACC players – and No. 37 overall per mlb.com. According to D1Baseball, he ranks as the No. 24 college prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft and No. 5 among ACC prospects.
DRUE HACKENBERG
≫ Third Team: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, D1Baseball, Perfect Game
Fearless in his mound presence, Drue Hackenberg is Virginia Tech's first returning All-American pitcher.
Named to two 2022 All-American teams on top of earning consensus Freshman All-American praise, Hackenberg sets out in 2023 looking to polish his MLB Draft résumé. Winning 10 of his 16 starts last season, the 6-foot-2, All-ACC First Team right-hander carries the second most innings pitched (92.2) into 2023 among returning ACC hurlers while riding his 7-1 mark and 3.10 ERA against conference competition.
A draft-eligible sophomore, Hackenberg is projected by Baseball America as the No. 146 overall prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft and was tabbed by D1Baseball as the No. 22 ACC prospect, ranking eighth among pitchers. As a feather in his cap, he went six-up, six-down to log two scoreless relief innings during his final appearance at last summer's USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp.
CARSON DEMARTINI
≫ Third Team: Perfect Game
Yes, Virginia Tech returns its rookie nine-hitter – its nine-hitter who batted .341 and slugged .659 last season, finishing as one of seven NCAA Division I freshmen who were nationally ranked in both statistical categories.
Carson DeMartini finished third among 2022 ACC freshmen in slugging percentage, peppering the diamond with 14 doubles, three triples and 15 home runs on his way to consensus Freshman All-American honors. In the absence of four "Hammerin' Hokies" who were selected during the opening five rounds of the 2022 MLB Draft, DeMartini will ascend to the heart of Tech's 2023 batting order, where he will be asked to steady, if not elevate, his production.
With options of playing at third base or shortstop this season, DeMartini heads into his sophomore campaign on a two-year draft track. He begins the 2023 season ranked as D1Baseball's No. 2 ACC prospect for the 2024 MLB Draft.
ADDITIONAL HONORS
As of Jan. 31, the NCBWA has yet to release its Preseason All-American teams.
OPENING DAY
Virginia Tech will open its 2023 regular season schedule on Friday, Feb. 17, at College of Charleston in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The Cougars (37-20 overall) won the 2022 CAA regular season championship courtesy of their 19-5 league record.
