Christian Hackenberg isn’t done trying to be a pro athlete.
Hackenburg, one of the biggest busts in draft history, got plenty of opportunities in the NFL (with the New York Jets, the Oakland Raiders, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Philadelphia Eagles) and even got a shot in the now-defunct AAF. But the former quarterback wants to make MLB as a pitcher.
“Simple as I can put it: I just want to compete, man,” Hackenberg told NBC Philadelphia. “I’ve kind of had my trials and tribulations with the NFL, and had success and had that roller-coaster ride. At the end of the day, I’m sitting here at 25. For me … I feel like I’ve got a lot left in the tank.”
Here’s a look at his heat. He throws 90+ miles per hour, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Hackenberg never saw action in an NFL regular season game, which made him the third quarterback selected in the first or second round who didn’t play in his first two NFL seasons (during the modern draft era), per ESPN Stats & Info. Essentially, he was a historically bad draft pick. Though he had no shortage of arm talent, he had major accuracy problems. Per ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Hackenberg’s history as a pitcher was more of the same. “He pitched mainly in relief, showing a live but erratic arm,” Cimini wrote. Hackenberg hasn’t worked on pitching since high school when he pitched 25 2/3 innings, with 33 strikeouts, 40 walks, five HBPs and a 7.36 ERA, per Max Preps.
It sounds like Hackenberg is an underdog. Perhaps that will suit him.
