Toronto Blue Jays sign former Chicago White Sox catcher amid teams injury woes
Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Toronto Blue Jays sign free agent catcher Adam Hackenberg to a minor league contract.
The Toronto Blue Jays have added organizational catching depth by signing former Chicago White Sox top catching prospect Adam Hackenberg to a minor league contract, according to the club’s official transaction log.
Here is what we know about about catcher Adam Hackenberg:
A native of Virginia, Hackenberg’s professional journey began when he was selected in the 39th round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals.
Rather than turning pro immediately, he chose to honor his commitment to Clemson University, where he continued to develop his game at the collegiate level.
Hackenberg later entered the draft again and was picked by the White Sox in the 18th round in 2021.
He made an encouraging first impression that year, posting a .258 batting average with a .336 on-base percentage and .392 slugging percentage over 120 at-bats.
His offensive line included seven doubles, three home runs, and 17 RBIs, while showing solid plate discipline.
Adam Hackenberg hits his first HR w/ the #Knights. #WhiteSox
Defensively, he stood out even more, throwing out nearly 36 percent of would-be base stealers, an impressive mark for a young catcher.
No steal for you! 🚫 Adam Hackenberg throws out another runner!
In 2022, Hackenberg split time between High-A Winston-Salem and the White Sox’s Project Birmingham initiative, finishing with a .223 average, eight home runs, and 31 RBIs.
While his offensive numbers dipped, he continued to gain valuable experience against advanced competition.
The 2023 season marked a step forward at the plate, as Hackenberg boosted his batting average by roughly 50 points and maintained a respectable on-base percentage.
However, his defensive efficiency regressed, with his caught-stealing rate dropping to around 23 percent against more advanced baserunners.
He opened 2024 with Triple-A Charlotte and, by 2025, had appeared in 63 games split between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A.
Adam Hackenberg with a multi-hit game after driving in Jason Matthews with this single. 5-2 #Knights.
After five seasons in the White Sox system, Hackenberg was released on March 28, 2026.
Now joining the Blue Jays organization, Hackenberg has been assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
The move gives Toronto additional depth behind the plate and offers Hackenberg a fresh opportunity to re-establish himself and push for a potential backup major league role.
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