Kentucky rounds out pitching staff with intriguing lefty
Adam Hachman, an incoming redshirt freshman from Arkansas, was previously ranked as a top-50 draft prospect by Baseball America before an arm injury.
Kentucky added an intriguing left-handed pitcher to the 2025 roster on Monday evening with the commitment of Arkansas freshman Adam Hachman. Hachman, who redshirted with the Razorbacks in 2024, was once considered Baseball America's No. 32 best draft prospect in 2023 before an arm injury.
Hachman was ranked as the No. 58 prospect by Perfect Game and No. 83 nationally by Prep Baseball Report his senior year, and the consensus No. 1 player from Missouri. He attended Timberland High School in Wentzville, Missouri.
“He didn’t have Tommy John, he had a little short of that,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn told reporters in a preseason news conference, according to Arkansas’ Rivals site. “I forget what they call it right now (internal brace). It is not quite so invasive and you recover quicker.
“He should be healthy enough to throw sometime during the spring, but as far as live, real game, he is not ready to throw in scrimmages. Adam is working hard, has a big arm. Our hope was that he would get on the mound before this season is over."
Hachman, though, was ultimately not healthy enough to pitch. It’s likely too early at this point to know what kind of role he’ll have for the Wildcats next season as he still rehabs from injury, but he could be an intriguing option once healthy. Hachman was clocked throwing as hard as 98 miles per hour in high school.
Baseball America, which had Hachman as its No. 94 overall draft prospect after his injury, wrote the following scouting report:
“One of the most talented lefthanded pitchers in the class, Hachman has now stuff and the sort of physical projection that allows scouts to dream of even more coming in the future. A 6-foot-5, 210-pound southpaw, Hachman has missed time in high school because of an elbow injury, but in 2022 made his way back to the mound and eventually made USA Baseball’s 18U National Team, where he served as a high-octane reliever and struck out nine batters in 3.2 innings. He changed his arm action early this spring which led to less impressive pure stuff and his season was eventually cut short due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament. When healthy, Hachman has shown some of the most electric pure stuff in the class. He pitches in the low 90s, but has been up to 98 mph and his fastball is a high-spin offering with tons of riding action as well. He has a breaking ball that varies between a hard slider and a power curve, and the pitch has flashed plus at times, but it has always been inconsistent and in 2023 it looked well below-average at times. He’s thrown a changeup with solid diving life that could become a viable third offering with more reps. Hachman has always been an erratic strike-thrower and that, plus his injury status, makes him a high-risk prospect.”
With this commitment, Kentucky is likely done adding to its 2025 roster unless a surprise happens. Frankfort, Illinois, shortstop Tyler Bell remains unsigned by the Tampa Bay Rays after being selected with the No. 66 pick overall. The deadline to sign is 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 1.