C’s Chat – 2024 Vancouver Canadians C #31 Jackson Hornung – C's Plus Baseball

This episode of C’s Chat goes behind the plate with 2024 Vancouver Canadians catcher Jackson Hornung.

The athletic exploits of the Ashland, Massachusetts native will not soon be forgotten at the high school and collegiate levels. A three-sport athlete at Ashland High School with hockey and football on his resume, Hornung led the Clockers to the sectional final in all three sports during his senior season of 2019. He scored 45 goals in his three years of hockey as a defenceman and played quarterback and free safety in football. Baseball was where Hornung really excelled as he compiled a career batting average of .418 by hitting .419, .449 and .429 over his last three seasons.

High school would not be the last time Hornung sported a .400-plus batting average. He went to Division III Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. His freshman season only lasted seven games and 25 at-bats in 2020 due to the pandemic but he still hit .524 with a home run, two doubles and four runs batted in. In 2021, Hornung batted .313 with a .918 on-base-plus-slugging percentage over 15 games before taking his game to a new level. The 2022 season saw him slash .460/.539/.760 with 27 extra-base hits and 13 stolen bases and was a three-time Liberty League Performer of the Week winner and its Player of the Year. That was among the six awards Hornung collected in his breakout campaign.

He joined the Westfield Starfires of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League in the summer of 2022 and put together a banner campaign that saw him bat .363 with 25 extra-base knocks to earn an All-Star selection.

After a sensational 2022 season, Hornung followed up with another stellar showing with Skidmore in 2023. He boasted a career-best 1.363 OPS which featured an insane .560 OBP, .803 slugging percentage and a .379 isolated power mark. He had to make more room in the trophy case by bringing home another half-dozen awards, including another Liberty League Player of the Year trophy and being named Skidmore’s Outstanding Senior Athlete Award.

Two more stints of summer college ball followed with Hornung joining the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League and the North Shore Navigators of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. He was set to join the Kansas State Wildcats in 2024 but those plans changed when he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 16th round of the 2023 MLB Draft.

Agreeing to a signing bonus of $150,000, Hornung reported to Dunedin and collected an RBI single in his first professional plate appearance at Tampa on July 29. His first professional home run came on August 25 against St. Lucie and that helped his good friend, high school teammate and current C’s teammate, righthander Alex Amalfi earn the victory.

After a 17-game introduction into pro ball with Dunedin, Hornung was named to the Opening Day roster for the Vancouver Canadians and collected his first Northwest League hit along with two walks at Spokane on April 7. He authored a seven-game hitting streak to round out the month of April which included belting his first home run of the season against Spokane as part of a two-hit night on April 24.

In May, Hornung stretched his on-base streak to 13 games that began on April 12. His home run at Tri-City proved to be the winning run in a victory at Tri-City on May 3. He launched another long ball in a win at Spokane on May 17 that was part of a nine-game on-base streak. A three-hit night that included a game-winning RBI single and an RBI double came against Tri-City on May 30, ending the month with a six-game streak of reaching base safely. That brought his on-base mark to .370 for May and over the .350 mark heading into June.

C’s Plus Baseball talked with the 23-year-old Hornung during the team’s homestand against Everett back in May. This interview has been edited for clarity.

C’s Plus Baseball – You were drafted last year by the Blue Jays. Talk about what your drafting experience was like.

Jackson Hornung – Well, it was a little stressful. I was living with one of my buddies from summer ball, and we were on the way to a game. I got a call to be ready and then I just ended up seeing my name on the draft tracker. We were already in the car and stuck in traffic so I ended up just staying with them and going to the game. I didn’t play, just kind of sat in the bullpen talking to the guys and responding to a lot of texts and phone calls from a lot of family and friends just congratulating me so it was a really cool experience. I was over the moon, it was a really cool moment for me, you know, something I’ve been working for the past four years. Just to get that call and have a team really want me and it was just an unreal experience.

CPB – Do you remember who your signing scout was?

JH – Pete Holmes, same as, I think, Patty Gallagher and Alex Amalfi, too.

CPB – What’s it like having that Massachusetts connection on this year’s roster?

JH – Having Patty, not from just down the road, I worked out with him all offseason. It was really cool to be around him the whole year and get to catch his (bull) pens and kind of pick his brain about what he wants to take into the season just so I can be as much of a help to him as possible. And then Alex, growing up together, playing Little League together and everything and then going to pro ball was an unreal experience. Every time we go into the game together, we think about that and how we used to do it in high school and when we were 10 years old so it’s a really cool part of the game.

CPB – Talk about your road to baseball that eventually led to Skidmore College. How did you get started in baseball?

JH – Baseball is kind of in my family. My Dad loved baseball, he always coached me when I was in Little League and everything and I just really loved it. Funny enough, I actually wanted to play hockey in college for most of my life. And then, my sophomore year of high school, I almost went to a private school for hockey and then decided in my best interest it probably wasn’t the right decision. So I stayed in Ashland and then decided to focus more on baseball. I started looking at schools and going into my junior year, one of my friends was going to play soccer at a Liberty League school and told me about Skidmore. So I went to a scout camp there and then they offered me (a spot). I fell in love with the school. It was a great spot, 30 minutes from my grandparents which was really cool so they got to see me play a bunch. It was just the right fit and I’m very glad I picked that school. I have a lot of friends that I still talk to all the time from there. My coaches were great, so it was a really good experience.

CPB – Just going to do a bit of a sidebar. You mentioned hockey, and I’d be doing it a service here in Canada where hockey is a religion here. I just wanted to ask, what position did you play?

JH – I was a defenseman. I played defense my whole life. Got a couple games at forward. Could never figure it out. I was more just, you know, the D guy. I like scoring goals, though, so I still take the puck up.

CPB – Was there a favourite hockey team or player you had?

JH – Yeah, I am a big Rangers fan. I know Canadians won’t really love that, but yeah, I’m a huge New Yorker. The Rangers are one of my favorite teams in all of sports so I love watching them play. And because of that, Henrik Lundqvist was my favorite player. I know he’s a goalie. I always wanted to be a goalie but it didn’t end up working out for me. Lundqvist was always my favourite player and I still follow him and everything. He had his retirement ceremony last year or two years ago, which was really cool to watch. And then because of him, my little sister’s a goalie.

CPB – Nice. Getting back to Skidmore College, you put up tremendous numbers, almost video game-like numbers. What was it like playing in Division III baseball where you have some Division III people already on the roster, Ryan McCarty and Grayson Thurman?

JH – Hearing stories from guys, you know, at the Division I level, I don’t think it’s all that different. I think it’s just a matter of getting on the field and being able to play and show your stuff. But it was awesome. The guys were great and they took baseball really seriously which is awesome. And our team ended up doing really well. I had four years there so it was really cool to play with those guys and learn from older guys when I was a freshman. COVID kind of ruined that season, but I’m pretty close with those guys which is nice. It was a really cool experience just to meet other guys. Seeing Ryan, Thurman and Alex here, who also played Division III here. I know my junior year, I was stat-watching Ryan, and I’m like, ‘Wow, this kid’s really good. I got to try to compete with him.’ Even before I knew him, I’m like, ‘All right, this guy’s pushing. I need to go to be even better.’ So that’s really cool. And then getting to play with these guys and see them compete at this level like everybody else. You wouldn’t even know that they’re Division III players which is really cool. I think there’s a lot of talent in that pool. And I think it’s being seen more nowadays and it’s really cool just to see how many guys come from Division III and can still do it.

CPB – When did you first become a catcher?

JH – I had always been a catcher when I was younger. I think that kind of stems from wanting to be a goalie in hockey but never being able to. So I think I just thought it was the most entertaining position. You get to catch the ball every play and be the kind of like the captain of the team, just controlling everything. And then I got to high school and we had a couple of stud catchers above me when I was a freshman. So I ended up playing infield. I played second base my freshman year and then shortstop my sophomore year. And then my senior year, I got called on to be a catcher again. And I always knew I wanted to play catcher in college. So that was a big thing for me, you know, being able to do that at the next level. It kind of went away from it for a little while but then I found my way back to it.

CPB – I notice when there’s no runners on base, you stretch out your right leg.

JH – I know that’s a pretty new style in pro ball. I think it came in four or five years ago when it really started taking a big role in the game. And then my college coach and I talked to him about it and asked if it was something I could explore. And he was awesome about it. He let me try it out. I think there’s a couple games where he was like, ‘Yeah, maybe this isn’t going to work.’ And he’s like, ‘Just keep working on it.’ So I’d work on it and then I think about my junior year, I started doing it pretty much full time. So then I got to really try to hone in my craft with it there. And then here, it’s awesome getting to get a little bit more hands-on coaching with specific catching guys which is great and trying to like learn how to do it to the best of my abilities. I feel like it’s come a long way so it’s been going good.

CPB – There are so many responsibilities as a catcher. You have to know your pitchers. You have to play well defensively. What is it that you enjoy the most about being a catcher?

JH – That’s a tough question because there’s a lot of things that I enjoy about it. I like it because you got to be tough to play it. A lot of the guys here, they joke around. When I get a foul ball off the leg and I got a huge bruise on me, they’re like, ‘Oh, I could never be a catcher.’ I’m like, ‘I love that, it’s awesome.’ Getting hit by a ball, you’re like, ‘All right, it hurts.’ But you’re like, ‘All right, now I’m in the zone. Now I’m in the game and you’re ready to go.’ I think I’ve always just kind of liked that part of it. It’s just so much fun. And it’s the best position out there. I tell all the little kids, ‘Be a catcher. It’s awesome!’

CPB – You began your pro career with Dunedin last year. What was that like your first pro experience with the D-Jays?

JH – It was awesome. The coaching staff was great and the guys were great. To make a lot of good friendships there early on was really cool to just pick people’s brains that come from everywhere. You got guys from the SEC, you got guys from Latin America and to talk to them about their experience and what they do to try to get better in the game was really cool. I think I took a lot from that and it’s helped me, especially in the off season, being able to talk to some of my friends about what they’re doing and what they’re doing to just get better and hone in their craft. And it was in down in Dunedin. It’s awesome. I’ve never been to Florida for longer than a week in my life. And then getting to kind of live down there and play baseball. It was unreal, you know, playing six games a week. Just being around the guys in the bullpen when I’m not playing. It was a great experience. I loved it.

CPB – Was there anything specifically you worked on the off season knowing that now that you know what pro ball is like and what to expect coming into 2024?

JH – Yeah, I worked on my swing a lot. I think that was something I early on was in my head about, seeing velo a little bit more consistently. There’s a couple of guys we faced back in college that were flamethrowers but just on a consistent basis, getting used to it. I just kind of tried to work on that in the off season, just kind of honing that in and try to hit the ball hard as hard as possible whenever I can and I think it’s definitely helped. I had a great hitting coach back at home. He was one of my coaches in the summer a couple of years ago and a great guy. He worked with me every single day. It was awesome. He always show up for me, even when he was sick. He’d just come in and it was great. I appreciate everything from him.

CPB – Speaking of hitting the ball hard, your first home run here cleared the center field fence. I’m sure you knew you got ahold of it right away but what do you remember about that at-bat?

JH – It was a great couple at bats before me getting guys on base, in a close game. And then I got up there, I remember swinging at a terrible pitch in the dirt. Then taking the time and just kind of flushing it, taking it one step back and just trying to do my job. And then he gave me the pitch I wanted and I just hit it. I didn’t think it was getting over the fence because it’s kind of a shot to center field here. And then just being able to run those bases and trying to get the team back in the game, it was awesome. And all the guys rallied around me, which is great. And just the energy I felt was awesome. The guys here are great so it was just an unreal experience.

CPB – Your other home run was also a straight shot to center. How do you describe hitting approach?

JH – I would say try to stay up the middle or oppo. I try to just keep the swing there because I know the pull side will come with that when the (pitchers) start to miss their spot. It’s something I’ve changed throughout the years. In college, I would say I was definitely more of a pull hitter and never really went backside. To be able to work with some guys here and being able to unlock that part of my game has been great.

CPB – You’re down at the Player Development Complex in Dunedin. There are so many, bells and whistles, so many hitting statistics? Any statistics that you can pay attention to?

JH – Not entirely. When I was in college, I think I looked at them a little bit more just because it was something I was like, ‘All right, I need to have certain stats or something tto get to where I want to be.’ But now that I’m here and talking to guys about how they go about it, it’s not something I try to pay attention to at all. I try not to look at it because, you know, you can hit a ball 105 (miles per hour) and it gets caught. And then you could hit that 70 miles an hour and it just squeaks in (for a hit). It’s not a true number that I really care about. I care more about the wins and losses. I could go 0-for-4 for a day as long as the C’s get a win, it’s a good day. Then you’ll have a couple of 4-for-4 games and the C’s get a win. It’s great to not be able to focus on that and just focus on playing your game.

CPB – When you’re starting a game, take us through what your routine is leading up to game day.

JH – I do early work prep, just get the body feeling right, trying to get loose. And then obviously BP and just trying to get the swing locked in and then kind of go into catcher mode and try to come out here early get my pregam routine done and try to get the arm feeling good. And then just get ready for my pitcher and try to be whatever he needs me to be. I’ll try to do that for him and try to get the best out of him.

CPB – Your favourite major league team or player?

JH – I don’t think I can say the favorite major league team. When I was growing up, we’ll just go back to New York. We’ll say that. My favourite major league player? That’s a tough one. I loved Yadi Molina growing up being a catcher back then. I really liked Aaron Judge and his swing and tried to always watch his videos on his approach and how he kind of focuses on his swing and everything and I tried to take that into my game. So I’d say he’s probably my favourite player.

CPB – Last question. The Canadians have five uniforms – red, black, white, blue and gray. Do you have a favourite?

JH – That’s a tough one because they’re all sweet and they’re all cool in their own ways. But I like the blacks the most, I think, unless it’s 75 degrees on a day game, then it’s a little tougher but I’ll go blacks. And the classic whites are nice too.

Jackson Hornung File

Born – February 6, 2001 in Ashland, Massachusetts
Height/Weight – 6-foot-1, 215 pounds
Bats/Throws – Right/Right
Uniform Numbers – Wore number 15 with Skidmore College in 2022 and 2023. Wore number 14 with the Dunedin Blue Jays in 2023.
Walkup Music – “Home” by Good Neighbours
Instagram – @jackson_hornung15
The More You Know – Jackson Hornung is the first Vancouver Canadians with a first name of Jackson since pitcher Jackson McClelland in 2015-2016.