Jackson Hornung ’23 has big league dreams

There is not much that Skidmore baseball standout Jackson Hornung ’23 hasn’t already accomplished on the diamond.  

He has been an American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-American and D3baseball All-American, has made ABCA/ Rawlings and D3baseball First Team All-Region and the All-Liberty League First Team, and has been Liberty League Player of the Year — not once but twice, last year and this year.  This spring, he was honored as Skidmore’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year.   

Led by another explosive year with the bat in Hornung’s hands, the Thoroughbreds had their best season in recent memory in 2023, with 24 wins and a second consecutive appearance in the Liberty League semifinals.  

In 2023, Hornung’s bat showed no sign of slowing down: He hit .424 with 12 home runs, produced 41 runs-batted-in, scored 51 runs, and stole 10 bases. Concluding his career as the most decorated player in program history, he posted a .430 career batting average with 22 home runs, 57 extra-base hits, 106 RBIs, and a career .540 on-base percentage. 

This summer, Hornung will play for the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the most famous and sought-after summer leagues in the country and a favorite destination for professional scouts. One in every six Major League Baseball (MLB) players has played on the Cape, with an annual active alumni list of over 300.  

Last summer, he participated in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League as a member of the Westfield Starfires, hitting .363 with 25 extra-base hits and being selected first overall in the League’s All-Star Game. Over 150 former players have been drafted by MLB organizations from the league, and Hornung hopes to be next. 

“Jackson’s got a lot of interest from professional teams, and I had some scouts reach out to me to see him this spring,” said Skidmore’s head coach, Ron Plourde. “It’s possible that he could be selected at the upcoming MLB Draft July 9-11 in Seattle, Washington.” 

Throughout his Skidmore career, Hornung remained humble, preferring to direct his energy toward helping the Thoroughbreds win a Liberty League championship, the one thing that eluded him and the squad. They came close twice, but it was not to be. 

“It was awesome to receive so many accolades, but I think at the same time the one that I hoped for most was a Liberty League championship,” Hornung said.  

Many kids dream of playing the sport they love professionally. Hornung could make that a reality.  

“Jackson is just beginning to show what he can do on a baseball field. I think these last two years were just a glimpse," said Coach Plourde.  

I know that one of Jackson's goals is to play at the professional and big-league level, and I think he can get there.

Ron Plourde

Head Baseball Coach, Skidmore College

“In terms of his ability to hit, to throw and receive as a catcher, he has the potential to do some great things,” Plourde added. “He is one of, if not the best, hitter we have had here, and he is still learning how to use his body. He is also learning what to look for from pitchers. I think his discipline of the strike zone will only get better.”  

After lacing up the cleats for Skidmore this spring, Hornung graduated with a degree in health and human physiological sciences. With one year of NCAA eligibility remaining, he has committed to Kansas State University – an NCAA Division I member of the Big 12 Conference, one of the premier college baseball conferences in the country.  

But going west doesn’t mean Hornung won’t keep an eye on his former teammates or keep in touch with his coach. 

“Jackson is just a great teammate. He is a positive guy who brings a lot of good, positive energy,” Plourde said of the team captain. “He is supportive of his teammates and leads by example. And when he does speak up, the guys listen to him.”  

Surrounding all of the success is a deep appreciation of everything that Skidmore has meant to him, even if his first two seasons were limited as a result of the pandemic.  

“From the relationships to being a part of the campus community, it has been a great ride. The other places that I looked at just don’t compare to what this place offers.”  

With quiet confidence, Skidmore’s number 15 has moved on to chase his dreams. His Thoroughbred fan club will be watching and supporting him through every step of the journey.