Former Kingsburg High standout Jensen Hirschkorn is officially headed to pro baseball.
Hirschkorn made his decision shortly after the MLB draft, when the Atlanta Braves selected the right-handed pitcher in the third round.
He signed with the organization for a reported $3.9 million bonus, opting to begin his pro career rather than honor his college commitment to LSU.
Making the decision brought Hirschkorn a sense of relief.
“I chose the Braves because of how great the opportunity is,” he said. “It’s a dream come true and something I’ve been wanting to do since I was 3 years old.”
Hirschkorn is scheduled to report to the Braves on Saturday.
The Fresno Bee Player of the Year capped a dominant 2026 season by going 9-1 with 112 strikeouts in just 10 appearances for the Vikings. He helped lead Kingsburg to a 23-8 record and the Tri-County Kings Division championship.
Now, Hirschkorn is eager to begin the next chapter of his baseball career.
“The Braves are a great organization,” he said. “God blessed me with a great opportunity, and I’m thankful for it and for the people around me.”
This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 11:30 AM.
Related Stories from Fresno Bee
The Fresno Bee
Anthony Galaviz writes about sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He’s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology.
Support my work with a digital subscription