There are a ton of talented players committed to play baseball for the University of North Carolina this coming season.
Those same players, however, are getting chosen in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Just two days after the Minnesota Twins grabbed UNC commit Walker Jenkins with the fifth overall pick, the Chicago Cubs selected UNC commit Zyhir Hope in the 11th round.
While there’s still a possibility Hope dons a Tar Heel Blue uniform next Spring, as he has until Saturday, July 15 to sign with the Cubs, let’s take a deeper dive into the kind of player Carolina might be getting.
The Cubs take UNC recruit Zyhir Hope in the 11th round of the MLB Draft. Big-time spring helium grabber.
— Pat James (@patjames24) July 11, 2023
Hope finished with an eye-catching .538 batting average during the Spring season for Colonial Forge High School, while smashing nine home runs and recording 38 RBIs. He also turned heads on the basepaths, scoring 35 runs and stealing 29 bases.
According to the same InsideNova article, Hope is a stellar closing pitcher. He notched three saves, struck out 23 batters and pitched to a 1-1 record and 1.25 ERA in 14 innings pitches.
Hope would bring a great balance of speed and power to Chapel Hill, something that could greatly benefit the Tar Heels, particularly with 2023 home run leader Mac Horvath being selected in the second round of the same draft by the Baltimore Orioles.
You can’t blame the kid if he wants to play pro ball, though, particularly for such a historic organization like the Cubs.
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