Category: Tar Heels in MLB

Former Diamond Heel JB Bukauskas to IL with lat strain

Former Diamond Heel J.B. Bukauskas is heading to the Injured List after a strong start to his 2024 MLB season.

College baseball has been playing since mid-February, while MLB didn’t celebrate Opening Day until March 28.

It’s too early to pick out the World Series contenders, but there is plenty of excitement already.

The Milwaukee Brewers are one of those teams who’ve created plenty of excitement, thanks to its young offensive core and strong pitching. It’s particularly encouraging to see the Brew Crew succeeding on the mound, as they lost ace Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles in the offseason.

One of many Milwaukee pitchers enjoying a solid opening month is former UNC standout J.B. Bukauskas, who carries a 1.50 earned run average through six appearances. Bukauskas was 21-6 with a 3.18 ERA in three season at North Carolina, including a 9-1 campaign in 2017.

Unfortunately for JB, he’ll be out of baseball for a couple weeks, as he was recently placed on the 15-day Injured List with a lat strain.

Bukauskas, picked 15th overall in the 2017 MLB Draft, has bounced around a bit since making his MLB Debut in 2021.

He won his first two games with the Arizona Diamondbacks that year, making a career-high 21 appearances. Bukauskas played in the minor leagues throughout 2022, then spent five 2023 MLB games between the Brewers and Seattle Mariners.

Hopefully for JB, he doesn’t spend more than the minimum time on the IL.

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Former Diamond Heel Michael Busch taking advantage of starting opportunity in MLB

Michael Busch, who starred at UNC from 2017-2019, is one of the MLB’s best young hitters this year.

Getting chosen in the MLB Draft is every young baseball player’s dream.

Hundreds of players are selected across 20 rounds, but only a select few progress enough through the plentiful levels of minor league baseball.

One of those select few who rose through the minor leagues is former UNC baseball player Michael Busch, a 2019 first-round selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Busch led North Carolina to three NCAA Tournament Appearances, highlighted by a 2018 College World Series berth, by hitting for a .282 career batting average with 32 home runs and 142 RBIs.

Busch spent the 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 season playing for four separate Dodger affiliates, compiling a .283 average and earning an MLB call-up in 2023. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs in January, as Freddie Freeman made Busch’s path to a starting first base gig significantly tougher.

After hitting under the Mendoza Line (.200 batting average) for the Dodgers last year, Busch is amongst the MLB’s best hitters in the Windy City this year.

Busch enjoyed a strong Sunday to further boost his season stats, going 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs in Chicago’s 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners. He is now hitting .327 (25th-best in the MLB) with five home runs (sixth-most) and 11 RBIs.

Busch’s home run total and batting average also have him tops on the Cubs (9-6), who are tied for second in a stacked NL Central.

So far this year, Busch is proving he’s Chicago’s first baseman of the future. He’s just 26, so we could see the former Diamond Heel in the Windy City for a long time.

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WATCH: Former Diamond Heel Michael Busch homers against old team

It’s always tough leaving the team that drafted you, but performing well against them is a sweet sense of satisfaction. Michael Busch, the former UNC baseball star now on the Chicago Cubs, went yard against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday afternoon.

We’re just over a week into Major League Baseball season and – let me just say – I am excited for it.

Several players have found new homes, most notably Shohei Ohtani with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Juan Soto with the New York Yankees. Top prospects in the minor leagues are proving themselves worthy of MLB call-ups – has anyone seen what Jackson Holiday and his Norfolk Tides teammates are doing?

Another name you might recognize is Michael Busch, the former UNC baseball standout who’s starting at first base for the Chicago Cubs. Busch was originally the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2019 first-round pick, but got traded in the offseason.

On Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field, Busch hit his first home run of the 2024 campaign – against the Dodgers.

The homer gave Chicago a much-needed, 4-run cushion. The Cubs nearly gave the lead away in the fifth and seventh innings, but did just enough to win, 9-7, for their fifth-straight victory.

Busch continued his torrid start to the year in Chicago’s win, as he’s now hitting .316 with a home run and two RBIs. As of Friday, April 5 at 6:52 p.m. ET, Busch’s average currently has him 57th in the MLB.

Did Busch just give the Cubs faithful an indication he’s their first baseman of the future?

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Former UNC pitcher Kent Emanuel called up to majors for first time since 2021

In hopes of bolstering their pitching staff and bullpen, the Miami Marlins called up former UNC baseball star pitcher Kent Emanuel on Monday, April 1.

Getting called up to the majors is every young baseball player’s dream.

Young boys start playing ball at a very young age, either in their backyard, at a park or imaginarily in their homes, but may not think at the time how difficult making a major league roster is.

Getting called up for a second time – after spending consecutive season in the minors – is just as difficult.

It just happened to former UNC pitcher Kent Emanuel.

On Monday, April 1 (not an April Fool’s joke), the Miami Marlins called Emanuel up from their Triple-A affiliate, the Jackonsville (FL) Jumbo Shrimp.

Cool name for a team, right?

With the call-up, this means Emanuel will likely play his first 2024 game in the majors. Triple-A began its season on Good Friday (last week), but Emanuel’s official MILB stat page doesn’t show any appearances for this year.

Emanuel last played in 2021 with the Houston Astros, appearing in 10 games and compiling an impressive, 2.55 earned run average with one win. His minor league career is pretty successful, too: 44-33 record, 102 starts in 170 appearances, six saves and 552 strikeouts over 675 1/3 innings pitched.

Emanuel was even more of a standout pitcher in Chapel Hill (2011-2013), recording a 19-9 record, 2.52 ERA, and striking out 287 batters.

Here’s to hoping Emanuel enjoys a long, successful season in the majors.

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Zac Gallen gets opening day nod again for Diamondbacks

Former UNC baseball standout Zac Gallen gets the opening day start for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024.

Former North Carolina Tar Heels’ pitcher Zac Gallen was a big reason why the Arizona Diamondbacks were able to win the NL pennant and make the World Series. Although the Diamondbacks fell short, it was a special season they are hoping to build on.

As the Diamondbacks get set for the 2024 MLB season, Gallen will once again be the team’s ace and get the opening day start.

The Diamondbacks announced on Tuesday that Gallen will be the team’s opening day start. The team will host Colorado on Thursday, March 28th at 7:10 p.m. MST. This is the second straight season that Gallen will get the opening day nod but the first at home as he started last season’s game in Los Angeles.

Gallen is coming off a big season in 2023, finishing third in the NL Cy Young race and being named the All-Star Game starter. He posted a 17-9 record with a 3.47 ERA in 34 starts for the Diamondbacks. He struck out 9.4 batters per nine innings while allowing just 22 home runs all year.

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Former Tar Heel Cooper Criswell heading to Beantown on 1-year deal

2018 UNC baseball pitcher Cooper Criswell, who played an integral part in the College World Series run, is shipping up to Boston for 2024.

Even though Cooper Criswell only spent the 2018 season pitching for the UNC baseball team, he was a crucial part of that College World Series run that ended against – who else – Oregon State.

Criswell was part of a loaded, 2018 Diamond Heels pitching staff that included future MLB draft picks in Tyler Baum, Austin Bergner, Josh Hiatt, Brett Daniels and Rodney Hutchinson. Criswell’s six wins tied Daniels for second on Carolina, while his 2.99 ERA (earned run average) was also second.

Criswell also happened to be one of those 2018 MLB Draft picks, with the Los Angeles Angels taking him in the 13th round. The former Diamond Heel played one game with the Angels, spent 11 games with the Tampa Bay Rays over the last two years and – on Wednesday, Dec. 13, signed a 1-year deal with the Boston Red Sox.

As you can see from his pitch arsenal above, Criswell is more of a finesse pitcher. The slider appears to be his go-to pitch, with a majority of his strikeouts in the above video (if you can see it) coming from the breaking ball.

Criswell struggled in major league action with the Rays last year, recording a loss and 5.97 ERA, but he also picked up a win and struck out 27 batters. He enjoyed more success with the Triple-A Durham Bulls, pitching to a 4-4 record, 3.97 ERA and striking out 80 batters.

2024 is a brand-new chance for Criswell to showcase he can be a valuable MLB pitcher, starting with Spring Training in February. He’ll join a Red Sox staff that finished 21/30 teams with a 4.52 team ERA.

Seeing former Diamond Heels in the pros makes me happy. Seeing them succeed in the pros, however, is the cherry on top.

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Gallen’s six no-hit innings not enough as Diamondbacks lose World Series

Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen, the UNC standout pitcher from 2014-2016, gave his team a strong chance in Game 5 of the World Series.

One of the best pitchers to come out of the UNC baseball program nearly pitched his team to a World Series win on Wednesday, Nov. 1.

That pitcher is none other than Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen, who toed the rubber in Chapel Hill from 2014-2016. Gallen compiled a 14-13 record, 3.36 earned run average and struck out 231 batters as a Tar Heel, which was good enough for the St. Louis Cardinals to select him third round in the 2016 MLB Draft.

What Gallen did last night, with the Diamondbacks facing elimination on baseball’s grandest stage, was the type of performance that turns ordinary guys into legends.

Though Gallen took the loss in a 5-0 Rangers victory, he pitched six no-hit innings to start. He ended his night allowing just one run, one walk and three hits through 6 1/3 innings while striking out six batters.

When your pitcher is nearly perfect through six innings, chances are you’ll end up winning the game. Arizona, sadly, only mustered five hits throughout the decisive Game 5 last night.

Gallen’s World Series performance was only a microcosm of the impressive season he enjoyed, which deserves a National League Cy Young (best pitcher) Award to cap it off.

In the regular season, Gallen carried the second-best NL record with a 17-9 mark. He struck out 220 batters (sixth), compiled a 3.47 ERA (16th) and 1.12 WHIP (12th).

Gallen struggled a bit more in the postseason, only pitching to a 2-3 win-loss record, 4.54 ERA and striking out just 24 batters. His performance on Wednesday night, however, showed the baseball world he can deliver in the clutch and is one of the sport’s best, young pitchers.

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Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks drop Game 1 of World Series to Adolis Garcia

Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen, a former UNC star, was in line for a World Series victory last night. The bullpen ended that chance.

If you would’ve asked me, at the beginning of baseball season, that the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers would be playing for the World Series, I probably would’ve said “I wish, but you’ve got so many other more established teams.”

As we all know in sports, however, anything can happen.

That is certainly the case with the current MLB Postseason, with 100-win teams/division winners in the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves all exiting in the Divisional Round.

Here we are on Halloween weekend, with the Diamondbacks and Rangers – just like we all guessed in March – playing for a World Series title.

Texas has the 1-0 series advantage, winning 6-5 last night on an 11th-inning walkoff from star outfielder Adolis García.

One of the best pitchers in the World Series is Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen, who starred at UNC from 2014-2016. Gallen compiled a 14-13 record and 3.36 earned run average, plus he struck out 231 batters, in his college years.

Gallen also got the start in Game 1 of the World Series last night, becoming just the seventh former Tar Heel to play in the annual Fall Classic.

Gallen pitched an okay game, allowing three runs, four walks and just four hits over five innings. Gallen was actually in line for the win, until Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald allowed a game-tying home run to Rangers slugger Corey Seager in the ninth inning.

García’s late-inning, walk-off ended all hopes of an Arizona victory.

There’s a chance we could see Gallen in Game 5, as long as the Diamondbacks don’t get swept. Regardless, this World Series gives UNC baseball fans a reason to tune in.

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Zac Gallen becomes seventh former Diamond Heel to reach World Series

Former UNC baseball standout Zac Gallen, now on the Arizona Diamondbacks, will toe the rubber in Game 1 of the World Series tonight.

There’s been a lot of great UNC baseball players who’ve gone on to play professionally, but only a handful have made it to the World Series.

Mule Shirley (1921-1923), Burgess Whitehead, Snuffy Stirnweiss, Walt Weiss, Andrew Miller (2004-2006) and Matt Harvey (2008 and 2009) were the first six Diamond Heels to make it.

The most recent one?

Zac Gallen, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ ace who is starting Game 1 of the 2023 World Series, later tonight.

He’s a perennial Cy Young candidate, ranking amongst the National League’s leaders in ERA, win-loss record, strikeouts and WHIP. Gallen’s been not the main reason, but one of many reasons Arizona is playing baseball deep into October.

Gallen and the Diamondbacks start their quest for World Series title number two, this time against the Texas Rangers, tonight at 8:03 p.m in Arlington. The two teams match up again on Saturday night at the same time, then head to Phoenix for three games starting Monday, Oct. 30.

Gallen has a chance to etch his name in Carolina Baseball history this coming week. He was 14-13 with a 3.36 earned run average and 231 strikeouts in Chapel Hill, but has been even better in the pros with a 39-31 record, 729 strikeouts and a 3.21 ERA.

If you want to watch Gallen ball out tomorrow night, tune into FOX at 8:03 p.m. ET.

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UNC head baseball coach Scott Forbes rocks Zac Gallen jersey

Diamond Heels head coach Scott Forbes was supporting one of his former players, rocking the Zac Gallen jersey on Wednesday afternoon.

There’s a lot to be excited about in the UNC baseball world right now – and none of it has to do with the the current Diamond Heels themselves.

It all has to do with Zac Gallen, the 2014-2016 Diamond Heel, who is just a day away from starting Game 1 of the World Series for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Gallen was among the MLB’s best in the regular season – holding a 17-9 win-loss record (second), striking out 220 batters (sixth), carrying a 3.47 earned run average (16th) and 1.12 WHIP (12th). He’s among the NL Cy Young favorites, but should be THE favorite after helping lead Arizona to its first World Series berth since the 2001, championship-winning season.

How is Gallen’s alma mater supporting him back in Chapel Hill?

Look no further than UNC baseball head coach Scott Forbes, who was spotted donning a Gallen Diamondbacks jersey, on Wednesday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cy1XOgnAA5l/?hl=en&img_index=1

Forbes, now entering his fourth season as Carolina head coach, was a Mike Fox assistant when Gallen played in Chapel Hill. Gallen compiled a 14-13 win-loss record, 3.36 ERA and struck out 231 career batters over three years

Though Gallen is several years removed from being a Tar Heel, it’s still amazing to see how much support he’s getting from a small little town in Central North Carolina – all the way across the country.

Here’s to hoping Gallen can bring the Diamondbacks their second World Series title.

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