If you thought the Baltimore Orioles have a thing for UNC baseball players, you’re correct.
Baltimore select Diamond Heels all-time great Vance Honeycutt with the 22nd overall pick in this year’s MLB Draft. Last year, the Orioles took North Carolina third baseman Mac Horvath 53rd overall.
Both Honeycutt and Horvath played together during the 2022 and 2023 UNC campaigns, with the duo bringing an ACC Championship to Chapel Hill in 2022. Horvath is now with the Aberdeen Ironbirds, Baltimore’s High-A affiliate, while Honeycutt waits his assignment.
It’s not just Diamond Heels players the Orioles seemingly have an affinity for.
With Baltimore’s second and third picks in the 2024 MLB Draft, they chose Virginia shortstop Griff O’Ferrall (32nd overall) and catcher Ethan Anderson (61st overall).
The Honeycutt selection is obviously a big deal, but what connection do O’Ferrall and Anderson have to UNC?
Honeycutt, O’Ferrall and Anderson all played against each other in the opening game of the College World Series.
Honeycutt was the star of North Carolina-UVA, walking things off with a 2-out single in the ninth inning and delivering the Diamond Heels a 3-2 victory. O’Ferrall and Anderson hit a combined 1-for-7, with Anderson scoring the Cavaliers’ first run and O’Ferrall driving in their second.
If I had to bet anything, there’ll be a bit of friendly trash talk between the Orioles’ new trio.
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