Tag: Casey Cook

UNC baseball team adds top-ranked outfielder to 2025 roster

A major reinforcement is coming to the UNC baseball program next year.

How good were the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2024 college baseball season?

So good, each of their starting outfielders – Vance Honeycutt, Casey Cook and Anthony Donofrio – were picked in the MLB Draft.

UNC’s outfielder trio anchored a 2024 ACC Regular Season Championship and a trip to Omaha, Neb. for its first College World Series berth since 2018.

Honeycutt became the first player in ACC history to hit 50 career home runs and steal 70 career bases, Cook enjoyed a massive power surge and led North Carolina with 78 RBIs, while Donofrio finished third amongst Tar Heel hitters in batting average and second in stolen bases.

I’m extremely happy for Honeycutt, Cook and Donofrio, but their departures mean one: UNC has to replace its entire starting outfield in 2025.

While I expect North Carolina to hit the transfer portal hard, plus promote a few reserves to starting roles, there’s a major reinforcement coming to Chapel Hill from high school.

On Tuesday, July 16, Sawyer Black announced his commitment to the Diamond Heels.

Black, who played his high school ball at Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, is the top-ranked outfielder in North Carolina. He’s the state’s third-best overall player and 133rd nationally.

According to Tar Heel Tribune, Black led Wesleyan Christian in hitting (.453), on-base percentage (.590), home runs (9), runs (46), hits (39), RBI (40), slugging percentage (.930) and triples (3) while stealing 10 bases in 30 games.

Black will be following former Liberty coach Scott Jackson to Chapel Hill, as Black previously committed to the Flames, before Jackson announced his resignation.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Texas Rangers select Casey Cook in 2024 MLB draft

Casey Cook is drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 2024 MLB Draft.

The North Carolina Tar Heels baseball program saw just one player go in the first round of the 2024 MLB draft as Vance Honeycutt went to the Baltimore Orioles. But on day two of the draft, they had another player hear his name called.

At the end of the third round, another Tar Heel was taken. The Texas Rangers drafted outfielder Casey Cook with the No. 103 pick overall. Cook saw his stock rise a bit with a strong postseason for the Tar Heels and it got him drafted in the third round with the opportunity to join the farm system of the defending World Series champions.

He was the final pick of the third round of the draft.

Cook was a plus defender during his time with the Tar Heels and a valuable left-handed bat for Scott Forbes.

Here is the early scouting report from CBS Sports on Cook:

An outfielder from North Carolina, Cook bats left-handed and has a disciplined approach while making contact to all fields. He is a hit-over-power prospect, but Cook homered of No. 2 overall pick Chase Burns twice in his career. Cook is just a fringe-average runner in left field, so his bat will have to carry the day.

The outfielder started in all 64 games this past season for the Tar Heels, posting a .341 batting average while leading the Tar Heels in hits and runs.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Vance Honeycutt highlights four Diamond Heels ranked amongst top MLB Draft prospects

There will likely be multiple UNC baseball players chosen in the upcoming MLB Draft.

I truly thought the North Carolina Tar Heels could win the 2024 College World Series.

UNC had all the pieces of a championship team: a reliable star hitter to count on for clutch, consistent production in Vance Honeycutt, a batting order that could hit from 1-to-9, a shutdown closer who could cool even the hottest of lineups in Dalton Pence, a strong defensive unit and – most important of all – a great coach in Scott Forbes.

North Carolina won its opening game of the College World Series, thanks to ninth-inning heroics from Honeycutt and Jackson Van De Brake, but later exited after consecutive losses to Tennessee and Florida State.

The Diamond Heels put the college baseball world on notice, but also garnered some MLB Draft attention for Pence and its entire starting outfield.

On Saturday, July 12 – just two days ahead of the 2024 MLB Draft, Baseball America ranked Honeycutt (13th), Casey Cook (164th), Pence (340th) and Anthony Donofrio (449th) amongst its top draft prospects.

Honeycutt turned in a historic career at UNC, highlighted last year by becoming the first player in ACC history to hit 50 career home runs and steal 70 career bases, plus a second-consecutive ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award (also only player in ACC history to achieve this feat).

Cook enjoyed a massive power surge during his 2024 redshirt-sophomore campaign, finishing third on North Carolina with 18 home runs. Cook’s .341 batting average was second-highest amongst Diamond Heel hitters, while his 78 RBIs were third in the ACC and 11th in Division-I.

Donofrio only played at North Carolina last year, but he made an immediate impact. He finished third on the Diamond Heels with a .326 batting average, tops on the Diamond Heels with 19 doubles and most in the ACC with six triples.

Pence made a good case for the top reliever in college baseball. He recorded a team-best eight saves, 2.45 earned run average, struck out 74 batters (second-most on UNC) and earned five wins out of the bullpen. Pence’s best performances came in the NCAA Tournament – earning a win against LSU in the Chapel Hill Regional, then a save against West Virginia in the Chapel Hill Super Regional.

If you want to see where some of your favorite Diamond Heels will be chosen, tune into the MLB Draft at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 14.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Diamond Heels praise Jackson Van De Brake for late pinch-hit double in CWS opener

Check out the love Jackson Van De Brake receives from his UNC baseball teammates after his heroics in Friday’s College World Series opener.

The UNC and University of Virginia baseball teams entered the ninth inning of yesterday’s College World Series opener deadlocked at two.

Dalton Pence, North Carolina’s star closer, mowed through Cavalier batters in the top half of the inning. This would set the stage, once again, for a potential dramatic walk-off.

Facing a 2-1 count with 2 outs, Diamond Heels star center fielder Vance Honeycutt did what he’s done so many time this year already – deliver a clutch hit. Honeycutt lined a hard single into left field, just past the outstretched glove of UVA shortstop Griff O’Ferrall, delivering UNC a 3-2 victory that kept it in the CWS winners’ bracket.

While Honeycutt’s heroics can be seen on virtually any media platform, it’s the lead-off double from North Carolina captain/pinch-hitter Jackson Van De Brake, that set the stage for more ninth-inning heroics.

Van De Brake’s teammates can be seen hyping him up in postgame interviews – just watch what starting left fielder Casey Cook and read what starting third baseman Gavin Gallaher said.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8PT7zEsu6e/?img_index=2

“He’s a great teammate,” Cook said in postgame interviews. “He’s all we can ask for. He’s there for us. He’s cheering us on when we’re out there playing, so it makes us extremely happy to see him come through. You don’t want it for anyone else other than Jackson. He’s out captain and we love it for him. We have full confidence in him, so that’s great to see out of him.”

You can watch Cook speak by scrolling over to the second slide. There’s also a quote from Gallaher on the fourth slide.

With designated hitter Roberto Osuna striking out three times in Game 1, coupled with Van De Brake’s heroics, you have to wonder if Van De Brake gets the start for Sunday’s Game 2.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions

Casey Cook discusses home run surge ahead of Sold-Out Chapel Hill Regional

Casey Cook discusses home run surge and his hitting strides with Carolina Insider ahead of Sold-Out Chapel Hill Regional.

The University of North Carolina baseball program is hosting a sold-out Chapel Hill Regional this weekend, and we are now learning about what went into [autotag]Casey Cook[/autotag] hitting his strides in the home run category.

Cook sat down with Carolina insider to talk about a wide range of topics surrounding the season, including his swing improvements. Cook has the third most home runs (18) on the team while leading the team in RBIs (76).

During the interview, Cook spoke about his hitting this season, and how it came out about, watch a short snippet of the interview below.

Cook showcased what he could do last season, ranking second among rookies in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for hits (66). He wasn’t nearly the home run hitter he was last season, only mustering up three last year.

Cook hitting will be counted on heavily in the Chapel Hill Regionals, as they will need that and more to beat the LSU Tigers. It will be interesting to see if Cook can catch up to the team’s current home run leader Vance Honeycutt, who has 22 on the season.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Vance Honeycutt headlines nine UNC baseball players with All-ACC Honors

Can the UNC baseball team’s nine All-ACC honorees lead it to a College World Series title?

After a disappointing exit early in the NCAA Regionals last year, the UNC baseball team improved in virtually every aspect this offseason.

North Carolina nabbed several transfers that are now in the starting lineup, highlighted by starting first baseman Parks Harber (Georgia) and starting right fielder Anthony Donofrio (Quinnipiac). The Diamond Heels also entered the 2024 regular season with the ACC’s best recruiting class, which included now-starting catcher Luke Stevenson.

UNC’s recruits played a major role in team success this team, with North Carolina capturing its first ACC Regular Season Championship since 2018, but it was a pair of returners who anchored the Diamond Heels’ success.

Starting center fielder Vance Honeycutt and starting left fielder Casey Cook, who respectively lead UNC in home runs (22) and RBIs (73), were the lone two Diamond Heels to earn All-ACC First Team honors.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C7M1n3PgF1u/?img_index=1

Not only is Honeycutt hitting .319, one of seven on North Carolina players doing so, but he achieved two records during the regular season: becoming the program’s all-time home run record-holder, plus the only player in ACC history with 50 home runs and 70 stolen bases. When UNC’s season is over, Honeycutt will likely be a first-round selection in July’s MLB Draft.

Cook earned All-ACC Freshman honors last year, ranking second amongst conference rookies with 66 hits, but he elevated his game to another level this year. Cook is third on the Diamond Heels in batting average (.341) and home runs (16), plus he drove in a team-high 73 runs during the regular season.

Honeycutt and Cook were just two of 10 North Carolina teammates with All-ACC Honors, though.

Stevenson, starting third baseman Gavin Gallagher and starting pitcher Jason DeCaro were named to the All-ACC Freshman Team.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C7M8gWvRhLY/?img_index=1

Gallagher is currently second on UNC with a .351 batting average, Stevenson is hitting .290 and one of five Diamond Heels with double-digit home run totals (13), while DeCaro is 4-1 on the mound and leads North Carolina’s rotation with a 3.91 earned run average.

DeCaro, Harber and Elon transfer Shea Sprague made the All-ACC Second Team.

Rounding out UNC’s list of All-ACC selections are Stevenson, star closer Dalton Pence (six saves) and NCAA wins co-leader Matthew Matthijs.

Not every team lives up to its preseason hype. The Diamond Heels exceeded that hype, as they’re the ACC Baseball Championship’s top seed and look for a second title in three seasons.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

UNC outfielder Casey Cook named to Midseason Watch List

If it weren’t for starting left fielder Casey Cook, how well would the UNC baseball team be playing?

Even in a 14-11 loss at UVA Thursday night, the UNC baseball team has been amongst the country’s best programs to kick off 2024.

North Carolina (25-5, 10-3 ACC) is tied atop the conference with Clemson in overall win total. The Tar Heels have largely performed better on the mound, even with a younger pitching staff, but it’s their bats turning heads.

UNC carries a .315 team batting average, which ranks 24th in the nation. Seven starters, led by a scorching .400 mark from infielder Gavin Gallagher, are hitting at least .300.

The most productive hitter, however, has been starting left fielder Casey Cook. He sports a .375 average, leads the Diamond Heels in hits (45, T-ninth in the nation) and RBIs (43, T-sixth in nation).

As the catalyst of North Carolina’s high-flying offense, Cook was named to the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5WcwXvATZ1/

The Golden Spikes Award is given annually to the top player in college baseball. Cook has been on the list since Feb. 9, when the preseason list was announced.

Cook’s latest big game came on Friday, March 29, when he mashed two home runs and drove in four runners, during the first of UNC’s three straight wins against Wake Forest. Cook also produced during the Diamond Heels’ 14-11 loss to UVA on Thursday night, driving in two runs on two hits, while also scoring two runs.

Just how much further can Cook elevate his game? Will he be able to bring North Carolina back to the College World Series?

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Casey Cook’s monster season continues in UNC’s Friday upset of Wake Forest

Casey Cook is one of the hottest names in college baseball right now.

If you don’t know the name Casey Cook in the college baseball world, you definitely will by season’s end.

Cook, the UNC baseball team’s starting left fielder, is an RBI machine with an insane batting average. He’s tied for the NCAA lead with 42 RBIs, plus he’s second on the Diamond Heels to Roberto Osuna with a .364 batting average.

Oh – and if you’ve been reading our baseball stories, Cook is one of nine regular position players in the starting lineup hitting a minimum .300.

Cook just added on to his breakout campaign on Friday, March 29, mashing two home runs and driving four runs, to lead 14th-ranked North Carolina in a 6-5 upset of 12th-ranked Wake Forest.

This wasn’t the first time Cook homered twice in a game, as he also did on Saturday, March 17 against Miami.

Cook’s first Friday night home run came on a first-inning, bases-loaded pitch against Wake Forest ace Chase Burns, who UNC tagged for his first loss. Cook’s second round-tripper came in the second inning, scoring Colby Wilkerson and Alex Madera on the first pitch of his at-bat.

Players can only get better as the season goes on. If Cook keeps up his early-season tear, the Diamond Heels will be in good shape come ACC and NCAA Tournament play.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Pence slams the door on Elon comeback, Diamond Heels remain undefeated

A Casey Cook single and Dalton Pence shutdown inning proved to be the UNC baseball team’s difference-makers in Tuesday’s 8-7 win over Elon.

After coasting through Opening Weekend against Wagner, the UNC baseball team needed a challenge to test how good of a team it was.

North Carolina got that test on Tuesday afternoon against a pesky Elon squad, which was looking for a massive upset.

Even with a Vance Honeycutt grand slam, a trio of run-scoring singles and a Pheonix error, it was Diamond Heels reliever Dalton Pence who closed the door on a tight, 8-7 UNC victory.

Elon (1-3) knocked North Carolina reliever Aidan Haugh for two runs in the eighth, closing its deficit to what ended up being the final score. The Diamond Heels went to starter/reliever Connor Bovair to clean up the mess – he delivered with an 11-pitch, 1-hit scoreless eighth.

Pence came in to face the final two Phoenix batters and looked every part of a reliable closer, retiring both hitters and helping UNC escape with a key victory.

Outside of North Carolina’s 10-3 win over Wagner on Opening Day, pitching has been inconsistent through four games. Elon jumped on UNC pitchers early, taking a 4-3 lead in the fourth inning after a home run and two singles.

After recording just two hits over the weekend, Honeycutt put the Diamond Heels ahead for good with his fifth-inning grand slam. North Carolina wasn’t finished at the plate, with Casey Cook’s seventh-inning single proving to be the eventual game-winner.

UNC now sits 4-0 ahead of its weekend series against 11th-ranked East Carolina, with one game apiece in Chapel Hill, Greenville and neutral-site Fayetteville, NC. This will be a great, early-season measure to see how good the Diamond Heels truly are.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Casey Cook selected to All-ACC Freshman Team

North Carolina outfielder Casey Cook selected to All-ACC Freshman Team.

North Carolina outfielder [autotag]Casey Cook[/autotag] has been selected to the All-ACC Freshman team.

The red-shirt freshman has had a great comeback after suffering a season-ending injury a year prior. Cook appeared in four games before the injury, giving fans a good glimpse of the future.

This season, Cook exploded on the scene, starting 52 out of 54 games. Appearing at the plate 198 times, Cook finished the regular season with a batting average of .333. He’s responsible for 66 hits, 21 RBIs, and one home run.

Cook best performance came in game two of the Miami Hurricanes series, as he finished with his season-high in RBIs with three while also hitting a home run and a triple.

Cook will be a crucial for UNC if the Diamond Heels want to repeat as ACC champions. Another strong ACC tournament performance for UNC, can give them the momentum and ranking needed to gain traction in the NCAA tournament.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Follow all of your favorite Carolina teams at Tar Heels Wire and Panthers Wire!