Tag: D1 Baseball

Three UNC baseball stars ranked amongst Top 100 2025 MLB Draft prospects

Headlined by three potential 2025 MLB Draft picks, the UNC baseball team is in better shape than you might think next season.

The North Carolina Tar Heels carried one of their most talented baseball rosters into last season – and took full advantage of it.

Headlined by an outfield that includes now-MLB draftees Vance Honeycutt, Casey Cook and Anthony Donofrio, UNC advanced to its 12th College World Series. North Carolina won its opening game against ACC rival Virginia, then lost consecutive contests to ACC power Florida State and eventual CWS champion Tennessee.

A highly-touted freshman class also helped the Tar Heels reach college baseball’s ultimate championship. Luke Stevenson started 63 of 64 games behind the plate, while Folger Boaz showed promise as a freshman ace before his season-ending elbow injury.

You also can’t forget about UNC’s shutdown bullpen, with nearly every relief man able to shutdown the opposition’s batting order. North Carolina sported arguably the best Division-I player in Dalton Pence, who was also rewarded with an MLB Draft selection.

The Diamond Heels have a tough task next season, replacing a good portion of their starters, but a particular bullpen arm and the Stevenson-Boaz should help.

Seven months ahead of the next college baseball season, Stevenson (11), Boaz (30) and reliever Cameron Padgett (94) are all ranked amongst D1Baseball’s Top 100 2025 MLB College Draft Prospects.

Stevenson, an offensive-minded catcher, collected a .284 batting average, hit 14 home runs and drove in 58 runners for UNC this past season. Boaz compiled a 3-1 win-loss record before his elbow injury, while Padgett – from Salisbury, NC like Honeycutt – was 1-0 with 20 strikeouts.

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UNC baseball team makes history in latest round of All-American rankings

Standout UNC baseball freshmen Jason DeCaro and Luke Stevenson are brewing something special in Chapel Hill.

Even weeks after the North Carolina Tar Heels exited the College World Series against fellow ACC rival Florida State, I still think about what a special group of players Scott Forbes had the opportunity to coach.

The unquestioned superstar on the 2024 UNC baseball team was center fielder Vance Honeycutt. Not only did Honeycutt win his second-consecutive ACC Defensive Player of the Year award, or become the first 50-70 player in ACC history, but he delivered multiple clutch walkoffs during North Carolina’s postseason run.

Another major part of the Diamond Heels’ success was their freshman class, headlined by freshman ace Jason DeCaro and starting catcher Luke Stevenson.

DeCaro ended his first collegiate season with a 6-1 win-loss record, 3.81 earned run average and a team-high 78 strikeouts, while Stevenson hit .284 with 14 home runs, 58 runs batted in and recorded a team-best 511 putouts.

Not only are DeCaro and Stevenson playing with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team right now, but they were also named D1Baseball Freshman All-Americans.

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Out of 300 Division I baseball teams, it’s pretty amazing to think UNC is the only one with two First Team Freshman All-Americans.

If you thought this season was special, wait until next year. North Carolina returns most of its roster, with the notable exceptions of Honeycutt, Alberto Osuna and Alex Madera.

If Stevenson and DeCaro play like their 2024 selves next season, they’ll form one of the country’s premier batteries.

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Diamond Heels a popular early 2025 College World Series pick by D1Baseball

Likely with no Vance Honeycutt next season, can the UNC baseball team make it back to the College World Series?

The North Carolina Tar Heels sport one of the nation’s premier college baseball programs, as they’ve made the College World Series 12 times and the NCAA Tournament 36 times.

As many times as UNC has made the CWS, it has yet to win the title – even with Finals appearances in 2006 and 2007.

UNC’s most recent run to the CWS came this past season, as it clinched its trip by beating West Virginia in the Chapel Hill Super Regional. North Carolina’s CWS journey started off on a positive note, as it came from behind to beat ACC rival Virginia, 3-2.

Diamond Heels’ starting left fielder Casey Cook tied the clash at two in the seventh inning, lining a two-out single to left field himself. Jackson Van De Brake delivered a clutch pinch-hit double to start the ninth, then superstar Vance Honeycutt drove Van De Brake in with yet another walkoff.

UNC didn’t fare well in its second and third CWS games, though. North Carolina struggled offensively in a 6-1 loss to the eventual champion Tennessee Volunteers, while Diamond Heels pitching got rocked in a 9-5 elimination loss against the Florida State Seminoles.

Looking ahead to next season already, UNC is a popular, Way-Too-Early 2025 CWS pick by D1Baseball.

D1Baseball staff writers Aaron Fitt, Mike Rooney, Shotgun Spratling and Pat James, a former Daily Tar Heel and GoHeels writer, all picked the Diamond Heels as part of their Way-Too-Early 8.

LSU, whom North Carolina squeaked by to win the Chapel Hill Regional, was picked by all 10 staff writers to make the 2025 CWS. Florida was the second-most popular pick, collecting nine votes, while Arkansas joined UNC with four votes.

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UNC baseball program Top 10 in every ranking this week

Do this week’s rankings truly reflect how good the Diamond Heels are this year?

It’s difficult to imagine a collegiate baseball program having more fun than the North Carolina Tar Heels.

UNC (39-11, 20-7) enjoyed a massive weekend against Louisville.

On Friday, star center fielder Vance Honeycutt became North Carolina’s all-time home run leader in a 14-4 Diamond Heels victory. He mashed his 57th career bomb to tie Devy Bell, then his 58th to overtake Bell for the UNC program record.

On Saturday, North Carolina clinched the series with a close, 6-4 win. The Diamond Heels doubled up on Sunday, sweeping the series with a 16-7 domination and clinching the ACC Coastal Division.

With all the success UNC enjoyed over the weekend, it vaulted up into the Top 10 of all the latest college baseball rankings: Baseball America (fourth), NCBWA (fifth), USA Today Sports (fifth), Perfect Game (sixth) and D1Baseball (seventh).

North Carolina plays its final four regular season games on the road: Tuesday, May 14 at UNC-Wilmington (UNC won 11-0 in Chapel Hill on March 19), then its final weekend series at archrival Duke (May 16-18). The Seahawks took two of three from Hofstra over the weekend, while the Blue Devils lost two of three to Georgia Tech.

These high rankings are great for the Diamond Heels, who will likely host an NCAA Tournament Regional at the end of May.

The greater task at hand for North Carolina, however, is how it can capture its inaugural College World Series title. With all the momentum and talent UNC has right now, that’s a very reachable goal.

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Christian Moore named National Player of the Week

Tennessee’s Christian Moore named National Player of the Week after winning series at Kentucky.

Tennessee junior Christian Moore was named National Player of the Week by Perfect Game and D1Baseball on Monday.

He was also named SEC Player of the Week after the Vols’ series win at Kentucky.

Moore recorded at least one hit and one RBI in all three games against the Wildcats. He went 8-for-11, recording four home runs, eight RBIs and five runs.

Moore totaled four hits, tying a career high on Saturday and Sunday. He hit three home runs and recorded six RBIs on Sunday to help Tennessee win the series, Kentucky’s first conference series loss of the 2024 season.

READ: Tennessee baseball career home run tracker

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Diamond Heels fall four spots in D1Baseball rankings

The UNC baseball team is running out of chances to win series against good teams. It has another golden chance this coming weekend against Virginia Tech.

Last weekend provided the UNC baseball team a golden opportunity to prove its worth as a Top 25 team.

The Diamond Heels made the short trip down to Raleigh, facing an NC State program that’s also amongst one of the ACC’s best. The Wolfpack are playing solid baseball this season, but with how good North Carolina’s been, it should’ve won the series handily.

Even though UNC remains two games ahead of archrival Duke for first place in the ACC Coastal Division, UNC proved there’s still questions surrounding its ability to beat tough competition, as it dropped two of three at NC State.

As a result, the Diamond Heels fell four spots – to 15th – in Monday’s D1Baseball rankings.

North Carolina (30-10, 15-6) left no doubt of its talent in Saturday’s series finale, dominating in a 14-3 victory behind reliable bats and a surprisingly good pitching performance. Star UNC center fielder Vance Honeycutt, a projected first-round pick in July’s MLB Draft, became the only player in ACC history to join the 50 home run-70 stolen base club during the finale.

The Diamond Heels have a super-winnable game against Gardner-Webb on Tuesday, April 23, then host a tough Virginia Tech squad this coming weekend for a 3-game series. The Hokies (25-12, 12-9) dropped out of this week’s rankings after spending most of 2024 ranked.

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Diamond Heels fall three spots in latest D1 Baseball Rankings

Sitting in first place of the ACC Coastal Division isn’t a bad spot for the UNC baseball team to be.

Thanks to a loaded offense that’s largely been carrying it through games, the UNC baseball team was able to salvage its series final at UVA this past weekend.

North Carolina reached double-digits in Saturday’s 12-7 victory over the rival Cavaliers (25-7, 9-6), breaking a late tie thanks to Parks Harber and Luke Stevenson home runs. The Diamond Heels’ (26-6, 11-4) pitching staff, which allowed 18 runs across the weekend, allowed just one over the final three innings on Saturday.

Even if you’re amongst the sport’s best, series losses are bound to happen. UNC was riding a 9-game winning streak heading into the UVA series – I’m sure the Hoos were hungry to snap that.

With a 1-2 weekend, North Carolina dropped three spots – to 13th – in the latest D1 Baseball Rankings.

The Diamond Heels are hitting .314 as a team, which currently (as of Monday, April 8) ranks 24th in the nation. Eight regular starters, led by Gavin Gallagher (.375), are hitting at least .300.

UNC pitchers have showcased flashes of potential early, highlighted by a bullpen with NCAA wins leader Matthew Matthijs (11-1). The starting pitching staff has struggled as of late, with no starter sporting lower than a 4.20 earned run average, but Folger Boaz showed how special he can be in February and early March.

North Carolina has a neutral-site date with South Carolina on Tuesday, April 9, then hosts Notre Dame for a 3-game weekend series starting Friday.

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Weekend sweep vaults Diamond Heels into Top 10

Not only did the UNC baseball team sweep Preseason Number One Wake Forest over the weekend, but it scored 30 runs in doing so.

A majority of Tar Heel Nation’s attention was on the Sweet 16 over Easter Weekend, which didn’t end the way we all wanted it to, but the UNC baseball gave fans something to cheer about.

North Carolina faced arguably its toughest series of the season, heading out to Winston-Salem, NC for a 3-game series with the Preseason Number One Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Wake Forest is clearly not the same team that made a deep College World Series run last year, but still a talented one nonetheless.

Diamond Heels fans were hoping for their boys to win the series, but UNC did more than that.

North Carolina swept Wake Forest in three games – 6-5, 10-6 and 14-10 – hanging a whopping 30 runs on the defending, ACC Regular Season Champions.

As a result, UNC shot up to the Top 10 in the latest D1 Baseball Rankings.

The Diamond Heels (25-4, 10-2), who are tied atop the ACC Coastal Division with Virginia Tech, were fueled by 14 home runs in the Wake Forest Series. Georgia transfer Parks Harber showcased why he’s such a crucial part of the batting order, mashing four of those home runs, while Casey Cook and Luke Stevenson each belted three.

UNC will not playing any mid-week games this week, but then heads up to Charlottesville for another ranked ACC matchup with 15th-ranked UVA (22-6, 7-5).

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Diamond Heels make massive jump in D1Baseball rankings after weekend sweep

Five wins in a row, including a weekend sweep of Georgia Tech, have the UNC baseball team back in the Top 15 of D1Baseball’s rankings.

After losing a weekend series to the Miami Hurricanes two weeks ago, the UNC baseball team responded in dominant fashion last week.

On Tuesday, the Diamond Heels mercy-ruled UNCW, 11-0, in seven innings behind eight combined RBIs from top-of-the-lineup hitters Gavin Gallagher, Casey Cook, Vance Honeycutt and Parks Harber.

Over the weekend, North Carolina (21-4, 7-2) swept Georgia Tech for its second ACC series sweep.

On Friday, UNC came back from an early 2-0 deficit behind an Alberto Osuna double, Alex Madera single and Cook home run. Dalton Pence iced the Yellow Jackets’ comeback for his second save, helping the Diamond Heels to a 5-4 victory.

North Carolina clinched the series on Saturday, whooping Georgia Tech 11-5. Sunday was more of the same, with UNC winning 9-2.

As a result of its new 5-game win streak, the Diamond Heels jumped six spots to 14th in the latest D1 Baseball rankings.

North Carolina has been able to play at this high level thanks to a balanced hitting attack, as 11 regulars are hitting over .300 and help UNC sport the nation’s 19th-best batting average (.320). The Diamond Heels have 34 home runs and 206 RBIs as a team – Honeycutt leads the team with eight home runs, while Cook’s 37 RBIs are tops.

Pitching hasn’t been nearly as dominant, but it’s significantly better compared to last year. Three regular starters (Jason DeCaro, Olin Johnson, Shea Sprague) have an earned run average under 4.00, Matthew Matthijs leads the NCAA with nine wins while Dalton Pence may just be the best reliever in all of college baseball.

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Diamond Heels drop five spots in latest D1 Rankings

Losing two of three to Miami (FL) last weekend wasn’t too kind for the UNC Baseball team in Monday’s D1 Baseball Rankings.

Heading into last weekend with a 17-2 record and 11 straight wins, the UNC baseball team looked to be one of college’s best in the early going.

North Carolina would face another tough test in the Miami (FL) Hurricanes, who won the College World Series four times and have made 49 NCAA Tournament. The Diamond Heels would go on to get mercy-ruled in Game 1, lost on a walk-off in Game 2, then mercy-rule Miami in the series finale on Sunday.

Even though UNC maintained a 17-4 record, it lost its second series on the year (first was to ECU in February). As a result, North Carolina dropped to 20th in the latest D1 Baseball Rankings.

The Diamond Heels (17-4) sit between fellow ACC program Virginia Tech (18th), plus an SEC school in Mississippi State. The Hokies sit at 14-4, while the Bulldogs are 15-6.

UNC is currently playing UNCW (Tuesday, March 19), then hosts Georgia Teach for a 3-game weekend series. The Yellow Jackets have won their past nine games, including a sweep last weekend of formerly-ranked NC State.

North Carolina needs to come away with a series victory against Georgia Tech. Beating a good team once is a solid effort, but winning series matter a lot this early in conference play.

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