Tag: Mac Horvath

Former UNC baseball standout Mac Horvath traded to Tampa Bay Rays

Mac Horvath put together quite the career at UNC. He was a second-round 2023 MLB Draft Pick, but was recently traded to a new team on Friday.

Before Vance Honeycutt became the featured star on UNC’s baseball roster, there was a promising third baseman by the name of Mac Horvath, who came from Minnesota but played his high school baseball at IMG Academy in Florida.

Horvath actually didn’t play too well in his 2021 freshman campaign, hitting just .227 with only five home runs and 22 RBIs. He started to gain some MLB Draft attention in 2023, though, leading North Carolina to an ACC Tournament Championship by improving to register a .268 batting average, 18 home runs, 53 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.

Horvath saved his best season for 2023, which the Diamond Heels really needed, as he set career highs with a .305 batting average, 24 home runs, 66 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. The Baltimore Orioles were impressed by Horvath’s junior campaign, taking him 53rd overall (second round) in the 2023 MLB Draft.

As the sports world today goes, though, players are constantly moving teams via free agency and trades.

Horvath was subjected to the latter on Friday, July 26, as Baltimore traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Horvath, who was hitting .232 (63-for-271) with nine home runs and 41 RBIs with the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds, will now suit up for the High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods. He joins a team currently tied for first place in the South Atlantic League’s South Division.

If Horvath rises quickly through Tampa Bay’s farm system, which is consistently ranked amongst baseball’s best, he’ll be playing minutes from Boshamer Stadium with the Durham Bulls.

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Vance Honeycutt pick second straight year Baltimore Orioles choose from UNC

Mac Horvath and Vance Honeycutt share this unique MLB Draft Distinction.

UNC baseball fans had their eyes glued to the TV on Sunday, July 14, wondering where all-time program great Vance Honeycutt would go in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Early-season mock drafts had Honeycutt going Top 10, while a recent one had him 13th overall to the San Francisco Giants.

After waiting for nearly two hours, Honeycutt went 22nd overall to the Baltimore Orioles. With an NCAA Tournament that included two walk-offs – a home run in Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional, then a ninth-inning single against Virginia in the College World Series, Honeycutt slipping was a bit surprising.

If you go back and look at Honeycutt’s career numbers, though, he struck out 224 times. More strikeouts are to be expected for power hitters, but that number is concerning.

Regardless, Honeycutt is a steal of the draft based on his selection. He also wasn’t the lone former Tar Heel heading to Baltimore via the MLB Draft.

In the second round of last year’s MLB Draft, the Orioles chose North Carolina third baseman Mac Horvath.

Honeycutt and Horvath played together in each of the 2022 and 2023 seasons, sharing an ACC Baseball Championship Title in 2022. The star duo led UNC to a Super Regional in 2022, only for Arkansas to win that and advance to the College World Series.

Judging from his post above, you can bet Diamond Heels head coach Scott Forbes is a happy camper.

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Former UNC baseball star named to MLB Pipeline’s Team of the Week

North Carolina baseball fans likely remember Mac Horvath. The now-Baltimore Orioles prospect recently enjoyed his best week of the season.

The North Carolina Tar Heels’ baseball team is doing exactly what programs crave all season: playing its best baseball at the right time.

On Sunday, May 12, UNC (39-11, 20-7) won its sixth-consecutive game and clinched its first ACC Coastal Division title since 2018. These win totals have North Carolina atop the ACC as a whole – both in overall and conference victories.

The Diamond Heels are hitting .315 as a team, which ranks 16th in the nation. Eight hitters are mashing a minimum .300 – when was the last time you saw that?

There’s also several former UNC standouts enjoying their pro ball seasons. Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen might be the most easily recognizable name, but all the attention this week is on Mac Horvath, who starred in Chapel Hill from 2021-2023.

Horvath, selected 53rd overall (second round) by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2023 MLB Draft, was named to the MLB Pipeline’s latest Prospect Team of the Week.

Horvath, a member of the Aberdeen IronBirds (Baltimore’s High-A affiliate), earned his spot by going 5-for-13 over games from May 7-11. He scored six times, added a home run, two RBIs and four walks.

Horvath started to gain some MLB Draft attention before North Carolina’s 2022 campaign, but didn’t solidify himself as a top prospect until his breakout season in 2023, mashing a career-best .305 while adding 24 home runs and 66 RBIs.

Can Horvath climb up the Oriole ranks this year like fellow top prospect Jackson Holliday?

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Vance Honeycutt’s big night ties him with Mac Horvath on UNC home run list

How many more home runs can star UNC outfielder Vance Honeycutt mash this season?

After sweeping Wake Forest on the road last weekend and earning a Top-10 ranking, the UNC baseball team hasn’t been able to find that same rhythm in two losses this weekend against UVA.

There’s been no shortage of offense this weekend, as North Carolina has put up 13 runs in two games. Most of the Diamond Heels’ Thursday runs came from singles, doubles and triples, while both Friday runs resulted from homers.

Both of the Friday homers came from All-Star center fielder Vance Honeycutt, who was held hitless on Thursday.

Honeycutt’s first jack got UNC on the board (3-1) in the third inning, while his second round-tripper closed UNC’s deficit to 3-2 in the sixth.

Not only was Honeycutt’s 2-home run game his first since the 2022 ACC Championship game, but it also moved him into a tie with Mac Horvath for third on North Carolina’s all-time list.

Horvath was quite the hitter at UNC, mashing 47 home runs and driving in 141 runs. He was selected in the second round of last year’s MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, playing currently with the high-A Aberdeen Ironbirds.

Honeycutt will likely join Horvath in the minors next year, as Honeycutt’s projected to be a first-round pick in this summer’s MLB Draft. The two are tied in homers, but Honeycutt also has 131 RBIs.

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Former Tar Heels standout Mac Horvath records hit in Single-A debut

Former UNC baseball standout Mac Horvath recorded a hit in his first Single-A game. Horvath was selected 53rd overall in the 2023 MLB Draft.

If the UNC baseball team didn’t have Mac Horvath manning the hot corner over the past three seasons, it’s tough to say how many games the Diamond Heels would’ve won.

Carolina’s had plenty of talent come through Boshamer Stadium over the years – anyone from Andrew Miller between 2004-2006, to Horvath the last three seasons.

Horvath is a rare mix of speed and power. He led the Heels with 24 home runs, 66 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. Horvath went from a .227 hitter his freshman campaign to .305 last season, one of six Tar Heels to reach the .300 mark (Patrick Alvarez, Tomas Frick, Casey Cook, Hunter Stokely, Jackson Van De Brake).

Year three in Chapel Hill was convincing enough for the Baltimore Orioles to select Horvath 53rd overall (2nd round) in the 2023 MLB Draft.

After playing in several games with the FCL (Florida Complex League) Orioles, he was called up to Single-A Delmarva on Tuesday, Aug. 8. He’s already showing Baltimore why they made a good decision in drafting him:

Horvath, who enjoyed this 1-hit, 2-walk night, is back in North Carolina with his new team. The Shorebirds are currently in Zebulon for a 6-game series with the Carolina Mudcats – they’ll matchup again Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Tar Heel fans – if you want to see one of the best players in recent years, you have three golden chances.

Here’s to hoping Horvath will be in the major leagues before the Orioles know it.

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UNC baseball standout Horvath officially signs with Orioles

Mac Horvath, who led the UNC baseball team in home runs, RBIs and slugging percentage in 2023, officially signed with the Baltimore Orioles.

There’s been a lot of great third basemen to put on a Baltimore Orioles uniform – World Series champion Brooks Robinson, current San Diego Padre Manny Machado and early 2000’s stalwart Melvin Mora .

Yesterday, the Orioles added another star third baseman to their already-impressive history at the hot corner, officially signing Tar Heel Baseball standout and 2023 second-round MLB Draft pick Mac Horvath.

Horvath signed his deal for $1.4 million, just below the 53rd overall pick’s $1,582,900 value.

The Diamond Heels’ 2023 season ended in their third game of the Terre Haute Regional, a heart-breaking, 6-5 extra-inning loss to the University of Iowa. Injuries – particularly the one to star center fielder Vance Honeycutt – and inconsistency in the bullpen plagued them in several defeats.

Horvath, a rare power-speed threat, was the shining light for UNC in its up-and-down season. He led Carolina with 24 home runs, 76 RBIs, a .711 slugging percentage and 25 stolen bases. He mashed 73 hits and 21 doubles, finishing second in both categories behind fellow Tar Heel draft pick Tomas Frick.

Horvath spent time at the historic Camden Yards after inking his contract, watching his new team take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in a battle of playoff hopefuls. He gave UNC a shoutout in the MASN booth, sharing with the Orioles’ broadcast team that he didn’t know Carolina had a baseball team during his initial recruitment.

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UNC baseball standout Mac Horvath selected by Baltimore Orioles

UNC baseball standout Mac Horvath has been drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the MLB draft.

North Carolina baseball standout Mac Horvath had to wait a little longer than he wanted to but he heard his name called on Sunday night during the MLB draft.

Horvath was selected in the second round of the draft by the Baltimore Orioles at No. 53 overall. The third baseman earned second-team All-ACC honors this past season, helping lead the Tar Heels to the NCAA Tournament.

He also became the first UNC player to record at least 20 home runs, 20 doubles, and 20 steals in the same season. He hit .305 with a .418 OBP, 1.129 OPS, 24 home runs, 21 doubles, and 25 stolen bases.

Horvath being selected No. 53 overall makes him the highest-drafted UNC player since Aaron Sabato was taken 27th overall in the 2020 MLB draft.

As for where he will play in the big leagues, that’s still to be determined. But Horvath recently spoke on the topic and believes his best fit is in the outfield rather than playing infield at third base.

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Where will Carolina baseball star Mac Horvath play professionally?

Mac Horvath, who lead the UNC baseball team in home runs and stoles bases this year, predicts what team will pick him in the 2023 MLB Draft.

If you were to ask a UNC baseball fan, “who is the team’s best player,” the first answer might be Vance Honeycutt.

The rising junior, a highlight reel catch-making, power-hitting center fielder has been a model of production through his first two seasons in baby blue, reaching the 100 RBI mark and recording an impressive .984 fielding percentage with just five errors.

Another popular answer you might hear for “best UNC baseball player” happens to man the hot corner – third base.

That man is no other than Rochester, Minnesota’s talented Mac Horvath, who boosted his MLB Draft stock tremendously with an impressive junior campaign.

Look at the numbers alone from Horvath’s 2022-2023 season – a .305 batting average (fifth on UNC), 73 hits (second), 21 doubles (second), 24 home runs (first, double Honeycutt and Tomas Frick’s second-place HR total), 66 RBI (first) and 25 stolen bases (first).

With the MLB Draft kicking off later today, let’s take a deeper dive into where Horvath thinks he’ll play in the big leagues.

Horvath, who played primarily third base at Carolina, sees himself as more of a center fielder in the pros.

“I feel comfortable at third base and every outfield spot, but when I think of myself in the big leagues, I see myself as center fielder,” Horvath said, according to TwinsDaily.

For a guy who played third base primarily in college, why would Horvath make this switch at the highest level of American baseball? It would make sense if Horvath wanted to switch to another infield position as a professional, as he played shortstop and pitched in high school.

The two greatest reasons for Horvath’s possible switch – his speed and strong arm. Having solid speed is paramount to tracking fly balls in the outfield and, possibly, preventing singles and doubles from turning into triples or inside-the-park home runs. A cannon for an arm, also needed at the hot corner, can help an outfielder beat a tagging baserunner to home plate.

What team is Horvath going to play for, though?

Twins Daily’s JD Cameron’s Consensus Big Board ranks him as the 74th-ranked draft-eligible player, meaning he’d land on the Cincinnati Reds in the third round. While Horvath would start somewhere in the Minor Leagues if drafted by Cincy, he’d likely join an already-talented Reds infield of Elly De La Cruz and Jonathan India in a few years.

If the draft were up to Horvath, however, he’d go to his favorite childhood team, the Chicago Cubs, or his hometown Twins. In the TwinsDaily article, Horvath highlighted that his favorite players growing up were former twins Brian Dozier and future Hall of Famer Joe Mauer.

“To think I could be playing at Target Field, where it’s just an hour’s drive for my family to be there, it would definitely be special,” Horvath said, according to TwinsDaily.

The Twins own the fifth overall, 34th, 49th, 82nd, 114th, 150th and later-round picks, while the Cubs select 13th overall, 68th, 81st, 113th, 149th and also in the later rounds.

Regardless of where Horvath lands up, that team is going to be getting a stud who can mash the ball, run with blazing speed and save scoring with his arm.

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Mac Horvath cracks the top 25 of D1Baseball Midseason rankings

After a historic season, Mac Horvath cracks the top 25 of D1Baseball Midseason Top 150 College Prospect rankings.

After a historic season, North Carolina Tar Heel [autotag]Mac Horvath[/autotag] has jumped up 38 spots in the latest D1Baseball’s Midseason Top 150 College Prospect rankings.

Horvath comes in on the list ranked 25th after a season of writing his name in UNC history. Horvath penciled his name in after being the first ACC player to have 20 home runs, 20 doubles, and 20 stolen bases in a single season in 24 years. He joined Florida State’s Marshall McDougall, who accomplished similar stats in 1999.

This past season was fruitful for Horvath. He also had a historic four-game stretch where he became the first Tar Heel in UNC history with 19 RBIs in four games. He is also one of two Tar Heels in UNC history with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season.

Horvath growth this season was displayed, and now he is getting clear recognition for it. He was named first-team All-Atlantic and is currently mocked as a first-round pick.

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Mac Horvath being mocked as a first round pick

UNC baseball standout Mac Horvath is seeing his stock on the rise ahead of the 2023 MLB draft.

The 2023 MLB Amateur draft is set to start on July 9th as teams will add more prospects to their farm systems in hopes of landing the next superstar.

For one North Carolina Tar Heels player, his stock took a big bump this season and he could find himself selected as early as the first round come July. Mac Horvath is UNC’s top prospect going into next month’s draft and the latest mock from Bleacher Report has him going No. 32 overall to the New York Mets.

It would be a Competitive Balance Round A pick as the Mets moved back due to exceeding the luxury-tax mark.

This could be a good fit for Horvath who has experience playing in both the infield and outfield, which helps his value. His bat is also a strength but is an area in which he could improve on.

Last season, Horvath accomplished a rare feat by becoming the first UNC player to record 20 stolen bases, 20 home runs, and 20 doubles in the same season.

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