Tag: North Carolina baseball

Five UNC freshmen make the Perfect Game Top-500 list

With baseball just around the corner, five UNC players have been named to Perfect Game’s Top 500 freshmen.

With baseball season just around the corner, there are plenty of campuses nationwide that are excited about the incoming freshmen that their team will put to the test in the upcoming season in search of a championship.

North Carolina in particular, has five standout freshmen who have made their way to campus and will be looking to have an immediate impact on the Tar Heels baseball team in the spring, according to Perfect Game’s list of the top 500 freshmen.

Three of those five players are in the Top 100 and rank very high in their positional rankings.

Shortstop Lee Sowers is the top-ranked freshman for the Heels at No. 81. He is also the No. 2 ranked shortstop in the class. Following Sowers is shortstop Perry Hargett. Hargett is the No. 89 overall recruit and the top shortstop out of the state of North Carolina.

Just one spot down, right-handed pitcher and outfielder Sawyer Black is the No. 90 player on the list and the top-ranked outfield out of our state.

https://twitter.com/PerfectGameUSA/status/1836469884139516025

 

Breaking outside of the top 100, Mitch Wilson is No. 181 and the No. 1 ranked catcher out of South Carolina. The last player on the list is Walker McDuffie who comes in at No. 485 and is the No. 9 ranked pitcher in the state. The future is bright for the Tar Heel baseball team.

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How to buy North Carolina baseball NCAA Super Regional tickets

UNC will host an NCAA Super Regional after late-game heroics against LSU. Limited tickets are now available.

Survive and advance.

The North Carolina Tar Heels did just that on Monday night, defeating defending-champion LSU in extra innings and moving onto the Super Regional stage of the college baseball postseason.

UNC will now host West Virginia in a best of three game matchup, with the winner advancing to the College World Series in Omaha.

SHOP: UNC vs. West Virginia Super Regional tickets

Tickets are already on sale for the Tar Heels’ home matchup with the Mountaineers, including an All-Session pass that grants access to every game of the series.

Tickets for individual Super Regional games are also available.

Cheer on your Diamond Heels in person as they try to advance to the College World Series.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop UNC vs. WVU Super Regional tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/G9dAqqo”]

How to buy North Carolina baseball NCAA Super Regional tickets

UNC will host an NCAA Super Regional after late-game heroics against LSU. Limited tickets are now available.

Survive and advance.

The North Carolina Tar Heels did just that on Monday night, defeating defending-champion LSU in extra innings and moving onto the Super Regional stage of college baseball’s postseason.

UNC will now host West Virginia in a best-of-three game matchup, with the winner advancing to the College World Series in Omaha.

SHOP: UNC vs. West Virginia Super Regional tickets

Tickets are already on sale for the Tar Heels’ home matchup with the Mountaineers, including an All-Session pass that grants access to every game of the series.

Tickets for individual Super Regional games are also available.

Cheer on your Diamond Heels in person as they try to advance to the College World Series.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop UNC vs. WVU Super Regional tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/G9dAqqo”]

Parks Harber picks up three Player of the Week honors

Parks Harber is part of a UNC offense that’s among college baseball’s best in bating average and home runs. Harber more-than-doubled his home run total over the past week.

If you didn’t know Parks Harber’s name before, you’ll definitely know his name after the monster performance he put on last week.

Harber, a Georgia transfer who’s now a starting infielder for UNC, did a little bit of everything at the plate. In four wins (North Carolina A&T, Wake Forest three times), Harber mashed six home runs, registered eight hits and drove in nine runners.

With his six home runs, Harber now leads the Diamond Heels with 10 on the season.

Thanks to his monster weekend against the Preseason Number One team, Harber was named the ACC, D1 Baseball and Perfect Game Player of the Week.

Harber is just one piece of an electric North Carolina offense that ranks 25th nationally in batting average. Seven of the Diamond Heels’ position players are hitting at least .300, led by a torrid .400 mark from Gavin Gallagher.

Not only is UNC doing a phenomenal job at collecting base hits, but players are also hitting the baseball deep. North Carolina is tied for 10th nationally with 51 home runs, as Harber (10), Cook (9), Alberto Osuna, Luke Stevenson and Vance Honeycutt (eight each) lead the team.

With Mac Horvath departing to the MLB Draft last year, Harber has come in as the perfect replacement.

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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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Chicago Cubs choose UNC recruit Zyhir Hope in MLB Draft

Zyhir Hope, commited to play baseball for UNC next Spring, was taken by the Chicago Cubs in the 11th round of the 2023 MLB Draft.

There are a ton of talented players committed to play baseball for the University of North Carolina this coming season.

Those same players, however, are getting chosen in the 2023 MLB Draft.

Just two days after the Minnesota Twins grabbed UNC commit Walker Jenkins with the fifth overall pick, the Chicago Cubs selected UNC commit Zyhir Hope in the 11th round.

While there’s still a possibility Hope dons a Tar Heel Blue uniform next Spring, as he has until Saturday, July 15 to sign with the Cubs, let’s take a deeper dive into the kind of player Carolina might be getting.

Hope finished with an eye-catching .538 batting average during the Spring season for Colonial Forge High School, while smashing nine home runs and recording 38 RBIs. He also turned heads on the basepaths, scoring 35 runs and stealing 29 bases.

According to the same InsideNova article, Hope is a stellar closing pitcher. He notched three saves, struck out 23 batters and pitched to a 1-1 record and 1.25 ERA in 14 innings pitches.

Hope would bring a great balance of speed and power to Chapel Hill, something that could greatly benefit the Tar Heels, particularly with 2023 home run leader Mac Horvath being selected in the second round of the same draft by the Baltimore Orioles.

You can’t blame the kid if he wants to play pro ball, though, particularly for such a historic organization like the Cubs.

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Yankees select UNC catcher Frick in 15th round of MLB Draft

Tomas Frick, the Diamond Heels’ 2023 leader in several offensive categories, was chosen by the New York Yankees in the 2023 MLB Draft.

The University of North Carolina baseball team’s leading hitter from 2023 might be packing his bags and heading north to play pro ball.

Tomas Frick, tops on the Diamond Heels in batting average (.322), hits (75) and doubles (22) last season, was nabbed by the New York Yankees on Tuesday, July 11 in the 15th round of the MLB Draft.

Frick, a 3-year ACC starter, was one of just three Heels to record a hit in each game of the 2023 Terre Haute Regional. UNC beat Wright State for its lone regional victory, but lost two to the University of Iowa.

This selection means that Frick, should he decide to sign a contract, is joining professional baseball’s most historic organization in The Bronx. The Yankees, despite their league-leading 27 World Series titles, haven’t been back since they beat the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009.

Frick, a junior, has a couple more seasons of college eligibility left. The COVID-19 pandemic cut short athletes’ 2020-2021 campaign – they now get six seasons to complete in their sport.

UNC could certainly use Frick behind the dish next year, as none of the other three catchers on the roster (Eric Grintz, Dylan King, Max Reimer) hit above .250.

While Frick has until Saturday, July 15 to sign, it’d be pretty tough to pass up a roster spot on the Yanks.

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Pirates possibly entertaining UNC commit Walker Jenkins at top pick

There’s a strong possibility that UNC baseball commit Walker Jenkins will be the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top overall selection in the MLB draft.

Walker Jenkins continues to be one of the hottest names in this year’s MLB Draft, as the UNC baseball commit and two-time Gatorade N.C. Player of the Year put together an impressive high school career that has him near the top of draft boards.

According to BaseballAmerica senior writer Kyle Glaser, there’s an increasing possibility that Jenkins might be the first overall player selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Though Jenkins will no-doubt be taken Top 10, why is he suddenly a possibility to go number one over the likes of LSU pitcher Paul Skenes (Golden Spikes Winner), LSU outfielder Dylan Crews and University of Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford?

This is because the Pirates are shopping a below-slot number to Jenkins. If the Pirates pick Jenkins below-slot, they have more money to use on later draft picks.

If Jenkins chooses not to sign with the Pirates, Pittsburgh’s slot value is removed from the bonus pool. It’s pretty tough to turn down the distinction of being a top overall pick, though.

Glaser says there’s a lot of belief Langford will be taken over Jenkins, but fans won’t know until the draft kicks off tonight at 7 p.m.

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UNC baseball commit Walker Jenkins mocked to go Top 10

Walker Jenkins is likely to forgo his commitment to play baseball at UNC for a top-10 selection in tonight’s MLB Draft.

One of the biggest names fans are talking about ahead of tonight’s MLB Draft is South Brunswick (N.C.) High School outfielder Walker Jenkins, two-time Gatorade N.C. Player of the Year.

The 18-year old from Southport, who is currently committed to play baseball at UNC next year, is widely-regarded as the best high school player available.

Look at his numbers alone. According to GameChanger, Jenkins hit for a career .469 and recorded 97 hits across four varsity seasons, mashed 16 home runs, drove in 61 RBIs and stole 47 bases. Jenkins also showed plenty of discipline as a high school hitter, drawing 66 walks to just 19 strikeouts.

In his junior season, Jenkins helped the South Brunswick Cougars to a 25-5 (11-3) record, the Mideastern 3A/4A conference title and an appearance in the NCHSAA 3A state title series against South Rowan. South Brunswick won Game 1, 4-3, behind a 2-for-4, 1-RBI performance from Jenkins, but South Rowan took the next two.

Jenkins is a tall, powerful lefty who can hit the ball to any field and has a strong arm. Watch a couple of Jenkins’ highlights from last year – he’s got a good set of wheels on himself, too.

According to Keith Law’s latest MLB Mock Draft, Jenkins is currently projected to go 7th overall to the Cincinnati Reds. He’d be a good fit in Southwestern Ohio – not only because of his talent, but the fact that the Reds only have three listed outfielders on their active roster – Will Benson, Jake Fraley and TJ Friedl.

In other words, the likelihood of Jenkins ever stepping foot on UNC’s campus again is slim-to-none.

Jenkins wouldn’t start out in the MLB, but if his skills transition smoothly from the amateur to the professional level, he could see himself on a major league roster in a year or two.

Jenkins would be a huge boost to the Tar Heels’ lineup, especially with another power-speed threat in current Tar Heel Mac Horvath slated to be selected tonight.

If you’re projected to go top-10 in the draft, though, it’s pretty hard to turn that selection down.

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