Tag: North Carolina baseball

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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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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UNC Baseball: Would Tar Heels have advanced further with Honeycutt?

The loss of star outfielder Vance Honeycutt was felt for the UNC baseball program in the postseason.

The University of North Carolina baseball program made its sixth-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament during the 2023 season, marking its longest streak since a string of 13 straight between the 2002-2014 campaigns.

Making matters more impressive, the Diamond Heels continued this streak without 2023 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, leadoff hitter, starting center fielder and career 100-RBI producer Vance Honeycutt, who missed the season’s final 10 games due to a lower-back injury.

The Tar Heels faced elimination after losing their Terre Haute (Ind.) Regional opener, a 5-4 heartbreaker against the University of Iowa on Friday, June 2. UNC punched back the next day to eliminate Wright State with a 5-0 win, then got another crack at the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Carolina took an early, 2-0 lead on a Casey Cook home run, then saw it disappear. Carolina later sent the game to extras on third baseman Mac Horvath’s bomb, but Iowa scored in the top of the 13th and ended the Heels’ season by holding them scoreless in the home half.

Though the Diamond Heels received plenty of offensive contributions from their starters in this game and continued their postseason streak, one has to wonder: how far would they have made it with Honeycutt?

Before head coach Scott Forbes announced he would miss the regional, Honeycutt had 49 hits in 50 games started. That’s almost a hit per game. He added 12 home runs, 43 RBIs and showcased his speed with 19 stoles bases.  Honeycutt also continued thriving in the field, recording a .986 fielding percentage and continuing to make SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays with his highlight-reel catches.

Patrick Alvarez recorded two hits in the opener against Iowa, then went 0-8 the rest of the regional. Power bat Alberto Osuna notched a team-high three RBIs in the opener, but didn’t drive in another run (or get a hit) in the remainder of the regional. Horvath went 4-for-9 with four RBIs in the final two games of the regional, but started 0-for-4. Tomas Frick and Hunter Stokely were the only two Tar Heels to record hits in each game.

UNC had the offensive talent to advance to win a Regional for the second straight year, but came up just a couple games short.

It’s hard not to wonder if Honeycutt’s bat would’ve aided the Diamond Heels in reaching the next round.

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UNC Baseball vs. Virginia Cavaliers: How to watch ACC Tournament battle

Here’s how to watch Thursday’s ACC Tournament matchup between UNC and UVA.

The North Carolina Tar Heels’ road to being crowned the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Champions continues Thursday afternoon in Durham as they take on the Virginia Cavaliers.

UNC, in pool B, cranked off their first game of the ACC tournament with a monstrous hitting performance, beating the Yellow Jackets 11-5. The Cavaliers took on Georgia Tech the following day, highlighting the Yellow Jacket’s struggles from the mound with an explosive 15-1 win.

When UNC played the Cavaliers earlier this season, they won the final game of the three-game series, giving the Cavaliers a goose egg in the process. Both teams will rely on their hitting to lead the way, so North Carolina’s bullpen will be crucial in this game.

UNC-VIRGINIA TV, RADIO, AND STREAMING INFORMATION

WHEN: Thursday, May 25 at 3:00 p.m., ET

LOCATION: Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina

TV: ACCN (Watch and stream the game live on ESPN+)

SATELLITE RADIO: SiriusXM

WEBSITE: fuboTV (try it free)

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