Tag: North Carolina Tar Heels 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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Diamond Heels’ 2024 top hitter, bullpen arm ink professional free agent deals

Two more North Carolina Tar Heels baseball standouts signed with MLB teams on Friday.

The 2024 college baseball season was one to remember for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

UNC brought in one of its best recruiting classes in program history. Returning stars took major jumps, players stepped up in wake of injury and – in a year where over half of the ACC made the NCAA Tournament – North Carolina came out on top with a regular-season championship.

The Diamond Heels didn’t win the ACC Baseball Tournament Championship, but advanced even further – to their first College World Series since 2018. UNC was nearly eliminated from its own regional, but roared back against 2023 CWS champs LSU and advanced to host West Virginia, in the Mountaineers’ first-ever Super Regional.

Going back to that recruiting class, which included transfers and incoming freshman, it was an SEC transfer who ended up being North Carolina’s top hitter.

Parks Harber, who came to Chapel Hill from UGA, led the Diamond Heels with a .343 batting average last year. He was also quite the power threat, hitting 20 home runs (one of two UNC players to do so) and driving in 63 runners.

North Carolina’s bullpen was also a major reason it advanced to the CWS, as you could pick literally anyone to come in and shut down the opposition. In this case, we’re talking about Ben Peterson, the 6’3″ started-turned-reliever senior who finished his year with a 3-2 win-loss record and 4.70 earned run average.

The 2024 MLB Draft also came and went, with six Diamond Heels hearing their names called. Peterson and – surprisingly – Harber didn’t hear their names called.

Peterson and Harber will be playing at the next level, though, as they signed free agent contracts on Friday, July 19.

Harber is the latest slugger to join the storied New York Yankees, who gained their nickname “Bronx Bombers” from their ability to hit home runs at a high clip. Peterson joins the San Francisco Giants.

How long will it take before both are in the major leagues?

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UNC baseball team adds two players from Liberty in transfer portal

North Carolina Tar Heels baseball fans should get excited about the newest outfield addition for next year’s roster.

The North Carolina Tar Heels added two more players to their 2025 roster, using the transfer portal on Wednesday to do so. With the team needing to add some players to the roster, they went to Liberty to get it done.

The Diamond Heels added two players from Liberty as outfielder Kane Kepley, and pitcher Cale Bolton both committed to the Tar Heels. Both followed former manager Scott Jackson to the Tar Heels, as he joined the staff as an assistant coach.

Going into this offseason, North Carolina needed to add some big pieces to the outfield with Vance Honeycutt, Casey Cook, and Anthony Donofrio all being drafted. The UNC star trio combined for 160 starts in 161 appearances last season – not due to the lack of outfield depth, but because each outfielder was simply that good.

In Kepley, they are getting an outfielder who hit .332 and was a second-team All-Conference USA selection this past season. Kepley, who is currently shining in the Cape Cod League this summer, led Liberty in hits, runs and stolen bases last year.

Reece Holbrook, Ryker Galaska, 2-sport athlete Kaleb Cost and Carter French are the only other outfielders listed on the roster, so the Diamond Heels will need to add more recruits and hit the transfer portal – hard.

While North Carolina’s pitching should be strong again next season, the addition of Cale Bolton gives them another option. Although he will need to be better than last season where he finished 2-2 with a 5.08 ERA in 16 appearances out of the bullpen for Liberty.

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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.

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Two key members of UNC pitching staff taken in MLB Draft on Tuesday

Two more Tar Heel baseball players are off the MLB Draft Board.

I’m convinced that if the North Carolina Tar Heels had better starting pitching, they would’ve made a deeper run in the College World Series.

UNC’s first bit of bad news came weeks before its 2024 season started, when it learned senior pitcher Jake Knapp would miss the year with a UCL (elbow) tear. North thought it initially had a freshman ace in Folger Boaz, then he started to struggle and – later – missed the season’s remainder with a left elbow injury.

With the loss of Knapp and Boaz, though, came opportunity. Two junior Diamond Heel pitchers, by the names of Shea Sprague and Aidan Haugh, took full advantage of their opportunities.

Sprague and Haugh became North Carolina’s number two and three starters. Sprague ended his season with a 3-2 record, 4.23 earned run average and 70 strikeouts, which was second most on the team. Haugh compiled a 4-3 record, with his four victories tied for fourth-most on UNC.

It would be great to have the pair back in Chapel Hill next season, but they’ll be elsewhere – for good reason.

On Tuesday, July 16, Sprague and Haugh were picked in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Sprague, originally from Massachusetts, will play professional baseball for his hometown Red Sox.

Haugh, picked three rounds later, heads up to the Twin Cities and joins a promising AL Central squad.

It’d be a full-circle moment if the pair of former Diamond Heels teammates faced off in the future. Are they the last two to go from North Carolina?

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Former conference rivals will be Vance Honeycutt’s new teammates

Is there an ACC baseball pipeline to the Baltimore Orioles?

If you thought the Baltimore Orioles have a thing for UNC baseball players, you’re correct.

Baltimore select Diamond Heels all-time great Vance Honeycutt with the 22nd overall pick in this year’s MLB Draft. Last year, the Orioles took North Carolina third baseman Mac Horvath 53rd overall.

Both Honeycutt and Horvath played together during the 2022 and 2023 UNC campaigns, with the duo bringing an ACC Championship to Chapel Hill in 2022. Horvath is now with the Aberdeen Ironbirds, Baltimore’s High-A affiliate, while Honeycutt waits his assignment.

It’s not just Diamond Heels players the Orioles seemingly have an affinity for.

With Baltimore’s second and third picks in the 2024 MLB Draft, they chose Virginia shortstop Griff O’Ferrall (32nd overall) and catcher Ethan Anderson (61st overall).

The Honeycutt selection is obviously a big deal, but what connection do O’Ferrall and Anderson have to UNC?

Honeycutt, O’Ferrall and Anderson all played against each other in the opening game of the College World Series.

Honeycutt was the star of North Carolina-UVA, walking things off with a 2-out single in the ninth inning and delivering the Diamond Heels a 3-2 victory. O’Ferrall and Anderson hit a combined 1-for-7, with Anderson scoring the Cavaliers’ first run and O’Ferrall driving in their second.

If I had to bet anything, there’ll be a bit of friendly trash talk between the Orioles’ new trio.

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Anthony Donofrio selected by Seattle Mariners

The Pacific Northwest called UNC’s starting right fielder in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Even though the UNC baseball team only had him for one season, Anthony Donofrio put together quite the special year.

Donofrio, who transferred in from Quinnipiac for his final year of college eligibility, immediately made an impact in Chapel Hill with his speed (two stolen bases in opening series). As the Diamond Heels’ season progressed, Donofrio became one of North Carolina’s top hitters, finishing third-best on the team with a .326 batting average.

Like his outfield counterparts in Vance Honeycutt and Casey Cook, Donofrio also had quite the glove. Even with all the tools Donofrio had in his bag, would he play himself into an MLB Draft selection?

Any team can use a speedy, contact-hitting outfielder with a solid glove, especially when that outfielder has a bit of pop (seven home runs, 53 RBIs).

Going back to that earlier question: yes, Donofrio played himself into an MLB Draft choice.

On Monday, July 15, the Seattle Mariners picked Donofrio in the 10th round of the MLB Draft.

Though he struggled in the College World Series, Donofrio mashed a combined, lights-out 9-for-17 in the Chapel Hill Regional and first game of the Chapel Hill Super Regional. His production will be missed, as UNC will need to replace its entire starting outfield.

I’m excited that Donofrio gets this opportunity to play at the next level. We wish him the best!

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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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UNC baseball star Vance Honeycutt selected 22nd overall in 2024 MLB Draft

Vance Honeycutt’s childhood dreams came true on Sunday evening, as he went 22nd overall in the MLB Draft.

The North Carolina Tar Heels knew how special of a baseball player Vance Honeycutt was – from the moment they started recruiting him out of Salisbury (NC) High School.

By the time Honeycutt’s junior season at UNC ended, Honeycutt solidified himself as a first-round MLB Draft pick.

Honeycutt came to Chapel Hill a decorated high school athlete, highlighted by a 2021 state championship and Player of the Year honors in his home county. In Year one as a Diamond Heel, Honeycutt gave us all a glimpse of his potential, hitting for a .296 batting average, while mashing 25 home runs and driving in 57 runners.

Last year, Honeycutt led North Carolina to the College World Series with one of the best individual seasons in program history. He mashed .318 (4th-best on UNC) and drove in 70 runners, but it was his 28 home runs and stolen bases that made history, as Honeycutt became the first player in ACC history to mash 50 career home runs and steal 70 career bases.

In the NCAA Tournament, Honeycutt showcased his clutch hitting abilities with two separate walk-offs. This only boosted Honeycutt’s draft stock further – where exactly to?

On Sunday, July 14, Honeycutt was selected 22nd overall – by the Baltimore Orioles – in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft.

Honeycutt immediately joins a team full of exciting young talent, as Baltimore has the top-ranked farm system in all of baseball, with the likes of 2023 top overall pick Jackson Holliday.

I’m intrigued to see which minor league affiliate Honeycutt is assigned to, though I bet it’ll be either in Single-A with either the Delmarva Shorebirds or Aberdeen IronBirds.

If Honeycutt can continue his hot streak from the NCAA Tournament, he’ll be playing Major League Baseball before we know it.

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UNC highlights ACC dominance across the entire 2023-2024 college sports season

If you include all athletic programs, the ACC is the best conference in college sports.

It seems like whatever sport you talk about last year, the North Carolina Tar Heels enjoyed plenty of sustained success.

UNC’s lone national championship last season came from the field hockey team, which came back to beat Northwestern in a shootout, for its NCAA-leading 11th national title. Women’s tennis, men’s track and field, fencing and men’s golf also won ACC titles – in addition to field hockey.

North Carolina returned to men’s basketball glory during the 2023-2024 campaign, winning its first ACC Regular Season Title since 2018 and making the NCAA Tournament after a year’s absence. Most recently, the Diamond Heels won the ACC Regular Season Championship and made the College World Series.

UNC made its athletic presence felt in the ACC once again, but it wasn’t the conference’s only school to dominate in athletics last season.

To get an idea of the ACC’s dominance, just take a look at this graphic below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9U0XwZzvCq/

ACC is quietly one of the top conferences in women’s basketball, thanks in particular to NC State and Virginia Tech. For people saying the ACC had a “down” year in men’s basketball, five schools – North Carolina, Duke, Clemson, NC State and Virginia all made the NCAA Tournament, all but Virginia won a game and the Wolfpack enjoyed a run to the Final Four.

Every ACC football program but Virginia, Pitt and Wake Forest made a bowl game last year. Florida State was the most successful – despite entering bowl season a perfect 13-0, it didn’t make the College Football Playoff.

With the College Football Playoff being expanded to 12 teams this coming fall, will multiple ACC teams make it?

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