Tag: unc baseball

Vance Honeycutt officially signs with Baltimore Orioles

Vance Honeycutt interviews like a seasoned MLB veteran. Can he play like one, too?

It’s difficult to imagine anyone having a better summer than Vance Honeycutt, the former UNC baseball star who is arguably the greatest player in program history.

Way back in May and June, Honeycutt hit a pair of walk-offs to advance the Diamond Heels further in the NCAA Tournament.

Last month – on Sunday, July 14 to be exact – Honeycutt was the Baltimore Orioles’ 22nd overall (first-round) selection in the 2024 MLB Draft. He gives Baltimore yet another young power-hitting, speedy, Gold Glove-caliber outfielder in an already deep farm system.

The Orioles had until 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 1 to sign Honeycutt – and did so moments before the deadline.

“The Orioles agreed to an over-slot deal of $4 million with Honeycutt,” MLB.com staff wrote. The college outfielder sports some of the strongest tools in the class, but needs to cut down his strikeout rate.”

Honeycutt’s summer got even better after his lucrative signing, as he spoke to media in his first interview as a professional player.

Though he’s a young, 22-year-old rookie, I like to think Honeycutt interviewed like a pro. He just signed, so he hasn’t been assigned to one of Baltimore’s minor league affiliates yet, but I’d imagine he starts with the High-A Aberdeen Ironbirds – like his former teammate Mac Horvath.

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Diamond Heels nab yet another Liberty baseball standout in transfer portal

UNC baseball starting catcher Luke Stevenson will have some help behind the plate in 2025.

If the 2024 college baseball offseason has told Tar Heel Nation anything, it’s that UNC appears to be a hot destination for former Liberty University coaches and players.

Back on July 11, North Carolina added former Liberty head coach Scott Jackson to its staff. Jackson, who previously was an assistant coach and the Diamond Heels’ recruiting coordinator from 2009-2016, will have those same duties again.

Shortly after Jackson announced he’d be returning to Chapel Hill, two of his former players – Kane Kepley and Cale Bolton – followed suit. Kepley, an outfielder and Bolton, a pitcher, give UNC some much-needed reinforcements after several players were chosen in the 2024 MLB Draft.

If you thought that Jackson, Kepley and Bolton were the only Flames to become Diamond Heels, think again.

North Carolina snagged some much-needed help for starting catcher Luke Stevenson on Saturday, July 27, as former Liberty starting catcher Macaddin Dye announced he’d be coming to Chapel Hill.

Dye, entering his sophomore season like Stevenson, was a member of the Conference USA All-Freshman team last year. Dye also hit .274 with seven home runs and 51 RBIs, plus he sported a strong .992 fielding percentage.

Stevenson started 63 of the Diamond Heels’ 64 games behind the plate last season. Though Stevenson continued to produce and will start a bunch in 2025, Dye gives him a nice complement and break when needed.

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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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Where is the UNC Baseball team ranked in the 2025 Way-Too-Early Top 25?

Four rising sophomores have the Diamond Heels ranked pretty highly in these 2025 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings.

It’ll be tough to forget the North Carolina Tar Heels’ run to the 2024 College World Series.

UNC compiled one of its best teams in recent memory, headlined by 5-tool center fielder Vance Honeycutt and the ACC’s top recruiting class. As the year progressed, North Carolina learned it had one of the country’s most dangerous batting orders – thank you, Casey Cook and Parks Harber – plus an exceptional bullpen led by Matthew Matthijs and Dalton Pence.

The Diamond Heels faced plenty of drama in the NCAA Tournament: almost losing the first game of their Regional, then facing elimination against LSU heading into the Regional Final. UNC also trailed West Virginia late in Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional, plus ACC rival Virginia late in both teams’ CWS opener, but came back to win all four contests – on walk-offs.

North Carolina lost a lot of talent from its 2024 run. Honeycutt, Cook, Pence, Anthony Donofrio, Shea Sprague and Aidan Haugh – all starters – were picked in the 2024 MLB Draft, while bullpen arm Cameron Padgett and starting first baseman Park Harber signed free agent deals.

Despite all this, UNC returns a lot of young talent from. That’s why the Diamond Heels are ranked 12th in Baseball America’s 2025 “Way Too Early” Top 25 rankings.

“UNC, this spring, won the ACC and advanced to the College World Series,” Baseball America’s Tommy Cahill wrote. “It has a solid core returning, built around Freshmen All-Americans Jason DeCaro and Luke Stevenson. Third baseman Gavin Gallaher is also back and getting starter Folger Boaz back to full health would be big. But UNC also has a lot to replace. Vance Honeycutt was arguably the best player in program history and must be replaced. UNC also lost All-American closer Dalton Pence, starter Shea Sprague and outfielder Casey Cook, its leading hitter.”

When an April elbow injury forced Boaz to miss the rest of his freshman season, Jason DeCaro became the pitching staff’s ace, finishing his freshman campaign with a 6-1 win-loss record, 3.81 earned run average and a team-best 78 strikeouts.

Power-hitting catcher Luke Stevenson returns a .281 batting average, 14 home runs and 58 RBIs, while Gavin Gallaher – best known for his walk-off in the North Carolina-Long Island University clash during the Chapel Hill Regional – hit .314, mashed eight home runs and drove in 38 runners last season.

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Chapel Hill Regional star Gavin Gallaher highlights the joys of playing summer baseball

UNC baseball fans remember the name Gavin Gallaher well. What famous league is he playing in this summer?

Even a month removed from college baseball season, I still have flashbacks to the North Carolina Tar Heels’ memorable run.

UNC was the fourth national seed heading into the NCAA Tournament, but nearly fell into the elimination bracket of its own regional. North Carolina trailed by three runs heading into its half of the ninth inning, then walked off Long Island University on Gavin Gallaher’s grand slam.

After the season ends, it’s common to see players spending July and August playing in summer collegiate baseball leagues. There’s a variety of these leagues across the country, from the California Collegiate League to the Appalachian League.

One of the most famous collegiate summer leagues is the Cape Cod Baseball League, with all 10 teams in Massachusetts. This league typically carries the top collegiate players, including several former and current UNC standouts.

There’s one current UNC standout playing in the CCBL you might recognize from 2024 heroics – Gallaher himself.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9xhJwJRKQs/

In 19 games with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, Gallaher is hitting .226 with two home runs and 13 RBIs.

Believe it or not, Gallaher began his freshman season coming off the bench. That didn’t last long, as Gallaher compiled a .314 batting average, while hitting eight home runs and driving in 38 runners. He was one of six Diamond Heels to hit a minimum .300, a major reason they made their 13th College World Series in program history.

Gallaher will be one of few returning starters on North Carolina’s 2025 baseball squad.

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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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