Tag: UNC Tar Heels Baseball

Diamond Heels announce Opening Weekend rotation

The UNC baseball team’s Opening Weekend rotation will be highlighted by a vet and two freshmen. Game 1 is Friday at 4 p.m. ET.

It’s the middle of February and – chances are – it’s likely still cold where you live.

It’s the middle of February and – baseball is upon us?!

You got that right.

On Friday, Feb. 16, college baseball teams across the country will begin their quest for a College World Series Title. You’ll have the expected contenders, like LSU and Wake Forest, plus teams who’ll try to play spoiler as underdogs.

One team projected to have another strong season is UNC. The Diamond Heels have made the past six NCAA Tournaments, including a Super Regional they hosted in 2022, but have no CWS Titles to show for those runs.

With North Carolina kicking off its season on Friday, Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. against Wagner College, let’s meet the starting pitching rotation – Folger Boaz, Ben Peterson and Olin Johnson.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3YfP9auA6O/

It’s rare to see two freshman start, particularly on Opening Weekend, but this shows UNC head coach Scott Forbes has a lot of trust in his young guys.

Boaz, the younger brother of former Tar Heels quarterback Jefferson Boaz, was quite the ace at East Surry (NC) High School. The 2022-2023 NCHSAA Athlete of the Year, Folger dominated the scholastic scene with a 26-1 record, 1.28 earned run average and 320 pitching strikeouts. He also led the Cardinals to a state championship appearance in 2021.

Despite his 5.40 ERA last season, Peterson was one of four UNC pitchers to finish the 2023 campaign undefeated (3-0). Peterson struck out 30 batters across 35 innings pitched – he’ll look to translate his success in relief to a solid, starting role.

Johnson, the 6’6″ right-hander from the state of Washington, played his final two years of high school baseball in Tennessee. He led McCallie School to a state championship his junior year, plus was named 2023 TSSAA DII-AA East Region Pitcher of the Year last season.

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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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Vance Honeycutt mocked to go Top 20 in 2024 MLB Draft

UNC baseball star Vance Honeycutt, who missed the final 10 games of 2023 due to injury, is projected to go Top 20 in the 2023 MLB Draft.

UNC baseball player Vance Honeycutt had his 2023 sophomore season cut short by the one thing any athlete hopes to avoid – injury – missing the Heels’ final 10 games and their run to the Terre Haute Regional.

Honeycutt saw his average dip a bit compared to freshman year, hitting just .257, but he still mashed at the plate with 49 hits (one of eight Tar Heels to reach 40), 12 home runs (second on team), 43 RBIs. His 19 stolen bases were second to only Mac Horvath, the Baltimore Orioles’ second round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Honeycutt was even named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and also Third Team All-ACC, making just two errors all season.

In the midst of what will be the most crucial offseason of his scholastic sports career, Honeycutt finds himself as a projected Top-20 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, according to MLB.com Jonathan Mayo’s latest mock draft.

Mayo has Honeycutt going 18th overall to the Boston Red Sox. If that holds up, he’d be joining a squad with a young, talented outfield core in Alex Verdugo, Jarren Duran and Masataka Yoshida.

Here’s what Mayo had to say about Honeycutt and his draft potential:

“Honeycutt might end up being a polarizing prospect next year. On the one hand, the power-speed combination is real, with 25 homers and 29 steals in 2022 and double-digits in both categories this past year. But there might be questions about his hit tool, with a 25.5 percent strikeout rate in his two years with the Tar Heels.”

Honeycutt’s freshman season (2022) was one of the best among college baseball players – he hit .296, smacked 25 home runs, drove in 57 runs and stole 29 bases. UNC advanced all the way to host their own Super Regional, against Arkansas, before watching its season end in three, hard-fought games.

With Horvath and Frick gone to the draft, the Heels are going to need a healthy, productive Honeycutt if they want to go dancing in the College World Series.

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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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Diamond Heels fall to Miami in series loss at home

Diamond Heels lose two out of three games, falling against Miami in the series.

The Diamond Heels were in action this weekend, taking on the Miami Hurricanes at the Bosh for a three-game series.

The series comes on the heels of North Carolina’s 10-6 victory over Queens University. Unsurprisingly, this series had its battles for UNC, displaying the teams’ overall fight with weather delays and extra innings playing a role in the series.

Game one: Miami 5, UNC 4

Despite North Carolina coming out of the gates strong with four runs in the third inning, that is all they could muster up the entire game. Meanwhile, Miami put in two runs in the third inning, one in the fourth and one in the sixth, snagging the victory in the ninth thanks to a bunt RBI.

Game two: UNC 9, Miami 8 11inn.

Game two would take two days due to the game being suspended Friday due to weather. It picked up in the eighth inning, tied at seven a piece, and was a back-and-forth contest needing extra innings to decide the winner. The Tar Heels showed major fight, coming back twice.

In the bottom of the 10th inning, Casey Cook tied the ball game with a home run on two out count. The game would get to the 11th inning, still tied at eight a piece, when Hunter Stokely walked it off for the Tar Heels to take game two and even the series 1-1.

Game three: Miami 4, UNC 3

Game three kicked off an hour after game two, and it was sluggish throughout for the Tar Heels. UNC struck first in the second inning, with Johnny Castagnozzi bringing in Tomas Frick for the 1-0 lead. However, Miami would answer the next inning with three runs before adding another two in the fifth. UNC did attempt a comeback in the sixth inning, with Frick hitting a two-run signal to bring UNC back within one. But, unfortunately, that was all she wrote, with UNC failing to muster up any points giving Miami game three and the series win.

After the series, UNC finds themselves at 24-12 with a 9-7 conference record. The loss likely will move UNC in the polls, making their next few games critical to get back up the standings.

On Tuesday, UNC will be back in action to host the Charlotte 49ers on dollar dog night.

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Grand slam powers Diamond Heels past Notre Dame

The Diamond Heels steal game one of the three-game series thanks to a Johnny Castagnozzi grand slam.

The Diamond Heels traveled to South Bend to take on Notre Dame, and It ended in fireworks as junior in-fielder [autotag]Johnny Castagnozzi[/autotag] hit a grand slam in the ninth inning, leading to a comeback victory for UNC.

UNC took game one of the three-game series but it came with its sweats. Notre dame was in complete control before Castagnozzi knocked it out of the park, leading 8-4 heading into the ninth inning.

Colby Wilkerson got things going first for UNC in the inning with a 395-foot shot to bring UNC within three. Jackson Van De Brak helped the comeback efforts a few bats later with an RBI single.

The Tar Heels were within two with bases loaded when Castagnozzi approached the plate. Dramatically, Castagnozzi had three balls and two strikes on him before the in-fielder cracked the ball out to the scoreboard for a grand slam and eventual UNC victory.

Despite a dreadful pitching performance, the Diamond Heels stole game one, 10-8. North Carolina will be back on Saturday against Notre Dame for game two.

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Diamond Heels host Bark At The Bosh

The Diamond Heels held #BarkAtTheBosh, where fans brought their furry friends to enjoy an evening of baseball.

What is better than watching the Diamond Heels in 60-degree, sunny weather with Carolina blue skies? Adding furry friends to join in on the action.

The North Carolina baseball team created this perfect combination by hosting #BarkAtTheBosh. They welcomed fans and their dogs to the stadium, giving away a free UNC bandanna to the first 100 dogs. To make the deal even sweeter, it took place on two for Tuesday, giving fans a significant discount for tickets, serving as a one-for-two deal.

As a new dog owner, I took the Diamond Heels up on their hard-to-resist offer by leaving the press box and heading to section 116 to enjoy the atmosphere, characterized by cheers and barks amidst a sea of Carolina blue.

A game that usually can drag did anything but that with dogs meeting one another while fans captured it all through social. Not only did the dogs get a treat so did the owners, as the Diamond Heels won 6-4, improving to 16-5 on the season.

The next #BarkAtTheBosh will take place May 9th against Gardner-Webb.

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UNC baseball finishes season as consensus top-15 team

UNC baseball finishes the season as a consensus top-15 team in the country following a trip to the NCAA Tournament’s Super Regional round.

The UNC baseball program had a terrific turnaround to the 2022 season and because of that, ends the season as a consensus top-15 team in the country.

The Tar Heels finished the season 42-22 and played host to a Regional and Super Regional in the NCAA Tournament. They would eventually lose to Arkansas 2-0 in the Super Regional.

UNC’s highest ranking in the final polls was No. 13 in the Baseball America poll. They were highest in both the NCBWA and USA Today poll at No. 15.

After going 15-15 in ACC play, the Tar Heels needed to win the ACC Tournament to have a good feeling about making the NCAA Tournament field. UNC would go on to win four games and win the Title, with a 9-5 win over NC State.

Before the ACC Tournament, the Tar Heels won 11 of 13 to end the regular season. In total, UNC baseball won 19 of the final 24 games of its season.

The Tar Heels finished 33-9 in Chapel Hill this year, proving to have one of the better home field advantages in baseball.

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