Tag: Vance Honeycutt

UNC baseball star Vance Honeycutt named ACC Defensive Player of The Year…again!

Vance Honeycutt’s all-star fielding skills earned him ACC honors on Monday afternoon.

The North Carolina Tar Heels sport one of the most dangerous offenses in college baseball – and a lot of it has to do with star center fielder Vance Honeycutt.

Since missing UNC’s entire postseason in 2023, which ended with an NCAA Regional loss to Iowa in the Terre Haute regional, Honeycutt is putting together a historic offensive campaign.

He’s hitting .319, making him one of seven Diamond Heels with a .300 batting average, hit a team-high 22 home runs and stole a team-best 28 bases in the regular seasons.

Honeycutt also broke the North Carolina program record for home runs, plus he is now the only player in ACC baseball history with 50 career home runs and 70 career stolen bases.

As much offensive attention that Honeycutt gets, he’s arguably an even better defensive outfielder.

Not only was Honeycutt recognized Monday afternoon as a member of the All-ACC First Team, but as the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year– for the second season in a row.

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If you think you saw Vance Honeycutt’s defensive highlights on television, you are correct. He’s made the SportsCenter Top 10 in the past, plus he consistently climbs the wall for home run-robbing catches.

Honeycutt’s numbers solidify his defensive prowess. He is second on UNC with 148 putouts and carries a .987 fielding percentage. Errors are hard to come by for Honeycutt, as he has just two on the year.

If opposing hitters start rocking Diamond Heels pitchers this postseason, you can count on Honeycutt being a magnet with his glove in center.

Being named ACC Defensive Player of the Year once is impressive, but consecutive seasons is practically unheard of.

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Vance Honeycutt headlines nine UNC baseball players with All-ACC Honors

Can the UNC baseball team’s nine All-ACC honorees lead it to a College World Series title?

After a disappointing exit early in the NCAA Regionals last year, the UNC baseball team improved in virtually every aspect this offseason.

North Carolina nabbed several transfers that are now in the starting lineup, highlighted by starting first baseman Parks Harber (Georgia) and starting right fielder Anthony Donofrio (Quinnipiac). The Diamond Heels also entered the 2024 regular season with the ACC’s best recruiting class, which included now-starting catcher Luke Stevenson.

UNC’s recruits played a major role in team success this team, with North Carolina capturing its first ACC Regular Season Championship since 2018, but it was a pair of returners who anchored the Diamond Heels’ success.

Starting center fielder Vance Honeycutt and starting left fielder Casey Cook, who respectively lead UNC in home runs (22) and RBIs (73), were the lone two Diamond Heels to earn All-ACC First Team honors.

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Not only is Honeycutt hitting .319, one of seven on North Carolina players doing so, but he achieved two records during the regular season: becoming the program’s all-time home run record-holder, plus the only player in ACC history with 50 home runs and 70 stolen bases. When UNC’s season is over, Honeycutt will likely be a first-round selection in July’s MLB Draft.

Cook earned All-ACC Freshman honors last year, ranking second amongst conference rookies with 66 hits, but he elevated his game to another level this year. Cook is third on the Diamond Heels in batting average (.341) and home runs (16), plus he drove in a team-high 73 runs during the regular season.

Honeycutt and Cook were just two of 10 North Carolina teammates with All-ACC Honors, though.

Stevenson, starting third baseman Gavin Gallagher and starting pitcher Jason DeCaro were named to the All-ACC Freshman Team.

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Gallagher is currently second on UNC with a .351 batting average, Stevenson is hitting .290 and one of five Diamond Heels with double-digit home run totals (13), while DeCaro is 4-1 on the mound and leads North Carolina’s rotation with a 3.91 earned run average.

DeCaro, Harber and Elon transfer Shea Sprague made the All-ACC Second Team.

Rounding out UNC’s list of All-ACC selections are Stevenson, star closer Dalton Pence (six saves) and NCAA wins co-leader Matthew Matthijs.

Not every team lives up to its preseason hype. The Diamond Heels exceeded that hype, as they’re the ACC Baseball Championship’s top seed and look for a second title in three seasons.

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UNC baseball’s offense amongst best in the country

Can any college baseball team stop the North Carolina Tar Heels?

Just a week out from postseason play, the North Carolina Tar Heels’ baseball team is exactly where it wants to be.

UNC is atop the ACC with a 39-11 (20-7) mark. North Carolina has won its past six games – three mid-week victories and a sweep of Louisville – and begins its final regular-season series with Duke on Thursday night.

The Diamond Heels‘ pitching staff is performing adequately, but their offense is the reason behind an outstanding regular season. Eight players, led by Gavin Gallagher (.367) are hitting at least .300. Five players, anchored by star center fielder Vance Honeycutt (22), sport double-digit home run totals.

Thanks to their starting lineup, UNC is ranked Top-25 nationally in nine different categories.

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North Carolina is stringing together strong performances at the plate due to its balanced roster, which includes a slew of returners and several talented freshmen, such as starting catcher Luke Stevenson. Casey Cook (66) is the lone Diamond Heels with 60 RBI, but Honeycutt, Parks Harber and Stevenson all have 50 RBIs.

UNC is no stranger to close losses, but when it wins, it wins BIG. North Carolina already has 24 games in which it scored double-digit runs, including a season-high 20 against Wagner College on Feb. 18.

Pitching is only going to get tougher in the postseason. Can the Diamond Heels continue to hit this hot?

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Two UNC baseball standouts named Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists

Not one – but two – UNC baseball stars are in consideration for the best player in college baseball.

If you follow the North Carolina Tar Heels intently on the baseball diamond, chances are you know about star center fielder Vance Honeycutt.

Not only is Honeycutt the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the year, but he’s a top-rate hitter. He currently leads UNC with 22 home runs, is second with 57 RBIs, plus he’s one of eight Diamond Heels (.333) with a .300 average.

On the pitcher’s mound, Matthew Matthijs is a name you should familiarize yourself with. Matthijs is one of the top starts in an up-and-down bullpen, as his 11 wins tie himself atop Division I with Samford’s Michael Ross.

When either Honeycutt or Matthijs plays well, typically so does North Carolina. UNC is atop the ACC with 39 wins, but a Thursday win at archrival Duke could make it one of just four 40-game winners in the country (Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas A&M).

Honeycutt and Matthijs are being recognized for their efforts on the baseball diamond this season, as they were recently named semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy.

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If that award sounds pretty prestigious, that’s because it is.

The Dick Howser Trophy is awarded annually to the top player in college baseball. Current Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes won the award last season, while former Texas Longhorn Ivan Melendez did so the season before.

The Diamond Heels have two of the sport’s best on their roster. Can they help lead UNC to its first College World Series title?

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UNC baseball program Top 10 in every ranking this week

Do this week’s rankings truly reflect how good the Diamond Heels are this year?

It’s difficult to imagine a collegiate baseball program having more fun than the North Carolina Tar Heels.

UNC (39-11, 20-7) enjoyed a massive weekend against Louisville.

On Friday, star center fielder Vance Honeycutt became North Carolina’s all-time home run leader in a 14-4 Diamond Heels victory. He mashed his 57th career bomb to tie Devy Bell, then his 58th to overtake Bell for the UNC program record.

On Saturday, North Carolina clinched the series with a close, 6-4 win. The Diamond Heels doubled up on Sunday, sweeping the series with a 16-7 domination and clinching the ACC Coastal Division.

With all the success UNC enjoyed over the weekend, it vaulted up into the Top 10 of all the latest college baseball rankings: Baseball America (fourth), NCBWA (fifth), USA Today Sports (fifth), Perfect Game (sixth) and D1Baseball (seventh).

North Carolina plays its final four regular season games on the road: Tuesday, May 14 at UNC-Wilmington (UNC won 11-0 in Chapel Hill on March 19), then its final weekend series at archrival Duke (May 16-18). The Seahawks took two of three from Hofstra over the weekend, while the Blue Devils lost two of three to Georgia Tech.

These high rankings are great for the Diamond Heels, who will likely host an NCAA Tournament Regional at the end of May.

The greater task at hand for North Carolina, however, is how it can capture its inaugural College World Series title. With all the momentum and talent UNC has right now, that’s a very reachable goal.

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Vance Honeycutt sets UNC baseball home run record on Friday

Vance Honeycutt is Mr. Do-It-All for the North Carolina Tar Heels’ baseball team. Add home run king to his already impressive season.

Another crucial weekend for the UNC baseball team is off to an amazing start – and already carries a bit of history.

The ACC Coastal Division-leading Diamond Heels (37-11, 18-7) are hosting the Louisville Cardinals for a 3-game set. Both teams have already clinched spots in the ACC Championship at the end of May, so this weekend is more about improving NCAA Tournament outlook.

North Carolina dominated Louisville, 14-4, on Friday night to kick off the weekend series. Vance Honeycutt mashed a leadoff home run, then tied the game at two in the third inning.

Honeycutt’s second home run, which gave him 58 career round-trippers, kicked off a 6-run inning and put UNC ahead for good, moved him ahead of Devy Bell for the program’s all-time home run record.

Honeycutt, who’s a projected early first round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, is enjoying the type of season that can only boost his draft stock.

He’s one of six Diamond Heels hitting .300, part of a team that’s 24th in the nation with a .310 average. Honeycutt leads North Carolina with 21 home runs, which is tied for seventh in the country. Not only are Honeycutt’s 54 RBIs second on UNC, but he leads UNC with 26 stolen bases.

If you remember last year, Honeycutt missed the Diamond Heels’ postseason run with a back injury. They bowed out in the third game of the Terre Haute (Indiana State) Regional.

With a healthy Honeycutt this year, can North Carolina finally capture its first College World Series title?

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Vance Honeycutt is closing in on Diamond Heels’ all-time home run record

Vance Honeycutt needs three home runs to break UNC’s program record.

If you watch UNC baseball closely, you know the name Vance Honeycutt.

Even if you follow North Carolina baseball from afar, you’ve heard Honeycutt’s name.

Honeycutt, the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, is that rare blend of power and speed so many coaches crave in their lineups. He currently leads the Diamond Heels with 18 home runs, a number tied for eighth nationally, plus his team-high 26 stoles bases rank eighth nationally.

In UNC’s dominating 19-2 win over William and Mary on Wednesday, May 1, Honeycutt bashed his 18th homer with a third-inning solo shot.

What Honeycutt might not have realized, though, is his Wednesday round-tripper puts him two away from Devy Bell’s program-record 57.

The Diamond Heels have eight more regular season games for Honeycutt to tie – and break – the record, starting with a home rematch with Campbell on Tuesday, May 7. North Carolina then hosts Louisville over Mother’s Day weekend (May 10-12), which also happens to be UNC’s annual graduation weekend.

The Diamond Heels end their regular season on the road at archrival Duke, then have a spot in the ACC Tournament. Even if North Carolina loses out, it’ll likely be playing in an NCAA Regional.

Point being, Honeycutt has a million chances to break the UNC program record.

When will he actually break it?

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Vance Honeycutt lands with NL West team in latest MLB mock draft

Would Vance Honeycutt fit in with this NL West team? He’s being mocked there in the first predictions for the 2024 MLB Draft.

The 2024 MLB Draft is still about two months away as the new season continues to roll on but talk about prospects is starting to heat up.

And on Thursday, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com released his first mock draft for the upcoming event. Mayo projected the entire first round which included a current North Carolina player.

With Vance Honeycutt being North Carolina’s top prospect for the draft, he landed in the first round of Mayo’s mock, going No. 13 overall to the San Francisco Giants:

Honeycutt has very loud tools, with a very intriguing power-speed combination to go along with potential Gold Glove defense in center field. He went 20-20 as a freshman and he’s on his way this year, with 18 homers and 26 steals, but teams worry about his swing-and-miss (27.3 percent K rate in 2024).

Honeycutt is having another monster season for the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill and there’s a lot to like about him as a college prospect. After a big freshman season, he had a solid sophomore campaign that was derailed by injuries.

But now that he’s healthy, Honeycutt is flashing his potential for one of the best teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference. And maybe he could see his stock rise even more moving forward.

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Diamond Heels rack up 19 runs in last game before 6-day break

Can the Diamond Heels’ offense carry them to their first College World Series title?

The North Carolina Tar Heels sport one of college baseball’s best offenses, with their bats carrying them through a historic season.

UNC is mashing .307 as a team, which ranks 30th in the nation. Infielder Gavin Gallagher leads the charge with a .374 average, Vance Honeycutt’s 18 home runs make him one of four Diamond Heels in double-digits, while Casey Cook’s 60 RBIs lead nine players in double-digits.

North Carolina had a midweek game against William and Mary on Wednesday, May 1.

If you haven’t guessed it by the way this story started, UNC’s offense carried them against the Tribe.

Jackson Van De Brake was one of three Diamond Heels to hit a home run on Wednesday, a fourth-inning grand slam that drove in North Carolina’s final four runs, as part of a 19-2 domination in seven innings before a 6-day break for exams.

UNC (35-11, 17-7) tied UVA atop the ACC with its 35th win, which is one off its 2023 total.

The Diamond Heels started their offensive barrage with a 9-run first inning, which started with a 3-run round-tripper from Georgia transfer Parks Harber. Coincidentally, Harber drove in Casey Cook for North Carolina’s ninth and final run of the opening frame.

Gallagher brought Alex Madera across home plate with his second-inning single, making it 10-0, then UNC extended its advantage to 15 in the third inning with a Honeycutt home run, Cook scoring on a wild pitch, Luke Stevenson walking and Colby Wilkerson doubling to left field.

The Diamond Heels’ pitching staff deserves a lot of credit for the victory, too, as starter Ben Peterson struck out five batters – and allowed just three hits – in five innings. William and Mary’s only two runs came in garbage time, on a seventh-inning single from center fielder Ben Parker.

North Carolina does not play again until Tuesday, May 7 against Campbell, which kicks off its final homestand of the season. UNC scored four ninth-inning runs to down the Camels (27-16, 8-10 CAA), 7-3, back on March 5 in Buies Creek.

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Vance Honeycutt now second all-time in UNC home runs

If Vance Honeycutt steps to the plate, you can count on him hitting a home run.

It seems like every time UNC baseball is mentioned in the national media, that story somehow involves star center fielder Vance Honeycutt.

Rightfully so.

Honeycutt has done nothing but mash at the plate and make highlight-reel plays in the field, even making an appearance on the SportsCenter Top 10 last year. He’s the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, plus a career .280 hitter with 49 home runs and 135 RBIs.

Focusing in on the power department, Honeycutt’s 12 home runs this season are tied for the team lead with Georgia transfer Parks Harber.

Honeycutt tied former teammate Mac Horvath on the Diamond Heels’ all-time home run list earlier this season, but surpassed that mark in Sunday’s 10-3 domination of Notre Dame.

With his second home run of the weekend, his 49th career bomb, Honeycutt moved into a tie with Chris Cox for second on the UNC home run leaderboard.

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Honeycutt will surely be an early first-round pick in July’s MLB Draft – unless he decides to come back for his senior campaign. That would be a huge win, but he should advance his career while his draft stock is high.

Honeycutt is just eight round-trippers away from tying Devy Bell (1984-1987) for the North Carolina record.

If Honeycutt manages to stay healthy, I’m confident he can end his Diamond Heel career atop that leaderboard.

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