Tag: Vance Honeycutt

UNC head baseball coach Scott Forbes with high praise for Vance Honeycutt

UNC centerfielder Vance Honeycutt packs a rare combination or power and speed. He’s already being highlighted by his head coach.

Friday afternoon is the day college baseball players have been dreaming of since June – Opening Day.

Your first thought might be – baseball in February? But it’s still Winter time and college basketball is in full swing?

Yes – even in the cold, we’re playing baseball.

In a deep ACC, one of many teams projected to have a solid campaign is UNC. They return a deep pitching staff, sport over 20 newcomers and have arguably the best outfielder in all of college baseball – Vance Honeycutt.

He’s only a junior, but Honeycutt is playing himself into an early, first-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He’s the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the year, a career .279 hitter, has 37 home runs and 100 RBIs, plus 28 stolen bases.

Honeycutt is generating lots of praise for his play, including from his head coach, Scott Forbes.

“I think he’s gonna have his best year, he’s going to be the most complete he’s been,” Forbes said in an interview this week. “I’m just honestly going to enjoy being around him. I think he’s a generational type player. I’ve never coached a player that’s that good defensively with that much power offensively, that’s also just like a phenomenal kid. You know, he’s one of our leaders. He may not be a captain, but he also got a lot of votes. So I’m just going to enjoy it because I’m going to say a million times, when he’s gone, Vane Honeycutt would have had that, right? So I’m going to enjoy knowing like, hey, he’s got it.”

If you want to watch Honeycutt in action, your first chance to do so will be on Friday, Feb. 16 at 4 pm on the ACC Network.

The Diamond Heels open this weekend against Wagner, host Elon next Tuesday and then play a 3-game series against ECU from Feb. 23-25.

Diamond Heels picked to finish second in ACC’s Coastal Division

The 2024 edition of UNC baseball will sport lots of experience and young talent. Where does this combo have UNC finishing in the ACC?

All the hype in Chapel Hill is around basketball season right now, but it’ll soon turn to baseball.

Whereas Major League Baseball and the minor leagues don’t start until March and April, respectively, college baseball starts in mid-late February.

The Diamond Heels will kick off their 2024 campaign on Friday, Feb. 16, hosting Wagner College for a 4 p.m. first pitch to kick off a 3-game weekend series. UNC will play its first five games at home, before playing a neutral-site and road game against ECU on Saturday, Feb. 24 and Sunday, Feb. 25.

North Carolina sports plenty of returners – headlined by power-hitting, reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year Vance Honeycutt – plus 24 newcomers, headlined by UGA transfer Parks Harber and a third-ranked freshman class. Even with Jake Knapp recently announced out for the year with a torn UCL, the Tar Heels have a deep pitching staff headlined by sophomore Dalton Pence and senior Connor Bovair.

With all the talent returning, it’s no surprise the Diamond Heels were picked to finish second in the ACC’s Coastal Division.

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The Coastal Division also includes Virginia Tech, UVA, Pitt, Miami, Georgia Tech and a Duke program that – after going 55 years between NCAA Tournament appearances – has made five of the past eight.

UNC made its sixth-consecutive NCAA Tournament last year, but saw its season end by going 1-2 in Indiana State’s Terre Haute Regional.

Will the Diamond Heels finally be able to capture that elusive, first College World Series title this year?

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Freshman fever? Diamond Heels carry D1Baseball’s third-ranked Freshman class.

It’s tough replacing players who’ve been mainstays on your team. Luckily for the UNC baseball, it has a highly-ranked Freshman class.

I can practically smell the popcorn at Boshamer Stadium.

Less than a month from today (Thursday, Jan. 18), the UNC baseball team kicks off its season against Wagner College. As is commonly seen across college baseball, a cold-weather team in Wagner (Staten Island, NY) travels south to open its season.

Expectations are high in Chapel Hill, in large part due to reigning ACC Defensive Player Vance Honeycutt, who is also a projected Top-10 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Carolina replaces the production of 2023 MLB Draftee Mac Horvath, its former star third baseman, with University of Georgia transfer Parks Harber.

UNC also sports 15 freshmen on its incoming roster, including in-state catcher Luke Stevenson, a highly-touted recruit who generated some MLB Draft buzz himself.

D1Baseball ranked the Tar Heels’ freshman class third in the entire country, behind top-ranked Arkansas and UCLA.

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Most of Carolina’s freshman come in the pitching department, which has been up-and-down over the past several years. UNC’s had a pitcher drafted in each of the past three seasons, but no one who was considered a clear-cut ace.

Stevenson should lead the incoming freshman class on the field this season, as he’s just one of two catchers listed on the roster (Parker Haskin).

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Diamond Heels launch season with First Pitch Dinner

There’s a lot of hope in Chapel Hill this baseball season, with UNC projected to be among the ACC’s best? Will Carolina finally win a CWS?

With reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year Vance Honeycutt leading a slew of talented, returning position players, plus a revamped pitching staff that includes Dalton Pence as potential new staff ace, the 2024 season is looking bright for UNC baseball.

The Diamond Heels will play their first game exactly a month from Tuesday, as they host Staten Island’s (NY) Wagner College for a 3-game weekend series. On Tuesday, Feb. 20, Carolina hosts Elon for its first mid-week game.

UNC’s season officially kicked off on Saturday night, though, with its 15th annual First Pitch Dinner. This event always features current and former Diamond Heels, plus the opportunity to win signed memorabilia.

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Colorado Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings, who played at UNC from 2009-2012, was the guest speaker. Former star first baseman Michael Busch, who was recently traded to the Chicago Cubs, was also in attendance.

To refresh your memory, Carolina is one of the greatest college baseball programs to never win a College World Series. The Tar Heels have made the CWS 11 times, including trips to the finals in 2006 and 2007, with both finals appearances resulting in losses to Oregon State.

Is this the year UNC finally wins its first CWS title?

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Vance Honeycutt projected Top 10 in MLB Pipeline Mock Draft

UNC outfielder Vance Honeycutt is one of college baseball’s top players. He’s projected to be an early, first-round MLB Draft pick in 2024.

If you’ve heard anything about UNC baseball in national news, chances are you’ve heard the name Vance Honeycutt.

He’s a power-hitting, magnet-gloved, speedy outfielder who hails from Salisbury, N.C. Honeycutt is the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, in due part to home run-saving catches that make SportsCenter Top 10 the next morning.

Honeycutt’s 19 stolen bases placed him second on Carolina’s 2023 team, 12 home runs tied him for second with Tomas Frick, while 43 RBIs put him fourth. Injury cut Honeycutt’s season short, so he wasn’t able to help his teammates advance to a Super Regional.

Ahead of the Tar Heels’ 2024 campaign, there’s no doubt that Honeycutt is the best player in Chapel Hill. Honeycutt has a lot of draft hype and, if you put him on a larger scope, is one of college baseball’s top players.

In its latest mock draft, Honeycutt is projected to go 8th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft – to the Los Angeles Angels.

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If Honeycutt ends up being selected by the Angels, chances are he won’t be playing center field. Mike Trout is one of the game’s best and should hold down that spot until he retires – or moves onto a winning organization.

Mickey Moniak and Taylor Ward hold the corner outfield spots. While they are solid players, Honeycutt’s path to a major league roster spot in the City of Angels might be supplanting one of them.

As a reminder – these are just mock drafts. Honeycutt could end up having a record-breaking season and rise further up the draft boards – maybe even to Number One?

The only two other former Tar Heels to be selected Number One overall are B.J. Surhoff and Dave Lemonds (1968).

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Diamond Heels learn their 2024 opponents

In just two months, baseball will be played at Boshamer Stadium. Check out who UNC will be playing this year, with the schedule now live.

The UNC baseball program is the perfect definition of “close, but no cigar.”

Carolina is arguably one of the ACC’s best teams, making the past six NCAA Tournaments and winning the 2013, 2019 and 2022 conference titles.but they have no College World Series titles to show for it. UNC’s made college baseball’s end-of-season tournament 11 times, including seven since 2006, achieving runner-up status in ’06 and ’07 to Oregon State.

With the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year in Vance Honeycutt headlining returners, Carolina will look to make its seventh-straight NCAA Tournament. UNC also hopes to reach the CWS for the first time since 2018.

The Tar Heels’ quest for its first CWS title starts on Friday, Feb. 16 against Wagner University, as their 2024 schedule was released earlier Thursday.

After hosting Wagner in a 3-game series, UNC welcomes Elon to Boshamer Stadium that ensuing Tuesday. Carolina then plays ECU the weekend of Feb. 23-25 – Game 1 in Chapel Hill, Game 2 in Fayetteville and Game 3 in Greenville.

Before starting ACC play against Pitt from Friday, March 8-Sunday, March 10 at home, UNC will end its early-season, non-conference slate at Big South power Campbell University. After its home series against Princeton during the first weekend of March, every weekend Carolina matchup will be against an ACC opponent.

UNC’s Senior Day will be on Sunday, May 12 against Louisville, but the regular season ends the following weekend at archrival Duke.

The Tar Heels’ 2024 campaign will be a true test to how good they are, According to the UNC Athletic Communications’ official schedule release on GoHeels.com, 44 of Carolina’s 54 games will be against opponents that finished Top 65 in the 2023 final RPI rankings.

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Vance Honeycutt ranked 6th on Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects

UNC Baseball standout Vance Honeycutt ranked 6th on 2024 Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects.

North Carolina Tar Heel [autotag]Vance Honeycutt[/autotag] has cracked the top 10 of Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects, coming in at No.6th.

Honeycutt has been a big part of UNC’s success, becoming a household name in a two-year span. Since his arrival, Honeycutt has 122 hits, 37 home runs, 100 RBIs, and 48 stolen bases. Last season, Honeycutt was named ACC defensive player, ranked second on the team in runs (51) and stolen bases (19) despite missing the final ten games due to a lower-back injury.

Honeycutt has already inked his name in UNC history, becoming the first Tar Heel to have 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a single season.

The Diamond Heels will be counting on Honeycutt again this season as they hope to bring the ACC and National championship back to Chapel Hill.

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Diamond Heels announce rosters for Fall World Series

The UNC baseball squad, typically among the ACC’s best, just announced teams for its annual, Blue-Navy Fall World Series.

We’re still just under four months away from the start of college baseball season, but the excitement in Boshamer Stadium is already building.

The UNC baseball team, whose season ended at the hands of Iowa in the Terre Haute Regional earlier this year, is concluding its fall practice schedule later this week with an annual favorite – the Blue-Navy Fall World Series.

Team Blue, captained by starting infielder Johnny Castagnozzi and star pitcher Dalton Pence, will also include the likes of outfielder Casey Cook and power-hitting designated Alberto Osuna.

Team Navy, captained by starting first baseman Hunter Stokely, starting shortstop Colby Wilkerson and starting outfielder Patrick Alvarez, include the two Diamond Heels fans are likely itching to see the most – UGA transfer Parks Harber and projected 2024 MLB Draft first-round pick Vance Honeycutt.

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This best-of-three series should get Carolina baseball fans excited. Not only will they get a sneak peek at what should be one of the ACC’s top teams, but the weather is going to be gorgeous.

The temperature is projected to be 75 degrees at first pitch on Wednesday afternoon, 77 on Friday afternoon and a high of 82 on Saturday. Oh – it’s also going to be bright, sunny and FREE for all attendees.

While this is the only World Series that runs through Chapel Hill this fall, Carolina will have its sights set on the College World Series this coming Spring.

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Diamond Heels carry one of nation’s top recruiting classes

UNC has been one of the greatest college baseball programs to never win a title. Will its 12th-ranked recruiting class be enough this year?

UNC is one of the greatest collegiate baseball programs to never win a College World Series.

The Tar Heels have enjoyed plenty of chances, particularly since the turn of the century. Carolina made four straight CWS appearances from 2006-2009, losing to Oregon State in the 2006 and 2007 finals, then re-appeared in 2011, 2013 and 2018.

For whatever reason, UNC can’t seem to close the deal. It’s not for the lack of talent, as the Diamond Heels consistently churn out MLB draft picks.

There’s a bunch of talent coming into Chapel Hill this season, with the hope that influx finally translates into a CWS title.

24 new players will don the baby blue in 2024, giving UNC the nation’s 12th-ranked recruiting class. This also ranks tops in the ACC, ahead of Florida State (18th) and Georgia Tech (19th).

Carolina’s most anticipated recruit is Parks Harber, the University of Georgia recruit who’s expected to take over third base for 2023 MLB Draftee Mac Horvath. The Diamond Heels also bring in, among many others, 2022-2023 NCHSAA Male Athlete of the Year Folger Boaz, Shea Sprague and Parker Haskin from Elon.

One Tar Heel everyone will keep an eye on is Vance Honeycutt, the slick-fielding, speedy, power-hitting center fielder who missed UNC’s final 10 games in 2023 with a lower-back injury. Honeycutt is mocked to go Top 20 in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Is all this talent enough to help Carolina win college baseball’s ultimate prize?

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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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