All-CAA UNCW reliever Baker commits to Carolina

By R.L. Bynum

Although he’s likely to be drafted in July and could sign with a major-league team, former UNCW right-handed pitcher Trace Baker has committed to North Carolina, giving the Tar Heels their fifth baseball transfer portal commitment.

The 6–4, 230-pound Baker was a first-team All-CAA reliever last season in his junior year, going 4–1 with a 2.24 ERA with five saves. Baker, who struck out 54 and walked only 16 in 52⅓ innings, has a fastball in the mid-90s to go with a sweeper in the low-80s.

Peter Flaherty III of Baseball America reported the news late Friday night.

Baker’s only loss of the season came in UNC’s 7–3 10-inning win March 11 at UNCW. Baker gave up four hits and four runs (none earned) with two walks and four strikeouts in the last three innings.

Baker, who grew up in Winterville, struck out a career-high seven on March 29 against North Carolina A&T and pitched five innings of shutout relief on April 11 against William & Mary. In the Seahawks’ 6–3 win April 29 at N.C. State, Baker pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn a save.

He went 7–3 in 12 starts for Catawba Valley Community College as a freshman before transferring to UNCW for his sophomore season. That year, he allowed only one earned run in 14⅓ innings over seven appearances.

Baker joins North Dakota State rising junior shortstop Jake Schaffner, Stony Brook rising junior first baseman Eric Paulsen, Georgia State rising senior left fielder Michael Maginnis and Georgia State rising senior catcher Colin Hynek as transfers to commit to UNC.