By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina catcher Luke Stevenson, center fielder Kane Kepley and right-handed pitcher Aidan Haugh have been invited to the MLB Draft Combine at Chase Field in Phoenix, a five-day event that starts Tuesday.
Stevenson is No. 20 and Kepley is No. 82 on the MLB top 200 prospects rankings.
The UNC trio is among 180 college invitees (although 16 are playing in the College World Series) and 322 total prospects at the event, showcasing their talent ahead of the MLB draft, which is scheduled for July 13–14 in Atlanta.
MLB Network will broadcast from the Combine from 1 to 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, the first day of pro-style workouts.
Stevenson, a first-team All-ACC pick, third-team Perfect Game All-American and the ACC Tournament MVP during his sophomore season, hit .251 with 10 doubles and 49 RBI. He led the team with 19 homers (second in the ACC) and 59 walks (first in the ACC and 7th in the country).
Stevenson threw out 35% of attempted base stealers and, in his last 18 games, teams only stole one base on two attempts.
Kepley, a second-team All-ACC selection, generated plenty of offense from the leadoff spot for UNC with a team-high .451 OBP, while showing off all the defensive tools and range in center field during his junior season. He hit .291 with three home runs and led the team in triples (7), hit-by-pitches (27) and steals (45 in 49 attempts.)
The Minnesota Twins drafted Haugh in the 16th round of the 2024 draft, but he opted to return for his senior season. He struck out 85 batters in 75 innings, and was ninth in the ACC with a 3.72 ERA. Haugh led the ACC in getting batters to strike out looking (31). He was 5–4, with 14 of his 17 appearances as the starter.
Prospects will participate in a series of on-field, medical and performance assessments as well as educational programming designed to prepare them for pro baseball careers. All players can go through pro-style showcase workouts.
Photo courtesy of the ACC
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