By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — After coming a win away from back-to-back trips to Omaha, North Carolina coach Scott Forbes has once again rebuilt a roster that looks capable of competing on the national stage, even after losing seven starters and the national pitcher of the year.
In the modern era of college baseball, that kind of reset is no longer shocking. It is, however, still demanding. Forbes said the process never really gets easier, even if it has become familiar.
“It’s a challenge every year,” Forbes said at UNC’s preseason media day on Tuesday at Boshamer Stadium. “We are in a new landscape, and I’m hoping we continue to have that commitment because we want to compete nationally, and that’s what this baseball program has been able to do.”
On many teams in some sports, turnover is a sign of instability, but that’s far from the case for the Tar Heels, where Forbes contends it’s proof of success.
“You expect to lose a lot of players, especially if they’re talented, because of the draft,” Forbes said, framing change as an outcome of development rather than a setback.
Even with the transfer portal reshaping college sports, Forbes emphasized that the core challenge remains the same.
“You still have to get the right guys,” Forbes said. “And then you have to combine those guys and try to do all you can as a head coach to make them the best team that they can be.”
That mindset mirrors the long view North Carolina is taking with a young, evolving roster. Forbes pointed to recent turnover as part of that cycle.
“We lost a lot of players in 2024,” he said. “The more talent you have, the more you’re going to lose. Now more than ever. If they get drafted high, that means they played well, and that means we played well.”
The Tar Heels, ranked No. 11 in the preseason D1 Baseball poll, return only one player who started more than 29 games a season ago. Second baseman Gavin Gallaher (.326, 17 HRs, 68 RBI last season), who will bat second in the order, is the lone everyday holdover from a lineup that helped UNC go 48–15 and win the ACC title.
Gallaher moves from third base after the Tar Heels lost second baseman Jackson Van De Brake, along with catcher Luke Stevenson (35th overall pick in the MLB draft), first baseman Hunter Stokely, center fielder Kane Kepley (second round pick) and right fielder Tyson Bass.
Transfers now populate nearly every spot in Forbes’ projected opening-day lineup when UNC hosts Indiana in a three-game series beginning Feb. 13.
— Shortstop Jake Schaffner (from North Dakota State; hit .367 with 18 steals) will lead off.
— Center fielder Owen Hull (George Mason; hit .367, 8 HRs, 63 RBI, 42 steals) hits No. 3
— Catcher Macon Winslow (Duke; hit .278, 9 HRs, 48 RBI) hits cleanup.
— First baseman Erik Paulsen (Stony Brook; hit .358, 8 HRs, 44 RBI, 8 steals) hits No. 5
— Third baseman Cooper Nicholson (Iowa Central Community College) hits No. 6
Freshman Tyler Howe will play either left or right field and hit seventh, and Forbes says there’s plenty of competition at DH and other outfield spots.
Forbes said Gallaher’s development has made that transition possible and has also earned him a leadership role.
“He’s been consistent since the day he walked on campus,” Forbes said. “He’s very coachable. He’s completely bought into what we believe in here with our standards and our culture and a team-first mentality, play anywhere on the field to help your team win.”
Gallaher and reliever Matthew Matthijs were named team captains, something Forbes said reflects growth that goes beyond performance.
“They aren’t our only leaders, but they are our captains,” Forbes said. “Two young men who, when they got here, really didn’t say much, who have learned how to lead.”
While the lineup has been almost entirely reworked, the pitching staff remains a strength despite the loss of Jake Knapp, who went 14–0 with a 2.02 ERA, was named national pitcher of the year and was an eighth-round MLB draft pick.
Forbes said the order of the weekend rotation is still being finalized, with Jason DeCaro, Folger Boaz and Ryan Lynch all in contention.
“For me, I would say it’s 1A, 1B, 1C,” Forbes said. “I’m going to pitch who I think gives us the best chance to win Friday.”
DeCaro, who went 8–1 as a sophomore, is the most established of the group and the likely opening-day starter.
“Jason has been a horse for us,” Forbes said. “It’s hard to believe he’s already a junior. He’s still one of the youngest players on our team.”
The bullpen again figures to be a strength, led by Matthijs and Walker McDuffie, who could share closing duties early in the season. Forbes said the depth allows flexibility.
“Having [Matthijs] back gives us even more flexibility in the bullpen,” Forbes said. “That’s a pretty good punch, McDuffie and Matthijs.”
One arm that could play a larger role is junior right-hander Boston Flannery, whom Forbes labeled an X factor.
“He’s improved in every area,” Forbes said. “He’s more mature. He’s changed some things in his delivery. He’s added a new pitch. We need him, and I think he’s got a chance to really emerge and be one of our main guys.”
Despite the turnover, Forbes believes the program’s foundation remains intact, citing player retention and internal development as the reasons UNC continues to reload.
“Our guys haven’t left North Carolina, and that’s why we’ve been able to remain nationally competitive,” Forbes said. “The more talent you have, the more you’re going to lose. I look at it as hopefully they get drafted high, because that means they played well, and that means we played well.”
As the season approaches, Forbes said his biggest concern isn’t rankings or expectations, but preparation.
“The only thing that really keeps me up at night is not feeling like I have our players prepared so they can just go out and play free and easy,” Forbes said.
With a new-look lineup, experienced arms and a familiar standard, the Tar Heels believe they’re positioned to do just that — even if the names look different.
Key roster changes
Departures
C Luke Stevenson
1B Hunter Stokely
2B Jackson Van De Brake
SS Alex Madera
CF Kane Kepley
RF Tyson Bass
DH Sam Angelo
SP Jake Knapp
Key returnees (likely place in order for projected starting position players)
2B Gavin Gallaher (No. 2 hitter)
OF Sawyer Black
INF Rom Kellis
SP Jason DeCaro
SP Folger Boaz
SP Ryan Lynch
RP Matthew Matthijs
RP Walker McDuffie
Key transfers (likely place in order for projected starting position players)
SS Jake Schaffner, North Dakota State (leadoff man)
CF Owen Hull, George Mason (No. 3 hitter)
C Macon Winslow, Duke (cleanup hitter)
1B Erik Paulsen, Stony Brook (No. 5 hitter)
3B Cooper Nicholson, Iowa Central CC (No. 6 hitter)
INF Michael Maginnis, Georgia State
Key freshmen, freshman rank according to D1 Baseball (likely place in order for projected starting position player)
RHP Cauden Glauber, No. 7 overall on D1 Baseball’s Impact Freshman list
LF/RF Tyler Howe, freshman, No. 27 ACC (No. 7 hitter)
INF AJ Terry, No. 55
RHP Talan Holiday, No. 55
LHP Jackson Rose, No. 59
OF Jadyn Nunez, No. 71
UNC schedule
| Date(s) | Day/ month | Times | Opponent (current rank) |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | |||
| 13–15 | Fri.-Sat. | 4, noon, 1 | vs. Indiana |
| 17 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Richmond |
| 18 | Wednesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Longwood |
| 20–22 | Fri.-Sun. | 4 (Greenville; ESPN+), 2 (DBAP), 2 (CH) | vs. East Carolina |
| 24 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. N.C. A&T |
| 25 | Wednesday | 4 p.m. | vs. VCU |
| 27–28 | Fri., Sat. | 4 p.m., 2 p.m. | vs. Le Moyne |
| March | |||
| 1 | Sunday | 1 p.m. | vs. Le Moyne |
| 3 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Elon |
| 6–8 | Fri.-Sun. | 4, 2, 1 | vs. Virginia |
| 10 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Bucknell |
| 13–15 | Fri.-Sun. | 9, 5, 4 | at California |
| 18 | Wednesday | 4 p.m. | vs. UNCG |
| 20–22 | Fri.-Sun. | 8, 2, 1 Friday on ACCN | vs. No. 8 Louisville |
| 24 | Tuesday | 6:30 | vs. South Carolina in Charlotte |
| 27–29 | Fri.-Sun. | 6:30, 3, 1 | at Notre Dame |
| 31 | Tuesday | 8 p.m., ACCN | vs. Campbell |
| April | |||
| 2–4 | Thur.-Sat. | 6, 6, 2 | vs. Boston College |
| 7 | Tuesday | 7 p.m., ACCN | vs. Charlotte |
| 10–12 | Fri.-Sun. | 6, 2, 12:30 (Sunday on ACCN) | at No. 19 Clemson |
| 14 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | vs. UNCW |
| 17–19 | Fri-Sun. | 6, noon, 1 (Saturday, Sunday on ACCN) | vs. No. 5 Georgia Tech |
| 21 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | vs. High Point |
| 23–25 | Thu.-Sat. | 7, 6, 3 (Thursday on ACCN) | at Duke |
| 28 | Tuesday | 7 p.m., ACCN | vs. No. 6 Coastal Carolina |
| 29 | Wednesday | 6 p.m. | vs. Queens |
| May | |||
| 3 | Sunday | 2 p.m., ACCN (non-conference game) | vs. Duke |
| 6 | Wednesday | 6 p.m. | vs. Winthrop |
| 8–10 | Fri.-Sun. | 6, noon, 1 | vs. Pittsburgh |
| 12 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | at UNCW |
| 14–16 | Thurs.-Sat. | 7, 6, 1 (Thursday on ACCN) | at No. 17 N.C. State |
| 19–24 | Tues.-Sun. | ACC tournament (ACCN, ESPN2 for final) | Charlotte |
| 29–31 | Fri.-Sun. | NCAA Regionals | Campus sites |
| June | |||
| 5–7 | Fri.-Sun. | NCAA Super Regionals | Campus sites |
| 12–22 | Fri.-Mon | College World Series | Omaha, Neb. |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
tarheeltribune.com 