By R.L. Bynum
Freshman right-hander Caden Glauber earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors, and No. 2-ranked North Carolina led the league with eight players selected to All-ACC teams, which were announced on Monday.
The eight selections ties the program high set in 2024, and the four first-team picks are the most since 2017 (shortstop Logan Warmoth, outfielder Brian Miller and pitchers J.B. Bukauskas and Josh Hiatt).
Louisville slugger Tague Davis was named ACC Player of the Year, and Florida State left-hander Wes Mendes Pitcher of the Year in voting by league coaches.
Glauber is the program’s first Freshman of the Year since Aaron Sabato in 2019, and he earned it with a blend of volume, efficiency and poise in leverage situations.
Glauber is the second UNC pitcher to earn the honor and eighth player in program history, joining Sabato, Ashton McGee (2017), Colin Moran (2011), Dustin Ackley (2007), Daniel Bard (2004), Adam Greenberg (2000) and Brian Roberts (1997).
Glauber posted an ACC-leading 1.94 ERA out of the bullpen, working 64⅓ innings across 22 appearances while recording four saves. He leads the Tar Heels’ staff with 74 strikeouts and has held opponents to a .181 batting average, a major reason UNC finished second in the ACC regular-season race.
On the first team, right-hander Jason DeCaro and reliever Glauber gave the Tar Heels two of the league’s premier arms, while outfielder Owen Hull and shortstop Jake Schaffner represented the position-player core that has anchored the lineup.
DeCaro’s selection recognized a season in which he worked as one of the league’s top starters. He was second in the ACC in ERA at 2.03 and went 10–2. He is the first Tar Heel to earn at least second-team honors in three consecutive seasons since Dustin Ackley, who was first team in 2007 and 2009 and second team in 2008.
UNC sophomore reliever Walker McDuffie, who was fifth in the ACC with a 2.79 ERA, made the second team. On the third team were second baseman Gavin Gallaher, catcher Macon Winslow and starting pitcher Ryan Lynch.
Gallaher’s selection highlighted his production in the middle of the order and his ability to impact games in more than one way, while Winslow acknowledged his work managing a pitching staff that has been among the conference’s best. Lynch’s spot on the third team gave North Carolina another starting pitcher on the league’s honor roll.
Davis became Louisville’s first ACC player of the year since Brendan McKay in 2017 after putting together a season that has separated him nationally. He leads the country with 34 home runs and also tops the nation with 96 RBI, while pacing the ACC with a .860 slugging percentage. Davis, a West Chester, Pennsylvania native, is a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy, and his slugging mark would be the ACC’s best since Buster Posey finished at .879 in 2008.
Mendes is Florida State’s first ACC Pitcher of the Year since Parker Messick in 2021. The left-hander owns a 2.68 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP, with a 9–3 record in 14 starts that includes two complete games. His 109 strikeouts rank second in the ACC and 12th nationally, and he has been recognized as a semifinalist for the College Baseball Hall of Fame National Pitcher of the Year while also drawing midseason All-America attention.
No. 1-seed, No. 3-ranked and regular-season champion Georgia Tech collected two of the remaining major awards. Catcher Vahn Lackey was voted Defensive Player of the Year, joining Joey Bart as the only Yellow Jackets to win the award since it began, and first-year coach James Ramsey was named Coach of the Year after guiding Tech to its second straight regular-season ACC title and a program-record 25 conference wins. Georgia Tech enters the ACC Baseball Championship as the No. 1 seed.
The rest of the first team was dominated by Georgia Tech and Louisville, with Mendes representing Florida State’s pitching presence. Georgia Tech placed six players on the All-ACC teams overall and loaded the first team with second baseman Jarren Advincula, outfielder Drew Burress, shortstop Carson Kerce, catcher Lackey and third baseman Ryan Zuckerman. Louisville’s Davis and outfielder Zion Rose joined them on the first team.
The second team included California starter Gavin Eddy, Clemson designated hitter Jacob Jarrell, Georgia Tech starter Tate McKee and four from Miami: third baseman Daniel Cuvet, pitcher Rob Evans, catcher Alex Sosa and outfielder Derek Williams. N.C. State’s Rett Johnson and Luke Nixon also landed on the second team, along with Notre Dame catcher Mark Quatrani, Pitt shortstop Caden Dulin, Stanford outfielder Teddy Tokheim, Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia, Virginia Tech pitcher Brett Renfrow, and Wake Forest first baseman Kade Lewis.
The third team featured Boston College pitcher A.J. Colarusso and first baseman Nick Wang, Clemson outfielder Nate Savoie, Florida State reliever John Abraham, starter Trey Beard and outfielder Brayden Dowd, Louisville third baseman Bayram Hot, Virginia shortstop Eric Becker, N.C. State outfielder Ty Head and third baseman Sherman Johnson, and Wake Forest outfielders Luke Costello and Javar Williams, along with third baseman Dalton Wentz.
The All-Freshman Team included players from eight programs, with Glauber joined by Boston College third baseman Luke Gallo, California shortstop Jett Kenady, Clemson relievers Brendon Bennett and Danny Nelson, Florida State outfielder John Stuetzer, Louisville outfielder Griffin Crain, Miami DH Alonzo Alvarez, N.C. State outfielder Rett Johnson, Stanford outfielder Teddy Tokheim, Virginia Tech second baseman Ethan Ball, and Wake Forest reliever Evan Jones.
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ACC awards
Player of the Year: Tague Davis, Louisville
Pitcher of the Year: Wes Mendes, Florida State
Defensive Player of the Year: Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech
Freshman of the Year: Caden Glauber, North Carolina
Coach of the Year: James Ramsey, Georgia Tech
First Team All-ACC
Wes Mendes, SP, Florida State
Jarren Advincula, 2B, Georgia Tech
Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech
Carson Kerce, SS, Georgia Tech
Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech
Ryan Zuckerman, 3B, Georgia Tech
Tague Davis, 1B, Louisville
Zion Rose, OF, Louisville
Jason DeCaro, SP, North Carolina
Caden Glauber, RP, North Carolina
Owen Hull, OF, North Carolina
Jake Schaffner, SS, North Carolina
Jack Radel, SP, Notre Dame
Bino Watters, DH/UT, Notre Dame
Lorenzo Carrier, OF, Pitt
Chris Levonas, SP, Wake Forest
Second Team All-ACC
Gavin Eddy, SP, California
Jacob Jarrell, DH/UT, Clemson
Tate McKee, SP, Georgia Tech
Daniel Cuvet, 3B, Miami
Rob Evans, SP, Miami
Alex Sosa, C, Miami
Derek Williams, OF, Miami
Walker McDuffie, RP, North Carolina
Rett Johnson, OF, N.C. State
Luke Nixon, 2B, N.C. State
Mark Quatrani, C, Notre Dame
Caden Dulin, SS, Pitt
Teddy Tokheim, OF, Stanford
AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia
Brett Renfrow, SP, Virginia Tech
Kade Lewis, 1B, Wake Forest
Third Team All-ACC
A.J. Colarusso, SP, Boston College
Nick Wang, 1B, Boston College
Nate Savoie, OF, Clemson
John Abraham, RP, Florida State
Trey Beard, SP, Florida State
Brayden Dowd, OF, Florida State
Bayram Hot, 3B, Louisville
Gavin Gallaher, 2B, North Carolina
Ryan Lynch, SP, North Carolina
Macon Winslow, C, North Carolina
Ty Head, OF, N.C. State
Sherman Johnson, 3B, N.C. State
|Eric Becker, SS, Virginia
Luke Costello, OF, Wake Forest
Dalton Wentz, 3B, Wake Forest
Javar Williams, OF, Wake Forest
All-Freshman Team
Luke Gallo, 3B, Boston College
Jett Kenady, SS, California
Brendon Bennett, RP, Clemson
Danny Nelson, RP, Clemson
John Stuetzer, OF, Florida State
Griffin Crain, OF, Louisville
Alonzo Alvarez, DH/UT, Miami
Caden Glauber, RP, North Carolina
Rett Johnson, OF, N.C. State
Teddy Tokheim, OF, Stanford
Ethan Ball, 2B, Virginia TechEvan Jones, RP, Wake Forest
17 players on the Third Team due to a tie in the voting
ACC tournament
At Truist Field in Charlotte
Buy tickets here.
Final on ESPN2; all other games on ACC Network
Tuesday’s first round
No. 16 Duke (25–30) vs. No. 9 N.C. State (32–21), 9 a.m.
No. 12 Stanford (27–25) vs. No. 13 California (29–25), 1 p.m.
No. 15 Clemson (31–25) vs. No. 10 Notre Dame, 5 p.m.
No. 14 Pittsburgh (30–23) vs. No. 11 Louisville (30–26), 9 p.m.
Wednesday’s second round
Duke-State winner vs. No. 8 Virginia (35–20), 9 a.m.
Stanford-Cal winner vs. No. 5 Miami (36–17), 1 p.m.
Clemson-Notre Dame winner vs. No. 7 Virginia Tech (29–23), 5 p.m.
Pitt-Louisville winner vs. No. 6 Wake Forest (38–18), 9 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Thursday’s games
Duke/State-Va. winner vs. No. 1 (No. 3 ranked) Georgia Tech (45–9), 3 p.m.
Stanford/Cal-Miami winner vs. No. 4 Boston College (36–20), 7 p.m.
Friday’s games
Clemson/ND-Va.Tech winner vs. No. 2 (No. 2 ranked) North Carolina (43–10–1), 3 p.m.
Pitt/Louisville-Wake Forest winner vs. No. 3 (No. 22 ranked) Florida State (37–15), 7 p.m.
Saturday’s semifinals
Thursday winners, 1 p.m.
Friday winners, 5 p.m.
Sunday’s championship
Noon
| Date(s) | Day/ month | Times/ scores | Opponent (current rank) | Record/ TV * |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | ||||
| 13–14 | Fri., Sat. | W, 9–4; W, 12–2 (7); W, 4–3 (11) | vs. Indiana | 3–0 |
| 17 | Tuesday | W, 10–0 (7) | vs. Richmond | 4–0 |
| 18 | Wednesday | W, 5–3 | vs. Longwood | 5–0 |
| 20–22 | Fri.-Sun | W, 10–0 (8); L, 10–3; T, 3–3 | vs. East Carolina | 6–1–1 |
| 24 | Tuesday | W, 9–1 | vs. N.C. A&T | 7–1–1 |
| 25 | Wednesday | W, 13–3 (7) | vs. VCU | 8–1–1 |
| 27–28 | Fri., Sat. | W, 16–3 (7); W, 12–2 (7) | vs. Le Moyne | 10–1–1 |
| March | ||||
| 1 | Sunday | W, 21–1 (7) | vs. Le Moyne | 11–1–1 |
| 3 | Tuesday | W, 5–1 | vs. Elon | 12–1–1 |
| 6–7 | Fri., Sat | L, 13–3 (7); L, 9–2; W, 8–7 (12) | vs. Virginia | 13–3–1, 1–2 ACC |
| 10 | Tuesday | W, 13–3 (7) | vs. Bucknell | 14–3–1 |
| 13–15 | Fri.-Sun. | W, 8–1; W, 6–2; W, 10–2 | at California | 17–3–1, 4–2 |
| 18 | Wednesday | W, 8–2 | vs. UNCG | 18–3–1 |
| 20–22 | Fri.–Sun. | W, 11–1 (8); L, 2–0; W, 7–6 | vs. Louisville | 20–4–1, 6–3 |
| 24 | Tuesday | W, 9–1 | vs. South Carolina in Charlotte | 21–4–1 |
| 28, 29 | Sat., Sun | W, 6–5; W, 13–7; W, 15–10 | at Notre Dame | 24–4–1, 9–3 |
| 31 | Tuesday | W, 5–4 (14) | vs. Campbell | 25–4–1 |
| April | ||||
| 2–4 | Thur.-Sat. | L, 6–1; W, 5–2; W, 8–7 | vs. Boston College | 27–5–1, 11–4 |
| 7 | Tuesday | W, 8–4 | vs. Charlotte | 28–5–1 |
| 10–12 | Fri.–Sun. | L, 9–5; W, 6–4 (14); W, 12–5 | at Clemson | 30–6–1, 13–5 |
| 14 | Tuesday | W, 14–5 | vs. UNCW | 31–6–1 |
| 17–19 | Fri.-Sun. | W, 5–2; W, 14–4 (8); L, 5–2 | vs. No. 3 Georgia Tech | 33–7–1, 15–6 |
| 21 | Tuesday | W, 9–2 | vs. High Point | 34–7–1 |
| 23–25 | Thur.–Sat. | W, 3–1; L, 3–1; W, 22–5 (7) | at Duke | 36–8–1, 17–7 |
| 28 | Tuesday | L, 12–2 | vs. No. 24 Coastal Carolina | 36–9–1 |
| May | ||||
| 3 | Sunday | W, 13–0 (7) (non-conference game) | vs. Duke | 37–9–1 |
| 8–10 | Fri.-Sun. | W, 4–1; W, 12–2 (8); W, 7–3 | vs. Pittsburgh | 40–9–1, 20–7 |
| 12 | Tuesday | W, 13–7 | at UNCW | 41–9–1 |
| 14–16 | Thur.-Sat. | W, 9–4; W, 17–7 (8); L, 7–2 | at N.C. State | 43–10–1, 22–8 |
| ACC tournament | Charlotte | |||
| 22 | Friday | 3 p.m. | Quarterfinal vs. VT, Clemson or ND | ACCN |
| 23 | Saturday | 5 p.m. | Semifinal | ACCN |
| 24 | Sunday | Noon | Championship | ESPN2 |
| NCAA tournament | ||||
| 29–31 | Fri.-Sun. | Regionals | Campus sites | |
| June | ||||
| 5–7 | Fri.-Sun. | Super Regionals | Campus sites | |
| 12–22 | Fri.-Mon | College World Series | Omaha, Neb. |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
