By R.L. Bynum
The Boston Red Sox selected Owen Hull as the No. 67 overall pick in the competitive balance pick in the second round of the MLB Draft on Saturday after Hull consistently delivering clutch performances during his only season at North Carolina.
Red Sox fans should prepare to be brought into the “O Zone,” as Hull called it. The pick comes after the Red Sox made Hull’s UNC teammate, shortstop Jake Schaffner, the No. 20 overall pick in the first round.
Two former UNC pitchers are already in the Red Sox system: left-hander Shea Sprague, who is with the High-A Greenville (S.C.) Drive and right-hander Max Carlson, who is with the Double-A Portland (Maine) Sea Dogs.
Hull, an All-ACC First Team pick, arrived in Chapel Hill after two outstanding seasons at George Mason with a reputation for athleticism and contact ability, and he left having reinforced that profile with center‑field range, gap power and a knack for producing in late innings.
In Hull’s lone season at UNC, he made an immediate impact near the top of the lineup with a disciplined approach that produced a .393 batting average and a .500 on-base percentage, both of which led the team, while hitting nine home runs, collecting 38 extra-base hits, and stealing 18 bases.
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Those numbers were the visible part of his contribution. Hull’s route efficiency and instincts in center field erased opponents’ rallies and turned routine plays into momentum‑saving outs.
The transition from George Mason to UNC was seamless because Hull arrived with a clear plan. He said the move was about testing himself against better competition and learning to handle a heavier workload, and he described his approach in simple terms:
“I wanted to be consistent every day, take good at‑bats, and make plays in the outfield,” he said.
Coach Scott Forbes said Hull’s season was the kind of quiet, steady contribution that changes a clubhouse. Forbes praised Hull’s preparation and versatility, saying Hull “does the little things right every day,” and added that his defense “saved innings and altered how opponents attacked our lineup.”
FoForbes’ comments came after UNC took two of three games in a huge mid-April weekend series with Georgia Tech, when Hull’s range and arm repeatedly prevented extra bases and kept rallies from growing.
Teammates pointed to Hull’s work ethic and unselfishness as central to his value. Freshman left fielder Tyler Howe credited Hull with raising the team’s energy, noting that Hull “takes extra reps in the outfield and stays late in the cage,” and that those habits translated to consistent production in big spots.
Teammates appreciated Hull’s baserunning instincts and ability to score from first on a double.
Scouts like Hull’s blend of contact skills and defensive profile. Evaluators noted a compact, direct swing that allowed him to drive the ball to all fields, and they praised his route efficiency and arm strength as indicators he could stick in center field at the professional level.
Photo by Smith Hardy
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