By R.L. Bynum
Jake Schaffner was selected Saturday by the Boston Red Sox as the No. 20 overall pick in the first round of the MLB Draft, capping a season in Chapel Hill that paired elite on‑base skills with Gold Glove‑level defense and postseason poise.
Schaffner, No. 75 on the Top 250 prospects list, arrived at UNC as a North Dakota State transfer and finished the year among the team leaders in batting average, on‑base percentage and stolen bases.
In the second round, the Red Sox picked Schaffner’s UNC teammate, center fielder Owen Hull.
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.
Schaffner, the highest UNC player picked since the Houston Astros made J.B. Bukauskas the No. 15 overall pick in 2017, is the 26th Tar Heel all-time to be picked in the first round and the first since Baltimore made Vance Honeycutt the No. 22 overall pick in 2024.
The path for Schaffner, an All-ACC First Team pick, began before he arrived in Chapel Hill, with a reputation for contact hitting and defensive reliability, and he quickly became a stabilizing presence at shortstop. He was a sparkplug at the top of the Tar Heels’ lineup.
Over the 2026 season, he combined a high batting average and on‑base percentage with speed on the bases, hitting .356 with an on‑base percentage of .467 and 26 steals.
Schaffner offered the kind of two‑way value that professional organizations prize. Scouts noted his soft hands, quick transfer, and range up the middle, traits that earned him Summit League honors earlier in his career and translated to consistent defensive plays for the Tar Heels.
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In Omaha, under the brightest lights of the College World Series, Schaffner delivered several key moments, including a sacrifice fly in the 6–2 opening-game win over Ole Miss that tied a game in the seventh inning, and a calm, steady presence in the clubhouse that coaches cited as essential to the team’s postseason run.
Schaffner’s voice after big games reflected a player focused on process rather than headlines. After the CWS opener, he credited the team’s approach and the veterans who helped calm newcomers, saying that leaders “told us to be in the moment and take it all in and not take it for granted.”
Coach Scott Forbes praised Schaffner’s preparation and the way he simplified his approach at the plate to produce consistent contact and situational hitting.
Schaffner combines a high contact rate, advanced plate discipline, and with outstanding defense at shortstop, attributes that suggest a relatively short path to upper levels of the minors if he continues to refine his power and arm strength.
All-time Tar Heels picked in first round
| Player | Year | Overall pick | Team making pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.J. Surhoff | 1985 | 1 | Milwaukee Brewers |
| Walt Weiss | 1987 | 7 | Oakland A’s |
| Paul Shuey | 1992 | 15 | Cleveland Indians |
| Mike Bynum | 1999 | 49 | San Diego Padres |
| Kyle Snyder | 1999 | 7 | Kansas City Royals |
| Tyrell Godwin | 2000 | 35 | Texas Rangers |
| Russ Adams | 2002 | 14 | Toronto Blue Jays |
| Daniel Bard | 2006 | 28 | Boston Red Sox |
| Andrew Miller | 2006 | 6 | Detroit Tigers |
| Alex White | 2009 | 15 | Cleveland Indians |
| Dustin Ackley | 2009 | 2 | Seattle Mariners |
| Matt Harvey | 2010 | 7 | New York Mets |
| Levi Michael | 2011 | 30 | Minnesota Twins |
| Colin Moran | 2013 | 6 | Miami Marlins |
| Brian Miller | 2017 | 36 | Miami Marlins |
| J.B. Bukauskas | 2017 | 15 | Houston Astros |
| Logan Warmoth | 2017 | 22 | Toronto Blue Jays |
| Michael Busch | 2019 | 31 | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| Aaron Sabato | 2020 | 27 | Minnesota Twins |
| Vance Honeycutt | 2024 | 22 | Baltimore Orioles |
| Jake Schaffner | 2026 | 20 | Boston Red Sox |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
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