By R.L. Bynum
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Jason DeCaro as the No. 80 overall pick in the third round of the MLB Draft on Saturday after a junior season at North Carolina when he combined heavy innings, swing‑and‑miss stuff, and a steady, process‑driven approach.
DeCaro’s ascent to the ace of the Tar Heels’ staff came with consistent performances that led to College World Series starts in multiple seasons.
The 6–5 right‑hander, an All-ACC First Team pick, finished his three-year UNC career 26–7 with a 3.46 ERA, going 11–3 as a junior last season with a 2.87 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 97⅓ innings.
DeCaro is the first pitcher the Pirates drafted Saturday after taking LSU outfielder Derek Curiel in the first round, then, in the second round, taking Stony Brook High school shortstop Aiden Ritz and Auburn second baseman Chris Rembert.
Earlier on Saturday, the Boston Red Sox selected Carolina shortstop Jake Schaffner in the first round and outfielder Owen Hull in the second round.
DeCaro showed a clear plan: attack early, trust the sequence, and let his fastball and slider do the work. Scouts noted a heavy four‑seam fastball that played up late in outings and a slider that produced whiffs when he landed it down and away.
He paired those pitches with a developing changeup and a delivery that projects well in a pro program, and he used that mix to eat innings and limit big innings, a trait that became especially valuable in the postseason.
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DeCaro’s signature outing came in an elimination game of the Chapel Hill Super Regional on May 6 against Southern Cal, when he pitched a two-hit shutout with one walk and eight strikeouts as the Tar Heels won 4–0 in Game 2.
Coach Scott Forbes praised his work ethic and competitiveness, saying DeCaro “set the tone for the rotation” and that his willingness to take extra bullpen sessions and to refine his mechanics paid dividends when the team needed length.
DeCaro has said that he tried to “attack hitters early and trust the plan,” and he credited the coaching staff with helping him simplify his approach and focus on execution rather than outcomes.
Photo courtesy of the ACC
Excellent reporting and information, very much appreciated 👍