By R.L. Bynum
There were good surprises and bad surprises for North Carolina in the MLB Draft, but the latter should give the Tar Heels an impressive returning core from last season’s College World Series finalists.
The good surprises came on Saturday when the Boston Red Sox selected shortstop Jake Schaffner with the No. 20 overall pick in the first round, higher than projected, giving UNC first-round picks in three consecutive seasons.
Four Tar Heels went in the first three rounds for the first time, giving UNC eight players taken in the top three rounds since 2024.
Next on Saturday came the selections of center fielder Owen Hull (Boston Red Sox, No. 67 pick, second round), right-handed pitcher Jason DeCaro (Pittsburgh Pirates, No. 80, third round) and right-handed pitcher Ryan Lynch (San Diego Padres, No. 98, third round).
Two more UNC players were picked on Sunday, with the Philadelphia Phillies selecting junior catcher Macon Winslow (top photo) in the sixth round, 190th overall, and the Seattle Mariners selecting senior right-handed pitcher Matthew Matthijs in the 17th round, 520th overall.
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Winslow hit .282 with 10 home runs and 57 RBI last season, playing mostly as designated hitter after suffering a mid-season injury. Matthijs, a co-captain last season, went 12–4 in 2024 and finished his college career 16–6.
Gold Glove second baseman Gavin Gallaher, first baseman Erik Paulsen and third baseman Cooper Nicholson didn’t hear their names called, meaning that they are all likely to return for their senior seasons.
With a talented group of freshmen and transfers coming into the program and pitchers Caden Glauber and Jackson Rose and left fielder Tyler Howe back after stellar freshman seasons, the future looks bright for the Tar Heels.
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
