The Diamond Heels are ushering in a heralded recruiting class this year, which is currently taking part in fall workouts at the Boshamer Stadium. The incoming first-year class is the best in the ACC, ranks No. 10 on Perfect Game’s recruiting board and, including transfers, is ranked No. 12 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
The newcomers are comprised of six Division I transfers, three junior college transfers, one Division III transfer and 14 athletes out of high school. The pitchers outnumber the position players 14 to 10.
The Diamond Heels announced the newcomers in September but have yet to unveil the official 40-man roster for the 2024 season.
Here's a way-too-early look at the new additions:
Which players were lost to the draft?
There were some concerns from Tar Heel fans of the class being significantly impacted by the 2023 draft, but that did not end up being the case. UNC did lose two very talented recruits. Two-time North Carolina Gatorade State Player of the Year Walker Jenkins was selected and signed as the fifth pick in the 2023 draft by the Minnesota Twins. He was followed by Zyhir Hope, who was selected in the 11th round.
Having lost its reliable catcher Tomas Frick to the New York Yankees and both backup catchers to the transfer portal, Perfect Game’s No. 9 ranked catcher in the nation, first-year Luke Stevenson, will be a boon for UNC. Stevenson has already shown he can be vocal, take command from behind the dish and sling balls across the diamond. Elon transfer redshirt senior Parker Haskin may also see some time behind the plate.
What will the impact of UNC's first-year pitchers be?
UNC's most notable arms out of high school are Francesco Capocci, Boston Flannery and Olin Johnson.
