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UNC Baseball: Aaron Sabato inks deal with Minnesota Twins

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 19: Aaron Sabato #19 of the University of North Carolina celebrates his home run with teammate Dallas Tessar #7 during a game between High Point and North Carolina at Boshamer Stadium on February 19, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 19: Aaron Sabato #19 of the University of North Carolina celebrates his home run with teammate Dallas Tessar #7 during a game between High Point and North Carolina at Boshamer Stadium on February 19, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /
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Former UNC baseball player Aaron Sabato inks $2.75 million deal with Minnesota Twins

Former University of North Carolina first baseman Aaron Sabato signed a contract with the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Sabato, the Twins’ first round selection and 27th overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft, inked a $2.75 million deal with the AL Central squad.

When the Twins made Sabato their first round pick on June 10, he became the 24th Tar Heel taken in the first round or supplemental round in UNC baseball history. His selection marked the 16th occasion in Mike Fox’s 21-year tenure with the program that a UNC player has gone in the draft’s first round. It also ensured a 43rd consecutive season that a North Carolina player was selected in the draft.

The 21-year-old Sabato helped pace the Tar Heels to a 12-7 record in 2020 before the season was cut short in response to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. In 19 games, Sabato had a .292 batting average, and a team-leading .478 on-base percentage. He was also first among Tar Heels with a .708 slugging percentage, and a 1.186 OPS. He also led North Carolina in doubles (6), home runs (7), RBIs (18), total bases (46) and walks (22).

Before the season abruptly ended in mid-March, Sabato had hit safely in five of six games. In that five-game stretch, he was hitting .500 with six home runs, 10 RBIs and eight runs scored. The final ACC Player of the Week honor was awarded to Sabato on March 9. The struggling Tar Heels finished the season just five games above .500, and would almost certainly have done much worse without Sabato’s offensive output.

Sabato’s 2020 accolades follow up a terrific freshman season in which he earned a number of All-American honors. In 2019, he carried a .343 batting average to go along with 18 home runs and 63 RBIs. He led the team in hits, doubles, home runs, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.

Next. 5-star UNC target is getting lots of attention. dark

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Aaron Sabato, and the UNC baseball program.

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