UNC Baseball: Jacob Stallings reflects on 2021 season

In his first year as the Pittsburgh Pirates starting catcher, former UNC baseball standout Jacob Stallings reflects on the 2021 season.

After a long journey to get to the big leagues, former UNC baseball standout Jacob Stallings is finally a full-time starting catcher for a Major League Baseball club.

Even though it took him quite some time to earn this opportunity, the former Tar Heel has certainly made the most of it.

The catcher position is a very important one in the sport of baseball. Yes, offensive ability is something that is certainly welcomed at the position, but organizations around the sport tend to focus on two major components for their starting catcher to have: durability and defensive/pitch calling ability.

Through his first season as a starter, Stallings has been tremendous in both aspects. In terms of durability, the 31-year-old has avoided serious injuries, only spending a short stint on the seven-day concussion list. Through Thursday’s action, Stallings has played in 110 games, as he’s been a consistent regular for the team’s lineup.

When asked to reflect on the season, Stallings noted that he did have some durability concerns given his new long-term role:

"“I think that was my biggest question mark was if my body could withstand it and still perform,” Stallings said. “It’s something I’m really happy about.”"

Defensively, you can make the case that the former Tar Heel is among the best (if not the best) at his position. During his big league career, Stallings has shown his Gold Glove type ability, and has proven during the 2021 campaign that it simply was not a fluke.

Offensively, Stallings certainly hasn’t been a slouch. Over 418 plate appearances, the former Tar Heel has a slash line of .243/.330/.368 with eight home runs and 43 RBIs. He’s had some key at-bats for the club, including a huge grand slam against the New York Mets.

Overall, Stallings seems to be really happy with how he has played this season, and is hoping that the team continues to grow moving forward.

"“Personally, I’ve felt good about my year,” Stallings said. “I think you always feel like you can get a little better offensively, but overall, I feel like I did well, and I’m excited about some adjustments I’ve made in the last month or so. Defensively, I feel really good about the year. Obviously, team-wise, we aren’t where we want to be, but I think there was a lot of growth for a lot of guys, and hopefully that carries over into next year.”"

As the oldest member of the current roster, Stallings will continue to be called upon to serve in a leadership role for the Pirates organization. As the franchise is in a major rebuilding phase, players like Stallings can help guide the team back in the right direction over the next couple of seasons.

Continue to follow the Keeping It Heel team for all the latest news and updates regarding Jacob Stallings, and the UNC baseball program.