UNC Baseball: Angel Zarate drafted by Cleveland Guardians

The two-time ACC Champion becomes the second UNC baseball position player selected in this year’s draft, joining shortstop Danny Serretti.

As part of Day 3 of this year’s MLB Draft, another UNC baseball standout has found a new home. In the 17th round, the Cleveland Guardians selected UNC baseball outfielder Angel Zarate with the 511th overall pick.

Zarate commanded the Tar Heels’ offense from the leadoff spot, hitting a career-high .352 with 7 home runs and 40 RBI this past season. The left-handed slugger started all 64 games for the Tar Heels, leading the team in hits, multi-hit games, and doubles.

Zarate recorded 100 hits in 2022, leading the ACC and ranking sixth in all of college baseball. The Third-team All-ACC selection became just the ninth Tar Heel in program history to reach 100 hits in a single season.

With the Diamond Heels fighting back to advance to the Super Regionals, Zarate accounted for seven hits, six runs, and three RBI in UNC’s elimination games. As the Reidsville, North Carolina native was a vital piece in UNC’s postseason surge, Zarate earned all-tournament honors at the ACC Baseball Championship and the Chapel Hill Regional.

The redshirt junior spent portions of five seasons in Chapel Hill, appearing in 151 career games. Emerging as a starter during the shortened 2020 season, Zarate started his final 131 contests in a Diamond Heels uniform.

As Zarate begins his professional career, the future Guardian exits Chapel Hill with a career .341 batting average, 13 home runs, and 90 RBI. With a trip to Omaha and two ACC Championships, it’s safe to say that No. 40 had one Heel of a career.

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