Keeping It Heel
Fansided

A trio of UNC baseball standouts earn D1 Baseball Preseason All-American honors

The UNC baseball program has the second-most preseason All-American selections heading into the 2025 season.

ByNick Delahanty|
Jun 16, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels pitcher Matthew Matthijs (24) during the fifth inning against the Tennessee Volunteers at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Jun 16, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels pitcher Matthew Matthijs (24) during the fifth inning against the Tennessee Volunteers at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Not one, not two, but three UNC baseball players have been selected by D1 Baseball as Preseason All-Americans for the upcoming 2025 season.

After a trip to Omaha a season ago, the Diamond Heels are just one of three teams with three or more players selected as Preseason All-Americans. Needless to say, the trio are expected to be major contributors once again for the UNC baseball program this upcoming season.

Heading into his sophomore season, right-handed pitcher Jason DeCaro was named a preseason first-team All-American. He ranked seventh nationally among NCAA Division I freshmen with a 3.81 ERA, sixth-best overall in the ACC while also leading the conference in starts. Coming off a season in which he was named a Freshman All-American, DeCaro looks to build on his success as he once again looks to anchor the UNC baseball program's pitching staff.

Matthijs, a preseason second-team All-American selection, was one of the breakout stars for last year's team, becoming one of the most reliable arms out of the bullpen. The right-hander made 36 appearances (most in the ACC), pitching to an ERA of 3.72. His 12 victories were the most in the ACC and ranked second among all Division I pitchers.

Another reigning freshman All-American, Luke Stevenson, earned preseason third-team All-American honors. The Diamond Heels' backstop is coming off a tremendous freshman season, a year in which he hit 14 home runs, drove in 58 runs while leading the team with 48 walks. As a draft-eligible sophomore, a lot of attention will be surrounding Stevenson this season, as he's ranked by many MLB Draft rankings as the top available catcher among this year's potential class.

This year's team certainly has a different look but the expectations are still sky-high. The UNC baseball program begins their quest at another run to Omaha on Valentine's Day as they host Texas Tech in non-conference action at Boshamer Stadium.

Expect to hear a lot about the trio of Preseason All-Americans that the UNC baseball program's roster has to offer.

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