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Alex Madera and Luke Stevenson named finalists for the 2025 Gold Glove awards

Both Tar Heels were outstanding defensively at their respective positions throughout the 2025 season.
ByNick Delahanty|
Jun 3, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels Alex Madera (1) makes a throw to first base for an out against the Louisiana State Tigers during the Div. I NCAA baseball regional at Boshamer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Camarati-Imagn Images
Jun 3, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels Alex Madera (1) makes a throw to first base for an out against the Louisiana State Tigers during the Div. I NCAA baseball regional at Boshamer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Camarati-Imagn Images | Jeffrey Camarati-Imagn Images

On Monday, the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove finalists for the 2025 college baseball season were revealed. Among the finalists are two UNC baseball standouts who made a major impact when the Diamond Heels were in the field.

Alex Madera was named a finalist at shortstop, while Luke Stevenson is one of the remaining candidates for the award at the catcher position.

Last season, Madera was named a gold glove finalist, but was playing a completely different position. Playing second base in his first season at North Carolina, Madera transitioned to shortstop for his final collegiate season, posting a .972 fielding percentage. He finished the season with 61 putouts and 148 assists, only making six errors over 61 games played.

While his fielding percentage was at an elite level during his freshman season, Stevenson's defense behind the plate got even better in his second year on campus. He recorded 476 putouts and 44 assists, posting a .996 fielding percentage. In addition, the Wake Forest, North Carolina native improved in terms of handling a pitching staff and framing pitches, helping his guys on the mound get some extra calls in their favor.

You could even make the case that Kane Kepley, the UNC baseball program's centerfielder, deserved more recognition for what he did patrolling the outfield grass this season, having a perfect fielding percentage while recording 159 putouts. Unfortunately, Kepley didn't earn a spot among the finalists, but his efforts didn't go unnoticed by Tar Heel faithful.

There were a few moving parts for this year's team, as Madera's switch to the opposite side of the diamond was arguably the biggest one. He made the transition seamlessly, as the two Tar Heel gold glove finalists helped hold it down defensively among the infield unit.

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