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How is Jake Knapp not a Perfect Game First-Team All-American?!

The Tar Heels' right-hander was absolutely disrespected by the Perfect Game All-American voters!
ByNick Delahanty|
Jun 8, 2025; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina pitcher Jake Knapp (42) pitches the ball during the seventh inning of the Super Regionals game against Arizona in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images
Jun 8, 2025; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina pitcher Jake Knapp (42) pitches the ball during the seventh inning of the Super Regionals game against Arizona in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

On Tuesday, Perfect Game released its annual Collegiate All-American rosters. A pair of UNC baseball players earned recognition, as Jake Knapp and Luke Stevenson were tabbed as second and third-team All-Americans, respectively.

Yes, Jake Knapp, the guy who didn't lose a single start all season long, is a second-team selection.

Let's get one thing clear before we jump into this debate: being named an All-American is a prestigious honor in itself. However, the group of, as they call them, "experienced scouts" who comprise these lists clearly got this one wrong.

If you're into playing games, this article is for you! Below you'll find the stats of two unidentified starting pitchers. By looking directly at the numbers, which one would you think would be a first-team All-American?

Player 1

Player 2

Record

14-0

8-2

ERA

2.02

2.98

Innings Pitched

102.1

84.2

Strikeouts

88

119

Walks Allowed

16

27

WHIP

0.86

1.06

As you've probably already determined by now: Jake Knapp is "Player 1" while Jamie Arnold of Florida State is "Player 2."

Arnold, who also lost a head-to-head matchup against Knapp, was tabbed as a first-team All-American. Goes to show that the voters for Perfect Game are more worried about MLB Draft value than they are about actually awarding guys like Knapp for putting together a dominant season.

It's simple: there are not five starting pitchers in college baseball who were better than Jake Knapp during the 2025 season. In fact, two of the pitchers who earned first-team honors (Arnold and Kyson Witherspoon of Oklahoma) suffered losses against the UNC baseball program!

Oklahoma saved Witherspoon for a potential matchup with the Diamond Heels. Look at how that turned out for them!

Sure, Knapp isn't as flashy or as highly-regarded in terms of MLB Draft stock as some of the other guys that earned first-team All-American honors, but there's simply no denying that his performance throughout the entire 2025 season, especially coming back from a season-ending injury a year ago, makes him a guy who should be a consensus first-team All-American.

Perfect Game, sorry to say, but you got this one wrong!

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