Jake Knapp's return to the mound has been one of the best stories in all of college baseball.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery just prior to the start of the 2024 season, Knapp was forced to be on the sidelines as the UNC baseball program made their trip to Omaha. While Knapp would've loved to have been on the mound during that run, he still served as a major impact for the team, being a consistent presence and leader in the dugout.
Fast forward to the 2025 season, Knapp's final season of collegiate baseball. Determined to not be a spectator this go around, Knapp went through his rehab process with a goal in mind to be ready for opening day. While he accomplished that goal, that was far from the last achievement he would garner.
Knapp found his way back into the rotation and worked his way to being the Diamond Heels' Friday night starter, as he not only has been one of the best pitchers in the ACC, but in the country as a whole. In 12 starts (all of which have resulted in North Carolina victories), Knapp is a perfect 10-0, showcasing elite stuff throughout.
On Thursday night, in what will likely be his final regular season start at Boshamer Stadium, Knapp put together his best performance.
Knapp pitched into the ninth inning, suffocating NC State's lineup. He went on a stretch in which he retired 18 straight hitters,
His start marked the longest by a Tar Heel against the Wolfpack since 2018. It seems that Knapp really enjoys pitching against North Carolina's in-state foe, as he's pitched 14 scoreless innings in two career outings against NC State.
As he walked off the mound on Thursday night, the home crowd gave Jake Knapp a well-deserved standing ovation. Sure, the crowd was acknowledging his outing against the Wolfpack, but that moment meant much more than just that.
The crowd knows just how hard Knapp has worked to get to this point. Tommy John surgery can be a grueling process, one that takes months (and in some cases, years), to fully recover from, but Knapp was determined to be back on the mound for his team.
He achieved that and much more.