Diamond Heels fans got to witness what Jake Schaffner could do defensively during his lone season in Chapel Hill.
Starring at shortstop for North Carolina, Schaffner logged a .985 fielding percentage, committing just three errors across 59 games played. His elite glove played a huge role in UNC's success, helping the Diamond Heels put together one of the top defensive units in the country.
A true two-way star at the college level, Schaffner's big year at UNC resulted in him being selected in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox. To no surprise, Schaffner is still making insane plays in the field, as one of his latest will certainly have you impressed!
Jake Schaffner flashes the leather for a SportsCenter Top 10 worthy play
Playing for the Greenville Drive, the High-A affiliate of the Red Sox, Schaffner laid it all on the line to record the third out of the fourth inning on Thursday night.
Just wait until you see this one!
Jake Schaffner flashes the leather at High-A 😮💨
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) August 27, 2026
The Red Sox’s 2026 first-round pick ranks No. 6 in their system 📈
(🎥@GreenvilleDrive) pic.twitter.com/sSLDYW8bX7
For starters, how did Schaffner even get to this ball?!
That ball off the bat had two-out single written all over it, as that's not typically one that would result in an out. However, Schaffner pulled his best "Superman" impression, fully diving in the air to secure the catch.
There's no doubt his pitcher LOVED that effort!
Sure, Schaffner's defense early on in his pro career hasn't been as sharp as we saw when he was at UNC, he is still very much an elite defensive player. Just give him time to settle in, and he'll be making plays like the one he made on Thursday night essentially every time he takes the field.
Making plays like that are one way to catch the attention of the franchise that drafted you and the fans who are keeping a close eye on every move you make. So far, the results, both offensively and defensively, have been good for Schaffner as his journey to the big leagues takes another step forward.
Before we know it, Schaffner will be making highlight-reel plays at Fenway Park, his future home ballpark. It would be awesome to see Schaffner making diving plays in the infield while fellow former Tar Heel Owen Hull patrols center field behind him, just like we saw during the 2026 season when both led the Diamond Heels to the College World Series Championship Series.
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