UNC Baseball: Dalton Pence selected by the Texas Rangers in the 2024 MLB Draft

The Texas Rangers seem to really like the UNC baseball players in this year's MLB Draft class.

After selecting Casey Cook in the third round on day two of the MLB Draft, the Rangers used their first pick of the final day to select left-handed reliever Dalton Pence.

Pence became a workhorse for the UNC baseball program out of the bullpen, as he was one of the country's top relievers during the 2024 season. Whenever Scott Forbes and the Diamond Heels needed a big out (or outs), Pence was likely the man standing on the mound.

During his redshirt sophomore season, Pence posted a 5-1 record with eight saves and a 2.45 ERA. He made life difficult for opposing hitters, averaging 11.35 strikeouts per nine innings. For his efforts, Pence earned Second Team All-American honors from Baseball America, College Baseball Foundation, D1 Baseball, and Perfect Game.

When the stakes got higher, Pence was even better. The left-hander was a crucial factor in the Diamond Heels' run to the College World Series, as he earned the win in the regional championship game against LSU and the save in game two of the Super Regional versus West Virginia. His best outing came against ACC rival Virginia in the College World Series, as he threw 3.1 scoreless innings in relief.

Now, Pence can elect to return to Chapel Hill for another season, as there was potential for him to possibly move into the starting rotation. However, the opportunity to head to the pros might be too enticing to pass up, as he would once again be teammates with fellow former Tar Heel Casey Cook.

Regardless of what he decides, expect to see Dalton Pence dominating on a baseball mound once again in the near future, whether that's in Chapel Hill or Texas.