Ryan Lynch heads across the country to begin his professional baseball career

Ryan Lynch is heading to the West Coast!

The Moorestown, New Jersey native heard his name called in the third round of the 2026 MLB Draft, as he will be taking his talents to San Diego.

Ryan Lynch selected by the San Diego Padres in the 2026 MLB Draft

Lynch was selected with the 97th pick in this year's draft, becoming the fourth Tar Heel to hear his name called. He will now look to make his mark on the Padres' pitching staff, similar to what he accomplished during his time in Chapel Hill.

The right-hander burst onto the scene during the 2025 season, earning Freshman Second Team All-American honors by both D1Baseball and Baseball America. Mostly as a key reliever out of the bullpen, Lynch transitioned into the starting rotation down the stretch, setting him up to be one of North Carolina's weekend starters for the 2026 campaign.

Lynch was a workhorse for the Diamond Heels, logging 98.1 innings pitched over 19 appearances (18 starts). He finished the season with a 5-4 record with a 4.21 ERA, putting together some big-time starts when his turn in the rotation came around.

While he did find a full-time slot in the Tar Heels' starting rotation, Lynch is a guy who could quickly rise through the minor leagues due to his versatility. San Diego likely envisions him being a starting pitcher long-term, especially as he continues to develop his repertoire, but he could definitely be a bullpen option, one that would expedite his journey to the big leagues.

Regardless of the role he's pitching in, Lynch is a bulldog on the mound who will look to overpower his opponents. There's a lot to love about Lynch's ability and potential, as the sky is the limit for him as he continues to develop.

Now, Lynch is eligible to return to college, which was a major talking point leading up to this year's draft. While he has until July 27 to officially decide his future plans, in all likelihood Lynch is heading to the pros, based on where he was selected. If San Diego wasn't confident in signing him, they probably would've selected someone else, but at this point, all signs point to Lynch starting his professional baseball career now.

The first day of the 2026 MLB Draft has been very busy for the UNC baseball program, showcasing just how successful the Diamond Heels have been. Jake Schaffner got the party started when he was selected with the No. 20 overall pick by the Boston Red Sox, while Owen Hull followed by also being selected by the Red Sox with the No. 67 overall selection.

Jason DeCaro is taking his talents to Pittsburgh after being drafted by the Pirates with the No. 80 overall pick in the third round, while Lynch became the fourth Tar Heel to be selected over the first 100 picks.

While it's awesome to see four Tar Heels living out their professional baseball dreams, we might have more on the way, especially on Sunday, the second day of this year's draft.

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