For a second consecutive offseason, Scott Forbes and the Diamond Heels need to reload its depth behind the plate.
Macon Winslow, who was essentially the everyday starter behind the dish before suffering an injury that limited him to being the team's designated hitter, was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in this year's draft, while fellow backstop Colin Hynek exhausted his eligibility.
After previously bringing in Maryland transfer Devin Russell, the Tar Heels weren't satisfied. To add even more talent at the catcher position, North Carolina secured a commitment from an under the radar player who could be the next hidden gem the Tar Heels uncover.
Derek Houston commits to the UNC baseball program
Former Utah Valley standout Derek Houston is taking his talents to Chapel Hill, as he committed to Scott Forbes and the Diamond Heels on Wednesday night. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder looks to make his case to be the Tar Heels everyday catcher for the 2027 season.
As a redshirt sophomore this past season, Houston appeared in 39 games (34 starts). He finished the season with a .307 batting average with five home runs and 20 RBIs.
Mostly as a catcher, Houston started 21 games behind the plate this season, but struggled a bit defensively. Of 31 attempted base stealers, 23 secured the bag, while he also was charged with 10 passed balls.
Not only can Houston catch, but he has some experience in the outfield as well. He did play a few games in left field this past season, giving some additional versatility to get his bat in the lineup if need me.
North Carolina has been spoiled behind the plate in recent years. Luke Stevenson was a highly productive two-year starter before he took his talents to the pros, and the duo of Winslow and Hynek was very serviceable for a Diamond Heels team that came up just short of the program's first-ever national championship.
The duo of Russell and Houston might not gain as much hype as some previous Tar Heels catchers, but who are we to judge anything Scott Forbes and his staff do in terms of recruiting?
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Let's face it: they have a knack for finding quality players who fit the mold of the program extremely well. Look what they did last offseason when they brought in guys like Owen Hull, Jake Schaffner, Erik Paulsen, and, of course, the aforementioned catching tandem.
The catcher position is one of the few "holes" this team has heading into the 2027 season, and it might not even be as big of a hole as you'd think. In fact, the Diamond Heels seem rather confident that these additions can fill the void and do so at a high level, playing a significant role in next year's quest to finish the job that last year's team fell just short of doing.
All we need to do now is let Scott Forbes cook on the recruiting trail, something he's proven to be absolutely elite at doing.
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