When you are one of the last two teams standing on the final day of the college baseball season, there's no doubt that your players are going to earn some heavy attention from MLB scouts.
The Diamond Heels, behind a veteran-led team, fell just one win shy of the program's first-ever national championship, but the roster was filled with guys who are quality big league caliber players.
That notion was well on display on day one of the 2026 MLB Draft, as the program made history throughout the first four rounds of this year's event.
UNC sets a new program record on Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft
It was a busy Saturday afternoon for the UNC baseball program as they set a new record for the most Tar Heels selected during the first four rounds of the MLB Draft.
With Jake Schaffner, Owen Hull, Jason DeCaro and Ryan Lynch going off the board in the first 97 picks, this marks the first time four @DiamondHeels players have been selected in the first three rounds of an #MLBDraft. pic.twitter.com/SFcjhs618b
— Pat James (@patjames24) July 11, 2026
Jake Schaffner was the first to hear his name called when the Boston Red Sox selected him with the No. 20 overall pick in the first round. North Carolina is the only program in the ACC and one of four schools in the entire country that can claim to have had a first-round pick in each of the last three MLB Drafts.
With the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft now completed, the @DiamondHeels are the only program in the ACC and one of only four in the country to have a first round pick each of the last three seasons.
— Adam Lucas (@jadamlucas) July 11, 2026
Boston decided that one Tar Heel wasn't enough, using the No. 67 overall selection to take outfielder Owen Hull. Following an All-American season and an incredible postseason run, Hull helped improve his draft stock significantly, being regarded as a top-75 ranked player in this year's draft class.
Just 13 picks later, an MLB organization finally tapped into the Diamond Heels' pitching depth. Ace Jason DeCaro heard his name called by the Pittsburgh Pirates at pick No. 80, as the well-traveled right-hander landed with a franchise know for developing young pitching prospects well.
Before the top 100 picks were made, the Diamond Heels squeezed one more in. With the No. 97 overall selection, the San Diego Padres took a chance on right-hander Ryan Lynch, a power arm who has the versatility to pitch in essentially any role that's needed of him.
The last three seasons have shown the progression the Diamond Heels have made when it comes to MLB Draft picks.
During the first three seasons of the Scott Forbes era (2021-2023), North Carolina had no first-round picks and just two players selected in the top three rounds.
Over the last three years, the Tar Heels have had first-round selections in each draft and can claim eight players who were selected in the top three rounds overall.
Not to shabby!
The crazy thing is that day two of the 2026 MLB Draft might be even busier for the Diamond Heels. A handful of Tar Heels, including Gavin Gallaher, Macon Winslow, Erik Paulsen, and Folger Boaz, could hear their names called at some point, and other Diamond Heels could be in the mix as well.
If you thought the Tar Heels were done after day one, we suggest you stick around and see what else is to come on the final day of this year's draft.
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