The College World Series hasn't even started yet (heck, the field of teams hasn't even been determined yet!) but hey, it's never too early to start looking ahead to next season.
Of course, the focus is on 2025, don't get it twisted. However, the UNC baseball program would be doing themselves a disservice if they weren't keeping an eye on the early portion of the transfer portal window.
With plenty of talented players set to depart Chapel Hill this offseason, the Tar Heels wasted no time adding one of the top current available players in the portal.
On Friday, North Carolina earned a commitment from sophomore first baseman Erik Paulsen. The Massapequa, New York native spent his first two collegiate seasons at Stony Brook.
A two-way player, Paulsen has seen some action on the mound for the Seawolves. However, his bat has been way too valuable, as he's essentially been a full-time starter since he arrived on campus.
After hitting .299 as a freshman, the 6-foot-3, 217-pound first baseman turned it up a notch in his sophomore season. In 49 games played, Paulsen hit .358, clubbing 9 home runs while driving in 44 runs. What's even more impressive is this: he struck out just 12 times over 193 plate appearances, as he has a knack for putting the ball in play.
With Hunter Stokley set to exhaust his college eligibility, the UNC baseball program had a future hole at the first base position. Paulsen should alleviate those concerns, as he surely has the makings of being the Diamond Heels' first baseman for the next two seasons.
The UNC baseball program has the pieces in place to make a deep postseason run over the next few weeks. While a trip to Omaha is priority No. 1, the Tar Heels also will be keeping tabs on the transfer portal, identifying players who may be fits for next year's roster.