UNC Baseball battery earn spots on the 2025 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List

More preseason accolades have rolled in for the battery of Jason DeCaro and Luke Stevenson.

The UNC baseball pitcher/catcher duo have earned spots on the USA Baseball 2025 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List.

This award, which was first presented in 1978, is considered the most prestigious award at the college level. It is awarded to the amateur player who best exhibits and combines exceptional on-field ability and exemplary sportsmanship.

Heading into his sophomore season, right-handed pitcher Jason DeCaro was named a preseason first-team All-American. He ranked seventh nationally among NCAA Division I freshmen with a 3.81 ERA, sixth-best overall in the ACC, while also leading the conference in starts. Coming off a season in which he was named a Freshman All-American, DeCaro looks to build on his success as he once again looks to anchor the UNC baseball program's pitching staff.

Another reigning freshman All-American, Luke Stevenson, earned preseason third-team All-American honors. The Diamond Heels' backstop is coming off a tremendous freshman season, a year in which he hit 14 home runs, drove in 58 runs while leading the team with 48 walks. As a draft-eligible sophomore, a lot of attention will be surrounding Stevenson this season, as he's ranked by many MLB Draft rankings as the top available catcher among this year's potential class.

After exciting freshman seasons from both players, the UNC baseball program hopes that they can replicate their success in their second seasons. Diamond Heels fans won't have to wait long to see both players in action as DeCaro is expected to start the 2025 season opener on February 14 against Texas Tech at Boshamer Stadium. As he did all last season, Stevenson is once again expected to handle catching duties for the Diamond Heels this season.