The UNC baseball program, ranked No. 19 in D1 Baseball's latest Top 25 Poll, had four players earn midseason All-American honors for their efforts through the midway point of the 2025 season.
Some midseason recognition for the fellas 👏#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/wHfWzvJP23
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) April 2, 2025
Graduate right-handed pitcher Jake Knapp was named a First-Team All-American by D1 Baseball. Returning from a season-ending injury a year ago, Knapp has been a dominant force at the top of the UNC baseball program's starting rotation, as he currently holds a 5-0 record with a 1.63 ERA in 38.2 innings of work.
After beginning the season working out of the bullpen, Knapp has been outstanding since he reclaimed a starting rotation role. North Carolina's co-captain has pitched into the seventh inning in four consecutive starts, completing seven full innings in three of those outings.
Perfect Game also released their midseason All-American squads, as a trio of Diamond Heels earned recognition.
Catcher Luke Stevenson earned second-team honors, another reminder of just how good the Tar Heels backstop is. Through 29 games, Stevenson is hitting .278, as he's already deposited 9 home runs through 97 at-bats. As a freshman a season ago, Stevenson clubbed 14 homers in 64 games, as it's likely that he will surpass that number in his second full season with the program.
Aidan Haugh, who has been a very pleasant surprise in the Tar Heels' starting rotation, earned third-team honors.
The talent is certainly there, as indicated by the fact that he was selected in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins. North Carolina is certainly pleased that he decided to return to Chapel Hill, as he's been very good through his first seven starts of the season.
Currently, Haugh boasts a 3-2 record with a 1.69 ERA. His best outing came against Boston College on March 23, a game in which he pitched seven shutout innings, striking out 11 batters.
Ryan Lynch rounded up the midseason All-American honors, as he was named to the freshman second-team.
A true freshman from Moorestown, New Jersey, Lynch has been a versatile weapon out of the bullpen for Scott Forbes' team. The right-hander has made 13 appearances, allowing just four runs in his 24.2 innings of work. He's been striking out batters at a high rate, as he's struck out over a batter per-inning (32 strikeouts total). Regardless of the situation, Forbes feels confident giving the ball to his freshman right-hander when he needs big outs in key situations.
It just goes to show how deep this UNC baseball squad is, as there are quite a few players who could've earned midseason All-American honors for their efforts. The four players who did earn honors have been outstanding for the Diamond Heels, as the hope is that the success continues as the second-half of the season gets rolling.