While the UNC baseball program has a lot to replace from last year's team, one that made a trip to Omaha, they received some good news regarding their captain's eligibility status.
Carolina Baseball got good news this week in the request for another year of eligibility for Jackson Van De Brake. Details: https://t.co/viFhvz189I pic.twitter.com/cwrP1Qirym
— InsideCarolina (@InsideCarolina) December 17, 2024
After requesting an additional season of eligibility, Jackson Van De Brake was granted it by the NCAA, allowing him to play one more season for the UNC baseball program in 2025.
Although he struggled offensively early on during the 2024 season, Van De Brake worked his way back into the starting lineup to help lead the Diamond Heels to the College World Series. A Second-Team All-ACC selection during the 2023 season, the Tar Heels hope that Van De Brake can replicate that success in his final season in Chapel Hill this spring.
With Van De Brake's return, it is expected that he will be the team's starting second baseman come opening day. Alex Madera, who resumed the role of the everyday second baseman a season ago, is slated to shift over to shortstop, replacing Colby Wilkerson.
Even though the Diamond Heels lost a ton of talent, including the likes of Vance Honeycutt, Casey Cook, Dalton Pence and Parks Harber (along with quite a few others), the UNC baseball program has reloaded and once again has aspirations of making a run to Omaha.
Fortunately, Van De Brake will be around to help make that push.