Dustin Ackley (2009) - Patterson Medal Winners - University of North Carolina Athletics

Dustin Ackley

Induction:
2009
Class:
2009

2009— Dustin Ackley: Baseball (Walnut Cove, N.C.)
Ackley became the first three-time All-America in UNC baseball history and a consensus first-team pick as a junior in 2009. He was Rivals.com’s 2009 National Player of the Year, becoming just the fourth Tar Heel baseball player to win that award. Ackley was the 2009 ACC Player of the Year and 2007 ACC Freshman of the Year, becoming just the fifth player in league history to earn both awards. A three-time All-ACC selection, Ackley played in 207 consecutive games, leading the Tar Heels to the College World Series in all three of his seasons.

The Walnut Cove, N.C., native set UNC career records in hits (346), average (.412), runs (227) total bases (544) and single-season marks for at-bats, runs, hits and total bases. He had 107 multi-hit games and capped his career by hitting .412 as a junior with 18 doubles, four triples, 22 home runs and 73 RBI. The second overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, Ackley set a College World Series record with 28 base hits and is the only player to earn a spot on the All-CWS Team three times.

The Seattle Mariners selected Ackley with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft. He played six seasons in the major leagues with Seattle and the New York Yankees.