University of North Carolina Athletics
Top Pitching Prospects Harvey, Striz Bound For Carolina
August 16, 2007 | Baseball
Aug. 16, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - University of North Carolina signees Matt Harvey and Nate Striz, who were both selected in the first five rounds of June's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, did not sign professional contracts before Wednesday's midnight deadline and will join the Tar Heel program this fall.
Harvey, who was chosen in the third round (118th overall) by the Los Angeles Angels, and Striz, who went in the fifth round (182nd) to the Minnesota Twins signed National Letters of Intent with Carolina last fall. The pair of right-handed pitchers will begin classes at UNC Tuesday, Aug. 21.
Adding Harvey and Striz, who were both regarded as two of the nation's top 100 prep prospects earlier this year by Baseball America, gives the national runner-up Tar Heels a 12-man freshman class. Beginning with the No. 1 rated 2004 freshman group, Carolina has landed a top-11 ranked crop of rookies in three of the last four seasons.
Fellow signees Madison Bumgarner and Rick Porcello, who were both first-round picks, inked professional contracts this week and will not attend UNC.
A product of Fitch High School and Mystic, Conn., Harvey was rated as the nation's No. 1 prospect in the senior class by Baseball America in February and was a preseason first-team All-America. He backed up the lofty rankings by winning Louisville Slugger Connecticut Player of the Year honors this spring.
UNC head coach Mike Fox said the following about Harvey when he signed last fall: "Matt has a pitcher's body and a terrific arm. We love his demeanor and his attitude about competing. He is a wonderful athlete that has a very bright future in this game. He loved our pitching program and the way Andrew Miller and Daniel Bard developed. We are honored that Matt chose the University of North Carolina, and he can certainly help us reach the goals we have set for our program."
A Lakeland, Fla., native and a product of Santa Fe Catholic, Striz was ranked as one of the top prospects in the state of Florida and was rated No. 95 nationally by Baseball America earlier this year.
Fox had the following to offer on Striz last fall: "Nate is a competitor that loves to pitch. He has a power arm and a plus slider. With his athletic body and bulldog mentality, we are expecting Nate to do great things for our program. He loves to play and loves to compete. He is our type of competitor. Nate had a strong desire to be a Tar Heel, and we are excited to have him in our program."
NORTH CAROLINA'S 2008 FRESHMEN Name Hometown High School Pos. Zeke Blanton Forest City, N.C. East Rutherford OF/DH en Bunting Randleman, N.C. Randleman CF Garrett Davis Fremont, N.C. C.B. Aycock RHP Matt Harvey Mystic, Conn. Fitch RHP Greg Holt Clemmons, N.C. West Forsyth 3B/RHP Patrick Johnson Conover, N.C. Saint Stephens RHP Michael Knox Cary, N.C. Apex 1B Ryan Leach Forest City, N.C. East Rutherford RHP/IF Logan Munson Columbia, S.C. A.C. Flora LHP Nate Striz Lakeland, Fla. Santa Fe Catholic RHP Tarron Robinson Chapel Hill, N.C. Chapel Hill LHP rett Thomas Columbia, S.C. A.C. Flora 1B
