University of North Carolina Athletics
Four Tar Heels Headed To MLB Postseason
October 5, 2015 | Baseball
Four former North Carolina baseball players will compete in the 2015 MLB Postseason beginning Tuesday evening with the American League Wild Card Game. New York Yankees Dustin Ackley, Andrew Miller and Adam Warren will face the Houston Astros for a spot in the ALDS before Matt Harvey and the NL East champion New York Mets face the Los Angeles Dodgers starting Friday, Oct. 9, in Los Angeles.
Here's a look at how the four playoff-bound Tar Heels, as well the other UNC products in MLB, performed in the 2015 regular season:
Dustin Ackley, New York Yankees
Ackley was rejuvenated by a deadline deal that sent him from Seattle to the Bronx. In 23 games with the Yankees, Ackley slashed .288/.333/.654 with nine extra-base hits in 57 plate appearances.
Matt Harvey, New York Mets
Coming off elbow surgery that cost him the entire 2014 season, Harvey re-established himself as one of the top power pitchers in the National League in 2015. The big righty was 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA and 188 strikeouts in 189.1 innings for the NL East champion Mets.
Chris Iannetta, Los Angeles Angels
The longest-tenured active Tar Heel big leaguer, Iannetta and the Angels came up just short of the postseason. In his 10th season overall and his fourth in Los Angeles, Iannetta appeared in 92 games and finished with 10 homers and 34 RBIs.
Andrew Miller, New York Yankees
Miller was an immediate success in his first season as a Yankee. Signed by New York as a free agent in the offseason, Miller grabbed the closer role in April and ran with it to the tune of 36 saves and a 2.04 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 61.2 innings.
Mike Morin, Los Angeles Angels
Morin appeared in 47 games in his second season in the major leagues and picked up his first career save in the season's final week. He struck out 41 batters against just nine walks in 35.1 innings.
Kyle Seager, Seattle Mariners
Seattle slumped to a fourth-place finish in the AL West, but Seager continue to shine in the first year of his new seven-year deal. The reigning Gold Glover almost mirrored his all-star numbers from 2014, slashing .266/.328/.451 with career highs of 37 doubles and 26 home runs.
Adam Warren, New York Yankees
The fourth-year righty was a jack-of-all-trades for the Yankees in 2015, appearing in 43 games and making 17 starts. Warren finished the regular season 7-7 with a 3.29 ERA and 104 strikeouts in a career-high 131.1 innings.
