University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: HELEN MCGINNIS
Baseball Ranked No. 13 In NCBWA Preseson Poll
January 31, 2023 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – With the start of the 2023 college baseball season less than three weeks away, UNC received its fourth top 15 preseason ranking as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association ranked the Tar Heels at No. 13 to start 2023.
In addition to today's poll, the Diamond Heels have been ranked No. 11 by Collegiate Baseball, No. 12 by DI Baseball, No. 13 by Perfect Game and No. 17 by Baseball America.
There are eight conferences represented in the first 35-team survey among 305 schools competing in NCAA Division I. North Carolina was one of nine ACC teams ranked in the preseason top 35. Wake Forest is the highest ranked ACC team coming in at No. 8 followed by Louisville at No. 10. Other ACC teams ranked include Miami (no. 17), Virginia Tech (No. 18), Virginia (No. 19), NC State (No. 24), Florida State (No. 32) and Notre Dame (No. 24).
The ACC had the second-most teams ranked in the preseason poll with the Southeastern Conference leading the way with 11.
There were 75 schools rated or receiving votes among the first Top 35 in '23, and the poll will continue with Top 30 teams on Monday, Feb. 20 through the completion of the NCAA World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, in late June.
UNC enters 2023 returning 17 lettermen and six position starters including All-America outfielder Vance Honeycutt. Most of the returning players are juniors led by starting third baseman Mac Horvath, who clubbed 18 home runs, swiped 19 bases and drove in 53 runs. The junior threesome of catcher Tomas Frick, first baseman Hunter Stokely and Colby Wilkerson, who will move over from second base to shortstop, also return to the infield. Fellow junior Alberto Osuna returns at the primary designated hitter.
Seniors Nik Pry and Will Sandy as well as junior Max Carlson lead a young pitching staff that features 12 newcomers.
LSU received the No. 1 preseason nod for the third time in NCBWA history, while the SEC landed seven teams in the top 10 (No. 2 Tennessee, No. 4 Florida, No. 5 Texas A&M, No. 6 Arkansas, No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 9 Vanderbilt).
UNC opens the 2023 season on Feb. 17 against Seton Hall at Boshamer Stadium. Season, mini-season and single-game tickets are on sale at GoHeels.com.
In addition to today's poll, the Diamond Heels have been ranked No. 11 by Collegiate Baseball, No. 12 by DI Baseball, No. 13 by Perfect Game and No. 17 by Baseball America.
There are eight conferences represented in the first 35-team survey among 305 schools competing in NCAA Division I. North Carolina was one of nine ACC teams ranked in the preseason top 35. Wake Forest is the highest ranked ACC team coming in at No. 8 followed by Louisville at No. 10. Other ACC teams ranked include Miami (no. 17), Virginia Tech (No. 18), Virginia (No. 19), NC State (No. 24), Florida State (No. 32) and Notre Dame (No. 24).
The ACC had the second-most teams ranked in the preseason poll with the Southeastern Conference leading the way with 11.
There were 75 schools rated or receiving votes among the first Top 35 in '23, and the poll will continue with Top 30 teams on Monday, Feb. 20 through the completion of the NCAA World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, in late June.
UNC enters 2023 returning 17 lettermen and six position starters including All-America outfielder Vance Honeycutt. Most of the returning players are juniors led by starting third baseman Mac Horvath, who clubbed 18 home runs, swiped 19 bases and drove in 53 runs. The junior threesome of catcher Tomas Frick, first baseman Hunter Stokely and Colby Wilkerson, who will move over from second base to shortstop, also return to the infield. Fellow junior Alberto Osuna returns at the primary designated hitter.
Seniors Nik Pry and Will Sandy as well as junior Max Carlson lead a young pitching staff that features 12 newcomers.
LSU received the No. 1 preseason nod for the third time in NCBWA history, while the SEC landed seven teams in the top 10 (No. 2 Tennessee, No. 4 Florida, No. 5 Texas A&M, No. 6 Arkansas, No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 9 Vanderbilt).
UNC opens the 2023 season on Feb. 17 against Seton Hall at Boshamer Stadium. Season, mini-season and single-game tickets are on sale at GoHeels.com.
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
1B/DH
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
1B
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballWBB: Post-Louisville Press Conference - December 14, 2025
Monday, December 15
UNC Men's Basketball: Wilson, Powell Lead 80-62 Win Over USC Upstate
Saturday, December 13
UNC Wrestling: #22 Carolina Downs #17 West Virginia in Carmichael, 27-7
Saturday, December 13
Hubert Davis Post-Georgetown Press Conference
Monday, December 08