University of North Carolina Athletics
Diamond Heels In MiLB: July 1
July 1, 2024 | Baseball
Minor League Baseball closed out the first half of its 2024 season last week with four former Tar Heels celebrating a first-half division title.
Kyle Datres helped Hartford win the Northeast Division of the Eastern League, and Austin Bergner led Erie to the league's Southwest Division championship. Angel Zarate helped Lake County win the East Division of the Midwest League, and Davis Palermo helped Spokane capture its first-half Northwest League title.
Another 25 UNC lettermen toiled through the minor leagues in their pursuit of being called up to the Major Leagues one day.
UNC currently has 13 former players on Triple-A and Double-A rosters and numerous Tar Heels are poised to join them.
Carolina has produced 74 Major League players – nearly half of which were coached by former head coach Mike Fox and current head coach Scott Forbes. Since 2002, 34 former Tar Heels have made it to The Show.
Tar Heels in Triple-A
Skye Bolt | OF | Triple-A | Gwinnett Stripers | Atlanta Braves | UNC 2013-15
2024 (AAA): .217/.330/.349, 2 HR, 3 2B, 1 3B, 12 RBI, 18 BB
Bolt signed a free agent minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves in February. He was placed on the seven-day injured list in April and did a brief rehab assignment with the FCL Braves and was activated from the injured list on May 14.
Kent Emanuel | LHP | Triple-A | Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp | Miami Marlins | UNC 2011-13
2024 (MLB): 5G, 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 9.1 IP, 6Ks
2024 (AAA): 9G, 4 GS, 0-3, 6.60 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 26Ks
Emanuel bounced back and forth between Miami and Jacksonville this season. He was most recently designated for assignment on June 26 and sent outright to Triple-A Jacksonville on June 28. The Miami Marlins have selected his contract three times this season.
Trevor Kelly | RHP | Triple-A | Tacoma Rainiers | Seattle Mariners | UNC 2012-15
2024 (AAA): 29G, 2-1, 1 Sv, 3.24 ERA, 1.141 WHIP, 33.1 IP, 37Ks
Kelly signed a minor league contract with Seattle before the start of spring training and was assigned to Triple-A Tacoma.
Brian Moran | RHP | Triple-A | Gwinnett Stripers | Atlanta Braves | UNC 2007-09
2024 (AAA): 19G, 2GS, 1-0, 5.56 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 34.0 IP, 41Ks
Moran signed a minor league contract with Atlanta in February and was activated by Gwinnett in April. He ranks third on the team in appearances entering July.
Cody Roberts | C | Triple-A | Lehigh Valley IronPigs | Philadelphia Phillies | UNC 2016-18
2024 (AAA): 19G, .323/.408/.468, HR, 6 2B, 7 RBI, 8 BB
Roberts was assigned to Lehigh in September 2023. He received a non-roster invite to spring training and was placed on the Development List. He has been transferred and activated from the Development List three times and is currently on the active roster.
Logan Warmoth | 3B | Triple-A | Reno Aces | Arizona Diamondbacks | UNC 2015-17
2024 (AA/AAA): .183/.312/.235, HR, 5 2B, 21 RBI, 23 BB, 4 SB
On June 18, Warmoth was promoted from Double-A Amarillo to Triple-A Reno. He signed a minor league contract with the Diamondbacks in March and was assigned to Amarillo. He received his first call up to Reno on May 28 but was sent back to Amarillo on June 11.
Tar Heels in Double-A
Tayler Baum | RHP | Double-A | Midland RockHounds | Oakland Athletics | UNC 2017-19
2024 (AAA/AA): 25G, 0-1, 6.10 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 31.0 IP, 33Ks
Assigned to the Oakland Athletics in spring training, Baum began the season in Triple-A with the Las Vegas Aviators. He spent a month in Las Vegas and was assigned to Double-A Midland on May 10.
Austin Bergner | RHP | Double-A | Erie Seawolves | Detroit Tigers | UNC 2017-19
2024 (AA): 13G, 13 GS, 3-1, 4.80 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 54.1 IP, 68Ks
Bergner began the season in Double-A with the Erie Seawolves and was promoted to Triple-A Toledo in April before being recalled back to Erie. Bergner struck out a career-high 11 against Richmond on May 31.
Kyle Datres | 1B | Double-A | Hartford Yard Goats | Colorado Rockies | UNC 2016-18
2024 (AA): .224/.342/.373, 2 HR, 4 2B, 8 RBI, 11 BB, 5 SB
Datres was assigned to the ACL Rockies to start the season and was promoted to Hartford in early May. He did a rehab assignment with the ACL Rockies and was activated from the injured list on June 11.
Brandon Martorano | C | Double-A | Richmond Flying Squirrels | San Francisco Giants | UNC 2017-19
2024 (AA/AAA): .250/.346/.424, 4 HR, 4 2B, 16 RBI, 13 BB
Martorano began the season on the injured list for Richmond and was then assigned to Triple-A Sacramento. Sent back to Richmond on June 11 and has batted .324 with a .923 OPS in 11 games entering the month of July.
Caleb Roberts | C | Double-A | Amarillo Sod Poodles | Arizona Diamondbacks | UNC 2016-18
2024 (AA): .252/.358/.441, 8 HR, 10 2B, 4 3B, 35 RBI, 32 BB, 7 SB
Roberts received a non-roster invite to spring training from the Arizona Diamondbacks. He joined the Sod Poodles late in the 2022 season. He had a short stint on the injured list to start the season but was activated on April 25. Roberts was named Texas League Player of the Week for the week ending June 23, hitting .391 (9-for-23) with three home runs, eight RBI, five total XBH, and 21 total bases. He slugged .913 and carried a 1.375 OPS playing in all six games.
Aaron Sabato | 1B | Double-A | Wichita Wind Surge | Minnesota Twins | UNC 2019-20
2024 (A/AA): .238/.333/.433, 8 HR, 8 2B, 24 RBI, 23 BB, 6 SB
Sabato received a non-roster invite to spring training from the Minnesota Twins. He had a short stint on the injured list to start the season and went on a rehab assignment to Fort Myers. He was activated from the injured list on May 7. Sabato is tied for the team lead in home runs (8). He joined the Wind Surge late in the 2022 season.
Justice Thompson | OF | Double-A | Chattanooga Lookouts | Cincinnati Reds | UNC 2021
2024 (AA): .209/.292/.248, HR, 2 2B, 7 RBI, 14 BB, 2 SB
He was assigned to the Chattanooga Lookouts after playing with the Dayton Dragons in 2023.
Tar Heels in Single-A
Max Carlson | RHP | Single-A | Salem Red Sox | Boston Red Sox | UNC 2021-23
2024 (A/A+): 18G, 3-1, 5 Sv, 2.27 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 38.0 IP, 52Ks
Assigned to the Salem Red Sox out of spring training and has made 17 appearances in Low A. Made one appearance for the High A Greenville Drive in late April before being sent back to Salem.
Tomas Frick | C | Single-A | Tampa Tarpons | New York Yankees | UNC 2021-23
2024 (A): .258/.395/.387, 2 HR, 10 2B, 17 RBI, 23 BB, 1 SB
Frick was assigned to the Tampa Tarpons at the beginning of April. He leads the team in on-base percentage (.395).
Mac Horvath | 3B | High-A | Aberdeen Ironbirds | Baltimore Orioles | UNC 2021-23
2024 (A+): .238/.336/.432, 7 HR, 15 2B, 2 3B, 32 RBI, 28 BB, 21 SB
Horvath has been with Aberdeen since September 2023 after being promoted from Single-A Delmarva. He leads the team in doubles (15) and ranks third in runs (35) and RBIs (32).
Joey Lancelotti | RHP | High-A | Brooklyn Cyclones | New York Mets | UNC 2018-21
2024 (A+): 14G, 0-0, 1 Sv, 6.14 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 14.2 IP, 11Ks
He was assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones out of spring training. Lancelotti was placed on the injured list on June 14.
Austin Love | RHP | High-A | Peoria Chiefs | St. Louis Cardinals | UNC 2018-21
2024 (A+): No stats
Love was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 19. and has not pitched this season.
Davis Palermo | RHP | High-A | Spokane Indians | Colorado Rockies | UNC 2019-22
2024 (A+): 19G, 2-2, 4.84 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 22.1 IP, 22Ks
Assigned to the Spokane Indians to start the season. Primarily used in short relief, pitching multiple innings in only three games.
Shaddon Peavyhouse | RHP | High-A | Everett AquaSox | Seattle Mariners | UNC 2022
2024 (A+): 17G, 2GS, 2-2, 6.12 ERA, 2.12 WHIP, 25.0, 25Ks
Peavyhouse was assigned to the Everett AquaSox at the start of the season after spending the previous season in Modesto. He struck out 10 batters in 5.1 innings combined in his two starts this season.
Shawn Rapp | LHP | High-A | Lake County Captains | Cleveland Guardians | UNC 2020-22
2024 (A+): No stats.
Rapp began the season on the 7-day injured list and was transferred to the 60-day injured list with an elbow sprain on May 1.
Brandon Schaeffer | LHP | High-A | Everett AquaSox | Seattle Mariners | UNC 2022
2024 (A+): 10G, 1-0, 1 Sv, 6.55 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 15Ks
Placed on the 60-day injured list to start the season in March and was sent on a rehab assignment to the Arizona Complex League on June 10.
Danny Serretti | SS | High-A | West Michigan Whitecaps | Detroit Tigers | UNC 2019-22
2024 (A+): .192/.275/.298, 4 HR, 10 2B, 24 RBI, 23 BB, 2 SB
Serretti was assigned to West Michigan at the start of the year after spending the 2023 season with the Erie Seawolves.
Angel Zarate | OF | High-A | Lake County Captains | Cleveland Guardians | UNC 2018-22
2024 (A+): .183/.322/.215, 3 2B, 9 RBI, 18 BB, 7 SB
After playing with Lynchburg Hillcats last season, Zarate was assigned to the Lake County Captains.
Tar Heels in Rookie Ball
Will Sandy | LHP | Rookie | FCL Nationals | Washington Nationals | UNC 2019-23
2024 (ROOK): 10G, 1-0, 1 Sv, 6.55 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 15Ks
Sandy signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals in May and was assigned to the Florida Complex League. He began the season with the Tri-City Dust Devils from the Angels organization before being released.
Kyle Datres helped Hartford win the Northeast Division of the Eastern League, and Austin Bergner led Erie to the league's Southwest Division championship. Angel Zarate helped Lake County win the East Division of the Midwest League, and Davis Palermo helped Spokane capture its first-half Northwest League title.
Another 25 UNC lettermen toiled through the minor leagues in their pursuit of being called up to the Major Leagues one day.
UNC currently has 13 former players on Triple-A and Double-A rosters and numerous Tar Heels are poised to join them.
Carolina has produced 74 Major League players – nearly half of which were coached by former head coach Mike Fox and current head coach Scott Forbes. Since 2002, 34 former Tar Heels have made it to The Show.
Tar Heels in Triple-A
Skye Bolt | OF | Triple-A | Gwinnett Stripers | Atlanta Braves | UNC 2013-15
2024 (AAA): .217/.330/.349, 2 HR, 3 2B, 1 3B, 12 RBI, 18 BB
Bolt signed a free agent minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves in February. He was placed on the seven-day injured list in April and did a brief rehab assignment with the FCL Braves and was activated from the injured list on May 14.
Kent Emanuel | LHP | Triple-A | Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp | Miami Marlins | UNC 2011-13
2024 (MLB): 5G, 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 9.1 IP, 6Ks
2024 (AAA): 9G, 4 GS, 0-3, 6.60 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 26Ks
Emanuel bounced back and forth between Miami and Jacksonville this season. He was most recently designated for assignment on June 26 and sent outright to Triple-A Jacksonville on June 28. The Miami Marlins have selected his contract three times this season.
Trevor Kelly | RHP | Triple-A | Tacoma Rainiers | Seattle Mariners | UNC 2012-15
2024 (AAA): 29G, 2-1, 1 Sv, 3.24 ERA, 1.141 WHIP, 33.1 IP, 37Ks
Kelly signed a minor league contract with Seattle before the start of spring training and was assigned to Triple-A Tacoma.
Brian Moran | RHP | Triple-A | Gwinnett Stripers | Atlanta Braves | UNC 2007-09
2024 (AAA): 19G, 2GS, 1-0, 5.56 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 34.0 IP, 41Ks
Moran signed a minor league contract with Atlanta in February and was activated by Gwinnett in April. He ranks third on the team in appearances entering July.
Cody Roberts | C | Triple-A | Lehigh Valley IronPigs | Philadelphia Phillies | UNC 2016-18
2024 (AAA): 19G, .323/.408/.468, HR, 6 2B, 7 RBI, 8 BB
Roberts was assigned to Lehigh in September 2023. He received a non-roster invite to spring training and was placed on the Development List. He has been transferred and activated from the Development List three times and is currently on the active roster.
Logan Warmoth | 3B | Triple-A | Reno Aces | Arizona Diamondbacks | UNC 2015-17
2024 (AA/AAA): .183/.312/.235, HR, 5 2B, 21 RBI, 23 BB, 4 SB
On June 18, Warmoth was promoted from Double-A Amarillo to Triple-A Reno. He signed a minor league contract with the Diamondbacks in March and was assigned to Amarillo. He received his first call up to Reno on May 28 but was sent back to Amarillo on June 11.
Tar Heels in Double-A
Tayler Baum | RHP | Double-A | Midland RockHounds | Oakland Athletics | UNC 2017-19
2024 (AAA/AA): 25G, 0-1, 6.10 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 31.0 IP, 33Ks
Assigned to the Oakland Athletics in spring training, Baum began the season in Triple-A with the Las Vegas Aviators. He spent a month in Las Vegas and was assigned to Double-A Midland on May 10.
Austin Bergner | RHP | Double-A | Erie Seawolves | Detroit Tigers | UNC 2017-19
2024 (AA): 13G, 13 GS, 3-1, 4.80 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 54.1 IP, 68Ks
Bergner began the season in Double-A with the Erie Seawolves and was promoted to Triple-A Toledo in April before being recalled back to Erie. Bergner struck out a career-high 11 against Richmond on May 31.
Kyle Datres | 1B | Double-A | Hartford Yard Goats | Colorado Rockies | UNC 2016-18
2024 (AA): .224/.342/.373, 2 HR, 4 2B, 8 RBI, 11 BB, 5 SB
Datres was assigned to the ACL Rockies to start the season and was promoted to Hartford in early May. He did a rehab assignment with the ACL Rockies and was activated from the injured list on June 11.
Brandon Martorano | C | Double-A | Richmond Flying Squirrels | San Francisco Giants | UNC 2017-19
2024 (AA/AAA): .250/.346/.424, 4 HR, 4 2B, 16 RBI, 13 BB
Martorano began the season on the injured list for Richmond and was then assigned to Triple-A Sacramento. Sent back to Richmond on June 11 and has batted .324 with a .923 OPS in 11 games entering the month of July.
Caleb Roberts | C | Double-A | Amarillo Sod Poodles | Arizona Diamondbacks | UNC 2016-18
2024 (AA): .252/.358/.441, 8 HR, 10 2B, 4 3B, 35 RBI, 32 BB, 7 SB
Roberts received a non-roster invite to spring training from the Arizona Diamondbacks. He joined the Sod Poodles late in the 2022 season. He had a short stint on the injured list to start the season but was activated on April 25. Roberts was named Texas League Player of the Week for the week ending June 23, hitting .391 (9-for-23) with three home runs, eight RBI, five total XBH, and 21 total bases. He slugged .913 and carried a 1.375 OPS playing in all six games.
Aaron Sabato | 1B | Double-A | Wichita Wind Surge | Minnesota Twins | UNC 2019-20
2024 (A/AA): .238/.333/.433, 8 HR, 8 2B, 24 RBI, 23 BB, 6 SB
Sabato received a non-roster invite to spring training from the Minnesota Twins. He had a short stint on the injured list to start the season and went on a rehab assignment to Fort Myers. He was activated from the injured list on May 7. Sabato is tied for the team lead in home runs (8). He joined the Wind Surge late in the 2022 season.
Justice Thompson | OF | Double-A | Chattanooga Lookouts | Cincinnati Reds | UNC 2021
2024 (AA): .209/.292/.248, HR, 2 2B, 7 RBI, 14 BB, 2 SB
He was assigned to the Chattanooga Lookouts after playing with the Dayton Dragons in 2023.
Tar Heels in Single-A
Max Carlson | RHP | Single-A | Salem Red Sox | Boston Red Sox | UNC 2021-23
2024 (A/A+): 18G, 3-1, 5 Sv, 2.27 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 38.0 IP, 52Ks
Assigned to the Salem Red Sox out of spring training and has made 17 appearances in Low A. Made one appearance for the High A Greenville Drive in late April before being sent back to Salem.
Tomas Frick | C | Single-A | Tampa Tarpons | New York Yankees | UNC 2021-23
2024 (A): .258/.395/.387, 2 HR, 10 2B, 17 RBI, 23 BB, 1 SB
Frick was assigned to the Tampa Tarpons at the beginning of April. He leads the team in on-base percentage (.395).
Mac Horvath | 3B | High-A | Aberdeen Ironbirds | Baltimore Orioles | UNC 2021-23
2024 (A+): .238/.336/.432, 7 HR, 15 2B, 2 3B, 32 RBI, 28 BB, 21 SB
Horvath has been with Aberdeen since September 2023 after being promoted from Single-A Delmarva. He leads the team in doubles (15) and ranks third in runs (35) and RBIs (32).
Joey Lancelotti | RHP | High-A | Brooklyn Cyclones | New York Mets | UNC 2018-21
2024 (A+): 14G, 0-0, 1 Sv, 6.14 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 14.2 IP, 11Ks
He was assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones out of spring training. Lancelotti was placed on the injured list on June 14.
Austin Love | RHP | High-A | Peoria Chiefs | St. Louis Cardinals | UNC 2018-21
2024 (A+): No stats
Love was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 19. and has not pitched this season.
Davis Palermo | RHP | High-A | Spokane Indians | Colorado Rockies | UNC 2019-22
2024 (A+): 19G, 2-2, 4.84 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 22.1 IP, 22Ks
Assigned to the Spokane Indians to start the season. Primarily used in short relief, pitching multiple innings in only three games.
Shaddon Peavyhouse | RHP | High-A | Everett AquaSox | Seattle Mariners | UNC 2022
2024 (A+): 17G, 2GS, 2-2, 6.12 ERA, 2.12 WHIP, 25.0, 25Ks
Peavyhouse was assigned to the Everett AquaSox at the start of the season after spending the previous season in Modesto. He struck out 10 batters in 5.1 innings combined in his two starts this season.
Shawn Rapp | LHP | High-A | Lake County Captains | Cleveland Guardians | UNC 2020-22
2024 (A+): No stats.
Rapp began the season on the 7-day injured list and was transferred to the 60-day injured list with an elbow sprain on May 1.
Brandon Schaeffer | LHP | High-A | Everett AquaSox | Seattle Mariners | UNC 2022
2024 (A+): 10G, 1-0, 1 Sv, 6.55 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 15Ks
Placed on the 60-day injured list to start the season in March and was sent on a rehab assignment to the Arizona Complex League on June 10.
Danny Serretti | SS | High-A | West Michigan Whitecaps | Detroit Tigers | UNC 2019-22
2024 (A+): .192/.275/.298, 4 HR, 10 2B, 24 RBI, 23 BB, 2 SB
Serretti was assigned to West Michigan at the start of the year after spending the 2023 season with the Erie Seawolves.
Angel Zarate | OF | High-A | Lake County Captains | Cleveland Guardians | UNC 2018-22
2024 (A+): .183/.322/.215, 3 2B, 9 RBI, 18 BB, 7 SB
After playing with Lynchburg Hillcats last season, Zarate was assigned to the Lake County Captains.
Tar Heels in Rookie Ball
Will Sandy | LHP | Rookie | FCL Nationals | Washington Nationals | UNC 2019-23
2024 (ROOK): 10G, 1-0, 1 Sv, 6.55 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 15Ks
Sandy signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals in May and was assigned to the Florida Complex League. He began the season with the Tri-City Dust Devils from the Angels organization before being released.
Players Mentioned
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