University of North Carolina Athletics
DeCaro & Stevenson Listed On Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List
February 7, 2025 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina baseball sophomore standouts Jason DeCaro and Luke Stevenson have been selected for the USA Baseball 2025 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, the organization announced on Friday afternoon.
Since 2008, 21 Tar Heels have been given spots on the preseason watch list highlighted by names such as Dustin Ackley, Kent Emanuel, Colin Moran, Trent Thornton and Vance Honeycutt who all made the list twice. Most recently, Honeycutt's incredible 2024 season put him amongst the semifinalists at the end of the year.
The duo is expected to be key contributors for a Tar Heels' team hoping to get back to Omaha coming off its 12th trip to the College World Series in 2024. DeCaro and Stevenson had outstanding rookie seasons in 2024, earning Perfect Game First Team Freshman All-America accolades and All-ACC honors. They have a combined seven preseason All-America nods so far.
Stevenson started all but one game for Carolina behind the dish, recording a .284 batting average with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs. Showing off an impressive eye for a freshman, he led the team in walks (48) and was fifth in OPS (.955). He demonstrated the threat he poses by becoming the first UNC player since at least 1998 with eight RBIs in an ACC game in a win over Louisville.
The North Port, N.Y., native DeCaro wasted no time cementing himself as a regular starter in the Tar Heel rotation. He made 18 starts and posted a 6-1 record with a 1.32 WHIP. By the end of the season, he finished among the top five in the ACC in ERA (3.81), opposing batting average (.221), innings pitched (89.2), fewest hits allowed per nine innings (7.43) and batters struck out looking (25).
Stevenson and DeCaro will make their way back onto the field at Boshamer Stadium on Feb. 14 when the Heels host Texas Tech in their season opener.
Since 2008, 21 Tar Heels have been given spots on the preseason watch list highlighted by names such as Dustin Ackley, Kent Emanuel, Colin Moran, Trent Thornton and Vance Honeycutt who all made the list twice. Most recently, Honeycutt's incredible 2024 season put him amongst the semifinalists at the end of the year.
The duo is expected to be key contributors for a Tar Heels' team hoping to get back to Omaha coming off its 12th trip to the College World Series in 2024. DeCaro and Stevenson had outstanding rookie seasons in 2024, earning Perfect Game First Team Freshman All-America accolades and All-ACC honors. They have a combined seven preseason All-America nods so far.
Stevenson started all but one game for Carolina behind the dish, recording a .284 batting average with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs. Showing off an impressive eye for a freshman, he led the team in walks (48) and was fifth in OPS (.955). He demonstrated the threat he poses by becoming the first UNC player since at least 1998 with eight RBIs in an ACC game in a win over Louisville.
The North Port, N.Y., native DeCaro wasted no time cementing himself as a regular starter in the Tar Heel rotation. He made 18 starts and posted a 6-1 record with a 1.32 WHIP. By the end of the season, he finished among the top five in the ACC in ERA (3.81), opposing batting average (.221), innings pitched (89.2), fewest hits allowed per nine innings (7.43) and batters struck out looking (25).
Stevenson and DeCaro will make their way back onto the field at Boshamer Stadium on Feb. 14 when the Heels host Texas Tech in their season opener.
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