University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
NCBWA Names Three Tar Heels Preseason All-America
February 7, 2025 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its preseason All-America teams on Friday afternoon, tabbing three Carolina baseball players amongst the honorees.
Tar Heel reliever Matthew Matthijs picked up the first team nod, his first of the year and second All-America designation of the preseason. Catcher Luke Stevenson made the second team with fellow sophomore Jason DeCaro on the third team.
The sophomore campaign for Matthijs saw him complete the breakout after he flashed greatness as a freshman. In 2024, the Greenville, N.C., native led the ACC and ranked second among NCAA Division I pitchers in victories with 12 while also appearing in a conference best 36 games with a 3.72 ERA.
Stevenson was named a Freshman All-America first teamer right alongside DeCaro after a 2024 season where he slashed .284/.420/.536 with 14 home runs, 58 RBIs, and a team-best 48 walks (ninth best in the conference). Big league eyes will be all over the Wake Forest, N.C. native as this offseason MLB.com listed him as the No. 1 catcher prospect heading into the upcoming draft.
Big things are expected of DeCaro this season after a 2024 campaign where he posted a 6-2 record with 78 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of just .221. He ranked seventh nationally among NCAA Division I freshmen with a 3.81 ERA, sixth-best overall in the ACC while also leading the conference in starts (18).
The trio will be back in Boshamer Stadium on Feb. 14 when the Heels host Texas Tech in their season opener.
Tar Heel reliever Matthew Matthijs picked up the first team nod, his first of the year and second All-America designation of the preseason. Catcher Luke Stevenson made the second team with fellow sophomore Jason DeCaro on the third team.
The sophomore campaign for Matthijs saw him complete the breakout after he flashed greatness as a freshman. In 2024, the Greenville, N.C., native led the ACC and ranked second among NCAA Division I pitchers in victories with 12 while also appearing in a conference best 36 games with a 3.72 ERA.
Stevenson was named a Freshman All-America first teamer right alongside DeCaro after a 2024 season where he slashed .284/.420/.536 with 14 home runs, 58 RBIs, and a team-best 48 walks (ninth best in the conference). Big league eyes will be all over the Wake Forest, N.C. native as this offseason MLB.com listed him as the No. 1 catcher prospect heading into the upcoming draft.
Big things are expected of DeCaro this season after a 2024 campaign where he posted a 6-2 record with 78 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of just .221. He ranked seventh nationally among NCAA Division I freshmen with a 3.81 ERA, sixth-best overall in the ACC while also leading the conference in starts (18).
The trio will be back in Boshamer Stadium on Feb. 14 when the Heels host Texas Tech in their season opener.
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