Four Tar Heels Named All-America By Perfect Game

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina baseball received four All-America honors from Perfect Game when the organization announced their 2025 teams on Tuesday afternoon.

Right hander Jake Knapp was named Second Team All-America while his catcher Luke Stevenson earned third team recognition. Freshmen Ryan Lynch and Walker McDuffie both were given spots on the Freshman All-America second team.

The 2025 ACC Pitcher of the Year and NCBWA District 4 Player of the Year has been phenomenal this season in battling back from Tommy John surgery that took away his 2024 campaign. His 14-0 record is both the best in the country and the best in program history, as he finished with the most wins without defeat ever by a Tar Heel. He wrapped up his season with a 2.02 ERA in 102.1 innings pitched, two complete games, 88 strikeouts, and only 16 walks.

Stevenson was exceptional as Carolina's backstop in his sophomore season. An elite defender, he threw out 35% of attempted base stealers and in his last 18 games teams only executed one successful steal on two attempts. He finished the season leading UNC in home runs (19, 2^nd ACC) and walks (59, 1^st ACC, 7^th NCAA).

The flamethrowing freshman Lynch lead the regular relievers in ERA (2.93) before joining the starting rotation in the postseason. His only three starts of the year came in just about the most high leverage situations you could dream up, the ACC Championship Game and two elimination games in the NCAA tournament. He was exquisite in all three outings, allowing just four earned runs in 16.0 innings with 18 strikeouts and a .167 opposing batting average.

Lee County legend Walker McDuffie was exceptional out of the bullpen all season for the Tar Heels, leading the team with 28 appearances while racking up 55.1 IP, 72 strikeouts, and three combined shutouts. The All-ACC Freshman team member had the most saves by a true freshman Tar Heel (6) since Trent Thornton in 2013.

Both Lynch and McDuffie gave UNC multiple freshman with more than one save in a season since at least 1997.

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University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Jake Knapp

Ryan Lynch

Walker McDuffie

Luke Stevenson

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