University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
Tar Heel Named Preseason All-America By Perfect Game
January 7, 2026 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL – Three of North Carolina baseball's star returners have earned preseason All-America honors from Perfect Game, the organization announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Infielder Gavin Gallaher led the way on the second team with pitchers Jason DeCaro and Ryan Lynch side-by-side on the third team. Carolina was one of just six teams to have three or more players included.
The junior Gallaher earns his first All-America recognition of any kind despite a pair of sensational seasons under his belt in Carolina blue. In 2025, he slashed .325/.409/.603 with 17 home runs while leading the team in hits (77) and RBIs (68). A nuclear run in the postseason earned him a second consecutive Chapel Hill Regional Most Outstanding Player award.
It is the second straight season earning a preseason All-America nod for DeCaro, who was named second team All-ACC in 2025 thanks to a 9-3 record with a 3.78 ERA. He was second on the team in innings thrown (83.1) while racking up 70 strikeouts on just 26 walks.
Lynch enters his sophomore season hot off a debut campaign that saw him earn Freshman All-America status. Spending most of the year as a key reliever before moving into a starting role in the postseason, the big righty logged a 5-1 record with two saves in 61.1 innings on a 2.92 ERA with 72 strikeouts.
DeCaro and Lynch helped lead a pitching staff that had the third best ERA in the nation (3.47) and the best in the ACC for the second straight season. The duo, alongside Gallaher, pushed the Tar Heels to the program's 27th conference championship and 12th time hosting an NCAA Super Regional in 2025
The Diamond Heels return to Boshamer Stadium on Friday, Feb. 13 for their season opener against Indiana.
Infielder Gavin Gallaher led the way on the second team with pitchers Jason DeCaro and Ryan Lynch side-by-side on the third team. Carolina was one of just six teams to have three or more players included.
The junior Gallaher earns his first All-America recognition of any kind despite a pair of sensational seasons under his belt in Carolina blue. In 2025, he slashed .325/.409/.603 with 17 home runs while leading the team in hits (77) and RBIs (68). A nuclear run in the postseason earned him a second consecutive Chapel Hill Regional Most Outstanding Player award.
It is the second straight season earning a preseason All-America nod for DeCaro, who was named second team All-ACC in 2025 thanks to a 9-3 record with a 3.78 ERA. He was second on the team in innings thrown (83.1) while racking up 70 strikeouts on just 26 walks.
Lynch enters his sophomore season hot off a debut campaign that saw him earn Freshman All-America status. Spending most of the year as a key reliever before moving into a starting role in the postseason, the big righty logged a 5-1 record with two saves in 61.1 innings on a 2.92 ERA with 72 strikeouts.
DeCaro and Lynch helped lead a pitching staff that had the third best ERA in the nation (3.47) and the best in the ACC for the second straight season. The duo, alongside Gallaher, pushed the Tar Heels to the program's 27th conference championship and 12th time hosting an NCAA Super Regional in 2025
The Diamond Heels return to Boshamer Stadium on Friday, Feb. 13 for their season opener against Indiana.
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