University of North Carolina Athletics
4 Diamond Heels Taken On First Day Of 2026 MLB Draft
July 11, 2026 | Baseball
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Star shortstop Jake Schaffner became North Carolina baseball's 27th first round pick, highlighting the first day of the 2026 MLB Draft for the Tar Heels as four of their players were selected.
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Schaffner, who was taken with the 20th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox, becomes the highest-selected UNC player since J.B. Bukauskas went 15th in 2017. The Heels now lay claim to 27 first round picks, including 14 since 2006.
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His selection also gives Carolina a first rounder in each of the last three drafts, the only ACC program and one of only four in the nation to do so in that span. It is just the second time in program history the Heels have a first round pick in three straight years.
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A product of Janesville, Wisconsin, Schaffner made an enormous impact in his one year in Chapel Hill that helped his team to a College World Series final and skyrocketed him up draft boards. The All-ACC First Team and All-America honoree finished with a .356 batting average and 85 runs scored, just three shy of tying fellow first round choice Vance Honeycutt for the team's single-season record.
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Schaffner was quickly joined in the Red Sox's ranks by Owen Hull, who was drafted by Boston in the second round with 67th pick. A pair of third round pitchers came next as Jason DeCaro was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 80th slot and Ryan Lynch went to the San Diego Padres at 97 overall.
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It is the first time in history that UNC has had four players selected in the first 100 picks. Schaffner and Hull also made 2026 the first draft that saw the first two Tar Heels off the board go to the same team.
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Hull puts another feather in the cap of Carolina's claim to be Center Fielder University. An amazing season that saw him lead the team in batting average (.393), hits (103, 7th most UNC single-season), and RBIs (87, 2nd most UNC single-season) made him the third straight Tar Heel CF to be drafted in the top-two rounds alongside Vance Honeycutt and Kane Kepley.
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DeCaro sees a Pirate sized payoff for an incredible Carolina career that started as a 17-year-old Friday ace and culminated in two trips to the College World Series and consensus All-America honors. He produced his best work in his senior season, logging a 2.87 ERA with 99 strikeouts and an 11-3 record.
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The draft-eligible sophomore Lynch was a crucial catalyst for the team's success in his two years, making an immediate impact from the moment he stepped on campus. The Freshman All-America winner will finish with a career 3.72 ERA in 46 appearances, punching out 162 batters.
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Day two of the 2026 MLB Draft will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET and run until approximately 7:30 p.m. ET as players are selected in rounds 5-20. Coverage will be hosted all day on MLB.com, MLB.TV, and MLB+.
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Schaffner, who was taken with the 20th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox, becomes the highest-selected UNC player since J.B. Bukauskas went 15th in 2017. The Heels now lay claim to 27 first round picks, including 14 since 2006.
Â
His selection also gives Carolina a first rounder in each of the last three drafts, the only ACC program and one of only four in the nation to do so in that span. It is just the second time in program history the Heels have a first round pick in three straight years.
Â
A product of Janesville, Wisconsin, Schaffner made an enormous impact in his one year in Chapel Hill that helped his team to a College World Series final and skyrocketed him up draft boards. The All-ACC First Team and All-America honoree finished with a .356 batting average and 85 runs scored, just three shy of tying fellow first round choice Vance Honeycutt for the team's single-season record.
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Schaffner was quickly joined in the Red Sox's ranks by Owen Hull, who was drafted by Boston in the second round with 67th pick. A pair of third round pitchers came next as Jason DeCaro was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 80th slot and Ryan Lynch went to the San Diego Padres at 97 overall.
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It is the first time in history that UNC has had four players selected in the first 100 picks. Schaffner and Hull also made 2026 the first draft that saw the first two Tar Heels off the board go to the same team.
Â
Hull puts another feather in the cap of Carolina's claim to be Center Fielder University. An amazing season that saw him lead the team in batting average (.393), hits (103, 7th most UNC single-season), and RBIs (87, 2nd most UNC single-season) made him the third straight Tar Heel CF to be drafted in the top-two rounds alongside Vance Honeycutt and Kane Kepley.
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DeCaro sees a Pirate sized payoff for an incredible Carolina career that started as a 17-year-old Friday ace and culminated in two trips to the College World Series and consensus All-America honors. He produced his best work in his senior season, logging a 2.87 ERA with 99 strikeouts and an 11-3 record.
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The draft-eligible sophomore Lynch was a crucial catalyst for the team's success in his two years, making an immediate impact from the moment he stepped on campus. The Freshman All-America winner will finish with a career 3.72 ERA in 46 appearances, punching out 162 batters.
Â
Day two of the 2026 MLB Draft will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET and run until approximately 7:30 p.m. ET as players are selected in rounds 5-20. Coverage will be hosted all day on MLB.com, MLB.TV, and MLB+.
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Players Mentioned
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INF
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Sunday, June 21