After turning down an offer to play for the defending world champions, senior starting pitcher Benton Moss is back in Chapel Hill for a final run at college glory. Our Countdown to First Pitch preview continues with an inside look at UNC baseball’s most fascinating player.

Selected in the 15th round by the San Francisco Giants during last June’s MLB Draft, you can’t blame Moss for feeling a little slighted. The right-hander from Rocky Mount is also a Morehead Scholar, so his academic load is obviously much greater than the average Carolina student.

Unfortunately, this seemed to scare some teams away from selecting him earlier, worrying that his head could be too focused on other pursuits off the field.

San Francisco didn't feel like the right place for Moss. (Daily Tar Heel)

San Francisco didn’t feel like the right place for Moss. (Daily Tar Heel)

“It was very weird emotions, honestly, because I was hoping to go in the top ten (rounds), but got a little discounted because of the academic side, and they knew I had interests in school,” Moss says, “It’s kind of a weird situation.”

Seeking degrees in both business and economics, Benton’s main concentration in school is on finance.  If he doesn’t end up in baseball, it’s easy to picture him finding success channeling his inner Warren Buffet.

“Long term, I’d like to be an investor. I’d like to buy and help run, mentor, and coach younger companies. I really like venture capital and I also like private equities,” Moss says.

He came to UNC four years ago as a nationally ranked, top 100 recruit, and has been a weekend starter every season he’s been on campus, often pitching close to a hundred innings per season.

Due to his heavy work rate in the spring, he often takes the summer off from baseball to rest his arm.

There is no sitting around though. He usually spends his summers doing various internships, including one where he got to live out his dream.

“I actually did an internship with the Yankees, they’re my favorite team,” Moss says.

Benton had a great experience interning for the New York Yankees. (UNC Athletics)

Benton had a great experience interning for the New York Yankees. (UNC Athletics)

While there, he found that one thing he shares in common with the Yanks is that they each set the bar extremely high for themselves, saying “I respected the culture they have. They run a tight ship and expect only the best, highest level of excellence possible.”

Getting a chance to meet with legendary Yankee closer Mariano Rivera meant a great deal to Benton, who has always admired Rivera’s legendary calm demeanor on the mound.

“I was always very impressed with Mo Rivera. He’s just quiet, calm, cool, and collected. Obviously, he didn’t start out that way because when he was young he was a hothead. But he learned how to control that and had a huge career. I’ve always respected him,” Moss says.

With the amount of time he spends on athletics and academics, it’s hard to believe that this man could possibly have more talents.

But he does.

In his down time, it turns out Benton is also a very highly skilled musician.

“I played the piano for 12 or 13 years, and taught myself to play the acoustic guitar after my aunt gave me a couple lessons. And with singing, I just started to sing a little bit and it sounded okay,” Moss says.

Performing in front of crowds doesn’t scare him either, as he’s performed and sang in front of large audiences at the Rammy Awards, an annual event celebrating academic, athletic, and community outreach performances by student-athletes.

Alone in the car however, Benton says he can’t help himself from cranking the volume up, and singing along with Sam Smith’s hit songs “Stay With Me”, and “I’m Not the Only One”.

“Guilty as charged”, he claims.

Moss is poised to take on a heavy leadership role with the team. (Durham Herald-Sun)

Moss is poised to take on a heavy leadership role with the team. (Durham Herald-Sun)

As far as the team goes, Moss believes this year’s group has made some serious improvements from last season. He says he’s enjoying taking on a major leadership role in the clubhouse, and that this bunch of guys has been the most fun to be around during his time at UNC.

Impact freshmen seem to be the key to the season, and so far they’ve definitely impressed Benton.

Newcomer Ryder Ryan actually hit a homer off Moss during a recent team scrimmage when Moss left a cutter hanging. Benton also says he sees a ton of potential in Ryan’s fellow freshmen classmates – pitcher Hansen Butler, infielder Logan Warmoth, and first baseman Hunter Williams.

After that promising scrimmage, Moss envisions plenty of success for the Tar Heels this season.

“What I think you’re gonna see is that when we take these two teams we had today and put them together, we’ve got a pretty studly lineup,” Moss says.

With Virginia seen as one of the early favorites to win the ACC, Benton admits he has his sights set on defeating the Cavaliers this year.

The future appears bright for the 2015 edition of Coach Mike Fox’s program.

For Benton Moss, arguably the most interesting man in Chapel Hill, it may be even brighter.