Boshamer Stadium, the home of the Diamond Heels, will be getting a little makeover this summer.
Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager and Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Adam Warren are working with a few other donors to help build an additional 1,300 square feet of usable space for the UNC baseball program along the first base side of the premises.
A multi-use space able to serve as a visiting locker room, or a place for team meetings and studying, headlines the project–while new locker room space for umpires and former players who choose to workout in Chapel Hill during the offseason will also be built.
Kyle Seager has gone on to great success in the major leagues since leaving UNC after his junior year in 2009. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
The construction is slated to begin later this summer, but is expected to be completed before the beginning of the 2017 season.
“I am especially grateful to our former players – including lead donor Vaughn Bryson – and the tremendous supporters of Carolina baseball for their funding of this project,” UNC head coach Mike Fox said, in a statement released by the university. “This improvement will ensure that Boshamer Stadium continues to be one of the nation’s finest facilities for college baseball.
“I am humbled by the generosity of all those who have helped make this project a reality,” the coach added. “Their continued support of the program is greatly appreciated.”
Seager, an MLB All-Star and Gold Glove award winner in 2014, was a standout for Coach Fox from 2007-2009 in Chapel Hill. In 2008, he set the school record for doubles in a season with 30, on his way to being named a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist.
“The three years I spent at Carolina helped turn me into the player and man I am today,” Seager said. “Having a chance to practice and play in the newly renovated Boshamer Stadium was a big part of my UNC experience, and I am excited to have the opportunity to help improve the Carolina baseball experience for Tar Heels who will compete for championships in the future.”
Adam Warren was a four-year player in Chapel Hill, who has spent time with both the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs. (Getty Images)
Warren pitched for four years at UNC, including a sophomore season in 2007 where he went 12-0 with a 2.17 ERA.
He reached the major leagues in 2012 with the New York Yankees, playing there for the next four seasons before a trade this past December sent him to Chicago to become a Cub.
“I am and have always been proud to be a Tar Heel, so when I was presented with the opportunity to support the new Boshamer project, it was a no-brainer for me,” Warren said. “Carolina baseball is one of the premier programs in the nation, and the players and coaches deserve top-notch facilities to go along with the product they are putting on the field.
“I am excited to see this project help lead to many more trips to Omaha and a national championship.”
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