UNC right-hander Jake Knapp has been named the National Pitcher of the Year by the College Baseball Foundation.

Knapp missed the entirety of the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery during the winter, but returned in 2025 to craft one of the best seasons by a UNC pitcher in program history. The right-hander finished the season with a 14-0 record, tying Greg Norris’ 1978 record for most wins in a single season.

His 14-0 mark is also the best in school history and the best among all pitchers in Division 1 baseball in 2025. Knapp’s 2.02 earned run average ranked fourth in the nation. He struck out 88 batters and walked just 16.

“Jake is an incredible human being and leader,” said head coach Scott Forbes. “Watching him have to sit out last year only to come back and lead our team and have such amazing success is a testament to how hard he works and the man that he is. I’m so proud of him and so happy to see him earn this award.”

Knapp was named first team All-ACC and the ACC Pitcher of the Year, becoming the first UNC pitcher to win the award since J.B. Bukauskas in 2017. Knapp is also the first UNC pitcher to be named the College Baseball Foundation’s Pitcher of the Year since the award’s inception in 2009. Previous winners include Major League standouts Stephen Strasburg, Aaron Nola and Paul Skenes.

“Jake represents everything that is good about college baseball,” National Pitcher of the Year Committee Chair Chris Snead said. “Here is a young man that battled through one of the worst injuries a pitcher can suffer to return to the field. In the process, he inspired his teammates and became the unquestioned leader of his team. Fourteen consecutive wins is significant and impressive. He was a complete pitcher and more importantly, he was a great person and teammate.”

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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