Mac Horvath, who starred in the outfield for UNC baseball in 2023, heard his name called Sunday during the first night of the Major League Baseball Draft.

The Baltimore Orioles selected Horvath in the second round with the 53rd pick. The Rochester, MN, native had a breakout season with the Diamond Heels, earning a first-team All-America selection by Perfect Game and second team All-ACC recognition. The junior’s selection marks the 220th draft pick produced by the Carolina baseball program.

Horvath was a regular contributor his freshman season before becoming an every-day starter for the Diamond Heels at third base as a sophomore. His offensive production picked up, recording career-highs in every major category — but saw his season come to an abrupt end as emergency appendectomy kept him out of Carolina’s final game in the 2022 NCAA Super Regionals. The Heels transitioned Horvath into the outfield for his junior year to make room for Johnny Castagnozzi at third.

In 2023, Horvath’s play jumped to another level, as he led the team in several critical offensive stats. He was one of eight players in Division I baseball to tally 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, and will finish his collegiate career as only the third Diamond Heel to have more than 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases. Horvath is third in Carolina’s career home run total (47) and sixth in extra-base hits (90).

Although Carolina’s season ended in the regional round this year, it was not without effort from Horvath. His heroics reached another level as he homered in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie Iowa and send the game to extra innings. The Diamond Heels ultimately fell 6-5 in 13 innings to the Hawkeyes.

Head coach Scott Forbes shared his congratulations to Horvath on Twitter, posting a photo of himself and the junior on Monday.

More Diamond Heels may be drafted in the coming days. The 2023 MLB Draft continues Monday with rounds three through ten, and the final ten rounds set for Tuesday.

 

Photo via AP Photo/Ben McKeown.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Diamond Heels in the 2026 MLB Draft: Who's Going Where?
Several UNC baseball players have been selected in the 2026 MLB Draft, which runs through Sunday in Philadelphia. The MLB Draft is different from its counterparts in leagues such as the NFL and NBA, in that players with remaining eligibility can choose to return to school even after being drafted. Here’s a look at which […]
UNC's Jason DeCaro Picked by Pittsburgh Pirates in 2026 MLB Draft
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected UNC pitcher Jason DeCaro in the third round of the 2026 MLB Draft. He was the 80th overall pick. 𝐃𝐞𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝐃𝐚𝐲 coming 🔜 in the Burgh!! The @Pirates find draft treasure in @JasonDeCaro2. #ProHeels x @YoungBucsPIT pic.twitter.com/y6WY5AiBPI — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 11, 2026 A three-year starter in the Carolina pitching […]
Boston Red Rox Select UNC Outfielder Owen Hull in 2026 MLB Draft
Owen Hull is off the board in the MLB Draft. The Red Sox selected the UNC outfielder in the second round of the draft Saturday in Philadelphia. Hull was the 67th overall pick, and is the second Diamond Heel to be drafted this year following Jake Schaffner’s selection at No. 20 overall by the same […]
UNC Shortstop Jake Schaffner Selected by Boston Red Sox in 1st Round of 2026 MLB Draft
The Boston Red Sox selected UNC shortstop Jake Schaffner with the No. 20 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft Saturday. He’s the first Diamond Heel to be selected in this year’s draft. Schaff is 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣 ‼️‼️ From Janesville now to Bean Town, @JakeSchaffner3 is a first round […]
UNC's Glauber, DeCaro Pick Up All-America First Team Honors; Schaffner on Third Team
As the Diamond Heels arrived in Omaha on Wednesday for the College World Series, a trio of their players earned All-American honors by two publications.
Photo Gallery: Chapel Hill Super Regional
Photographer Chance Bragg attended the Chapel Hill Super Regional this past weekend, which Carolina baseball won. Here's what he captured.
2025 MLB Draft Tracker: See Where the Diamond Heels are Headed in the Pros
The 2025 Major League Baseball Draft saw several Diamond Heels get selected. It continues a run of excellence for the UNC baseball program, which has had at least one player selected in every draft since 1978. The first Diamond Heel off the board was catcher Luke Stevenson, who went to the Seattle Mariners with the No. 35 […]
UNC Outfielder Kane Kepley Selected by Chicago Cubs in 2nd Round of MLB Draft
Kane Kepley is headed to the Show. The Chicago Cubs selected Kepley with in the second round with the No. 56 overall pick of the 2025 MLB Draft Sunday evening in Atlanta. About to be 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐍 𝐊𝐀𝐍𝐄 in the Windy City! Kep is a Cub 🦁🐻#ProHeels pic.twitter.com/IsjxlBfnaa — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 14, 2025 Kepley […]
UNC's Luke Stevenson Selected by Seattle Mariners in 1st Round of MLB Draft
The Seattle Mariners selected UNC catcher Luke Stevenson with the No. 35 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft Sunday. Call him 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 😤 Going to be rainin homers up there soon! #ProHeels | #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/YfpM9r2FjJ — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 14, 2025 Stevenson, a draft-eligible sophomore, […]
Diamond Heels in the 2024 MLB Draft: Multiple Players Selected in Middle Rounds
More Diamond Heels are off the board in the MLB Draft. Casey Cook and Anthony Donofrio heard their names called in the second day of the draft, with Cook going to the reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers and Anthony Donofrio going to the Seattle Mariners. The next day, Dalton Pence went off the board […]
›