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.

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