D1Baseball.com released its annual preseason All-American rosters on Tuesday, with a pair of Tar Heel pitchers selected to the Third Team.
Redshirt sophomore closer Josh Hiatt and sophomore starter Gianluca Dalatri each earned the nod after breakout campaigns in 2017 as rookies at the collegiate level.
Dalatri posted a 3.34 ERA while striking out 85 batters across 97 innings last season, all while demonstrating a tremendous ability to find the strike zone.
The New Jersey native walked just 16 hitters a year ago, and now figures to take over the Tar Heels’ top spot in the starting rotation with the departure of First Round MLB Draft pick JB Bukuaskas.
Hiatt, meanwhile, tallied 13 saves for head coach Mike Fox in 2017–establishing himself as the go-to guy out of the bullpen.
He pitched in 32 games for UNC last year, which is over 60 percent of the entire schedule. Hiatt also tallied an incredible 64 strikeouts in just 52 innings.
This season will likely see Hiatt take on a very similar role for the Tar Heels.
UNC is set to begin the year with a three-game home series at Boshamer Stadium against South Florida from Feb. 16-18.
For the full D1Baseball.com All-American teams, click here.
Photo via Joe Bray (UNC Athletics)
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