UNC relief pitcher Caden Glauber was named first team All-ACC and the league’s Freshman of the Year Monday. The conference doled out several other honors to the Diamond Heels, as three of Glauber’s teammates also received first team recognition.
Glauber, originally from Fort Mill, S.C., has become a dominant force out of the bullpen for UNC in his freshman season. Among all qualified pitchers, he ranks first in the ACC in earned run average at 1.94, the only conference pitcher with an ERA below 2.00. Glauber also ranks second in opposing batting average (.179), third in fewest hits allowed (43) and second in fewest runs allowed (19). Glauber’s 64.1 innings pitched are the most among UNC pitchers who primarily pitch out of the bullpen, and his 22 appearances rank second on the team behind only Walker McDuffie. Glauber is the first UNC player to be named ACC Freshman of the Year in baseball since Aaron Sabato in 2019.
Elsewhere on the first team, UNC’s Jason DeCaro, Owen Hull and Jake Schaffner were all honored. DeCaro ranks second behind Glauber in the ACC in ERA at 2.03 while also ranking in the top 10 in innings pitched (71.0, 10th), wins (10, second), fewest runs allowed (22, fourth), fewest home runs allowed (five, fifth). DeCaro was named second team All-ACC in each of his first two seasons, making him the first UNC player since Dustin Ackley to be named second team All-ACC or better in three consecutive years.
Hull and Schaffner are each in their first seasons with UNC after arriving via the transfer portal. Hull, who began his college career at George Mason, leads all Carolina hitters in batting average (.370), doubles (20), runs batted in (67) and on base percentage (.486). Schaffner, who began his career at North Dakota State, is right behind Hull in several categories. His .354 batting average, .466 on base percentage rank second to Hull, and the shortstop leads all UNC hitters with 69 runs scored, 75 hits, five triples and 118 total bases.
Sophomore reliever Walker McDuffie earned second team recognition while second baseman Gavin Gallaher, pitcher Ryan Lynch and catcher Macon Winslow all were named to the third team. UNC’s eight total All-ACC honorees led all teams and are the second most in a single season in program history, trailing only 2024’s 11 honorees.
McDuffie has shared top relief duties with Glauber all season long and has continued to be a reliable option out of the bullpen. He leads all ACC pitchers in fewest hits allowed (38) and fewest runs allowed (18). McDuffie has allowed only one home run this season, which is also the fewest among qualified ACC pitchers. Elsewhere, McDuffie ranks in the ACC’s top 10 in ERA (2.79, fifth) and opposing batting average (.190, third).
Gallaher and Winslow have each been everyday players for UNC in 2026, starting all 54 games. Winslow, who transferred over from Duke in the offseason, is batting .307 with nine home runs, 51 RBI and a team-high 43 walks as Carolina’s primary catcher. Gallaher, who moved to second base in the offseason after playing third base in his first two seasons, leads all UNC hitters with 227 at bats. His 11 home runs rank second. Lynch moved into a starting role on the mound after debuting in the bullpen as a freshman and has been a workhouse, ranking eighth in the ACC with 73.0 innings pitched.
The Diamond Heels finished the 2026 regular season with a 43-10-1 overall record and 22-8 mark in ACC play, tying their best record in conference games under head coach Scott Forbes. UNC is the No. 2 seed in this week’s ACC Tournament in Charlotte, where it is the defending champion. Carolina will play in the quarterfinals Friday at 3 p.m.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Ainsley E. Fauth
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