Vance Honeycutt, welcome to The Show.
The Baltimore Orioles selected the former Diamond Heels star with the No. 22 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft on Sunday. Honeycutt is the first UNC player to be selected in the first round since Aaron Sabato in 2020.
Honeycutt set numerous records during his time at Carolina. As a freshman, he became the first player in the history of the UNC baseball program to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a single season. He then repeated that feat as a junior in 2024, breaking his own single-season record with 28 home runs. He is Carolina’s all-time leader in career home runs with 65, and is the only Power 5 conference player ever to hit at least 60 career home runs and steal at least 70 career bases.
Honeycutt also wowed scouts and fans alike with his glove, winning back-to-back ACC Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2023 and 2024. In the latter season, he also won a Rawlings Gold Glove, honoring him as one of the best defensive outfielders in the nation. After leading the Diamond Heels to their 12th Men’s College World Series appearance, Honeycutt earned first team All-America and first team Academic All-America recognition, becoming the first UNC baseball player ever to do so. On Wednesday, Honeycutt was named a recipient of the Patterson Medal, the most prestigious athletics award given by the university.
Honeycutt is now teammates with former UNC standout Mac Horvath, who was picked by Baltimore in the second round last year.
The 2024 MLB Draft runs through Tuesday, July 16 in Fort Worth, TX.
Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter
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