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
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 newsletter.
Related Stories
‹
'We Still Got Work to Do': Gavin Gallaher Confirms Return to UNC Baseball for 2027 SeasonGavin Gallaher is back. The UNC baseball co-captain confirmed his return to the Diamond Heels Tuesday after not being selected in the 2026 MLB Draft. Gallaher is a rising senior and, thanks to the NCAA’s new 5-in-5 rule for student-athletes, will have two years of eligibility remaining. Tar Heel Nation, we still got work to […]
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 DraftThe 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 DraftOwen 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 DraftThe 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 Caden Glauber Named D1Baseball's National Freshman of the YearUNC pitcher Caden Glauber took home another individual honor Tuesday, as D1Baseball named him its National Freshman of the Year. 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 🌎 One of the most extraordinary rookie campaigns in college baseball history is commemorated with @d1baseball's 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 award. pic.twitter.com/8icFGsbl0G — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 30, 2026 Glauber, who played the […]
Check out the Full Schedule for UNC's ACC Network TakeoverThe ACC Network will air a full day of UNC games from the 2025-26 academic year Wednesday, July 1. It’s part of a series of ACC Network Takeovers, which started June 24 and include all 18 member schools. UNC’s takeover includes wall-to-wall coverage from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. The broadcast day gets underway with […]
UNC Baseball Fall Short vs. Oklahoma in Game 3 of National Championship SeriesOklahoma took the lead early and steadily pulled away from the Diamond Heels in Game 3 of the national championship series Monday night.
UNC Baseball in the National Championship Series: How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Start TimesThe Diamond Heels will play for the national championship this weekend in a best-of-three series against Oklahoma.
'All Hands on Deck': UNC's Scott Forbes Discusses Pitching Plan for Winner-Take-All Championship GameScott Forbes and the Diamond Heels are making every pitcher available for Monday night's winner-take-all championship game.
›
