No. 12 North Carolina Baseball 2025 College Top 25 Preview

Image credit: Luke Stevenson (Photo Courtesy of North Carolina Athletics)

Last season: 48-16 (22-8 ACC); reached College World Series
Final 2024 ranking: No. 10
Coach (record at school): Scott Forbes (154-89, 5th season)

You can find our complete 2025 preseason Top 25 ranking here.

The Good News

The Tar Heels reached Omaha for the first time under fifth-year coach Scott Forbes in 2024 on the back of one of the nation’s most well-rounded squads, which led a loaded ACC in ERA and ranked third in scoring behind Florida State and Virginia. Forbes this year built a roster that stands a chance to maintain that balance, as it returned catcher Luke Stevenson, first baseman Hunter Stokely, second baseman Jackson Van De Brake, third baseman Gavin Gallaher and shortstop Alex Madera to its lineup while adding Florence-Darlington Tech outfielder Rom Kellis, Liberty outfielder Kane Kepley, Wisconsin-Whitewater outfielder Tyson Bass and Montclair State infielder and designated hitter Sam Angelo. Stevenson, Kellis, Bass and Angelo all exceeded 10 home runs while batting at least .280 at their respective schools in 2024. On the mound, the Tar Heels return righties Jason DeCaro, Aidan Haugh, Matthew Matthijs, Olin Johnson and Jake Knapp and lefties Folger Boaz and Kyle Percival, giving one of the deepest staffs in their conference and a great chance to repeat as ERA leaders.

The Bad News

Just like several other teams that reached last year’s College World Series, North Carolina’s biggest weakness lies in the talent it must replace. At the plate, the Tar Heels lost star center fielder Vance Honeycutt, who went down as one of the greatest players in program history, as well as left fielder Casey Cook, right fielder Anthony Donofrio, third baseman Parks Harber, starting pitcher Shea Sprague and shutdown closer Dalton Pence. Forbes candidly said he doesn’t think his current team has anyone capable of matching the home run firepower of Honeycutt, who blasted 26 last year, but believes that the Tar Heels can make up for it in the aggregate. The fifth-year North Carolina head coach is also banking on the depth of his pitching staff to make up for lost innings.

Player To Know

Luke Stevenson enters his sophomore year as one of the top catchers available in the upcoming draft after he hit .284/.420/.535 with eight doubles, 14 home runs and 58 RBIs in 2024. With an advanced IQ for the game, Stevenson quickly demonstrated that he’s a full-service player behind the plate with strong feel-to-hit and outstanding skills as a defender. Though he’s only a second-year player, Stevenson is viewed as one of the Tar Heels’ key leaders and players in 2025, which is almost certain to be his final season of college baseball.

Path To Omaha

The Tar Heels have all the tools to reach Omaha in back-to-back seasons for the first time since they got there in four-straight years from 2006-09. Forbes has assembled a deep and well-balanced group, which should once again rank among the best in the ACC on both sides of the ball, though doing so will require players to perform well in their elevated roles.

Projected 2025 Lineup

Pos	Player	Year	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	HR	RBI	Note
C	Luke Stevenson	So.	.284	.420	.535	215	14	58
1B	Hunter Stokely	Sr.	.500	.667	.500	2	0	0
2B	Jackson Van De Brake	Sr.	.213	.391	.300	80	1	11
3B	Gavin Gallaher	So.	.314	.392	.491	175	8	38
SS	Alex Madera	Sr.	.303	.407	.386	228	2	34
OF	Rom Kellis*	Jr.	.404	.511	.740	58	16	73	Florence-Darlington Tech
OF	Kane Kepley*	Jr.	.330	.482	.521	215	9	31	Liberty
OF	Tyson Bass*	Sr.	.365	.463	.748	214	21	57	North Carolina Wesleyan
DH	Sam Angelo*	Sr.	.436	.520	.896	163	18	60	Montclair State
Pos	Player	Year	GS	IP	ERA	WHIP	SO	BB	Note
SP	Jason DeCaro	So.	18	89.2	3.81	1.32	78	44
SP	Folger Boaz	So.	9	39	5.77	1.72	38	19
SP	Aidan Haugh	Sr.	8	54	4.83	1.57	61	27
RP	Matthew Matthijs	Jr.	0	58	3.72	1.16	56	18
RP	Olin Johnson	So.	6	16.1	4.96	1.71	10	8