The 2024 MLB Draft got underway at 7 p.m. earlier this evening. The Baltimore Orioles found themselves in unfamiliar territory in this year’s draft. O’s fans are used to seeing the team pick within the top-five every year, this year they had to wait until the 22nd overall pick. The team selected UNC outfielder Vance Honeycutt with that pick.
Vance Honeycutt started all 177 of his career games in center field for the Tar Heels. His 65 career home runs are the most in North Carolina history and the fourth-most in ACC history. Honeycutt earned First-team All-American honors, as well as First-Team Academic All-American honors. He was also a Golden Spikes Award finalist, given to the best player in college baseball.
Honeycutt’s final season in Chapel Hill was by far the best. He set career-highs in batting average (.318), home runs (28), and RBIs (70). The highlight of his career was a two-homer game against reigning champion LSU in game three of the Chapel Hill Regional to push his team to victory. Honeycutt continued his fantastic postseason with two walk-off hits against West Virginia in the Super Regional and Virginia in the College World Series. Honeycutt may have not won a national championship for the Heels, but he will go down as one of the best baseball players in school history.
Honeycutt joins 2023 first round pick Enrique Bradfield Jr. as exciting outfield prospects for the future. Bradfield Jr. is currently having a very nice season for high-A Aberdeen after going 17th overall last year. Vance Honeycutt will wow you with his power and athleticism in center field.
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