/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69582906/1233934494.0.jpg)
The 2021 Carolina baseball season was a bit of a rollercoaster ride. The Diamond Heels (under first-year manager Scott Forbes) had some big series wins, and some head-scratching losses. Whatever UNC lacked in consistency, they certainly made up for with raw talent. MLB teams agreed, and three Tar Heels were selected on Day 2 of the MLB Draft.
Let’s take a look at the three Heels moving on to the professional ranks!
Austin Love - Pitcher (St. Louis Cardinals: Third Round, 90th Pick)
‼️
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 12, 2021
The St. Louis Cardinals select with the 90th overall pick (3rd round) in the 2021 MLB Draft. ⚾️#ProHeels | #CarolinaBaseball pic.twitter.com/TreMUp3ODX
The UNC ace and first-team All-ACC selection was the first Tar Heel taken in the draft, and why not? Love’s stat-line this season was terrific - 10-4 record, 3.71 ERA, 129 strikeouts against only 32 walks. Love had some big wins when the Heels needed them for their postseason lives - most notably against NC State in the ACC Tournament and UCLA in the Lubbock Regional.
Love’s 129 K’s this year is the second highest total for a season after former UNC-great (and current Cardinal!) Andrew Miller.
Caleb Roberts - Right Fielder (Arizona Diamondbacks: Fifth Round, 138th Pick)
! ✅
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 12, 2021
Congratulations to @CalebRoberts_7, who was drafted 138th overall (5th round) by the @Dbacks. ⚾️#ProHeels | #CarolinaBaseball pic.twitter.com/r1x4RsDN6F
Ignoring the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season where he only played three games, Caleb Roberts showed significant improvement in all offensive categories this past season from his freshman season in 2019. Roberts batted .270 (+.043), slugged .476 (+.196), hit 36 RBIs (+19), 10 home runs (+10!), and drew 44 walks (+15). He did strike out more, but with the trade-off in hugely upgraded power numbers, Scott Forbes would take that every time.
Justice Thompson - Center Fielder (Cincinnati Reds: Sixth Round, 180th Pick)
✈️
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 12, 2021
Justice Thompson became the third Tar Heel to be chosen this afternoon when the @Reds selected him in the sixth round with the 180th overall pick. #ProHeels | #CarolinaBaseball pic.twitter.com/lrNyOg2hir
Don’t cry because it’s over, be happy that it happened.
I was super excited to see Justice Thompson in Carolina blue. The junior college transfer came to UNC to showcase his skills, and unfortunately for Tar Heel Nation, he did a good enough job of that to stay in Chapel Hill for just a single season.
Thompson flashed some nifty tools, covering tons of ground in centerfield, and could really put some distance on his home runs. His batting was inconsistent, [Thompson had more strikeouts (67) than hits (63)] but he did put up some decent numbers (.304 AVG, .444 SLG%, 36 runs, 24 RBIs, 7 home runs).
He also endeared himself to the Carolina faithful by striking the Jumpman logo pose while robbing Liberty of an extra bases hit, and sending a homer straight back to Durham during UNC’s absolute demolishing of Duke back in April (see below).
first homer since March 9 for Justice Thompson last night in @DiamondHeels huge 21-8 win vs. Duke
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) April 13, 2021
106 EV, 422 feet via @UNCAnalytics pic.twitter.com/dvQSXq5tsG
The Draft continues through 20 rounds, so stay tuned to Tar Heel Blog to see if any more Diamond Heels come off the board!