Jake Schaffner is officially a Boston Red Sox! The UNC shortstop heard his name called at No. 20 overall in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft. This is a massive moment for the Tar Heels program, marking their 27th first-round pick ever, and making them one of only four college programs to grab a first-rounder in each of the last three years. Talk about consistency.
Boston Just Picked Up Two Absolute Bats
The Red Sox weren't done after Schaffner, snagging star outfielder Owen Hull in the second round at No. 67 overall. Schaffner, a junior infielder, truly blew up in his single season for the Tar Heels after two years at North Dakota State. He was their leadoff hitter, putting up a ridiculous .356 batting average and scoring 85 runs. We're talking 96 hits, including 19 doubles, eight triples, and six home runs, plus 50 RBIs. And get this: the guy also swiped 26 bases! He was the highest UNC draft pick since 2015 and already had the hardware as the Summit League Defensive Player of the Year. Then there's Hull, a junior outfielder who came over from George Mason for two seasons and instantly became one of college baseball's elite hitters. He led UNC in batting average with a scorching .393, hammered out 103 hits, and drove in a staggering 87 RBIs. Hull, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound lefty batter and right-handed outfielder, also added 27 doubles and nine home runs to his stat sheet. Boston grabbing both these guys early? That's a serious power move for their future lineup.Day 1 Pitching Gems Headed to the NL
It wasn't just Boston making noise. Two UNC pitchers also got snatched up on Day 1. Junior right-hander Jason DeCaro, who was basically UNC's ace for most of his three seasons, went to the Pittsburgh Pirates at No. 80 overall in the third round. DeCaro boasts an impressive 26-7 record and a 3.46 ERA across 53 starts and 270 1/3 innings pitched. He racked up 247 strikeouts against 112 walks, and his junior year was his best yet, sporting an 11-3 record with a career-best 2.47 ERA. The Pirates just got themselves a workhorse. Rounding out the Day 1 picks for the Tar Heels was sophomore righty Ryan Lynch, taken 97th overall in the third round by the San Diego Padres. Lynch, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound pitcher, brings serious velocity with a good fastball and sinker, plus some off-speed pitches to keep hitters guessing. Over two seasons, he posted a 3.72 ERA and a 10-5 record, starting out in the bullpen before earning a spot in the starting rotation. Lynch finished with 162 strikeouts and 61 walks in 159 2/3 innings. The Padres got themselves a promising arm with a lot of upside. The draft wraps up tomorrow, Sunday, July 12, with the remaining 20 rounds. UNC still has second baseman Gavin Gallaher, first baseman Erik Paulsen, catcher Macon Winslow, pitcher Folger Boaz, and incoming freshman Harrison Ailshie waiting to hear their names called. It's going to be exciting to see where these other Tar Heels land and what their next step is in chasing the MLB dream.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.