Tar Heel Baseball’s Top Transfer Portal Moves
The 2025 season was supposed to be the Tar Heels’ shot to win it all. They had the Ace with a near-perfect record, a young leader behind home plate, and a spot in the top 10 rankings before the season began. However, the Heels didn’t even make it to Omaha and instead ended their season on their home field in a heartbreaking super regional matchup against the Arizona Wildcats. Now, the boys in Carolina blue have some building to do as they face the offseason monsters that are the MLB Draft and the transfer portal. While the portal can cause a team to suffer, it can also be the start of new beginnings for many programs.
This year, UNC snatched up a few notable athletes in the portal who may be able to step in and fill the huge shoes left by graduating seniors and athletes headed to the draft later on this year. Alex Madera, a former D3 athlete, proved himself to be an asset to the Tar Heels in the 2024 season in the shortstop position. Unfortunately for the Heels, Madera is now out of eligibility to compete. They reached into the portal to snag Jake Schaffner from North Dakota State. This past season, Schnaffner was a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award and is expected to be a top shortstop prospect in the 2026 MLB draft.
Another Tar Heel out of eligibility is star pitcher Jake Knapp. Knapp’s shoes will arguably be the biggest to fill heading into the 2026 season. Knapp played a full season with the Tar Heels, recording only a single loss and racking up over 100 strikeouts. In the portal, UNC picked up Trace Baker, the righty from UNC Wilmington. Baker performed as a reliever for the Seahawks, picking up four wins and five saves.
Sophomore Luke Stevenson was expected to be a big leader for the Tar Heels in the 2025 season. Though his batting slowed down in comparison to 2024, he excelled in his role as catcher behind home plate. Stevenson noticeably kept his pitcher and teammates in the infield calm and checked during difficult games. Expected to be picked up in the upcoming MLB Draft, his loss will be felt heavily in Chapel Hill. Though they may not be able to fill his leadership position in the portal, the Diamond Heels have snagged a catcher from their rival, Duke, to fill his place behind home plate. Macon Winslow recorded 43 runs with a .278 batting average at Duke in the 2025 season.
While 2025 was arguably UNC’s best shot at taking the College World Series Title on paper, they’re making smart moves. An improved bullpen, strong hitters, and an attentive infield could very well mean another postseason run is in their future. The transfer portal can make or break a team in the offseason. It looks like the Tar Heels know they need to make A grade moves in order to stay a top ranked team in 2026.
