Jan. 11, 2026, 9:01 a.m. ET
All the current focus in Chapel Hill is on college basketball. In just over a month, UNC fans will have another sport to cheer about: baseball.
North Carolina open its 2026 baseball season on Friday, February 13 against Indiana, hosting the Hoosiers for a 3-game weekend series. The Diamond Heels will stay in their home state for nearly an entire month, not leaving until a March 13 trip to California.
As we look deeper into UNC’s 2026 roster, there’s a couple players who earned some well-deserved, preseason honors.
North Carolina third baseman Gavin Gallaher, plus starting pitchers Jason DeCaro and Ryan Lynch, are PerfectGame Preseason All-Americans. Gallaher made the Second Team, while DeCaro and Lynch made the Third Team.
Gallagher started all 61 games at third base for the Diamond Heels in 2025, hitting .325 with 17 home runs, plus a team-best 68 RBIs and 77 hits.
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DeCaro started 16 games for UNC in 2025, posting a 9-3 record and 3.78 earned run average across 83.1 innings. DeCaro struck out 70 batters and walked just 26 more, solidifying himself as North Carolina’s ace.
Lynch spent most of his freshman season as a long reliever, but quickly became a postseason starter who played a major factor in the Diamond Heels’ success. Lynch started three of his 27 appearances, recording a 5-1 record with two saves and a 2.92 ERA, with 72 strikeouts across 61.1 innings pitched.
Gallaher, DeCaro and Lynch might have the preseason recognition, but there’s bound to be more Diamond Heels who rise to stardom throughout the season. Can UNC get back to Omaha – and finally win its first College World Series title in program history?
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