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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 11: Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred announces Jake Schaffner as the 20th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox during the 2026 MLB Draft presented by Nippon Express at Pennsylvania Convention Center on Saturday, July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
After helping guide Carolina to one of the best seasons in program history, Jake Schaffner, Owen Hull, Jason DeCaro, and Ryan Lynch will get a chance to climb the ladder to the big leagues.
All four of them were selected in the MLB Draft on Saturday, the first time UNC has had that many players drafted in the first 100 picks. Carolina previously had three top 100 selections in 2017 and 2009.
Despite being widely ranked outside the top 50 prospects, Schaffner became Carolina’s third first-round pick in as many years when the Boston Red Sox took him 20th overall. The Red Sox doubled up on Tar Heels in the second round (officially “Competitive Balance Round B”), drafting Hull with the 67th overall pick. DeCaro and Lynch were both selected in the third round, with the Pittsburgh Pirates taking DeCaro at #80 and the San Diego Padres taking Lynch at #97.
MLB set the slot value for these picks at $4.37 million (#20), $1.32 million (#67), $1.04 million (#80), and $808,100 (#97), though they could end up signing for less.
Schaffner and Hull will join two other former Tar Heels in the Red Sox organization: Max Carlson (2021-2023) and Shea Sprague (2024). Carlson is currently with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, and Sprague is currently with the High-A Greenville Drive. Lynch will join former Tar Heel Cody Roberts (2016-2018), who’s currently with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, in the Padres organization. DeCaro is set to be the only former Tar Heel in the Pirates organization, but that could certainly change before the draft is over.
The MLB Draft resumes on Sunday at 11:30 AM ET with the start of the fifth round and is scheduled to conclude at approximately 7:30 PM ET with the end of the 20th round. All of the remaining rounds will be broadcast and streamed on MLB.com.
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