Seattle Mariners draft Luke Stevenson
Call him 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 😤Going to be rainin homers up there soon! #ProHeels | #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/YfpM9r2FjJ
Without Luke Stevenson behind the dish over the past two seasons, UNC doesn't get anywhere close to the College World Series.
Stevenson, ranked as a Top 10 prospect coming out of Wake Forest (NC) High School in 2023, opted to play college baseball instead. Stevenson earned All-ACC Freshman honors in 2024, mashing .284 with 14 home runs, 58 RBIs and 48 walks – in 63 starts.
Just two years later, the Tar Heels' star catcher watched his childhood dreams turn to reality. With the 35th overall pick in Sunday's MLB Draft, the Seattle Mariners chose Stevenson.
Stevenson continued to showcase his strong defensive abilities this past season, recording 476 putouts and 44 assists, all while committing just two errors en route to First Team All-ACC Honors. The offensive highlight of Stevenson's sophomore campaign came during North Carolina's third ACC Tournament Championship in seven seasons, as Stevenson recorded two hits and five RBIs across three games, en route to MVP honors.
Stevenson ends his two-year North Carolina career with a .267 batting average, 33 home runs and 116 RBIs. Add in a .543 slugging percentage, 107 walks, 987 putouts and a .996 fielding percentage, Stevenson gives Seattle a well-rounded catcher tough to find in professional baseball.
The Mariners have two starting-caliber catchers currently in the MLB, including Home Run Derby participant and MVP candidate Cal Raleigh. Seattle has two catchers amongst its current Top 20 prospects, Henry Ford (#5) and Josh Caron (#19), so Stevenson has plenty of time to prove he's MLB-ready.
If I had to guess Stevenson's landing spot later this summer, he'll head to the Modesto Nuts, who are the Mariners' Single-A Affiliate. Vance Honeycutt, whom the Baltimore Orioles chose in the first round during 2024's draft, took the exact same route last summer.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
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