Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports From The Bosh to The Show. There are currently seven Diamond Heels on MLB rosters having varying levels of success. Six of those seven are pitchers and two are on the Colorado Rockies. Let’s do a quick check-in. Michael Busch - Chicago Cubs After just one season with the Dodgers, first baseman Michael Busch is off to an impressive start in Chicago with the 12-7 Cubs. Under-utilized in LA, Busch is batting .317 and has six homers this season, including one stretch in which he hit five dingers in five games. Daniel Bard - Colorado Rockies Relief pitcher Daniel Bard is competing for the closer role for the struggling Rockies, who have a 4-15 record. Bard has yet to play this season and is currently on the 15-day injured list following offseason surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee. He had a 4.56 ERA last season. Jacob Stallings - Colorado Rockies As Bard’s teammate in Colorado, Jacob is the backup catcher. He’s batting .333 with five hits in 15 at-bats and eight games played. J.B. Bukauskus - Milwaukee Brewers Relief pitcher J.B. Bukauskus is also on the 15-day IL with a right triceps strain. The Brewers are 12-6 and in first place in the NL Central. Bukauskus has pitched in six games and currently has an ERA of 1.50. Ryder Ryan - Pittsburgh Pirates Another reliever, Ryan is currently slinging it for the 11-10 Pirates. He’s got a 4.32 ERA to go along with 10 strikeouts in seven games pitched thus far in 2024. Trent Thornton - Seattle Mariners As the fourth pitcher on the relievers depth chart, Thornton has already pitched in nine games in the young season and has only a 1.04 ERA. The Mariners are 9-10 this season so far. Zac Gallen - Arizona Diamondbacks Gallen was the starting pitcher for the National League all-star team last year and is off to another solid season with the D-backs (10-12). He has a 3-1 record, a 3.00 ERA, and 32 K’s in five games pitched. There are also 28 Diamond Heels paying their dues in the minor leagues, determined to get called up to The Show. It’s always great to see these guys’ hard work eventually pay off. Good luck to all the former Tar Heels with their baseball careers. Represent!

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images Good news is coming. After the announcement of Harrison Ingram’s departure to the NBA Draft on Saturday afternoon, North Carolina’s questions become much larger regarding the potential 2024-25 roster. The Tar Heels have already received news of intended departures from Seth Trimble, James Okonkwo, and now Harrison Ingram, all while awaiting a decision from RJ Davis about his future. These changes weren’t necessarily unprompted or unforeseen, especially with the current landscape of college sports. Still, as time ticks on and on, uncertainty begins to wear on us as we look for answers. North Carolina has five open scholarships at the moment, and while big names are flying off the board left and right, Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels have been relatively quiet. A handful of targets with interest have chosen elsewhere, and a large portion of North Carolina’s starting lineup remains in serious question. Over the last few days, Tar Heel fans and supporters are beginning to really itch for good news. I understand the eagerness for answers and clarification. I really do. I am beyond curious myself. That said, Coach Davis isn’t like the majority of coaches in this portal process. Various schools are willing to offer seven-digit NIL deals to the most high-profile targets in hopes of winning them over. Other programs go after anyone who will listen in hopes of getting to someone before another coach or school. Some places push current players out under the assumption of landing a top-tier commitment in the portal. North Carolina is the exact opposite. Hubert Davis has shown a generous amount of patience and precision in his transfer portal recruiting. Of course there’s constant interest to play in Chapel Hill, but the Tar Heel staff wants to find pieces that fit perfectly and genuinely want to be in Carolina blue. Instead of fighting for someone chasing a million-dollar deal the minute they step on campus, Coach Davis would rather land the two or three impact players who will have a presence on the upcoming squad immediately. Brady Manek and Cormac Ryan weren’t at the top of any transfer portal rankings or recruited by every school while in the portal, but North Carolina found them and turned them into more than we could have ever expected. Even though North Carolina may not have much traction in the portal in the public eye yet, I wouldn’t count out Hubert Davis so soon when grading his recruiting this offseason. Patience and pickiness have been a hidden gem for the Tar Heels in this chaotic time of year, and there is no reason to believe it will be any different this time around. There will be a large amount of uncertainty for anyone not inside the walls of the Dean Smith Center, but until we hear more information, I am confident that the coaching staff will create a dangerous group with critical pieces that we may have no knowledge of yet. According to multiple crystal ball projections from 247 Sports, it looks like North Carolina will be receiving a commitment soon from Belmont transfer Cade Tyson. The Tar Heels are also heavily pursuing former Kentucky wing Adou Thiero and Rutgers big man Cliff Omoruyi. There may have been a couple of swings and misses, but I optimistically think Coach Davis’s top targets are still on the board and are being recruited heavily. Good news is on the way, and due to what has happened in the past, there is no reason not to have faith in what Hubert Davis and his staff are cooking behind the scenes.