UNC Summer Update
Checking in on the 18 Tar Heels competing in summer leagues
With less than a month left until the start of North Carolina’s 2021-22 school year, 18 Tar Heels remain hard at work as they look to hone their skills in summer collegiate leagues across the country.
UNC currently has 10 players in the Coastal Plain League, with the rest spread across the Cape Cod League (3), the Northwoods League (1), the Appalachian League (1), the Ohio Valley League (1), the Valley League (1) and the Southern Collegiate League (1).
Cape Cod League
Danny Serretti, Chatham Anglers
Serretti joined the Anglers on July 3, a few days after participating in the MLB Draft Combine in Cary. He’s slashed .278/.395/.278 and primarily played second base across 12 games.
Johnny Castagnozzi, Chatham Anglers
Castagnozzi is slashing .194/.256/.417 with two home runs in 13 games with the Anglers. The rising sophomore missed 13 games from June 24-July 9 after a pitch struck one of his hands.
Shawn Rapp, Cotuit Kettleers
Rapp (0-1, 4.50 ERA) took the loss in his Cotuit debut, allowing three runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings of relief. The lefty, however, has been sharp in his two outings since then, surrendering one run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings. He’s struck out 11 batters and walked two in that span.
Coastal Plain League
Patrick Alvarez, Asheboro Copperheads
After appearing in one game for UNC this spring, Alvarez is slashing .295/.432/.464 with three home runs, eight doubles, a triple and 19 RBIs in 31 games with the Copperheads. He’s drawn 27 walks compared to just 18 strikeouts.
Will Stewart, Asheboro Copperheads
Stewart – who missed 38 games this spring due to a hamate injury – is slashing .225/.340/.483 with seven home runs and 19 RBIs in 26 games with Asheboro. The rising redshirt sophomore slashed .375/.447/.688 across his first 10 games, highlighted by a two-homer effort on June 19.
Hunter Stokely, Asheboro Copperheads
Another Tar Heel who got off to a hot start this summer, Stokely slashed .353/.463/.676 in his first 10 games. He’s currently slashing .267/.388/.407 with three homers, three doubles and 17 RBIs across 24 games.
Max Riemer, High Point-Thomasville HiToms
Riemer is slashing .209/.300/.349 with two homers and five RBIs in 16 games.
Colby Wilkerson, High Point-Thomasville HiToms
Wilkerson is slashing .214/.405/.286 with seven walks and just one strikeout in nine games. He hasn’t played since June 22 due to an injury.
Mikey Madej, Holly Springs Salamanders
Madej is slashing .138/.308/.138 with seven walks in 10 games.
Kyle Mott, Holly Springs Salamanders
Mott is 0-2 with a 5.83 ERA over 24 2/3 innings. The right-hander has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of his seven starts, but he’s struggled with his command, posting an 18.5% walk rate.
Davis Palermo, Holly Springs Salamanders
A potential starting option for UNC in 2022, Palermo (2-1, 5.58 ERA) has been used exclusively as a reliever for the Salamanders. The rising redshirt sophomore has made six appearances, striking out three or more batters four times.
Will Sandy, Holly Springs Salamanders
Sandy (0-2, 3.09 ERA) struggled in his second start, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits over four innings. But the rising fourth-year junior has rebounded nicely over his last three starts, surrendering just three runs (two earned) across 13 1/3 innings.
Brandon Eike, Tri-City Chili Peppers
Eike – who is injured – drew a walk, stole a base and scored a run in his only appearance for the Chili Peppers on June 14.
Northwoods League
Mac Horvath, Rochester Honkers
Coming off a strong finish to his freshman season, Horvath has been among the best players in the Northwoods League, hitting .314/.471/.476 with four homers and 21 RBIs in 31 games. He’s also drawn 32 walks compared to 25 strikeouts. A day after finishing second in the Northwoods League’s Home Run Challenge, the third baseman started for the Great Lakes Division in Tuesday’s All-Star Game. He was hit by a pitch in his only plate appearance.
Appalachian League
Eric Grintz, Bluefield Ridge Runners
Grintz is slashing .308/.438/.333 in 15 games with the Ridge Runners. On Monday, the rising redshirt sophomore was named to the East Division team for the inaugural Appalachian League All-Star Game, scheduled for 7 p.m. on July 27 at Calfee Park in Pulaski, Virginia. The game will be streamed live on MLB.com.
Ohio Valley League
Nick James, Full Count Rhythm
James has put together a strong summer in the Ohio Valley League, going 3-0 with a 3.05 ERA in five games (three starts). The rising redshirt sophomore has struck out 28 batters over 20 2/3 innings, highlighted by three games of seven or more punchouts.
Valley League
Will Schroeder, Front Royal Cardinals
Schroeder is slashing .303/.395/.515 with a home run and four doubles in 10 games. He hasn’t played since June 18 due to an injury.
Southern Collegiate League
Tyler Causey, Carolina Vipers
Causey has been among the best hitters in the Southern Collegiate League since joining the Vipers on June 25, slashing .409/.481/.727 with three homers, five doubles and 12 RBIs. He’s hit safely in 10 of the 12 games he’s played in.
Worth mentioning
Angel Zarate has spent the summer assisting with UNC’s camps.
Caleb Cozart and Connor Ollio expected to join the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League after the Tar Heels’ season, but both have been sidelined with injuries.
Tomas Frick decided not to play for the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League so he could rest his legs after starting all but four of UNC’s 55 games at catcher.