Two more Tar Heels selected on Day Two of the MLB Draft

Day two of the 2026 MLB draft kicked off on Sunday morning. Four Tar Heels baseball players were selected on Saturday, highlighted by Jake Schaffner’s surprising selection as the 20th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox. Carolina fans didn’t have to wait long before seeing another UNC player taken off the board.

Macon Winslow was selected in the sixth round with the 190th pick by the Philadelphia Phillies. The UNC catcher set multiple career highs in his only season with the Heels after transferring away from the wrong shade of blue. Winslow batted .282 with 10 home runs and 57 RBIs for the Heels and was a regular behind the plate for one of the best pitching staffs in the country. Winslow’s selection made five UNC selections in the first six rounds of the draft; that’s the most Tar Heels selected in the first six rounds since 2009.

Mathew Matthijs also heard his name called on Sunday, as he was taken in the 17th round (520th overall). The four-year Tar Heel pitcher had a bit of a rocky 2026 but still finished his career with a 4.48 ERA overall and a 16-6 record as a UNC reliever. Matthijs was a Third Team All-American selection by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in 2024; he will head to Seattle to join the Mariners.

Also somewhat notable is a UNC player who didn’t get drafted: Gavin Gallaher. One of the best pieces on offense for the Heels, Gallaher didn’t end up getting drafted despite being ranked among the top 150 prospects. This should clear the way for Gallaher to return to Chapel Hill for his senior season.