Knapp Wins ACC Pitcher Of The Year, 7 Tar Heels Earn Conference Honors
from www.goheels.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – North Carolina ace Jake Knapp has been named ACC Pitcher of the Year as seven total Tar Heels earn spots on the All-ACC teams, the conference announced Monday afternoon.
Knapp, in the midst of an incredible comeback season after Tommy John surgery took away his 2024 campaign, earns the program’s first pitcher of the year award since J.B. Bukauskas won in 2017. Knapp is the fifth Tar Heel to claim the honor.
The two-time captain wraps up a dominant stretch in conference play that saw him go 10-0 while leading the league in ERA, opposing batting average, innings pitched, and victories. Overall, his 11 wins is the most of any starting pitcher in the nation. His metrics have reflected his dominance, as he leads the conference in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.69), WHIP (0.84), and walks allowed per nine (1.46).
He is joined on the All-ACC First Team by his catcher Luke Stevenson and first baseman Hunter Stokely. Fellow starter Jason Decaro and outfielder Kane Kepley made the second team while co-captain Jackson Van De Brake is on the third team.
Jake Knapp in High School here in Greensboro, N.C.
• Attended Page High School.
• Played three seasons on the varsity for coach William Hardin.
• Named Metro Conference Pitcher of the Year his senior season after going 5-0 with a 1.31 ERA while striking out 87 over 48 innings pitched.
• Finished career with an 11-3 record and 176 strikeouts in 104 innings pitched.
• Earned all-state honors as a junior.
• All-Metro Conference selection his junior and senior seasons.
• Member of the student government.
PERSONAL
• Full name is Jacob Michael Knapp.
• Born Aug. 30, 2000 in Greensboro, N.C.
• Son of Jennifer and Michael Knapp.
CLICK HERE for the Jake Knapp video from YouTube, highlighting his North Carolina Tar Heel career…..
Jake Knapp interview at GreensboroSports.com, back when was pitching for the Page Pirates, and on this night, Page defeated Grimsley, with Jake Knapp on the mound for the Page Pirates…This was on April 10, 2019…CLICK HERE for this Jake Knapp interview….
North Carolina ACC Award Winners
Pitcher of the Year:Jake Knapp
All-ACC
First Team
Luke Stevenson, C
Hunter Stokely, 1B
Jake Knapp, SP
Second Team
Kane Kepley, OF
Jason DeCaro, SP
Third Team
Jackson Van De Brake, 2B
Freshman Team
Walker McDuffie, RP
from Keepin’ It Heels.com:
After missing all of last season due to injury, no one would’ve expected Jake Knapp to return as dominant as he has this season. In fact, Knapp isn’t just the top arm in the ACC: you can make a very strong case that he is the nation’s best starting pitcher.
When Knapp is on the mound, good things happen for Scott Forbes and the UNC baseball program. The Diamond Heels have won each of his 12 starts, 11 which resulted in wins for the senior right-hander. Knapp posted a stellar 2.14 ERA during the regular season, as he’s been an absolute workhorse for the UNC baseball program.
His last regular season start as a Tar Heel is one fans won’t forget for quite some time. In a pitchers duel with Jamie Arnold, Florida State’s ace and projected top five pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, Knapp got the better of the battle, pitching a complete game en route to a series opening victory for the Diamond Heels.