Vance Honeycutt

Vance Honeycutt
Baltimore Orioles
Center fielder
Born: (2003-05-17) May 17, 2003 (age 21)
Salisbury, North Carolina, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Career highlights and awards
  • 2x ACC Defensive Player of the Year (2023, 2024)
  • All-ACC First Team (2024)
  • 2x All-ACC Third Team (2022, 2023)
  • ACC Tournament MVP (2022)
  • ACC All-Freshman Team (2022)

Robert Vance Honeycutt IV (born May 17, 2003) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Baltimore Orioles organization.

Early life

Honeycutt grew up in Salisbury, North Carolina and attended Salisbury High School, where he played baseball and was the starting quarterback on the football team.[1] He committed to play college baseball at the University of North Carolina during his sophomore year.[2] Honeycutt passed for 11 touchdowns and rushed for 19 during his senior football season as Salisbury won the Class AA state championship.[3] Honeycutt was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 20th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft, but he opted not to sign and enroll at North Carolina.[4]

College career

Freshman

As a freshman for the North Carolina Tar Heels, Honeycutt batted .296 with a school-record 25 home runs, 57 runs batted in (RBI), and 29 stolen bases. He was the first player in UNC history to have 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season and was named third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).[5] Honeycutt was named the most valuable player of the 2022 ACC tournament after hitting .400 with four home runs and 10 RBI.[6] After the season, he was selected for the United States collegiate national team.[7]

Sophomore

Heading into his sophomore season, Honeycutt was picked as preseason ACC Player of the Year.[8][9] On the season, Honeycutt's power numbers dipped slightly, hitting .257 with a slugging percentage of .418, but he improved his on-base percentage to .492.[10] Additionally, Honeycutt continued to showcase his defensive skills, making numerous difficult catches throughout the season, en route to another third-team All-ACC selection and the ACC's Defensive Player of the Year Award.[11] A back injury caused Honeycutt to miss the final ten games of the season, including the postseason. The Tar Heels were eliminated in the regional round of the NCAA tournament.

Junior

Firmly entrenched as the Tar Heels' star centerfielder, Honeycutt's third season in Chapel Hill was his best. Hitting .318 on the year, with 28 home runs (breaking his own single-season school record), 70 RBI, and an OPS of 1.124,[12] Honeycutt's dynamic offense and stellar defensive play powered the Tar Heels to an ACC regular-season championship and an appearance in the College World Series.[13] He broke the school's all-time home run record, finishing his Tar Heel career with 65 home runs, and won his second consecutive ACC DPOY award.[14][15] His performance in what was likely his final season as a Tar Heel positioned him firmly as a top prospect in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Professional career

Honeycutt was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round, with the 22nd overall pick, of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft. On August 1, 2024, Honeycutt signed with the Orioles on a $4 million contract.[16]

Personal life

Honeycutt's father, Bob, also played baseball at UNC. His mother, Leah Ann, ran track for the Tar Heels.[17] Honeycutt's two older sisters both played soccer for UNC Charlotte.[18]

References

  1. ^ "Baseball's his game, but UNC recruit Vance Honeycutt drives Salisbury to football crown". Charlotte Observer. May 6, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "High school baseball: Stock is rising for Salisbury's Honeycutt". Salisbury Post. September 20, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  3. ^ "High school football: Honeycutt accounted for 30 TDs". Salisbury Post. May 23, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  4. ^ "Baseball: Honeycutt excited, humbled by being drafted". Salisbury Post. August 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  5. ^ "Three things to know about UNC's Vance Honeycutt in the NCAA Tournament". The Fayetteville Observer. June 4, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  6. ^ "UNC baseball's Vance Honeycutt 'in a zone' in time for NCAA Tournament". Burlington Times-News. May 29, 2022.
  7. ^ "UNC baseball: Vance Honeycutt invited to USA baseball camp". The News & Observer. June 16, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  8. ^ Koh, Michael (January 24, 2023). "Amid Draft Hype, UNC Baseball's Vance Honeycutt Eyes Omaha Glory". Chapelboro. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  9. ^ Hughes, Grant (January 16, 2023). "UNC Baseball: Vance Honeycutt Named ACC Preseason Player of the Year". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  10. ^ "Vance Honeycutt - Baseball". GoHeels.com. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Athletics. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  11. ^ Koh, Michael (May 22, 2023). "Vance Honeycutt Named ACC Defensive Player of the Year; 3 Teammates Earn All-ACC Honors". chapelboro.com. WCHL. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  12. ^ "Vance Honeycutt College Leagues Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  13. ^ "2024 North Carolina Tar Heels". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  14. ^ Moon, Emma (May 13, 2024). "Vance Honeycutt breaks home run record in UNC baseball's series sweep over Louisville". dailytarheel.com. The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  15. ^ Delahanty, Nick (May 20, 2024). "UNC Baseball: Vance Honeycutt earns second Defensive Player of the Year Award". KeepingItHeel.com. Fansided. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  16. ^ "Orioles Sign First-Rounder Vance Honeycutt". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  17. ^ "His dad played for UNC, but Vance Honeycutt is making a name for himself with Heels". The News & Observer. May 30, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  18. ^ Hughes, Grant (January 3, 2023). "UNC's Vance Honeycutt Considered Top Prospect in 2024 MLB Draft". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 14, 2023.