Three UNC arms make National Pitcher of the Year cut

North Carolina has one of the nation’s best pitching staffs, and three Tar Heels have been named semifinalists for the National Pitcher of the Year Award.

Starting pitcher Jason DeCaro and relievers Caden Glauber and Walker McDuffie were all selected. If any of them win, it would mark the second straight year a Diamond Heels pitcher has captured the honor after Jake Knapp won it last season.

Forty-three of the nation’s top college pitchers have been named semifinalists for the National Pitcher of the Year Award. The group, announced Wednesday, represents 17 conferences and one independent program and highlights the most dominant arms so far in the 2026 season.

"This group of pitchers has been clearly dominant, and in most cases have put their teams in position to have great seasons,” National Pitcher of the Year Award chair Brian Melakian said. “As we near the final stretch of the season, it will be exciting to see which players step up to help lead their teams to postseason success and emerge as finalists for the National Pitcher of the Year.”

DeCaro (6-2), Carolina’s ace, has had a stellar year that should put him in the mix for several awards, with a 2.50 ERA over 50.1 innings, 25 walks and 43 strikeouts.

McDuffie (6-1), a second-team freshman All-American last season by multiple publications, might be the best reliever in the country. He has a 2.30 ERA with three saves, 25 walks and 54 strikeouts.

Just like McDuffie last season, Glauber (5-0) has put together an outstanding freshman season and leads Carolina in strikeouts, posting a 1.74 ERA with three saves over 46.2 innings, with 24 walks and 56 strikeouts.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Baseball: Pitching staff has three national pitcher semifinalists