North Carolina’s Jake Knapp Named The 2025 National Pitcher Of The Year By The College Baseball Foundation

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas – North Carolina right-hander Jake Knapp has been named the 2025 National Pitcher of the Year, it was announced by the College Baseball Foundation on Friday. The ACC Pitcher of the Year and first-team All-ACC selection, Knapp led North Carolina to a No. 5 national seed in the NCAA Tournament and a host for the NCAA Super Regional round.

"Jake represents everything that is good about college baseball,” National Pitcher of the Year Committee Chair Chris Snead said. “Here is a young man that battled through one of the worst injuries a pitcher can suffer to return to the field. In the process, he inspired his teammates and became the unquestioned leader of his team. Fourteen consecutive wins is significant and impressive. He was a complete pitcher and more importantly, he was a great person and teammate."

Knapp’s award-winning season was highly improbable after the hurler suffered a major injury a month before the start of the 2024 season. In a pre-season scrimmage he tore his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and was sidelined for the entire 2024 campaign. Knapp credits UNC Head Athletic Trainer Terri Jo Rucinski for helping him get back on the field. After 623 days between appearances, he returned to the mound in relief on opening day in 2025. It was the beginning of one of the most prolific seasons in North Carolina and college baseball history.

"The way that Jake was able to overcome a significant injury and become the leader of his team isn't something that you usually see from a starting pitcher,” National Pitcher of the Year Committee Chair Brian Melakian said. “What he gave his team every time that he took the ball this year was truly special and what you would expect from someone deserving of being named National Pitcher of the Year."

Knapp made 16 total appearances for the Tar Heels including toeing the rubber for 15 starts. Knapp was a perfect 14-0 this season, including postseason wins in the NCAA Regional round against Holy Cross and the NCAA Super Regional Round against Arizona. His 14-0 record is the best record of any pitcher in the country, in both most total wins and most wins without a loss. Knapp’s 14 wins tied for the most in program history in a single season and is the most without defeat.

Knapp logged 102.1 innings, allowing only 27 runs, 72 hits and 16 walks while striking out 88 batters. Knapp earned five or more strikeouts in nine of his 16 appearances. He sported a 2.02 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP. The Greensboro, N.C., native earned two complete games and held opposing batters to a .196 batting average. Knapp is a two-time team captain having been selected for the honor by his fellow players in both 2024 and 2025.

“Jake is an incredible human being and leader,” said North Carolina head coach Scott Forbes. “Watching him have to sit out last year only to come back and lead our team and have such amazing success is a testament to how hard he works and the man that he is. I’m so proud of him and so happy to see him earn this award.”

Other finalists for the National Pitcher of the Year included Gabe Craig (RHP, Baylor), Jacob Morrison (RHP, Coastal Carolina), Zane Taylor (RHP, UNCW) and Dylan Volantis (LHP, Texas).

Hagen Smith of the University of Arkansas was the 2024 National Pitcher of the Year. The National Pitcher of the Year Award was first awarded in 2009.

For more information on the Pitcher of the Year Award, visit the College Baseball Foundation website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.

2025 NATIONAL PITCHER OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS

Name, Position, Class, School

2025 - Jake Knapp, RHP, North Carolina

2024 – Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

2023 – Paul Skenes, RHP, LSU, 2023

2022 – Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Oregon State

2021 – Kevin Kopps, RHP, Arkansas, 2021

2020 – Not Awarded (season suspended)

2019 – Ethan Small, LHP, Mississippi State

2018 – Luke Heimlich, LHP, Oregon State

2017 – Steven Gingery, LHP, Texas Tech

2016 – Eric Lauer, LHP, Kent State

2015 – Carson Fulmer, RHP, Vanderbilt

2014 – Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU

2013 – Jonathan Gray, RHP, Oklahoma

2012 – Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford

2011 – Trevor Bauer, UCLA, RHP

2010 – Alex Wimmers, RHP, Ohio State

2009 – Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State