"He's the definition of a leader": North Carolina coach Scott Forbes reflects on Vance Honeycutt's "electric" career
North Carolina coach Scott Forbes reflected on the college baseball career of center fielder Vance Honeycutt, describing him as electric and a great definition of a leader.
Forbes said after the No. 4 seed Tar Heels lost to the No. 8 Florida State in their win-or-go-home, second-round game of the 2024 College World Series. He paid tribute to the third-year player, who smacked a three-run home run that sparked a four-run fifth inning, reducing the Seminoles' deficit to 7-5:
"You know, from just his ability I always use the word electric. That's just what he is. He's electric. And, you know, he is the definition of a leader. He has integrity. He works, he puts winning first," Forbes said.
The fourth-year coach further noted that Honeycutt is the best player he has ever coached as the outfielder plays baseball with ease:
"He's also just a kid and he plays like that and he plays free and easy. And man I'm going to just miss watching. I'm going to miss not just watching him play. I'm just gonna miss seeing him every single day. But man, he is something else, isn't he? He was one of the best I've ever coached," Forbes added.
Vance Honeycutt excels in 3rd year as North Carolina's center fielder
Vance Honeycutt showed greatness in his junior year with North Carolina. The 21-year-old was great on both sides of the field, whether on offense or defense.
In his last game this season, Honeycutt was 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs and three RBIs. He ended the season with a .318 batting average with 28 home runs, 70 RBIs and 28 stolen bases in 32 attempts.
Overall, the center fielder played 175 games with the Tar Heels and hit .291 with 64 home runs, 167 RBIs and 76 stolen bases. On defense, Honeycutt has a .984 fielding percentage on 491 putouts, 10 assists and eight errors.
If he chooses to enlist in this year's MLB draft, Honeycutt is projected to be the No. 14 overall pick by Baseball America and No. 20 by the MLB Pipeline. USA Today described the outfielder as fit for the major leagues with elite speed, shutdown defense and top-class athleticism.
Honeycutt likes to play when the chips are on the line, as seen when he smacked a two-run homer in the regionals against defending champion LSU and hit two more round-trippers during North Carolina's super regional game against West Virginia.
While Vance Honeycutt may not have succeeded in carrying the Tar Heels to the College World Series final, he made a lasting impression on his coach, his teammates and the passionate fan base who witnessed an excellent player rise on their watch.
Will Vance Honeycutt carry his impressive numbers to the MLB? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.