UNC pitcher Jake Knapp to miss 2024 season with UCL tear

North Carolina received some devastating news on Tuesday, as senior pitcher Jake Knapp will miss the entirety of the 2024 season due to a tear in the Ulnar Collateral Ligament in his throwing arm, the team announced.

Knapp was recently selected as a team captain for UNC this season.

“We are certainly going to miss Jake’s presence on the mound,” UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. “He worked extremely hard during the offseason and was poised to have a terrific senior season. Jake will still be with us at practice, in the dugout and on road trips. He’s one of our captains and leaders and will be a vital part of our team this year.”

Last season was Knapp’s first in Chapel Hill, and he had a big role on the UNC pitching staff. He started 16 games and threw 64.1 innings, pitching to a 5.04 ERA with a 5-4 record. He struck out 65 batters compared to 36 walks, with opponents hitting .262 against him.

UNC will have to rely on young arms to offset the loss of Knapp

Knapp was slated to be part of the UNC pitching rotation again this season, and he had a legitimate chance to become the team’s Friday night starter.

Knapp’s 16 starts last season led the Tar Heels, with Max Carlson and Connor Bovair behind him. Carlson moved on after last year, but Bovair returns in 2024. UNC also added quite a few arms, both through the transfer portal and through the freshman class.

One starter that could now be slated for a starting role is Elon transfer Shea Sprague. He was likely in the conversation to pitch in the weekend rotation already, but Tuesday’s news could make that even more likely. In 15 starts at Elon last season, Sprague pitched to a 2.69 ERA with 82 strikeouts and 19 walks in 90.1 innings.

Just last week, Knapp spoke at UNC media day. He had great things to say about the freshmen pitchers on the Tar Heels pitching staff as they prepare for their first season of college baseball. Knapp, along with Forbes, expressed great excitement to see what the group can do once the season gets underway.

Now, those freshmen will probably be thrust into larger roles than originally anticipated.

UNC’s season gets underway on Friday, February 16th against Wagner.