Jake Schaffner drafted by Boston Red Sox in 1st round of MLB Draft

In a surprise turn of events, a Diamond Heel was drafted in the first round.

Former North Carolina shortstop Jake Schaffner was selected No. 20 overall by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the MLB Draft. Ranked No. 75 on the Top 250 prospects list, the North Dakota State transfer finished his lone season at UNC among the team leaders in batting average, on-base percentage and stolen bases.

Schaffner is the highest UNC player picked since the Houston Astros made J.B. Bukauskas the No. 15 overall selection in 2017. He became the 26th Tar Heel taken in the first round and the first since the Baltimore Orioles drafted Vance Honeycutt at No. 22 in 2024.

Schaffner proved a near-guarantee to reach base as North Carolina’s leadoff man, stealing a team-high 26 bases. He hit .356 with 96 hits, six home runs, 50 RBIs and a UNC-best 85 runs scored in his first season in Chapel Hill.

Before transferring to North Carolina, Schaffner earned All-Summit League honors in both of his seasons at North Dakota State and was the league’s defensive player of the year in 2025.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.