August 30, 2006

Kendall Rogers
Rivals.com College Baseball

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Miller signed with the Tigers over the summer and has already made his big league debut, while Bard has yet to sign with Boston.

As the Tar Heels move forward, their pitching staff becomes the main focus this fall.

The Heels welcome the return of right-hander Robert Woodard. But after him, North Carolina's weekend rotation turns into a huge question mark ? one that must be answered by the end of fall workouts.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the rotation, the Tar Heels have some options with redshirt-sophomore Luke Putkonen and true freshman Alex White, among others. Stud closer Andrew Carignan should also play another significant role, as he provides some stability for a staff looking for answers.

While North Carolina searches for answers on the hill, their situation at the plate couldn't be better.

The Heels return sluggers Josh Horton, Tim Federowicz, Chad Flack and Mike Cavasinni. They also look for productive falls from Seth Williams, Benji Johnson and Reid Fronk.

North Carolina's fall snapshot is here.

North Carolina Tar Heels

What happened last season? With a loaded pitching staff and several talented position players, North Carolina entered the 2006 season with high expectations. Though some believed the Tar Heels were primed for business, others pointed to their less than stellar performance during the 2005 postseason as a reason for failure. Playing relaxed and confident, the Heels captured the hearts and minds of the college baseball world by reaching the Championship Series, where they lost to Oregon State. Who's gone? After losing key ingredients to the nation's most impressive pitching staff, the Tar Heels enter fall workouts with something to prove on the hill. Players that left Chapel Hill due to graduation or the pros include Andrew Miller (signed with Detroit), Jay Cox (signed with Colorado) and Jonathan Hovis (graduation). Stud right-hander Daniel Bard, who was a first round selection of the Boston Red Sox, has not signed but is expected to do so in due time. He has yet to report to class. What's their situation? Without thinking twice, many observers will automatically count the Tar Heels out because of Miller and Bard's departure. But as Carolina prepares for fall workouts, they're in much better shape than some would lead you to believe. The Heels return veteran right-hander Robert Woodard and stud closer Andrew Carignan, who recorded 15 saves last season. Lost in the mix but not forgotten is redshirt-sophomore Luke Putkonen. Putkonen has outstanding potential, but was overshadowed by the Big Three last season. He's a guy that could develop into a front-line starter this fall. Offensively, the Tar Heels couldn't ask to be in a better position. While losing Jay Cox to the draft puts a dent in North Carolina's offensive structure, there's still plenty of firepower left. The Heels welcome back starters Josh Horton, Chad Flack, Tim Federowicz and Mike Cavasinni, who each hit over .316 last season. Newcomers to watch: North Carolina brought in several talented players this fall, but no arrival was as anticipated as that of two-way star Alex White. White, who played both baseball and basketball in high school, brings athleticism and an outstanding arm to the table. He was also a 14th round draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Though White could contribute in the field, his immediate impact will be felt on the hill, where the Tar Heels search for more viable options. Another name to remember this fall is Rob Catapano. Catapano, a Tennessee native, was considered the top left-handed pitcher in his state last season and should contribute as a freshman. The fall skinny: The Tar Heels have plenty of weapons at the plate, so offensive production won't be an issue during fall workouts. That shifts the focus to the pitching staff, where the Heels must find two able bodies to replace studs Andrew Miller and Daniel Bard. As we said earlier, that's where Luke Putkonen comes into the picture. The fall will be particularly interesting for righty Robert Woodard, as he takes center stage as North Carolina's true ace. If the Heels can figure out the weekend rotation this fall, they should be in great shape to make another run at Omaha in the spring.