UNC baseball captain enters name in transfer portal

Though he spent most of the 2024 college baseball season coming off the bench, there’s no doubt Jackson Van De Brake has been a crucial part of the UNC baseball team’s success over the past two seasons.

Van De Brake started 57 games at second base last year, earning Second Team All-ACC honors by hitting .307 and leading the Diamond Heels with a .439 on-base percentage.

This year, however, Van De Brake struggled to find that same offensive production (.213 batting average). He was overtaken in the starting lineup by Division-III transfer Alex Madera, who finished the season as one of six North Carolina players to hit .300.

Even in a reserve role, Van De Brake still found ways to contribute.

Van De Brake’s greatest heroics came in UNC’s College World Series opener on Friday, June 14 against ACC rival Virginia, when he delivered a pinch-hit double in relief of designated hitter Alberto Osuna. With Osuna previously striking out three times in the game, Diamond Heels head coach Scott Forbes turned to his captain.

Van De Brake earned a start against top-ranked Tennessee two days later, but wasn’t able to record a hit in three at-bats.

In some shocking news on Wednesday, July 3, Van De Brake entered his name in the transfer portal with a “do not contact” designation.

This designation means that Van De Brake has to initiate contact with other teams, which leaves open the possibility of him returning to Chapel Hill.

With Madera exhausting his eligibility, Van De Brake should resume a starting role if he decides upon a return.

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