The College Baseball Foundation on Friday named North Carolina pitcher Jake Knapp as its national pitcher of the year.

Knapp is the first Tar Heel to receive the honor since its introduction in 2009.

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"Jake is an incredible human being and leader," said North Carolina head coach Scott Forbes. "Watching him have to sit out last year only to come back and lead our team and have such amazing success is a testament to how hard he works and the man that he is.

“I'm so proud of him and so happy to see him earn this award."

Knapp beat out several other finalists for this year’s award, including Gabe Craig (RHP, Baylor), Jacob Morrison (RHP, Coastal Carolina), Zane Taylor (RHP, UNCW) and Dylan Volantis (LHP, Texas).

Several other MLB pitchers have previously won the CBF Pitcher of the Year Award, including Stephen Strasburg, Aaron Nola, Jon Gray and Paul Skenes.

"Jake represents everything that is good about college baseball," National Pitcher of the Year Committee Chair Chris Snead said. "Here is a young man that battled through one of the worst injuries a pitcher can suffer to return to the field.

“In the process, he inspired his teammates and became the unquestioned leader of his team. Fourteen consecutive wins is significant and impressive. He was a complete pitcher and more importantly, he was a great person and teammate."

In the 2025 season, Knapp had a 2.02 ERA, which was the fourth-best in the country. He pitched 102.1 innings, had 88 strikeouts and only walked 16 batters.

Knapp’s 0.86 WHIP (walks and hits allowed per inning) were .03 away from breaking the UNC record.

Knapp is a former walk-on at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. The Greensboro native didn't receive any offers as he was coming out of high school. UNC said Knapp's time in Wilmington didn't work out, forcing him to the junior college ranks with Walters State, where he spent two years working and struggling to get better.

Eventually, Carolina assistant Bryant Gaines offered him a spot in Chapel Hill and he accepted. Improving significantly in his first year at UNC, a solid 2023 season as a starter had him poised to make the jump to the Friday guy in 2024. Unfortunately, with just a few weeks left in the preseason, he sustained an elbow injury that would sideline him for the entire season.

"Coach Knapp," as Forbes affectionately calls him, stayed locked in with the team despite his devastating situation, attending every practice, game, and meeting. The coaching staff credits his leadership as a key factor in their 2024 run to Omaha.

In the offseason, he weighed the possibility of going pro despite his months of rehab ahead. He instead chose to return to Chapel Hill