This coming weekend will conclude the 2025 MLB regular season. While not everything will be fully settled until the final games on Sunday, we have a pretty decent idea for most of the teams that will be in this
year’s playoffs. With the march to the World Series set to begin next week, let’s take a second to look at the former North Carolina Tar Heels’ baseball players who might play a part in this year’s postseason and Fall Classic.
The Diamond Heel who has had the best 2025 season of anyone and will likely play the biggest role of any in the playoff is Michael Busch for the Cubs. If you used the advanced stat WAR, Busch has been one of the best players for a Cubs team that has already booked its place in the postseason. Chicago is a bit unfortunate for being in the same division as a Milwaukee Brewers team that has bene red hot this year, which has doomed the Cubs to having to play in the best-of-3 opening Wild Card Series despite still having one of the better records in the league.
Busch has been a good part of that record, having hit 30 home runs with a .830 OPS at time of writing. He figures to being the Cubs’ first baseman and hit in a key spot in the lineup throughout their postseason run. In fact, Busch has been the Cubs leadoff hitter 47 times this year, including being the main option there for most of the last couple months.
Over in the American League, the Toronto Blue Jays currently have the best record, although several teams are hoping to overtake them over the final week. Toronto has a Tar Heel in their bullpen…sort of. Brendon Little started his college career at UNC before transferring to a junior college after his freshman year, from which he was eventually drafted. While he might not necessarily claim diehard Tar Heel status, we’ll count him, especially as he’s having a very nice year as a middle reliever for the Jays. Toronto has a very definitive Tar Heel in former UNC ace Trent Thornton, however he is out for the season having torn his Achilles back in July.
There are two other Diamond Heels on playoff teams’ rosters, but just how much they end up used in the postseason remains to be seen. Pitcher Cooper Criswell is in the Red Sox organization, but is currently in the minor leagues. He has been pretty good in the handful of games he’s played for them in the big leagues this season, but considering he hasn’t pitched for them since August 1st, it seems unlikely they’ll roster him in the playoffs unless some injuries happen.
Similar to Little, Ben Casparius started his college career at UNC before transferring, but we’ll give him some love. Last year he helped the Dodgers win the World Series, and followed that up by getting off to a nice start this year. However dating back to the end of June/beginning of July, Casparius struggled, leading to him also getting sent down to the minors. He’s appeared in the majors as late as earlier this month, so he could be seen as a playoff option if the Dodgers think he’s figured anything out since being away from the big leagues.
They’re only one game out of the last NL Wild Card, but Zac Gallen and the Arizona Diamondbacks are currently on the outside looking in. Gallen has struggled this year, but has helped Arizona to a World Series appearance just two year ago.
Best of luck to all the Tar Heels who end up competing in this year’s postseason. As a fan of none of their teams but a different one that will likely be in the playoffs, I wish them only slight success.
