Dylan Widger-Imagn Images / Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
North Carolina baseball did not start Jason DeCaro in Game 3 of the CWS.
The North Carolina baseball team fell in the national championship series to Oklahoma, dropping a decisive Game 3 in Omaha. Head coach Scott Forbes received some criticism for his pitching plan in the final loss.
Forbes refused to start ace Jason DeCaro. Instead, he turned to a freshman with the season on the line.
In doing so, he prioritized player health over improving the Tar Heels‘ national title odds. It’s a move that should be commended, not condemned.
North Carolina baseball lost Game 3.
A depleted pitching staff played a role. UNC was effectively without its top three arms in the winner-take-all contest. It relied on a group effort on Monday, which unfortunately ended with a season-ending loss.
The Tar Heels were beaten soundly, 13-2. They used eight different arms in the setback. None were consistent enough to keep the Oklahoma offense in check.
While the staff did record 12 strikeouts, it also walked eight hitters, threw three wild pitches, surrendered a pair of home runs, and hit a batter.
Some blamed the home plate umpire for the inconsistency, but it was not the reason for the outcome. The Sooners simply took advantage of mistakes. They also received stellar performances from a trio of newcomers on the mound.
Oklahoma’s pitcher rose to the occasion. North Carolina’s did not. It’s as simple as that.
Injuries and usage significantly impacted the Tar Heels’ outlook ahead of Game 3. Their head coach prioritized his players’ future over selfishness.
Scott Forbes refused to start Jason DeCaro.
This week everybody wanted to talk about what the bad things could be when you let College Baseball be the main source of elite amateur development. It’s time to highlight a good thing:
“The only other person we talked about starting was Jason DeCaro — but he’s gonna be a major… pic.twitter.com/2nW4sRpXx8
— Noah Bieniek (Bee-Nick) (@NoahB77_) June 23, 2026
DeCaro has been a stud all year long. He went 11-3 in his junior year with an ERA of 2.87. He is the team’s top starter.
The righty got the nod in Game 1 of the College World Series finals, which the Tar Heels lost 9-3. He threw 83 pitches across 3.2 innings of work.
He could’ve been called upon on a day’s rest to start Game 3. Forbes opted to go in another direction, tabbing Jackson Rose as the starter.
DeCaro’s future was top of mind in that decision making. He is expected to be selected early in the 2026 draft. MLB.com currently ranks him as a Top 125 prospect.
He’ll have a chance to make a lot of money at the next level. Health and longevity will impact career earnings.
Forbes did not want to jeopardize DeCaro’s future. He took a similar approach with reliever Caden Glauber, who pitched very briefly in Game 3 following a lengthy Game 2 appearance.
There were some that blasted the decision. Here are a few of the more negative replies on social media.
“His job is to win now for this team not some MLB team.”
“Makes zero sense to me. Were they there to win? Apparently not.”
“Loser mentality.”
Forbes made the right call.
I look at it a bit different. The decision should be commended. He put the player first. I’m sure if DeCaro was injured after being forced into action, those critics would have a different opinion, too.
Research suggests that four days of rest are necessary after throwing at least 76 pitches. Most MLB rotations operate on that timeline. Some go a day longer.
A lack of recovery can result in fatigue, added joint stress, and increased opportunity for setbacks to the shoulder and elbow. Overuse is “the number one cause of injury in throwing athletes.”
An injury would’ve quite literally been lifechanging for DeCaro with his payday quickly approaching. Seven figures may have been on the line. The Top 82 MLB Draft picks are valued at above $1 million. It’s not outlandish to believe he’ll hear his name called in that timeframe.
North Carolina has never won a national championship in baseball. Forbes has been denied a title in two trips to Omaha. He could’ve very easily been selfish.
Instead, he chose the option that gives his players the best chance at future success, even if that does not come with the Tar Heels.
It’s worth noting that DeCaro likely would’ve been a short-term option at best. His presence would not have guaranteed a win.
North Carolina has plenty of other capable arms on its roster. They are D1 pitchers for a reason. They simply didn’t have the stuff on Monday.
The risk outweighed the reward. Winning is important but shouldn’t come at the expense of player safety. There’s a difference between being competitive and reckless.
While the end result is disappointing for the Tar Heels, their head coach can rest assured he didn’t sacrifice a professional career for personal success.