Lucas: Part Of The Program

By Adam Lucas

A quick check of the 2026 Carolina baseball schedule reveals the usual promotional games. There are trading card giveaways. There is Dollar Dog Night (next Tuesday against Coastal Carolina). There are a pair of Bark at the Bosh days.

And then there's a very special day you might find only on the Tar Heel calendar: MPS Awareness Day. That took place during Tuesday night's 9-2 win over High Point, as the Heels improved to 34-7-1 and will carry their number-two national ranking into this weekend's Thursday-Friday-Saturday series at Duke.

Before they go to Durham, though, the Heels wanted to use their platform to draw attention to a rare medical condition that has directly impacted the program. Mucopolysaccaridoses are a group of rare inherited metabolic diseases. One of those diseases is Hunter Syndrome, a very rare disease that impacts approximately 800 children in the United States and can cause abnormalities in the skeleton, heart and respiratory system.

It just so happens that one of the foremost centers for the study of the diseases is located on Carolina's campus, the Muenzer MPS Research and Treatment Center. Numerous representatives from the center were at Boshamer Stadium on Tuesday night.

But the Tar Heels didn't need any introduction to the realities of MPS. Dating back to the 2006 trip to the College World Series, one of the program's closest friends has been JR Anton. An Omaha native, JR was 13 when he first met the Tar Heels. Over the next couple of decades, he made regular trips to Chapel Hill, both to receive treatment at the Muenzer Center and to see his friends on the baseball team. Players frequently hosted him on overnight visits, and he was a de facto member of the team before passing away in May 2024. JR's mother, Kim, was in Chapel Hill to participate in MPS Awareness Day by throwing out a ceremonial first pitch.

"JR changed more of our lives than he realized," says Carter French, who had a hit and another highlight reel catch in Tuesday's win. "He showed us how he had stories, hopes and dreams just like the rest of us. He brought so much joy and I remember how he brought everyone so close together. His legacy will remain in our program and we absolutely should raise awareness for MPS in his honor, especially with the incredible MPS Center here on campus."

Under Scott Forbes (and Mike Fox before him), the Diamond Heels make being part of their community a priority. They are regulars at Miracle League games, and it's not unusual to find players visiting the Children's Hospital.

"It is always awesome to give back to the community that has given us a lot as players at UNC," says pitcher Matthew Matthijs. "Spending time with these kids also opens our own eyes to have perspective on our own lives. If these kids can smile every day through their treatments, why can't we do the same as players playing the game we love?"

It's easy to smile as a Tar Heel right now. This year's team is ranked number-two in the country, they're coming off an impressive series win over highly touted Georgia Tech, and they're firmly in position to contend for postseason hosting opportunities.

Even with the accolades, however, those involved in the program say the spotlight should more deservedly be shined on those doing other important work, like the MPS researchers who were on hand Tuesday night.

"It's important to remain involved in the community, especially in the midst of a season, because it gives us a perspective outside of baseball that shows how blessed we are to even be doing this," French says. "I think at times we get more credit and attention than we deserve, so it is important to redirect that spotlight toward causes that matter so much more than our baseball game."

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