elite contact, speed, and steady shortstop glove in UNC’s leadoff engine
In the 2026 season, Jake Schaffner was a breakout force for North Carolina, starting 68 games at shortstop and hitting .356 with a .467 on-base percentage, .552 slugging, 96 hits, 85 runs, 26 stolen bases, and a 1.019 OPS. The differentiator is simple: he impacts the game everywhere—table-setting bat, high-contact approach, plus speed, and reliable infield defense. Multiple reports praised him as a consistent defender and one of the best pure contact hitters in the class, which is exactly why a team should care: he plays winning baseball, not just loud baseball.
