Staff report

SALISBURY, Md. — Salisbury High grad and former UNC star Vance Honeycutt has reported to the Delmarva Shorebirds of the Carolina League.

Delmarva is the name of a peninsula that includes most of the state of Delaware and parts of the eastern shores of Maryland and Virginia. The Shorebirds play in Salisbury, Md.

Delmarva is Class A and plays in the same league as the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.

Honeycutt is expected to be in center field on Thursday night when the Shorebirds play on the road against the Down East Wood Ducks, a team located in Kinston.

Honeycutt signed with the Baltimore Orioles for $4 million. He lasted until the 22nd pick in the MLB draft, although he may eventually prove to have the best power/speed/defense combo of anyone who was in the draft.

A right-handed power hitter with exceptional wheels, Honeycutt is regarded by many as the best player in UNC’s illustrious baseball history. He had a school-record 28 homers and 70 RBIs in 62 games as a junior.

MLB Pipeline already ranks Honeycutt as the No. 4 prospect in Baltimore’s strong farm system. Baseball America ranks him No. 7.

Since signing on Aug. 1, Honeycutt, 21, has been in Florida.

There are several stops for Honeycutt to make on the road to Baltimore. Each one will provide a greater challenge — smarter pitchers, better breaking balls, more velocity. The next step up from Delmarva is the Aberdeen IronBirds, who play advanced Class A ball. Then there’s Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk.