By Mike London

mike.london@salisburypost.com

GRANITE QUARRY — East Rowan has another UNC baseball commit.

East Rowan’s Harrison Ailshie, a junior with two high school seasons still in front of him, announced a commitment to the Tar Heels on Monday.

East Rowan graduate Cameron Padgett is a pitcher who is expected to have a big junior season for the Tar Heels this spring.

East Rowan 2024 graduate Cobb Hightower was committed to the Tar Heels, but he opted for pro baseball after he was a third-round draft pick by San Diego in July.

East Rowan grad Ike Freeman was a standout infielder for the Tar Heels not long ago, finishing his college career in 2019. He was a 14th-round draft pick.

West Rowan pitcher Austin Love and Salisbury outfielder Vance Honeycutt also were huge assets for the Tar Heels in recent seasons. Love, a third-round draft pick, finished his college career in 2021. Honeycutt was a first-round pick in the 2024 draft.

South Rowan grad Kane Kepley transferred to UNC from Liberty after last season and the hustling outfielder is expected to be a dynamic player for the 2025 Tar Heels. He’s another potential draft pick.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Ailshie is a lefty-hitting outfielder and a lefty-throwing pitcher and is a tremendous two-way player at the high school level. He was instrumental in East’s 34-2 3A state championship team, coached by Brett Hatley, last spring and he stars on a regional and national scale for the South Charlotte Panthers between high school seasons.

Ailshie was a starter for East as a freshman and blossomed into a major star as a sophomore. He batted .422 and drew 30 walks for a .546 on-base percentage. He had 10 homers, nine doubles and two triples, scored 50 runs and drove in 54 in 36 games.

On the mound, Ailshie was 10-0 with a 1.57 ERA. He struck out 79, while walking 19, in 71 1.3 innings.

He received a number of accolades after his breakout sophomore season, including several All-State honors. He was South Piedmont Conference Pitcher of the Year, Rowan County Co-Pitcher of the Year (with teammate Logan Dyer) and MVP of the 3A State Championship Series.

Ailshie is currently ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the Class of 2026 in North Carolina and is ranked second among outfielders. He is ranked as a top-20 outfielder and top-1oo player nationally.

Ailshie’s highest ceiling is as a hitter. There’s not much doubt he can hit and hit with power at any level, and he’s a solid defensive outfielder with a strong arm. There aren’t many two-way college players at the ACC level, but that may be a possibility for Ailshie, depending on how much his velocity increases over the next two seasons. He’s a low-80s guy now on the mound.