Rochester's Mac Horvath Looking Forward to Upcoming Draft

[Seth Stohs]

Mac Horvath honed his baseball skills in Rochester, Minnesota, where he became one of the better players in the state. He played at the University of North Carolina the past three years and become a very solid all-around player. It is quite possible that Horvath will hear his name on TV on Day 1 of the 2023 MLB Draft on Sunday. Get to know about the former Rochester Century student-athlete and let's support Minnesotans in professional baseball. 

Image courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications

Mac Horvath grew up in southern Minnesota. Once he started playing in high school, he became one of the best players in the state of Minnesota. He went to Rochester Century through his junior season, and Perfect Game had him ranked #2 in the state behind only Burnsville's Max Carlson. 

Horvath attended the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for his senior year. He received baseball instruction from top coaches, strength and conditioning, and even mental health coaching there. In the afternoons, they take their high school classes. It's a place that frequently hosts college recruiters and professional scouts. 

For Horvath, there was another good reason to go to IMG. "After being injured for a good chunk of the season my Sophomore and Junior years of high school, it only made sense to go to IMG and kind of get back that time I had missed to prepare me for college and pro ball."

He joined the Rochester Century varsity team as a freshman and was part of a strong team. "That year, we were the Number 1 team going into our section tournament." 

He primarily played shortstop, but he had a huge fastball and found a ton of success on the mound too. In fact, he committed early to the University of North Carolina as a two-way player. He said, "I enjoyed pitching a lot. (However), playing every day is something I really wanted to do." 

For Mac, the decision to go to North Carolina became relatively easy after visiting the campus. "The program and culture there are incredible, and I just had that feeling of home when I was visiting there."

He was joined by fellow Minnesotan Max Carlson with the Tar Heels. There has seemingly been a pipeline of top Minnesota players heading to Chapel Hill to play ball. Michael Busch went to Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights. He played for North Carolina from 2017 to 2019, when the Dodgers made him their first-round pick. He made his MLB debut earlier this season and has played 15 games in the big leagues. 

And hey, I bet you didn't know that the legendary Archibald "Moonlight" Graham, who famously became a doctor in the northern Minnesota town of Chisholm, played baseball at UNC. His brother Frank later became the president of the college and, after that, became a US Senator. According to his Baseball-Reference page, Graham is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Rochester.

Rochester. Oh yes, let's get back to the star of our article today, North Carolina draft prospect from Rochester, Mac Horvath. 

Things didn't just get handed to him when he got to Carolina. He didn't immediately become a star. There is always some adjustment needed. 

He told Twins Daily, "I was the starting third baseman Opening Day my freshman year and through the next seven or so games struggled offensively pretty badly. I was taken out of the lineup, and I think the biggest change was just being confident in myself at all times and not letting a bad at-bat get to me and carry it into the next AB or game."

As a freshman, he played 46 games and hit .227/.311/.387 (.698) with four doubles and five home runs. 

He found success that summer playing back at home for the Rochester Honkers of the Northwoods League. He played another 35 games and hit .287/.437/.434 (.871) with six doubles and four homers. 

When he returned to Chapel Hill for his sophomore season, he was a little more mature, physically and mentally prepared for the Division I college game. He played 63 games and hit .268/.390/.557 (.947) with 15 doubles and 18 home runs. In addition, he began using his impressive speed. He stole 19 bases in 22 attempts. 

He played 18 games in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2022. As a junior this spring, he put together some monster offensive numbers. In 60 games, he hit .305/.418/.711 (1.129) with 21 doubles and 24 home runs. He was 25-for-29 in stolen base attempts. And he's put himself into being a potential Day 1 pick when the MLB Draft starts on Sunday night. 

He hit for average. He was patient. He showed tremendous power and speed. How does he describe himself as a hitter? "I would say a patient power hitter with speed."

I'd say that summarizes it quite well. 

And about his stolen base prowess the past two seasons, he said it is an integral part of his all-around game. "Speed is a big part of my game and something you can't teach. So I try to use it to my advantage to help the team."

In high school, he primarily played shortstop. He primarily played third base in his first two seasons at North Carolina. He was the Tar Heels' primary right fielder, but he says he feels comfortable around the diamond.

Horvath noted, "I feel comfortable at third base and every outfield spot, but when I think of myself in the big leagues, I see myself as center fielder."

When a player of the caliber of Mac Horvath is draft-eligible, scouts are present frequently, especially at a big school like North Carolina. It can be challenging for many young players, trying to focus on the game and the team while thoughts of conversations with scouts and what might come of it are roaming in the back of their minds. It can be overwhelming, but Horvath continued to thrive and improve throughout the process. 

"I have enjoyed the process 100%. I didn't focus on it or talk to any scouts during the season. I talked to a good amount of the teams at the MLB Draft Combine."

The MLB Draft Combine is a relatively new concept over the past couple of seasons, but it is a place where potential draft picks go and have the opportunity to work out, hit, throw, run, and talk to personnel from the big league clubs. 

"It was a very cool experience getting to meet up with players that I knew and getting to know some new guys as well. Meeting with a lot of the clubs was a fun experience, and just getting to know those people on a more personal level."

So now, the past few weeks, it has just been time spent as he awaits the draft. He's enjoyed his time back home in Minnesota, though. "I have been taking it a little easier from the baseball side of things and spending time with my friends and hanging out by the pool."

At this time, they have not finalized plans for where they will be or what they will be doing on Sunday night during the draft, but regardless, he'll be around many of the people who have helped him get to this point in his career. Specifically, he noted, "My Dad (Tony Horvath), my Mom (Marcia Carrigan), Jeff Milene, all of the UNC coaching staff, and Guye Senjem."

So, where might Mac Horvath get drafted, and by which team? He said, "(I'm) excited to find out." 

What are evaluators saying? Twins Daily's JD Cameron's Consensus Big Board ranks him as the 74th-ranked draft-eligible player. Of Horvath, he writes, "The North Carolina outfielder has one of the more intriguing power/speed combinations of any college hitter and has improved every year for the Tar Heels." 

Cameron continued, "At the plate, it's a power-over-hit approach, and his strikeout rate is a concern, despite strong on-base numbers. Horvath has at least above-average speed and solid defensive chops. He's played third base and in the outfield for North Carolina, taking advantage of a great throwing arm in either spot. He'd be a great fit in right field long-term."

Finally, Cameron summarized, "He's been consistently under-ranked all season, and I'd put money on him being closer to a top 40 pick."

Baseball America has him ranked #67. They grade his Tools at: Hit (40), Power (55), Run (65), Field (50), and Arm (60). 

I've read reports that he could go anywhere from the back end of the first round to very early on Day 2 (third round). 

Horvath's earliest memories of playing ball are familiar to many of us. He remembers "playing wiffle ball in the backyard with my brothers or by myself." 

Growing up in Rochester, he noted that they did go to "a decent amount of Twins games; however, I am a Cubs fan. "Well, the Cubs pick 13th and then with the 68th pick, so be sure to follow the draft at North Side Baseball too! 

However, he also said that his favorite Twins players growing up were Joe Mauer and Brian Dozier. 

When looking at drafts from the last 10-15 years, when the Twins have drafted very late in the first round or early in the second round, they have taken several college hitters, including fellow Tar Heels Levi Michael and Aaron Sabato. But also included in that category would be Matt Wallner, Brent Rooker, and Ryan Jeffers. 

So what would it mean to Horvath and his family if the Twins used one of their Day 1 draft picks to select him?

"That would be incredible, and to think I could be playing at Target Field, where it's just an hour's drive for my family to be there, it would definitely be special."
—----------------------------------------------------------------

In addition to Mac Horvath, Tar Heel pitcher and Burnsville High School grad Max Carlson could be drafted this year. There are two Minnesota Gophers on JD Cameron's Consensus Big Board, pitcher George Klassen and outfielder Brett Bateman. Seth Halvorsen has had a long and winding road since the Twins drafted him out of Heritage Christian Academy in 2018. After three years at Missouri and two seasons at Tennessee, could he hear his name again? 

The 2023 Mr. Baseball Award recipient in Minnesota was Benilde St. Margaret High School outfielder Easton Breyfogle. Potentially, a team could select him on Day 2. If not, he'll head to college at the University of Arizona. 

Best wishes to each of these players from Minnesota. A big thank you to one of the best hitters in college baseball in 2023, UNC outfielder and Rochester native Mac Horvath, for taking the time to answer some questions. 

Be sure to keep refreshing Twins Daily over the next four or five days for lots and lots of draft coverage. 

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Showing my age, i had to look up Century high school...

[RJA]

Great article.  One of the many things I love about TD is their detailed, personal stories about prospects, especially local or regional players.  Nobody does it better.  Thanks.

[dxpavelka]

Might be a fine addition to our plethora of ultra talented superstar type left fielders.

[Parker Hageman]

prior lake’s connor wietgrefe has also been in talks with a number of teams, i’ve heard.

was one of the gophers most reliable relievers last year. solid lefty with some unique pitch profiles.

keep an eye. 

[AlwaysinModeration]

Great article.  This kid has shown a lot of perseverance to get to this point.  The progression over three years at UNC is impressive.  It’s also interesting to see how a player can use a year at IMG Academy, which you hear mentioned a lot, to springboard to a big college program (not just to get drafted out of high school).

Would be nice to see the Twins get him at #82….

[Seth Stohs]

Horvath went to the Orioles with the #53 overall pick in the draft!