Staff report

University of North Carolina pitcher Austin Blake Love was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday.

The West Rowan product was picked in the third round.

Love, a 6-foot-3, 232-pound right-handed pitcher, was the 90th pick.

That pick carries a recommended slot value of $657,600, and while that’s a ballpark figure, it’s negotiable.

Liam Norris, a high school pitcher from North Carolina, was the 90th pick in 2020 by Arizona and received a signing bonus of $800,000.

Love still has two years of eligibility with the Tar Heels, so he has some negotiating leverage and the option of returning to school.

Born on Jan. 26, 1999, Love is 22 1/2, which could factor into his decision.

Love was the ace for the Tar Heels during the 2021 season. His 10-4 record included several huge wins and he posted 129 strikeouts, the second-highest total in program history for a single season.

Love was first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference and was one of four pitchers named to the All-Atlantic Region team.

See Tuesday’s print edition for more on Love.