Former UNC baseball player hired as an ACC Network analyst
The ACC Network has hired former North Carolina Tar Heels outfielder Adam Greenberg to be one of its four college baseball analysts as part of the network’s expanded coverage.
Greenberg will be an in-game and in-studio analyst and starts on March 3 when he calls UNC’s home game against UNC Greensboro.
“His knowledge of the game and fresh perspective will make him a versatile addition to both game and studio coverage on ACC Network through the baseball season,” ESPN/ACC Network coordinating producer Aaron Katzman said in a statement. “Adam’s energy and on-camera presence will endear him to fans and viewers.”’
Greenberg played at UNC from 2000 to 2002. He was ACC Rookie of the Year in 2000 and freshman team All-America after batting .386. He was part of Mike Fox’s first official recruiting class at UNC.
Greenberg almost lost two fingers in a weightlifting accident in the summer after his freshman season. He thought about quitting, but was ultimately able to overcome it.
He was selected in the ninth round of the MLB draft in 2002 by the Chicago Cubs.
Adam Greenberg’s retirement from baseball
Greenberg retired from professional baseball in 2013. After that, he started his own nutritional company and gave motivational speeches to talk about his journey.
But he missed baseball. So when he got a call from ESPN studio and game analyst Eduardo Perez gauging his interest, he knew he wanted to do it.
“It was a no-brainer,” he said in a recent phone interview with The News & Observer.
Greenberg’s journey has been well-documented.
He made national headlines in 2005, when he was struck in the back of the head on the first pitch of his Major League debut. Greenberg suffered a concussion and had to be removed from the game.
After his injury, he was sent down to the minors and did not get another shot at the majors until seven years later with the Miami Marlins in 2012. He said for years, that’s all anyone wanted to talk about, and it bothered him. But as he got older, he realized it was part of his journey, and something he was able to overcome and use the experience to help others.
He struck out in three pitches, but that moment meant the world him, Greenberg said.
“When I finally made it back to the major leagues, I was able to rest at night,” Greenberg said. “I was happy and was able to look back at my career and say I’m proud of what I accomplished and overcame.”
Greenberg said he hopes those experiences can help guide him in his new job.
“Just like everything there is going to be some stumbling blocks and some ups and downs,” he said. “But I’m excited for the opportunity, and I’ll get better every day.”
This story was originally published February 20, 2020 at 3:08 PM.
