North Carolina State University Athletics
Baseball Loses Jones to Draft
8/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Major League Baseball’s August 15 deadline for signing players taken in June’s First Year Player Draft came and went on Friday, and NC State did not escape unscathed. Rising senior center fielder Marcus Jones, taken in the 11th round by the Washington Nationals, signed a late-day deal with the Nats on Friday. Jones most likely will report to Washington’s short-season Class A affiliate in Vermont for the remainder of the 2008 minor league season.
The loss of Jones, who batted .318 with seven home runs, 49 RBIs and a team-best 12 stolen bases in 14 attempts, means that the Wolfpack will have to replace its entire outfield for the 2009 season. Left fielder Jeremy Synan signed with the Florida Marlins, and right fielder Matt Payne signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Both signed in June, shortly after the draft.
Losing Jones was a blow, but NC State skated past the August 15 deadline with no other other drafted players signing.
Rising junior lefthander Alex Sogard and rising junior Sam Brown both turned down offers from the Arizona Diamondbacks to return to NC State. Brown, taken by Arizona in the 18th round, went 4-1 with a 3.74 ERA for the Wolfpack in 2008 and was especially effective in relief late in the season. Sogard, chosen in the 26th round, was 4-2 with a 4.35 ERA in the first significant collegiate action of his career. Prior to coming to Raleigh, Sogard spent two years at Oregon State, but saw next-to-no action with the Beavers. Sogard saw more and more action as the season progressed and was effective both as a starter and reliever. Brown and Sogard both were sophomores in 2008, but both were draft eligible.
In addition to the good news from Sogard and Brown, NC State had seven recruits who were drafted. Only one signed, and that was immediately after the draft. The other six, three high school pitchers, one high school first baseman, one junior college pitcher and one junior college infielder, all passed on signing professional contracts in order to attend college.
Baseball season tickets for the 2009 season are on sale now. Call the ticket office at 919-865-1510 or log onto gopack.com.
The loss of Jones, who batted .318 with seven home runs, 49 RBIs and a team-best 12 stolen bases in 14 attempts, means that the Wolfpack will have to replace its entire outfield for the 2009 season. Left fielder Jeremy Synan signed with the Florida Marlins, and right fielder Matt Payne signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Both signed in June, shortly after the draft.
Losing Jones was a blow, but NC State skated past the August 15 deadline with no other other drafted players signing.
Rising junior lefthander Alex Sogard and rising junior Sam Brown both turned down offers from the Arizona Diamondbacks to return to NC State. Brown, taken by Arizona in the 18th round, went 4-1 with a 3.74 ERA for the Wolfpack in 2008 and was especially effective in relief late in the season. Sogard, chosen in the 26th round, was 4-2 with a 4.35 ERA in the first significant collegiate action of his career. Prior to coming to Raleigh, Sogard spent two years at Oregon State, but saw next-to-no action with the Beavers. Sogard saw more and more action as the season progressed and was effective both as a starter and reliever. Brown and Sogard both were sophomores in 2008, but both were draft eligible.
In addition to the good news from Sogard and Brown, NC State had seven recruits who were drafted. Only one signed, and that was immediately after the draft. The other six, three high school pitchers, one high school first baseman, one junior college pitcher and one junior college infielder, all passed on signing professional contracts in order to attend college.
Baseball season tickets for the 2009 season are on sale now. Call the ticket office at 919-865-1510 or log onto gopack.com.
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