North Carolina State University Athletics
Britton, Lawson Selected in 15th Round of 2023 MLB Draft
7/11/2023 4:40:00 PM | Baseball
Britton Drafted No. 445 Overall by Diamondbacks, Lawson Drafted No. 456 Overall by New York Mets
SEATTLE – NC State baseball relief pitchers Rio Britton and Justin Lawson were drafted in the 15th round of the 2023 MLB Draft on Tuesday afternoon. Britton was selected No. 445 overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks, while Lawson was drafted No. 456 overall by the New York Mets.
Britton, a junior from Ione, California, finished his first season at NC State with a 3-2 record. Britton's 22 pitching appearances tied for third on the team, 21 of which came out of the bullpen. The left-hander delivered 12 scoreless outings, tossing 42 strikeouts over 31.2 innings pitched.
Britton fired a career-high five strikeouts over a career-high 3.2 innings to earn the win against Pittsburgh on May 19. He notched his first win in a Wolfpack uniform after throwing three scoreless innings with three strikeouts against UNCG on March 28.
Lawson, a right-hander from Winnfield, Louisiana, tied for a team-high 27 pitching appearances in 2023. He finished his second season at NC State with a perfect 5-0 record, leading the team with a 3.27 ERA with 67 strikeouts over 52.1 innings pitched.
Lawson shined in his NCAA Tournament debut against No. 12 Campbell on June 2, pitching the final 3.1 innings of the game with four strikeouts while allowing just one hit to earn the victory. He recorded 15 scoreless outings in his junior campaign in Raleigh.
In 2022, Lawson made 19 appearances in his first season at NC State, compiling a 3.82 ERA in 37.2 innings with 41 strikeouts.
Britton and Lawson become the 25th and 26th pitchers, respectively, drafted out of NC State in the past 10 years.
Lawson and Britton join Wolfpack teammates LuJames Groover III and Carter Trice as NC State's four selections so far in the 2023 MLB Draft. Groover III heard his name called in the second round of the draft on Sunday, going No. 48 overall to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Trice was selected No. 356 overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 12th round of the draft earlier on Tuesday afternoon.
Britton, a junior from Ione, California, finished his first season at NC State with a 3-2 record. Britton's 22 pitching appearances tied for third on the team, 21 of which came out of the bullpen. The left-hander delivered 12 scoreless outings, tossing 42 strikeouts over 31.2 innings pitched.
Britton fired a career-high five strikeouts over a career-high 3.2 innings to earn the win against Pittsburgh on May 19. He notched his first win in a Wolfpack uniform after throwing three scoreless innings with three strikeouts against UNCG on March 28.
Lawson, a right-hander from Winnfield, Louisiana, tied for a team-high 27 pitching appearances in 2023. He finished his second season at NC State with a perfect 5-0 record, leading the team with a 3.27 ERA with 67 strikeouts over 52.1 innings pitched.
Lawson shined in his NCAA Tournament debut against No. 12 Campbell on June 2, pitching the final 3.1 innings of the game with four strikeouts while allowing just one hit to earn the victory. He recorded 15 scoreless outings in his junior campaign in Raleigh.
In 2022, Lawson made 19 appearances in his first season at NC State, compiling a 3.82 ERA in 37.2 innings with 41 strikeouts.
Britton and Lawson become the 25th and 26th pitchers, respectively, drafted out of NC State in the past 10 years.
Lawson and Britton join Wolfpack teammates LuJames Groover III and Carter Trice as NC State's four selections so far in the 2023 MLB Draft. Groover III heard his name called in the second round of the draft on Sunday, going No. 48 overall to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Trice was selected No. 356 overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 12th round of the draft earlier on Tuesday afternoon.
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