North Carolina State University Athletics
#PackPros Update: First Half of 2023 MLB Season
7/14/2023 1:00:00 PM | Baseball
RALEIGH – With the Major League Baseball All-Star Break and the 2023 MLB Draft completed, the second half of the Major League Baseball season begins on Friday.
Four #PackPros have competed for Major League clubs so far this season, highlighted by former NC State catcher Patrick Bailey's rise to starting catcher for the San Francisco Giants. The Wolfpack also has over 15 former student-athletes playing professionally in the minor leagues with 2023 draftees LuJames Groover III, Carter Trice, Rio Britton, Justin Lawson and Kalae Harrison ready to join their respective big-league clubs' minor league affiliates.
Check out how NC State's #PackPros are doing so far in 2023 below.
MAJOR LEAGUES
Patrick Bailey – C, San Francisco Giants
Since earning his first Major League call-up on May 19, Patrick Bailey has solidified his spot as the San Francisco Giants' starting catcher, batting .293 with five homers, 11 doubles, a triple and 26 RBI in just 40 big league games. Bailey has also exceled defensively behind the plate, sporting a .986 fielding percentage in 36 starts at catcher. Bailey has thrown out 38% of runners attempting to steal against him this season (12 of 32), which is 18% better than the league average rate of 20%.
Bailey, a former ACC Freshman of the Year, started the season in Double-A Richmond before being quickly promoted to Triple-A Sacramento on April 26. Bailey's Giants hold the third and final National League wild card spot entering the second half on Friday.
Trea Turner – SS, Philadelphia Phillies
Former NC State shortstop and World Baseball Classic standout Trea Turner recently completed the first half of his first season with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 88 games this season, Turner has batted .247 with 10 homers, 32 RBI, 18 doubles and 19 stolen bases. Turner has yet to be thrown out on the basepaths this season despite his 19 attempts, swiping 78 bags on 86 total attempts (90.1% success rate) dating back to the 2021 season.
Turner's Phillies sit a half-game out of the National League wild card entering the second half of the 2023 MLB season.
Carlos Rodon – LHP, New York Yankees
After starting his first season in the Bronx on the injured list, former Wolfpack ace and Golden Spikes Award finalist Carlos Rodon made his Yankees' debut on July 7 against the Chicago Cubs. Rodon tossed 5.1 innings while allowing just four hits and two runs, striking out a pair of batters on an efficient 69 pitches.
Rodon will make his second start for the Yankees in Friday's matchup against the Colorado Rockies. Rodon's first road start in a Yankees' uniform is set for 8:40 p.m. ET at Coors Field.
Andrew Knizner – C, St. Louis Cardinals
Andrew Knizner began his fifth season behind the plate with the St. Louis Cardinals, batting .227 with five homers, six doubles and 15 RBI in 35 games through the first half of the season. Knizner sports a .996 fielding percentage in 32 starts at catcher this season, notching 249 putouts and 10 assists. The former NC State catcher has also helped turn four double plays and has thrown out three runners on the basepaths.
Knizner starts the second half of the 2023 MLB season on the 10-day injured list.
MINOR LEAGUES
Evan Justice – LHP, Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA, Colorado Rockies) – Stats
Nick Swiney – LHP, Sacramento River Cats (AAA, San Francisco Giants) – Stats
Will Wilson – SS, Sacramento River Cats (AAA, San Francisco Giants) – Stats
Joe Dunand – 3B, Gwinnett Stripers (AAA, Atlanta Braves) – Stats
Preston Palmeiro – 2B, Salt Lake Bees (AAA, Anaheim Angels) – Stats
Alec Barger – RHP, Mississippi Braves (AA, Atlanta Braves) – Stats
Evan Edwards – 1B, Montgomery Biscuits (AA, Tampa Bay Rays) – Stats
Tim Naughton – RHP, Erie Seawolves (AA, Detroit Tigers) – Stats
Terrell Tatum – OF, Birmingham Barons (AA, Chicago White Sox) – Stats
Jonny Butler – OF, Midland RockHounds (AA, Oakland Athletics) – Stats
Jose Torres – SS, Chattanooga Lookouts (AA, Cincinnati Reds) – Stats
Tyler McDonough – OF, Portland Sea Dogs (AA, Boston Red Sox) – Stats
Luca Tresh – C, Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA, Kansas City Royals) – Stats
Reid Johnston – RHP, Lake County Captains (High-A – Cleveland Guardians) – Stats
Austin Murr – 1B, West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A – Detroit Tigers) – Stats
Michael Bienlien – RHP, West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A, Detroit Tigers) – Stats
Devonte Brown – OF, Vancouver Canadians (High-A – Toronto Blue Jays) – Stats
Josh Hood – SS, Modesto Nuts (A – Seattle Mariners) – Stats
Chris Villaman – LHP, Charleston RiverDogs (A – Tampa Bay Rays) – Stats
Four #PackPros have competed for Major League clubs so far this season, highlighted by former NC State catcher Patrick Bailey's rise to starting catcher for the San Francisco Giants. The Wolfpack also has over 15 former student-athletes playing professionally in the minor leagues with 2023 draftees LuJames Groover III, Carter Trice, Rio Britton, Justin Lawson and Kalae Harrison ready to join their respective big-league clubs' minor league affiliates.
Check out how NC State's #PackPros are doing so far in 2023 below.
MAJOR LEAGUES
Patrick Bailey – C, San Francisco Giants
Since earning his first Major League call-up on May 19, Patrick Bailey has solidified his spot as the San Francisco Giants' starting catcher, batting .293 with five homers, 11 doubles, a triple and 26 RBI in just 40 big league games. Bailey has also exceled defensively behind the plate, sporting a .986 fielding percentage in 36 starts at catcher. Bailey has thrown out 38% of runners attempting to steal against him this season (12 of 32), which is 18% better than the league average rate of 20%.
Bailey, a former ACC Freshman of the Year, started the season in Double-A Richmond before being quickly promoted to Triple-A Sacramento on April 26. Bailey's Giants hold the third and final National League wild card spot entering the second half on Friday.
Trea Turner – SS, Philadelphia Phillies
Former NC State shortstop and World Baseball Classic standout Trea Turner recently completed the first half of his first season with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 88 games this season, Turner has batted .247 with 10 homers, 32 RBI, 18 doubles and 19 stolen bases. Turner has yet to be thrown out on the basepaths this season despite his 19 attempts, swiping 78 bags on 86 total attempts (90.1% success rate) dating back to the 2021 season.
Turner's Phillies sit a half-game out of the National League wild card entering the second half of the 2023 MLB season.
Carlos Rodon – LHP, New York Yankees
After starting his first season in the Bronx on the injured list, former Wolfpack ace and Golden Spikes Award finalist Carlos Rodon made his Yankees' debut on July 7 against the Chicago Cubs. Rodon tossed 5.1 innings while allowing just four hits and two runs, striking out a pair of batters on an efficient 69 pitches.
Rodon will make his second start for the Yankees in Friday's matchup against the Colorado Rockies. Rodon's first road start in a Yankees' uniform is set for 8:40 p.m. ET at Coors Field.
Andrew Knizner – C, St. Louis Cardinals
Andrew Knizner began his fifth season behind the plate with the St. Louis Cardinals, batting .227 with five homers, six doubles and 15 RBI in 35 games through the first half of the season. Knizner sports a .996 fielding percentage in 32 starts at catcher this season, notching 249 putouts and 10 assists. The former NC State catcher has also helped turn four double plays and has thrown out three runners on the basepaths.
Knizner starts the second half of the 2023 MLB season on the 10-day injured list.
MINOR LEAGUES
Evan Justice – LHP, Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA, Colorado Rockies) – Stats
Nick Swiney – LHP, Sacramento River Cats (AAA, San Francisco Giants) – Stats
Will Wilson – SS, Sacramento River Cats (AAA, San Francisco Giants) – Stats
Joe Dunand – 3B, Gwinnett Stripers (AAA, Atlanta Braves) – Stats
Preston Palmeiro – 2B, Salt Lake Bees (AAA, Anaheim Angels) – Stats
Alec Barger – RHP, Mississippi Braves (AA, Atlanta Braves) – Stats
Evan Edwards – 1B, Montgomery Biscuits (AA, Tampa Bay Rays) – Stats
Tim Naughton – RHP, Erie Seawolves (AA, Detroit Tigers) – Stats
Terrell Tatum – OF, Birmingham Barons (AA, Chicago White Sox) – Stats
Jonny Butler – OF, Midland RockHounds (AA, Oakland Athletics) – Stats
Jose Torres – SS, Chattanooga Lookouts (AA, Cincinnati Reds) – Stats
Tyler McDonough – OF, Portland Sea Dogs (AA, Boston Red Sox) – Stats
Luca Tresh – C, Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA, Kansas City Royals) – Stats
Reid Johnston – RHP, Lake County Captains (High-A – Cleveland Guardians) – Stats
Austin Murr – 1B, West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A – Detroit Tigers) – Stats
Michael Bienlien – RHP, West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A, Detroit Tigers) – Stats
Devonte Brown – OF, Vancouver Canadians (High-A – Toronto Blue Jays) – Stats
Josh Hood – SS, Modesto Nuts (A – Seattle Mariners) – Stats
Chris Villaman – LHP, Charleston RiverDogs (A – Tampa Bay Rays) – Stats
Players Mentioned
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