North Carolina State University Athletics
NC Stat Baseball 2024 #PackPros Report
11/22/2024 4:00:00 PM | Baseball
RALEIGH, NC – With the World Series won and the 2024 baseball season behind us, we look back and see how #PackPros did at all levels of professional baseball.
The 2024 season saw 36 NC State Wolfpack play or coach in some form at the pro level.
Major League Baseball
Carlos Rodon (New York Yankees, LHP)
Carlos Rodon had a tremendous year for the American League Champions New York Yankees, as he finished the regular season 16-9 with a 3.96 ERA and 195 strikeouts. Rodon started game two of the World Series, pitched in four games during the 2024 postseason, and earned a victory in the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians. Rodon joined Mike Caldwell as the only Wolfpack pitcher to start the College World Series and the MLB World Series.
Trea Turner (Philadelphia Phillies, SS)
In his second year with the Phillies, Trea Turner played in 121 regular season games and hit .295 with 21 home runs and 62 RBIs. Turner was named All-Star for the third time and helped the Phillies reach the postseason.
Patrick Bailey (San Francisco Giants, C)
Patrick Bailey, the 2024 Gold Glove Award Winner, for his defensive prowess in baseball. The award highlights the best defensive players at each position, with Bailey leading all catchers with 20 defensive runs saved. He led all catchers in strike zone runs saved, a stat that measures a catcher's skill at getting more strikes than expected. He also ranked tied for third in stolen bases runs saved.
Andrew Knizner (Texas Rangers, C)
Knizner signed with the Texas Rangers in January. In 37 games with the Rangers, he had 90 at-bats with 15 hits, one home run, and nine RBIs. After being released by the Rangers, he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks and was assigned to Triple-A and the Reno Aces. On October 16th, he was assigned to Gigantes de Cibao in the Dominican Winter League.
Aaron Bates (Los Angeles Dodgers, Hitting coach)
Aaron Bates, an All-American with the Wolfpack, won his second World Series title with the Dodgers organization this season. During the regular season, Bates helped lead the Dodgers' explosive lineup to top-five rankings in team average (.258), on-base percentage (.337), home runs (233) and led the entire MLB in slugging (.446) and OPS (.781). That didn't slow down in the postseason, as Los Angeles had the most home runs (27), RBI (91), and highest OPS (.760) of any team that made it past the Wild Card round.
Josh Miller (Pitching Coach, Houston Astros)
Miller's sixth season with the Astros coaching staff and fourth as pitching coach was in 2024. The Astros' pitching staff had the sixth-lowest ERA in the Major Leagues (3.74) and held opposing hitters to a .231 batting average, the fourth-lowest in the big leagues. Miller saw Houston pitchers total 1479 strikeouts on the season.
Minor Leagues
Tim Naughton (Erie SeaWolves, RHP)
Naughton recorded a personal best 9-0 record pitching in 60 innings across 43 games. He had a 4.01 ERA with 73 strikeouts.Pitching in the Detroit Tigers organization, he held opposing batters to a .219 average. During the postseason, he pitched in 4.2 innings, recording seven strikeouts to help lead his team to the Eastern League AA title.
Will Wilson (Sacramento River Cats, INF).
Wilson appeared in 110 games, with 105 starts, during the 2024 season. Wilson held a .949 fielding percentage and had a batting average of .216. He connected for five home runs and 45 RBIs.
Alec Barger (Hartford Yard Goats, RHP)
Barger finished with a 4-1 record, appearing in 39 games and 46 innings pitched. He had a 3.52 ERA and 46 strikeouts on the season. Barger also held opposing batters to a .236 average.
Michael Bienlien (Erie SeaWolves, RHP)
Bienlien had a 2-2 record with one start. He appeared in 35 games and pitched 58.2 innings to finish his season. He had a 4.30 ERA with six games saved and 64 strikeouts on the season. Pitching in the Detroit Tigers organization, Bienlien held opposing batters to a .235 average. He also helped lead his team to the Eastern League AA title.
Nolan Clenney (Binghamton Rumble Ponies, RHP)
A pitcher in the New York Mets organization. Clenney finished with a record of 5-1 during the 2024 season. He appeared in 33 games and pitched 53.2 innings. With an ERA of 5.37, Clenney had one game save and 60 strikeouts on the season.
Nick Swiney (Richmond Flying Squirrels, LHP)
Swiney finished his season with a 4-2 record, appearing in 41 games and 72 innings pitched. He had a 5.25 ERA with two games saved and 79 strikeouts on the season. Pitching in the San Francisco Giants organization, Swiney held opposing batters to a .260 average.
Tyler McDonough (Worcester Red Sox, INF)
McDonough appeared in 120 games, with 116 starts, during the 2024 season. McDonough hit .241 with six home runs and 53 RBIs off of 99 hits.
Jose Torres (Chattanooga Lookouts, INF)
Torres appeared in 77 games, recording 72 starts. He finished the 2024 season with a .944 fielding percentage with 159 assists. Torres hit .217 with five home runs and 21 RBIs.
Evan Justice (Albuquerque Isotopes/Colorado Rockies, LHP)
After making his MLB debut on Aug 26th, 2023, Evan Justice was again called to the Major Leagues on September 1, 2024. He pitched against the Baltimore Orioles, recording a strikeout. Justice spent most of the 2024 season with the Albuquerque Isotopes. For the Isotopes, he pitched in 32 games and recorded four holds. He recorded 26 strikeouts in 24.2 innings pitched.
Austin Murr (Erie SeaWolves, OF)
Murr appeared in 89 games, with 81 starts, during the 2024 season. He had a .984 fielding average and only two errors. He hit .239 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs. He also helped lead his team to the Eastern League AA title, where he appeared and started in all five games, played 46 innings, and recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Jonny Butler (Lansing Lugnuts, OF)
Butler appeared and started in 113 games this season. Butler hit .224 with eight home runs and 50 RBIs.
Terrell Tatum (Birmingham Barons, OF)
Tatum appeared in 115 games, with 113 starts, during the 2024 season. . Tatum hit .224 with five home runs and 38 RBIs. He also helped lead his team to the Southern League AA title.
Luca Tresh (Northwest Arkansas Naturals, C)
Tresh appeared in 96 games, accumulating 94 starts and playing in 581 innings. He hit .250 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs. With a fielding percentage of .996,
Reid Johnston (Lake Country Captains, RHP)
Johnston was placed on the injured list on March 20 and was reactivated on October 28th. He did not play during the 2024 season.
Josh Hood (Arkansas Travelers, INF)
Hood appeared in 110 games, with 104 starts. With a .972 fielding percentage, he achieved 163 assists and 22 double plays with only 10 errors. Hood hit a .246 with 15 home runs and 59 RBIs.
Chris Villaman (Charleston RiverDogs, RHP)
Villaman finished the 2024 season with a 6-1 record, appearing in 13 games and pitching 48.2 innings with eight starts. He had a 2.03 ERA with 57 strikeouts. Pitching in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, Willaman held opposing batters to a .199 average.
Devonte Brown (New Hampshire Fisher Cats, OF)
Brown appeared in 100 games with 97 starts. With a .983 fielding percentage, he had 22 assists and only five errors. Brown hit .237 with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs.
Gino Groover (Hillsboro Hops, INF)
Groover appeared and started in 61 games. He had a .938 fielding percentage, 97 assists, and 19 double plays. He also hit .281 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs.
Carter Trice (Myrtle Beach Pelicans, OF)
Trice played second base for both the ACL Cubs and then moved up to Single-A, appearing in 67 games for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. In 272 at-bats, he had 62 hits, nine home runs, and 38 RBIs. On August 4th, Trice had a career-high seven RBI game, including two home runs, with one being a grand slam against Delaware.
Rio Britton (Visalia Rawhide, LHP)
Britton finished a 1-4 record, appearing in 35 games and pitching 68 innings with one start. He had a 3.97 ERA with 77 strikeouts. Pitching in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, Britton held opposing batters to a .270 average.
Justin Lawson (Binghamton Rumble Ponies, RHP)
Lawson had a 3-4 record, appearing in 35 games. He started one game and pitched 63 innings. He had a 2.43 ERA, eight games saved, and 55 strikeouts. As part of the New York Mets organization, he held opposing batters to a .183 average.
Kalae Harrison (Greensboro Grasshoppers, INF)
Harrison appeared in 72 games with 67 starts. With a .964 fielding percentage, he had 135 assists and 10 errors. He also achieved 65 putouts. Harrison hit .173 with two home runs and 25 RBIs.
Cam Cotter (Richmond Flying Squirrels, RPH)
Cotter finished the 2024 season with an 8-6 record in 44 games and 59.2 innings. He had a 2.72 ERA with eight games saved and 58 strikeouts, holding opposing team batters to a .224 average.
Jacob Cozart (Lake County Captains, C)
After being drafted as the 48th overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft, Cozart appeared in 13 games, accumulated 12 starts, and played in 105.2 innings. With a .974 fielding percentage, he recorded 105 putouts out of 114 total chances. Cozart played and started in five games during the postseason, recording a 1.000 fielding percentage. He had three assists and zero errors while helping lead his team to the Midwest League Title.
Eli Serrano III (St. Lucie Mets, OF)
Serrano appeared and started in 17 games during the 2024 season. He had a 1.000 fielding percentage and recorded three assists. He also hit .238 with two home runs and six RBIs.
Brandon Butterworth (Lake Elsinore Storm, INF)
Butterworth appeared and started in 24 games. He finished the 2024 season with a .982 fielding percentage with 64 assists. Butterworth hit .219 with 13 RBIs.
Logan Whitaker (Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, RHP)
Whitaker played in two games during his first season. He had an ERA of 2.25 and five strikeouts in four innings. Pitching in the Minnesota Twins, Whitaker held opposing batters to a .222 average.
Garrett Pennington (Lakeland Flying Tigers, INF)
Pennington appeared and starred in nine games during the 2024 season. Finishing the season with a 1.000 fielding percentage, he recorded three errors and 36 putouts from 39 total chances. Pennington hit .250 with two home runs and six RBIs.
Alec Makarewicz (Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, INF)
Makarewicz appeared and started in 28 games. During the 2024 season, he hit .301 with two home runs and 28 RBIs. He achieved a .997 fielding percentage and recorded 13 assists and 14 double-plays with only one error. At one point, he had a 16-game hitting streak.
Sam Highfill (Clearwater Threshers, INF)
Highfill played in three games with one start. He recorded 10 strikeouts in seven innings and held opposing batters to a .290 average.
The 2024 season saw 36 NC State Wolfpack play or coach in some form at the pro level.
Major League Baseball
Carlos Rodon (New York Yankees, LHP)
Carlos Rodon had a tremendous year for the American League Champions New York Yankees, as he finished the regular season 16-9 with a 3.96 ERA and 195 strikeouts. Rodon started game two of the World Series, pitched in four games during the 2024 postseason, and earned a victory in the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians. Rodon joined Mike Caldwell as the only Wolfpack pitcher to start the College World Series and the MLB World Series.
Trea Turner (Philadelphia Phillies, SS)
In his second year with the Phillies, Trea Turner played in 121 regular season games and hit .295 with 21 home runs and 62 RBIs. Turner was named All-Star for the third time and helped the Phillies reach the postseason.
Patrick Bailey (San Francisco Giants, C)
Patrick Bailey, the 2024 Gold Glove Award Winner, for his defensive prowess in baseball. The award highlights the best defensive players at each position, with Bailey leading all catchers with 20 defensive runs saved. He led all catchers in strike zone runs saved, a stat that measures a catcher's skill at getting more strikes than expected. He also ranked tied for third in stolen bases runs saved.
Andrew Knizner (Texas Rangers, C)
Knizner signed with the Texas Rangers in January. In 37 games with the Rangers, he had 90 at-bats with 15 hits, one home run, and nine RBIs. After being released by the Rangers, he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks and was assigned to Triple-A and the Reno Aces. On October 16th, he was assigned to Gigantes de Cibao in the Dominican Winter League.
Aaron Bates (Los Angeles Dodgers, Hitting coach)
Aaron Bates, an All-American with the Wolfpack, won his second World Series title with the Dodgers organization this season. During the regular season, Bates helped lead the Dodgers' explosive lineup to top-five rankings in team average (.258), on-base percentage (.337), home runs (233) and led the entire MLB in slugging (.446) and OPS (.781). That didn't slow down in the postseason, as Los Angeles had the most home runs (27), RBI (91), and highest OPS (.760) of any team that made it past the Wild Card round.
Josh Miller (Pitching Coach, Houston Astros)
Miller's sixth season with the Astros coaching staff and fourth as pitching coach was in 2024. The Astros' pitching staff had the sixth-lowest ERA in the Major Leagues (3.74) and held opposing hitters to a .231 batting average, the fourth-lowest in the big leagues. Miller saw Houston pitchers total 1479 strikeouts on the season.
Minor Leagues
Tim Naughton (Erie SeaWolves, RHP)
Naughton recorded a personal best 9-0 record pitching in 60 innings across 43 games. He had a 4.01 ERA with 73 strikeouts.Pitching in the Detroit Tigers organization, he held opposing batters to a .219 average. During the postseason, he pitched in 4.2 innings, recording seven strikeouts to help lead his team to the Eastern League AA title.
Will Wilson (Sacramento River Cats, INF).
Wilson appeared in 110 games, with 105 starts, during the 2024 season. Wilson held a .949 fielding percentage and had a batting average of .216. He connected for five home runs and 45 RBIs.
Alec Barger (Hartford Yard Goats, RHP)
Barger finished with a 4-1 record, appearing in 39 games and 46 innings pitched. He had a 3.52 ERA and 46 strikeouts on the season. Barger also held opposing batters to a .236 average.
Michael Bienlien (Erie SeaWolves, RHP)
Bienlien had a 2-2 record with one start. He appeared in 35 games and pitched 58.2 innings to finish his season. He had a 4.30 ERA with six games saved and 64 strikeouts on the season. Pitching in the Detroit Tigers organization, Bienlien held opposing batters to a .235 average. He also helped lead his team to the Eastern League AA title.
Nolan Clenney (Binghamton Rumble Ponies, RHP)
A pitcher in the New York Mets organization. Clenney finished with a record of 5-1 during the 2024 season. He appeared in 33 games and pitched 53.2 innings. With an ERA of 5.37, Clenney had one game save and 60 strikeouts on the season.
Nick Swiney (Richmond Flying Squirrels, LHP)
Swiney finished his season with a 4-2 record, appearing in 41 games and 72 innings pitched. He had a 5.25 ERA with two games saved and 79 strikeouts on the season. Pitching in the San Francisco Giants organization, Swiney held opposing batters to a .260 average.
Tyler McDonough (Worcester Red Sox, INF)
McDonough appeared in 120 games, with 116 starts, during the 2024 season. McDonough hit .241 with six home runs and 53 RBIs off of 99 hits.
Jose Torres (Chattanooga Lookouts, INF)
Torres appeared in 77 games, recording 72 starts. He finished the 2024 season with a .944 fielding percentage with 159 assists. Torres hit .217 with five home runs and 21 RBIs.
Evan Justice (Albuquerque Isotopes/Colorado Rockies, LHP)
After making his MLB debut on Aug 26th, 2023, Evan Justice was again called to the Major Leagues on September 1, 2024. He pitched against the Baltimore Orioles, recording a strikeout. Justice spent most of the 2024 season with the Albuquerque Isotopes. For the Isotopes, he pitched in 32 games and recorded four holds. He recorded 26 strikeouts in 24.2 innings pitched.
Austin Murr (Erie SeaWolves, OF)
Murr appeared in 89 games, with 81 starts, during the 2024 season. He had a .984 fielding average and only two errors. He hit .239 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs. He also helped lead his team to the Eastern League AA title, where he appeared and started in all five games, played 46 innings, and recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Jonny Butler (Lansing Lugnuts, OF)
Butler appeared and started in 113 games this season. Butler hit .224 with eight home runs and 50 RBIs.
Terrell Tatum (Birmingham Barons, OF)
Tatum appeared in 115 games, with 113 starts, during the 2024 season. . Tatum hit .224 with five home runs and 38 RBIs. He also helped lead his team to the Southern League AA title.
Luca Tresh (Northwest Arkansas Naturals, C)
Tresh appeared in 96 games, accumulating 94 starts and playing in 581 innings. He hit .250 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs. With a fielding percentage of .996,
Reid Johnston (Lake Country Captains, RHP)
Johnston was placed on the injured list on March 20 and was reactivated on October 28th. He did not play during the 2024 season.
Josh Hood (Arkansas Travelers, INF)
Hood appeared in 110 games, with 104 starts. With a .972 fielding percentage, he achieved 163 assists and 22 double plays with only 10 errors. Hood hit a .246 with 15 home runs and 59 RBIs.
Chris Villaman (Charleston RiverDogs, RHP)
Villaman finished the 2024 season with a 6-1 record, appearing in 13 games and pitching 48.2 innings with eight starts. He had a 2.03 ERA with 57 strikeouts. Pitching in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, Willaman held opposing batters to a .199 average.
Devonte Brown (New Hampshire Fisher Cats, OF)
Brown appeared in 100 games with 97 starts. With a .983 fielding percentage, he had 22 assists and only five errors. Brown hit .237 with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs.
Gino Groover (Hillsboro Hops, INF)
Groover appeared and started in 61 games. He had a .938 fielding percentage, 97 assists, and 19 double plays. He also hit .281 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs.
Carter Trice (Myrtle Beach Pelicans, OF)
Trice played second base for both the ACL Cubs and then moved up to Single-A, appearing in 67 games for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. In 272 at-bats, he had 62 hits, nine home runs, and 38 RBIs. On August 4th, Trice had a career-high seven RBI game, including two home runs, with one being a grand slam against Delaware.
Rio Britton (Visalia Rawhide, LHP)
Britton finished a 1-4 record, appearing in 35 games and pitching 68 innings with one start. He had a 3.97 ERA with 77 strikeouts. Pitching in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, Britton held opposing batters to a .270 average.
Justin Lawson (Binghamton Rumble Ponies, RHP)
Lawson had a 3-4 record, appearing in 35 games. He started one game and pitched 63 innings. He had a 2.43 ERA, eight games saved, and 55 strikeouts. As part of the New York Mets organization, he held opposing batters to a .183 average.
Kalae Harrison (Greensboro Grasshoppers, INF)
Harrison appeared in 72 games with 67 starts. With a .964 fielding percentage, he had 135 assists and 10 errors. He also achieved 65 putouts. Harrison hit .173 with two home runs and 25 RBIs.
Cam Cotter (Richmond Flying Squirrels, RPH)
Cotter finished the 2024 season with an 8-6 record in 44 games and 59.2 innings. He had a 2.72 ERA with eight games saved and 58 strikeouts, holding opposing team batters to a .224 average.
Jacob Cozart (Lake County Captains, C)
After being drafted as the 48th overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft, Cozart appeared in 13 games, accumulated 12 starts, and played in 105.2 innings. With a .974 fielding percentage, he recorded 105 putouts out of 114 total chances. Cozart played and started in five games during the postseason, recording a 1.000 fielding percentage. He had three assists and zero errors while helping lead his team to the Midwest League Title.
Eli Serrano III (St. Lucie Mets, OF)
Serrano appeared and started in 17 games during the 2024 season. He had a 1.000 fielding percentage and recorded three assists. He also hit .238 with two home runs and six RBIs.
Brandon Butterworth (Lake Elsinore Storm, INF)
Butterworth appeared and started in 24 games. He finished the 2024 season with a .982 fielding percentage with 64 assists. Butterworth hit .219 with 13 RBIs.
Logan Whitaker (Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, RHP)
Whitaker played in two games during his first season. He had an ERA of 2.25 and five strikeouts in four innings. Pitching in the Minnesota Twins, Whitaker held opposing batters to a .222 average.
Garrett Pennington (Lakeland Flying Tigers, INF)
Pennington appeared and starred in nine games during the 2024 season. Finishing the season with a 1.000 fielding percentage, he recorded three errors and 36 putouts from 39 total chances. Pennington hit .250 with two home runs and six RBIs.
Alec Makarewicz (Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, INF)
Makarewicz appeared and started in 28 games. During the 2024 season, he hit .301 with two home runs and 28 RBIs. He achieved a .997 fielding percentage and recorded 13 assists and 14 double-plays with only one error. At one point, he had a 16-game hitting streak.
Sam Highfill (Clearwater Threshers, INF)
Highfill played in three games with one start. He recorded 10 strikeouts in seven innings and held opposing batters to a .290 average.
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP/INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballAuburn Regional Preview: Elliott Avent on ACC PM
Thursday, May 29
Game Three Press Conference: Athens Super Regional
Tuesday, June 11
Game Two Press Conference: Athens Super Regional
Sunday, June 09
Game One Press Conference - Athens Super Regional
Saturday, June 08