27.
NORTH CAROLINA STATE
2008 RECORD. Overall:
44-22 (Advanced to NCAA super regional). Conference: 18-11 / 2nd
in ACC (Atlantic).
Coach: Elliott Avent (458-280, 13th
season).
First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 vs.
Rhode Island
.
OVERVIEW: The Wolfpack fell one game short
of the College World Series in 2008, but will have a different look this season
as five of the team’s top six hitters departed along with the the team’s top two
starters. There may not be much of a drop off, though, as the Wolfpack reloaded
with several impact junior-college transfers and a number of promising high-school
recruits, and the pitching staff returns several quality arms. Junior LHP Jimmy
Gillheeney moves from a closer role to the Friday starter, and junior LHP Alex Sogard
and junior RHP Sam Brown return to the staff after being drafted in 2008. Offensively,
a key will be the production the Wolfpack gets from sophomore 3B Russell Wilson
(.296-2-8), who came to
N.C. State
primarily as a baseball prospect but earned all-ACC honors in the fall as a red-shirt
freshman QB on the football team.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
C: Chris Schaeffer, So. (.298-3-19).
1B: Pat Ferguson, Sr. (.320-*9-41).
2B:
Dallas
Poulk
(1), Jr. (.286-8-33).
3B: Drew Martin, Sr. (.255-3-29).
SS: Kyle Wilson (3), Jr. (.337-11-40
at Hill,
Texas
, JC; Cubs/31st round).
LF: Cameron Connor, Fr. (HS--Fuquay-Varina, N.C.).
CF: Brian Bello, Jr. (.299-6-22, 18
SB at
Chandler-Gilbert, Ariz.
, CC).
RF: Drew Poulk (4), Jr. (.325-10-54
at
St. Petersburg, Fla.
, CC).
DH: Harold Riggins, Fr. (White Sox/35th
round).
1/Starter: Jimmy Gillheeney,
Jr. (2-0, 1.12, *10 SV, 32 IP/42 SO).
2/Starter: Jake Buchanan,
So. (3-2, 3.28; 60 IP/39 SO).
3/Starter: Alex Sogard,
Jr. (4-2, 4.35, 52 IP/36 SO).
Closer: Joey Cutler, Sr. (5-0, 2.74; 1 SV,
46 IP/48 SO).
BEST TOOLS
Best Athlete: Russell
Wilson.
Best Overall Hitter:
Drew Poulk.
Best Power Hitter:
Drew Poulk.
Best Strike-Zone Discipline:
Dallas
Poulk.
Fastest Base Runner (60 time):
Kyle Wilson (6.6 seconds).
Best Base Runner:
Wade Moore.
Best Defender: Drew Martin.
Best Infield Arm:
Pratt
Maynard.
Best Outfield Arm:
Wade Moore.
Best Fastball (velocity):
Alex
Sogard (94 mph).
Best Breaking Ball:
Jake Buchanan.
Best Changeup: Jimmy Gillheeney.
Best Command: Joey Cutler.
TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT:
Harold Riggins, 1b. At 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, Riggins is as big as any
player in college baseball. He is surprisingly athletic for his size and has massive
raw power—as much as any freshman in the country. He can turn on any fastball, but
struggles with breaking pitches.
TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Jake Buchanan,
rhp.
By the end of the 2008 season, Buchanan had pitched effectively enough as a freshman
to work his way into a rotation loaded with upperclassmen. He won’t overpower hitters
with a fastball that sits in the 88-90 mph range, but he has an excellent feel for
pitching and a plus 12-to-6 curve that he commands well. If Russell Wilson ever
elects to commit to baseball, his combination of speed and power would enable him
to surge past Buchanan as a prospect.
TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Jimmy Gillheeney,
lhp.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound
Rhode Island
product won’t blow hitters away with a fastball that sits in the mid- to upper-80s.
His feel and pitchability, however, make him effective. He has command of four quality
pitches, particularly an outstanding changeup. OF Drew Poulk, a cousin of
N.C.
State
2B Dallas Poulk and a JC transfer who began his college career at arch-rival
North Carolina
, could emerge as
N.C. State
’s best prospect as he has an impressive combination of raw athletic ability and
above-average power potential.
TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Joey Cutler,
rhp.
Cutler is ready to take over as
N.C.
State
’s closer as a fifth-year senior after saving 11 games for the National Baseball
Congress World Series champion
Santa Barbara
(Calif.) Foresters
last summer. Cutler has the two plus pitches needed to be effective in a closer
role, a 90-91 mph fastball and a power slider, but his fastball is vulnerable as
it lacks movement.
--JEFF SIMPSON