NC State baseball has a storied history of great pitchers, from 2025 MLB All-Star Carlos Rodón of the New York Yankees to more recently Dominic Fritton, a 2025 fourth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Next in line for the Wolfpack: junior lefty Ryan Marohn.
The Virginia native is already building a legacy in Raleigh, contributing as a key starter during his first two seasons. Marohn holds an impressive 12-5 record with a career 3.62 ERA, but the numbers only tell a part of the story.
As an ultra-competitive player with a strong desire to win, Marohn’s team-first mentality is everything that teams need from a starter. Marohn never backs down, puts in the work and remains unfazed by talented foes.
“The number one thing that sticks out with Ryan is just [his] makeup,” NC State pitching coach Clint Chrysler said. “His work ethic, his physical toughness, his mental toughness.”
Marohn has a unique ability to remain calm and poised no matter the situation. Whether he’s mowing down batters with ease or navigating a jam with bases loaded, Marohn approaches every at-bat the same — composed and focused.
“He’s very stoic,” Chrysler said. “I think that just comes from inner confidence; he’s never surprised when he’s successful; he expects to be successful.”
That approach is incredibly valuable in baseball. It’s easy for a pitcher to become emotional and ride the highs and lows of the moment, which often costs teams runs when a pitcher makes even one mistake. For Marohn, shaking off the last batter and treating the next one with the same mindset prevents teams from capitalizing on momentum.
“I keep the same mentality every time,” Marohn said. “I might be a little quieter on game days. I’m very focused, and I think that helps me.”
The steady presence of Marohn on the mound will be key for NC State as the Pack looks to develop other pitchers around him. Now a draft-eligible junior, Marohn is one of the veteran leaders of the Wolfpack pitching staff. While there are different ways to lead, actions speak louder than words and Marohn carries himself the right way, setting a strong example for his teammates.
“I’ve kind of just always been myself,” Marohn said. “It’s more so leading by actions, more so than just saying stuff out loud. You can lead by example, you can also lead by what you say.”
Marohn has already seen plenty of situations where he can guide the rest of the team. Most notably, Marohn has NCAA Tournament experience, starting a Super Regional game at Georgia in 2024 and an elimination game against Central Connecticut in the Auburn Regional last season.
“Anytime that you get to pitch in the postseason, for Ryan in the Super Regional in 2024, is extremely valuable,” Chrysler said. “I think the most valuable thing for Ryan is Ryan’s thrown 150 innings in this uniform in two years. So there’s not a whole lot that’s gonna happen, there’s not a ballpark that he’s not gonna be comfortable in, there’s not a situation that he hasn’t been through.”
From a talent perspective, Marohn’s already showcased the ability to stay out of danger and make teams earn every base, showcased by his 91 strikeouts to just 19 walks last season — an impressive ratio at any level of baseball.
“His whole thing is to make the other team beat him,” Chrysler said. “Attack the zone and get guys in play early, and if he gets to two strikes, he’s got good enough stuff to get the swing and miss to end the at-bat.”
The only thing left for Marohn is to put everything together, demonstrate everything he’s learned as a collegiate pitcher and guide the Wolfpack to a strong season — potentially even one that ends in Omaha at the College World Series. Marohn’s first chance will be Feb. 13-15 when the Wolfpack takes the field for the Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge to open the 2026 season.
