Sarah Cochran
Sophomore shortstop Will Wilson tags out Army outfielder Jacob Hurtubise on Sunday, June 3, 2018 at Doak Field. Wilson hit a home run against the Black Knights as the Wolfpack won 11-1.
After losing starters Shane Shepard and Stephen Pitarra due to graduation, the NC State baseball team will look to improve its infield for the 2019 season.
Beginning the season ranked No. 22 by Collegiate Baseball, the infield will have to play a pivotal role if the team wants to compete for a championship.
Here’s a breakdown of the Wolfpack infield:
Will Wilson
Junior Will Wilson is the all-star of the diamond for the Pack. Having already earned 2019 Preseason All-American honors from four publications — Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, D1 Baseball, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and Perfect Game. Wilson ended the 2018 campaign with a .307 batting average along with 53 RBIs and 15 home runs.
“You come here and work with a great coaching staff, a lot of good players around you and you continue to work hard,” Wilson said. “Good things come and go as you work hard.”
However, Wilson also maintains that no one on the team is a perfect player.
“Everyone’s got some stuff to work on,” Wilson said. “Plate discipline has been big for us as a team and me as an individual; that’s probably my biggest thing going into this year.”
Patrick Bailey
The sophomore catcher is coming off an incredible freshman year. Bailey was a unanimous Freshman All-American selection, leading all ACC freshmen in batting average (.321), home runs (13) and slugging percentage (.604).
“We’ve had so many great catchers here,” head coach Elliott Avent said. “He’s as good as we’ve ever had as a sophomore.”
Devonte Brown
Sophomore Georgia native Devonte Brown will be returning for his second year. Brown appeared in 30 games and started six. Brown finished the year with an on-base percentage of .343, scoring eight runs. Brown saw action at third base and will look to have an increased role in 2019.
Vojtech Mensik
Mensik is one of two true freshman infielders. Mensik and freshman outfielder Marek Chlup were both recruited to Raleigh from the Czech Republic. The transition wasn’t easy, earning Mensik and Chlup praise from their teammates.
“They work their tails off,” Wilson said. “They’ve fit in really great.”
David Vazquez
Sophomore David Vazquez will look to see some playing time at second base. Vazquez appeared in 35 games and started four of those at second base. He compiled a .263 batting average and a .302 on-base percentage in the 2018 season.
Tyler McDonough
Tyler McDonough joins Mensik as one of the Pack’s only true freshman infielders. The Ohio native came out of high school ranked in the national top 500. McDonough will hope to be an important part of the infield.
J.T. Jarrett
Returning sophomore J.T. Jarrett hopes to continue on his impressive freshman campaign. Starting 44 games at either second or third base, Jarett achieved a .966 fielding percentage with 20 assists and helped turn 20 double plays.
Dillon Cooper
Redshirt junior Dillon Cooper played a big role in the Pack infield last year, appearing in 55 games and starting 38 of those at third base. Cooper brings positive energy to both sides of the ball, recording a .938 fielding percentage, logging 12 multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games.
Evan Edwards
After transferring to NC State, senior Evan Edwards turned in a stellar first year with the Pack, recording a .297 batting average with 58 hits, 48 RBIs and a .564 slugging average, which ranked 10th in the ACC.
Brad Debo
Junior Brad Debo will also be returning for the Pack. At catcher, Debo started 22 out of 35 games he played in and recorded a .253 batting average with an on-base percentage of .361 and a .337 slugging average.
With most of the Pack infield returning, Avent, who has been coaching at NC State for 22 years, knows the importance of every player.
“We got some players that are returning that you might know the names more prominently,” Avent said. “Will Wilson’s got some accolades for preseason All-American, and Evan Edwards had a great year for us last year… but you’ve got to have everyone clicking to be successful in a sport that plays this many people.”
The Wolfpack infield shows plenty of potential and will continue to develop as the season goes on. Avent has confidence that the infield can provide the defense needed to compete in the ACC.