Five things to know about NC State baseball
Five things to know as N.C. State opens the 2020 baseball season Friday with the first of three games against James Madison at Doak Field at Dail Park:
1. It never gets old for Wolfpack coach Elliott Avent. As he begins his 24th season with the Pack, Avent is amped about a team that’s nationally ranked in every major poll, that possibly could deliver an ACC championship — Avent’s first — and has the potential to push deep if in NCAA play.
“I’m excited for the games,” Avent said after a Wednesday practice. “The games are fun for everybody. Whether you are a coach or a player, the games are what we live for.
“Right now, going into this season, I really like the attitude of this team. I like the way they get along, and I’m talking throughout the team.”
The Pack was 42-19 last season, advancing to an NCAA regional for the 13th time in the past 15 seasons. It started 19-0, won 18 ACC games and seven ACC series. But that was last season, with such players as Will Wilson and Evan Edwards in the lineup. The Pack has a new group that has to make its own way.
“Lineup wise, I think we should be pretty consistent one through nine,” junior catcher Patrick Bailey said. “Then we’ve got a lot of depth. That’s probably the big thing for us. We’ve got so many pitchers who can throw, so many position players that can play different positions. Just a lot of versatility.”
2. Patrick Bailey is on every preseason All-America list — Baseball America, D1 Baseball, Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. That comes after being a Buster Posey Award semifinalist as a sophomore in 2019 and rated one of college baseball’s best catchers.
Can he be even better as a junior? The Greensboro native believes he can, and not just behind the plate or at bat.
“A couple of things I’m working on,” Bailey said. “One, just leadership, just trying to get guys better. Not figure it out, but just kind of relax and play. They got here for a reason, and sometimes you come in and press, and that kind of speeds things up for you.”
3. Elliott Avent, while praising Bailey on Wednesday, said not to overlook “the little guy,” pointing on the field to Tyler McDonough.
McDonough, listed at 5-10 and 174 pounds, was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2019 and was named a freshman All-America by Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game. He was the Wolfpack leader with 80 hits in batting .320 and also led the Pack with 10 stolen bases.
McDonough played 60 games in center field last season, but Avent said he could alternate between center and second base.
“I’ll play wherever the team needs me,” McDonough said. “I’m comfortable wherever. Right now I’m at second. I might be bouncing back and forth. I played middle infield my whole life. Outfield was a new one last year, but I think I’ll be fine bouncing back and forth.”
4. Jose Torres could have been paid to play baseball this season after being drafted last year by the Milwaukee Brewers. The Baltimore native decided N.C. State and college baseball was the best path for him, and among his advisers was Trea Turner of the Washington Nationals, the former Wolfpack flash and shortstop who helped lead NCSU to the 2013 College World Series and now plays for the 2019 World Series champions.
“I didn’t think he’d ever get to N.C. State,” Avent said of Torres. “I’m not expecting too much out of a freshman. He’s still 18 years old. He still has to grow into his game and understand how it’s done in college where you play 60, 70 games and you’re not playing 20 high school games, twice a week. But he’s a great player, and he’ll adapt and get better.”
At shortstop, Torres must replace WIlson, taken with the 15th overall pick of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. Wilson, twice a first-team All-ACC selection, was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels but traded in December 2019 to the San Francisco Giants.
Torres, born in the Dominican Republic, said he talked with Turner after being drafted, saying he asked Turner “what was his process coming to college ... and how it worked for him.” Torres admitted to growing up a Boston Red Sox fan but said he admires Turner and the “consistency and the professionalism he brings on a daily basis.”
5. The Wolfpack has as many Czech Republic natives on the roster — two — as the Carolina Hurricanes. Sophomore Vojtech Mensik, from Brno, figures to be the starting third baseman, although a sore hamstring could keep him out of the opening series. Marek Chlup, from Cesky Dub, Czech Republic, had limited playing time as a freshman outfielder last season, with six starts.
Mensik started 35 games as a freshman and had seven multi-hit games in hitting .250. He had two homers, the first a grand slam against Minnesota.
“His work ethic is so off the charts,” Avent said. “He’s going to continue to grow.”
Avent said Mensik and Chlup have not yet met the Canes’ two Czechs, forward Martin Necas, who is college-aged at 21, or goalie Petr Mrazek. Maybe this year.
