After up and down sophomore season, NC State LHP Dominic Fritton aims to rebound in 2025

Dominic Fritton entered last spring with high expectations for himself. Those outside of NC State’s program had the same. He turned in an impressive freshman season, and as a draft-eligible sophomore, Fritton was viewed as one of the top young college arms in the country. 

While the MLB Draft was certainly on his mind, Fritton’s second season of college baseball was nearly a 180-degree turn from his debut campaign. 

A Fuquay-Varina, N.C., native, Fritton was a consensus Freshman All-American as a starter in 2023 as he tossed 62.2 innings with 75 strikeouts, just 24 walks, a .211 batting average against and a 3.59 ERA. But when he returned for what was anticipated to be an even better sophomore season, Fritton’s numbers tumbled. He led the team with 17 starts, but his ERA ballooned to 7.64 with 72 strikeouts and 47 walks in 73 total innings pitched. 

Even though he struggled on the mound as he allowed four or more earned runs in 10 starts, NC State stuck with Fritton as its Saturday starter. The Wolfpack’s conviction to ride with him no matter what helped guide him through this past offseason. 

“When you have people that believe in you, it’s hard to give up on yourself when you have that support system,” said Fritton, who could be the Wolfpack’s Opening Day starter on Friday against Fordham. “It means a lot to me that they were able to stick with me throughout the year, despite all the struggles. It made it easier to come back here, knowing that they’re willing to work with me and get better.”

Fritton left Raleigh shortly after the College WorldSeries, where he only went two innings in the team’s season-ending loss to Florida. That didn’t go the way he wanted it to — like most of the season — but it fueled the starter’s offseason motivation. He was intent on leaving the 2024 season in the dust to return to the dominance he had on the mound as a freshman. 

And that isn’t just Fritton saying it. Pack pitching coach Clint Chrysler saw it firsthand. 

“Dom is just a rock,” Chrysler said. “He’ll be the first one to tell you that he was not pleased with the year he had last year — at all. To Dom’s credit, he took very little time off after the World Series. He came home and got back to work.”

Fritton worked to add another offspeed pitch to his repertoire to grow physically on the mound, but most of the offseason was spent improving on the mental side of the game. Baseball is a game of failure, especially for hitters, but sometimes pitchers fall into that same group. 

Fritton was determined to improve his mental strength to be able to rebound well for this spring. 

“I think this year is just about growth for me,” Fritton said. “Last year, I went through some struggles and I’m past all of that now. I think this year is a fresh start for me. The goal is for this team to come together and play really well. I’m just trying to do my part to be the best teammate and player on the field for everybody here.”

In one of the Wolfpack’s preseason practices last month, Fritton’s new mental fortitude was on full display. NC State’s hitters were able to pepper a few pitches into the outfield. But instead of freaking out on the mound or getting mad at himself, Fritton stayed composed. 

That body language showed everyone on the field and in the dugout how to act, NC State coach Elliott Avent said. It seemed to be a clear sign of where Fritton was mentally and how much stronger he had become on the rubber. 

Avent, who is entering his 29th-year at the helm of the Pack, believes Fritton has taken an immense leap forward this offseason. And as NC State, ranked No. 13 in the preseason poll, begins to prepare for ACC play through a tough non-conference slate, Avent believes he’ll be ready to go.

“I’m just so proud of Dom,” Avent said. “He chose to come back [this year]. Whatever happens, happens, but you can only be proud of what you see right now. He’s worked so hard. … Everything he’s done has been better. It’s a tough league, but he’s a much better pitcher today than he was last year.”

Did Fritton feel like he let his teammates down last season? It seems like it. But the team has rallied around him, looking to help one of its key weekend starters back to his usual self as an All-America caliber arm. 

“Last year was kind of hard with all the attention I had and not performing to the capabilities that I believed I could,” Fritton said. “This year, it’s just a little more metal clarity and being able to do what I want to do — perform to the best of my abilities.”

The hope that Fritton will be an improved pitcher seems to have legs. Avent and Chrysler both raved about what he can do on the mound this offseason, which will be key in NC State’s biggest strength this season: its pitching.

“I expect him to be back to his freshman year [self], but only better,” Chrysler said. “I think he’s bigger and stronger. I think his breaking ball is better. I think his changeup is better. I expect Dom to have a very, very good year for us.”