Garrett Pennington transferring to NC State baseball
NC State baseball has made its second addition from the transfer portal. Wichita State everyday first baseman Garrett Pennington, who can also play outfield, confirmed his commitment on social media to the Wolfpack.
Pennington hit .307 with 15 homers and 12 doubles in 225 at bats last season, driving in 55 runs and scoring 47 times for Wichita State. He was also 11 for 14 on stolen bases. He hit a pair of grand slams during the year.
Prior to joining Wichita State and then announcing a transfer to NC State, Pennington was a Division II All-American at Central Missouri after he hit .397 with 11 homers and 23 doubles in 2022 for the Mules. The year before, he batted .354 with six homers and seven doubles for a Central Missouri squad that reached the Division II World Series championship game.
Pennington was part of a mass exodus from the Wichita State program following a coaching change there when the Shockers went 30-25 in 2023.
NC State baseball is returning top freshman Eli Serrano III at first base. Serrano will be draft eligible next year and could be on MLB radars after hitting .292 with seven homers and 12 doubles and making the All-ACC Freshman Team.
Like Pennington, Serrano is listed on the roster as an infielder/outfielder.
Earlier in June, NC State baseball landed a verbal commitment from UNC Wilmington transfer and Garner native Brett Banks.
Banks had eight saves for UNCW, helping the Seahawks win the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and reach the NCAA Tournament. Banks posted a 3.99 earned run average (ERA) in 38.1 innings, allowing 31 hits and 21 walks but impressively striking out 44.
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Both Pennington and Banks are eligible for the upcoming Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft in July. Banks is considered a good bet to get selected in the middle rounds.
NC State baseball is hoping that both Pennington and Banks reach campus and help boost a squad that has been hit by transfers. Starting second baseman Payton Green and designated hitter Cannon Peebles as well as one of the regular outfielders, Will Marcy, all entered the portal.
Additionally, outfielders Trevor Candelaria and Parker Nolan have exhausted their eligibility. Third baseman LuJames “Gino” Groover III is expected to be selected in the first five rounds of the MLB Draft and likely sign to turn pro.
NC State baseball went 36-21 in 2023, winning its opener in the Columbia (S.C.) Regional before losing the next two to be eliminated from the NCAA Tournament.
