NC State outfielder Eli Serrano III selected 111th overall by New York Mets
Another day, another MLB draft pick for NC State baseball. This time, it was sophomore outfielder Eli Serrano III.
The 6-foot-5 center fielder was selected 111th overall by the New York Mets in the fourth round Monday afternoon. He joins junior catcher Jacob Cozart, who was drafted 48th overall by the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday night.
Serrano, who played first base as a freshman, made a seamless transition to the Wolfpack’s outfield in his second collegiate season. He patrolled center with ease, including a home-run saving catch at the Athens Super Regional that helped NC State advance to the College World Series.
The Fuquay-Varina, N.C., native hit .286 with nine doubles, nine home runs and 39 RBI as the Pack made its way to Omaha. He also logged 33 walks with 36 strikeouts while he racked up 106 total bases with a .433 slugging percentage.
Serrano’s numbers took a slight dip from his freshman year, where he displayed a tad more power and a slightly higher on-base percentage. The left-handed hitter had a .389 batting average with 12 doubles, seven home runs and 32 RBI during his first collegiate season, to go with a .389 on-base percentage and a 470 slugging percentage.
Serrano was ranked as the No. 68 college prospect in the draft by D1Baseball, the No. 126 overall player by ESPN and the No. 224 pick by MLB.com going into the draft.
“Serrano has a smooth, easy left-handed swing and a lanky 6-foot-5 frame that provides leverage,” MLB.com wrote in its scouring report of Serrano. “He makes consistent contact with ease despite his long limbs and can crush some balls in batting practice, but he doesn’t drive the ball in games and is feeble against southpaws. He projected as a 25-30 home run threat in high school, but hasn’t grown into the bat speed or strength that scouts expected. Though he’s a fringy runner out of the box, Serrano moves well once he gets going. After playing some first base as a freshman, he played a credible center field with average-to-solid arm strength this spring. He has good instincts in center, but he’s probably destined for an outfield corner as a pro.”
The former No. 43 overall recruit in the Class of 2022 continues a professional baseball lineage in his family. He joins his father, Sammy, who was a second-round selection by the San Francisco Giants in 1998. Sammy Serrano went on to play four seasons of minor league baseball with the Giants before starting his coaching career.
