NC State RHP Garrett Payne enters transfer portal
NC State redshirt junior pitcher Garrett Payne entered the transfer portal, TheWolfpacker.com and On3 Sports learned Thursday morning.
Payne, who participated in the team’s senior day activities, is the third Wolfpack player to depart the program this spring, joining freshman pitcher Christopher Zupito and freshman infielder Robert Nedry.
The Charlottesville, Va., native was a key part of the “Pack 13” in the 2021 Men’s College World Series against Vanderbilt, where NC State was without most of its roster due to COVID-19. He made the start in that game, where he tossed five innings and allowed just one earned run on two hits. Payne fanned three and walked three in his lone appearance in Omaha.
Payne made three appearances this season, throwing 1.2 innings with four earned runs on four hits alongside a hit and a walk. He last appeared with 0.2 innings pitched at East Carolina on April 23 — allowing one run on two hits.
The 6-foot-8 pitcher also saw the mound at Georgia Tech on March 17 — two runs allowed on one hit without an out — and one inning with one run on one hit and a strikeout against North Carolina on April 20. Payne was not on the Wolfpack’s NCAA Tournament 27-man roster.
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Payne returned to the mound this season after he missed the 2023 campaign due to injury. Before he was injured, Payne made 20 appearances with five starts during the 2022 season — the third most trips to the mound on the team.
During the 2022 season, Payne logged a 3-1 record with a 5.91 ERA in 42.2 innings pitched with 43 strikeouts. He struck out six batters twice during that year with a half dozen against Northeastern and UNCW, respectively.
As mentioned earlier, Payne was a part of the 2021 Omaha team after he logged 13.2 innings en route to a 5.27 ERA with 15 strikeouts.
