Projecting NC State baseball’s starting lineup, batting order ahead of 2025 season opener

Baseball season is here. No. 13 NC State, fresh off its second College World Series appearance in the last four years, will open the 2025 campaign with a three-game series against Fordham at Doak Field.  While the Wolfpack has the aspirations to return to Omaha again this spring, NC State will have a practically brand-new lineup. The Pack returns just one infield starter — second baseman Luke Nixon — after first baseman Garrett Pennington, third baseman Alec Makarewicz, shortstop Brandon Butterworth and catcher Jacob Cozart are all playing professionally. Oh, and centerfielder Eli Serrano III is also at the next level after a pair of standout seasons in Raleigh. Another way to look at it? NC State returns just 18 percent of its home runs (19 of 101), 26 percent of its RBI (114 of 426) and 23.9 percent of its runs scored (111 of 464) from last season. That left a lot of competition during fall ball and the preseason practice slate to decide who would fill each of those roles. NC State went into the transfer portal to help bolster each spot with many of those newcomers appearing to have won their respective position battles.  But before NC State opens the year with a doubleheader on Friday (11 a.m. and 3 p.m., ACC Network Extra), TheWolfpacker.com projected the Wolfpack’s starting lineup and batting order for the 2025 campaign.