SOURCE: NC State RHP Sam Highfill agrees to sign undrafted deal with Philadelphia Phillies
Throughout NC State’s postseason run to the College World Series this spring, right-handed pitcher Sam Highfill left it all he had on the mound. He impressed throughout his collegiate career with the Pack, but his last three outings helped position NC State for success on the game’s biggest stage.
Now, after he logged three starts of six innings or more in the postseason, including a seven-frame, seven-strikeout effort against Kentucky in Omaha, Highfill will begin his professional career.
Highfill agreed to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies as an undrafted free agent this week, per a source.
The Apex, N.C., native started 17 games in his last season with the Wolfpack, leading the squad with 87 innings and 82 strikeouts with seven wins en route to a Third Team All-ACC selection. He sported a 4.97 ERA, while limiting opposing batters to a .226 average against him.
Highfill helped the Wolfpack to a 14-3 record in games he started this season, including eight straight wins from March 22 to May 16. While the Pack was successful with Highfill on the mound this season, he also set a pair of career highs with eight innings and 10 strikeouts — both against Notre Dame on March 28.
While Highfill was dominant for most of the season, his gutsiest outing came in Omaha. The right-hander threw 116 pitches in his final start against Kentucky. He helped keep the Wolfpack’s bullpen fresh by tossing his most pitches this season.
Although Highfill did not lift a trophy at the College World Series, he is the only player in program history to start games in multiple trips to Omaha. Highfill previously threw a two-hit shutout in the Wolfpack’s 2021 trip to the College World Series, while he also went 3-for-4 at the plate in the “Pack9” game against Vanderbilt in the following contest.
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For NC State coach Elliott Avent, Highfill’s impact goes a long way from just his stat lines on the mound each outing.
“I can’t say enough about Sam Highfill,” Avent said after the College World Series. “He epitomizes what this program stands for and is all about. He does everything in a classy way.”
Highfill closed his five-year career at NC State with a 26-10 record on the mound and a 4.47 ERA. He tossed 276 innings with 258 career strikeouts and just 103 total walks during his time with the Wolfpack.
Highfill is the third Wolfpack player to ink a deal after the draft, joining graduate infielders Alec Makarewicz (Chicago White Sox) and Garrett Pennington (Detroit Tigers).
While that trio signed undrafted, the Wolfpack also had four draft picks: catcher Jacob Cozart (second round, Cleveland Guardians), outfielder Eli Serrano III (fourth round, New York Mets), shortstop Brandon Butterworth (12th round, San Diego Padres) and right-handed pitcher Logan Whitaker (19th round, Minnesota Twins).
