The Wolfpacker Podcast: NC State baseball preview
The NC State baseball season has its first pitch scheduled for Friday afternoon, weather permitting. The Pack is hosting Wagner for a three-game set, and we’ll get our initial looks at the lineup and pitching staff.
To get ready for the 2023 NC State baseball season, TheWolfpacker.com had a couple of season previews:
• Pitching
• Lineup
To further prepare Wolfpack fans, the latest episode of The Wolfpacker Podcast with host Matt Carter welcomes NC State baseball play-by-play announcer Andrew Sanders to get a full overview of what to expect at the outset of the upcoming campaign.
Among the many topics addressed with Carter and Sanders include:
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• Why the catching situation for NC State baseball may be as strong as any in recent history thanks to an addition to the position in the 2023 recruiting class.
• What position star junior hitter LuJames “Gino” Groover III is likely to play in the infield after being the primary first baseman down the stretch a year ago.
• How the middle infield could be stout defensively thanks to a more confident sophomore Payton Green and the addition of former Texas A&M starting shortstop Kalae Harrison from the transfer portal.
• Two names may be standing out as options at first base, and each have impressed thus far in preseason workouts and scrimmages. Who could emerge at the position? The short answer from Sanders, “Both will play.” Learn more about the first base options for NC State baseball.
Top 10
- 1Hot
Strength of Schedule
CFP Top 25 SOS ranking
- 2
Alabama needs a prayer
Tide can make the CFP but needs help
- 3
3 ACC teams in CFP?
Path for ACC outlined
- 4
Taco Bell offers Oklahoma
Brent Venables story pays dividends
- 5
New CFP Top 25
College Football Playoff rankings revealed
• The depth in the outfield is so deep that someone may be hard pressed to find at bats. Sanders has insight on who might be an early favorite to get playing time, and why the designated hitter is a potential option for one of the standout options in the outfield.
• What’s the health status for star junior righthanded pitcher Sam Highfill, hero and ace of the Omaha-bound NC State baseball team in 2021? After having a lost season a year ago, Sanders reports that Highfill looks ready to go in 2023, however Highfill’s role could be a surprise to Wolfpack fans.
• What freshman pitcher has impressed enough to potentially be in-line for a starting spot in the weekend rotation to begin the year?
• Sanders noted why a body transformation for 2022 Friday pitcher Logan Whitaker, a righthander, may help Whitaker hold up better down the stretch.
• What new names at pitcher should NC State baseball fans get familiar with out of the bullpen.
• Sanders also provides a snapshot of the ACC and where NC State baseball fits in what is expected to be a loaded conference, and what ballpark improvements should Pack fans expect at Doak Field.
All that and more!
