AROUND THE HORN: Wolfpack Primes For Breakout 2023 Campaign

Members of the Inside Pack Sports staff answered questions about NC State's upcoming baseball season.

The Wolfpack managed to get back to the ACC Championship game but fell short of the title and the NCAA Tournament. How would you best describe NC State’s 2022 season?

James Henderson: A lost opportunity that shouldn’t have been. This team had done enough, in my opinion, to reach the NCAA Tournament.  What a bad ending.

Daniel Wilson: 2022 left a lot to be desired, especially considering NC State, basically the No. 65 team in terms of tournament rankings, had to watch from home as the No. 64 team, Ole Miss, battled its way to winning the College World Series. Having to follow what happened in 2021 was going to be a tall task when you look at the talent that left, but it felt like the Wolfpack had the potential for more.

Ethan Barry: There was no closure to the season. State was screwed by a historic tournament snub that was very tough to swallow. Certainly the Pack was at fault for the non-conference schedule that wasn't good enough and losing 5 of 6 at home vs Wake and UNC, but that should have hurt their seeding, not cost them a bid. The Pack was not consistent, so it's hard to expect they would have won a regional, but they were definitely capable when playing well -- as they did in Charlotte in the tournament.

Jake Caccavaro: Confusing. They looked good at times, they looked bad at times. We thought they should have been in over Ole Miss, then Ole Miss goes on to win the College World Series. It was just a weird, confusing season that ended abruptly.

Rob McLamb: It was disappointing in that the Wolfpack could have made noise in the NCAA Baseball Championships at a regional and, perhaps, super-regional level. The bigger disappointment is that NC State was not given a chance to try. 

Sam Highfill attained mythical status in 2021, but a slow start and a season-ending injury derailed him last year. What are your expectations for him for this season?

James Henderson: I just hope he’s healthy. If he’s healthy I expect Highfill to perform at a high level because of his mental makeup and tools.

Daniel Wilson: He’s coming into the year with a huge chip on his shoulder, and I expect him to put up top-tier numbers. Obviously, Highfill’s health will need to be prioritized, but if unencumbered, he’s one of the best arms in the ACC. Personally, I’d like to have him get a shot at going after the Jon Olerud Award, but that’s just me.

Ethan Barry: Highfill has to be healthy. Some of the preseason reporting from Aaron Fitt at D1 Baseball has me concerned about where he's at. Once (if?) he's healthy, you have to make sure he stays healthy. If he is, he's a workhorse on the weekends and elevates his game in the biggest spots, as we saw in 2021. I'd be willing to put him against any pitcher in the country in a big game.

Jake Caccavaro: I’m keeping my expectations low. If he’s fully healthy, the sky is the limit for him. Like Ethan said, I’ll ride with him against just about anyone in the country. But right now, is that a reasonable expectation? I’m not sure. And even if he is healthy, do you want to risk that health by making him a true workhorse? I would rather have Highfill fully healthy for the big games late in the season, but at the same time, if he’s not pitching a lot for most of the season, I doubt there will be too many big games at the end. It’s a tricky situation to manage.

Rob McLamb: I am not sure if Highfill will ever be mythical. I respect him but I will not worship him. The key to the City of Apex that he received from his hometown mayor is impressive, though. 

Tommy White shattered records throughout the 2022 season, but he decided to geaux elsewhere for the remainder of his collegiate career. With White in Baton Rouge and Josh Hood in the pros, who will be the best bets to lead the Pack offensively?

James Henderson: Gino Groover is the easy answer, but I have high expectations for Carter Trice and Trevor Candelaria.  I think they could have big-time seasons as well.

Daniel Wilson: The closest thing to a five-tool player the Wolfpack has on its roster is Gino Groover. As readers will see below, I’ve got him slotted as State’s leadoff hitter because I think he gives the team the best chance to start strong. Carter Trice and Trevor Candelaria should be prime candidates to produce at the plate on a consistent basis as well.

Ethan Barry: It starts with Gino Groover this year. Statistically, he was awesome last year; nearly as good as White. He sacrificed some contact for power, which was needed. He's going to be the guy other teams worry about in State's lineup. I like Payton Green to break out as well. He flashed at the bottom of the order last year and I think he takes a huge step forward this year.

Jake Caccavaro: Gino Groover. He’s the best returning position player on the roster and I don’t think it’s close. He’s a stud, and now with a year of ACC ball under his belt, I’m expecting him to improve even more. I’m also excited for Noah Soles, one of the Pack’s few returning position players who was consistently good last year. He hit .321 and doesn’t strike out much at all. I’d like to see him increase his power a bit, though — he only had 15 extra-base hits in 168 at-bats.

Rob McLamb: Payton Green off the grid, LuJames Groover III and Carter Trice on the grid.

Which newcomer to State (transfer or freshman) will have the biggest breakout year?

James Henderson: Trevor Candelaria isn’t on the radar for many but I’m intrigued by what I’ve heard about him.

Daniel Wilson: I’m of the opinion that the Wolfpack is best when it has at least one speedster burning up the base paths. That’s why my on-record pick is Michael Gupton. Ranked as the No. 1 recruit out of North Carolina in 2022 according to Perfect Game, he’s the kind of speed demon that should remind State fans of a certain Philadelphia Phillies shortstop. The Knightdale native can also drive the ball well which can get him plenty of opportunities to swipe and score.

Ethan Barry: Hard to pick one because I think a handful of newcomers will play big roles, as was the case last year. My personal favorite is Eli Serrano, a big, left-handed first baseman known for his bat. He's not as good as Tommy White, but has the type of profile that can slot in the middle of the order as a freshman. He can play outfield as well, but I'd project him to start at first if Groover stays at third, as seems to be the case.

Jake Caccavaro: I’ll be honest, I know very little about Trevor Candelaria, but the way James talks about him has definitely gotten my attention. He had an incredible season at Davidson last year, including a stretch where he had multiple hits in nine (9!) straight games. He’s also played a LOT of college baseball in his career (165 games), so I’m not expecting him to struggle getting acclimated to ACC baseball.

Rob McLamb: Serrano seems to be the guy everyone points to. The word is that he is college ready now. Trice is probably an immediate impact guy as well. The Candelaria kid from Davidson is a stud as well. 

Who will succeed Chris Villaman as the Wolfpack’s top arm in the back end of the bullpen?

James Henderson: I’m going with a wildcard: Creed Watkins.  He’s the transfer from Oklahoma who is reportedly capable of throwing 100 miles per hour.  Why not swing for the fences at the closer position?

Daniel Wilson: This might be a bizarre choice on the surface, but I’m going with Rio Britton. The roster’s Ione California native had the second-lowest earned run average (3.20) on Oregon with the most appearances on the team (34). Baker Nelson, Garrett Payne, and John Miralia can be strong performers in long relief or as starters in the midweek, but Britton should be a strong candidate to shut the door. Hopefully, he won’t end up... as a lame duck. I’m not sorry for that pun.

Ethan Barry: Not to be that guy, but Villaman was State's best arm overall and should have been starting. If Highfill is healthy, he's the best arm. Otherwise, it's probably Matt Willadsen. As far as the bullpen, Justin Lawson is the best returning arm, so he's the default guy. He was really good last year, and it went unnoticed. I'd like a couple other arms to feel better about. Carson Kelly, Garrett Payne, and Baker Nelson all flashed but will need to be more consistent. I also would have liked to see more impact arms added, but again, the Pack added three guys, and you hope a couple of them can be good for you.

Jake Caccavaro: I’ll go with Baker Nelson, but I don’t feel great about it. The bullpen has potential to be a major issue. I kinda like Daniel’s pick of Britton... I haven’t really seen him play, but he put up impressive numbers for a PAC-12 team and I’m a sucker for a good lefty.

Rob McLamb: Creed Watkins or Garrett Payne (who I have always been high on in regard to his potential). If injuries limit his ability to go beyond four or five innings, it could be Sam Highfill.

Construct NC State’s batting order and weekend pitching rotation.