NC State Baseball Commit Chance Mako: "I Fell In Love"

NC State commit Chance Mako, a pitcher at East Rowan High School, is one of the most heralded class of 2023 recruits in North Carolina and across the country. 

Mako’s recruitment started with a visit to NC State, but that was just the beginning of the exposure he received. Mako’s focus was on finding a school that gave him the “family” feel. Mako heard from 17 schools before he narrowed it down to his final three of the Wolfpack, Gamecocks, and Tar Heels.

“I fell in love,” Mako said. “You couldn’t ask for better guys, better teammates. Coaching staff is unbelievable; as soon as I talked to them I fell in love.”

Clint Chrysler was his lead recruiter, but it was a group effort from the NC State staff, and that carried a lot of weight with Mako.

“Before I made my commitment there, every one of the coaches called me,” Mako explained. “They told me how much I meant to them and I told them how much they meant to me. It was definitely a big factor.”

Mako committed to NC State in August of 2020 over South Carolina and North Carolina.

Fast forward to 2023 and Mako is receiving significant attention from MLB teams ahead of the draft in July.

“It was unexpected,” Mako said. “I didn’t even think I’d be a Division 1 baseball player. My dream was to go to Catawba, right here in my hometown.”

Mako’s dad has been influential throughout the process and has encouraged Chance to talk to everybody to build relationships.

“I’ve talked to 25 different (MLB) teams so far,” Mako explained. “I’ve had 20 in-homes.”

“Right now, the focus is on going to college,” Mako said. “When the time in July comes, I think I need to make a decision a day before that day comes. I’m not really worried about it. My dream is to play baseball.”

Mako’s approach is as carefree as possible, as he does not talk to family or friends about his impending decision or the attention he has received.

“My focus is going to NC State,” Mako continued. “Whatever happens, happens.”

As talented as he is, Mako is still very new to the pitching scene.

“I was a catcher growing up until 8th grade,” Mako said. “Rolling into freshman year, I didn’t know anything. I was getting up there and saying ‘I have to throw this pitch where the catcher is.’ ”

Mako was throwing 86-87 at a PBR event after his 8th grade year, and shortly after, the recruiting attention ramped up.

“I really didn’t know where I was supposed to be,” Mako told himself at the time. “If this is what these colleges see in me, I’m going to grind everything I’ve got. I’m going to do what I can do to make me the best player.”

During his freshman year of high school, Mako started training with a PVC pipe daily. As a result, he added seven MPH to his fastball in six months. Now, he sits at 94 MPH and tops out at 95.

Mako’s coaching has primarily come from his dad and his agent, former Wolfpack pitcher Joey Devine.

“I’ve never had a lesson,” Mako explained. “It’s always been me and my dad.”

Devine has walked him through finding similar pitchers to emulate, and getting everything in sync and consistent from pitch-to-pitch so he’s not tipping pitches and is more relaxed.

On the mound, Mako’s go-to pitch is his slider. His two-seam fastball currently has 18-19 inches of run, after gaining four inches in the past year. He hasn’t needed to use a change up yet, but has added it to his arsenal.

Mako finished his junior year in 2022 with a 1.62 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 56.1 innings at East Rowan High school.