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IPS IN 5: Did NC State Exceed Expectations In 2025?

June 3, 2025
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NC State baseball entered the season with an extremely young lineup but ranked in the Top 25 nationally.  Was this season a success?

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IPS IN 5: Did NC State Exceed Expectations In 2025?

2,488 Views | 19 Replies | Last: 3 days ago by Bushpacker
SportManagementEngineer
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9:49a, 6/3/25
Good points made by both of you. We had a great group of pitchers returning and that likely sparked the high preseason ranking. But I keep coming back to last offseason's portal haul.

Outside of Justin DeCriscio, we brought in young, unproven pieces, with an apparent plan to build a foundation for the future. Not getting Dalen Thompson to campus after he committed from Campbell really hurt. He hit .330 with 10 HRs & 21 stolen bases this season for them.

I'm an NC State optimist, especially in baseball where it feels like we're in the mix every year, but if you had told me in February/March that we'd finish one game out of winning the ACC regular season, I wouldn't have believed it. We needed so many guys in the lineup to take big jumps, and that is a lot to ask.

Really like the potential group we can bring back. Would love to find another guy like AMak (I know they don't grow on trees) to give us a proven power bat going into next year. We should be pretty dang good in 2026.
Twitter: @JJwith2Jays
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Alex Gee
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10:21a, 6/3/25
Staff
I picked State to finish in the top 4 of the ACC pre-season. That happened, so from 30,000 feet I'd say met expectations.

The disappointment I have is a little nuanced in that:
-The pitching was, IMO, very good most weekends - but the bullpen took a while to get going and probably wasn't used aggressively enough.

-The portal was a miss in the frustrating way that football/basketball missed after losing superstars at positions (P. Wilson, Horne, Burns, A Mak, Penny) and not being able to replace those guys with proven players. Last year's portal haul set that blueprint and it hit with JD & especially McHugh. So why not chase guys who have done it vs. guys that couldn't play at previous stops?

- In season expectations changed after the run from UVA - Clemson and then were not met. The Stanford series is still unacceptable to me. The comments afterwards are as well. Might still be playing if you win that weekend.

I would not be surprised to see a change at the top. Facilities are what they are and, like many have said elsewhere, the only real fix to match what we've seen around the country the past few years is a bulldozer. We can win at our little ballpark if we embrace NIL. It doesn't take much in baseball - but the staff has to have the desire to get that done.

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Jtilley
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10:41a, 6/3/25
Too streaky of a team. Went 5-10 after the Clemson sweep.

One of the first times Harts evals and previous connections didn't work out.
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Jtilley
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In reply to SportManagementEngineer • 10:46a, 6/3/25
Thompson hurt. You move him to left and slide Houge to DH and that lineup/defense gets a lot better.
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JacksonWilliford
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11:19a, 6/3/25
To me, the beauty of being a fan is following the journey.

If you told me at the start of last year we finish Top 4 and make a regional final - after what we lost - I'm probably taking it.

But the journey to get to *this* T4 + regional final result was tough. Finishing 5-9, blowing an opportunity to win a regular season title + hosting, and how you showed up in the post season hurts. It doesn't feel successful.

Where I'm at: 1) State met the standard of the program, and at the same time, 2) failed to capitalize on a big time opportunity
Why not us?
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JCooke93
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In reply to Jtilley • 11:50a, 6/3/25
Hm
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Alex Gee
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In reply to JacksonWilliford • 11:59a, 6/3/25
Staff
JacksonWilliford said:
To me, the beauty of being a fan is following the journey.

If you told me at the start of last year we finish Top 4 and make a regional final - after what we lost - I'm probably taking it.

But the journey to get to *this* T4 + regional final result was tough. Finishing 5-9, blowing an opportunity to win a regular season title + hosting, and how you showed up in the post season hurts. It doesn't feel successful.

Where I'm at: 1) State met the standard of the program, and at the same time, 2) failed to capitalize on a big time opportunity


Very well put
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Glasswolf
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In reply to JCooke93 • 12:28p, 6/3/25
JCooke93 said:
Hm
Seriously! What does this mean?
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JCooke93
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In reply to Glasswolf • 12:33p, 6/3/25
Good things
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SportManagementEngineer
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In reply to Jtilley • 12:37p, 6/3/25
Jtilley said:
Too streaky of a team. Went 5-10 after the Clemson sweep.

One of the first times Harts evals and previous connections didn't work out.
But I keep coming back to- did Hart miss on his evals or was this moneyball/play for 2026 with our known lack of NIL funds/usage?

Take Chris McHugh for example (who was really the only incoming transfer outside of DeCriscio with experience):
Freshman year at VCU: Hit .253, 6 HRs, 33 RBIs
Sophomore year at State: Hit .365, 7 HRs, 48 RBIs

*Assuming he comes back* - we'd be pretty excited to get a transfer from an ACC school this offseason with that stat line.

Add in guys like Jaros, Ossenfort, and Lyons who had limited playing time at P4 schools as freshmen and it seems like the plan was to get untapped potential into the facility.
Twitter: @JJwith2Jays
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Jtilley
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In reply to SportManagementEngineer • 12:44p, 6/3/25
SportManagementEngineer said:
Jtilley said:
Too streaky of a team. Went 5-10 after the Clemson sweep.

One of the first times Harts evals and previous connections didn't work out.
But I keep coming back to- did Hart miss on his evals or was this moneyball/play for 2026 with our known lack of NIL funds/usage?

Take Chris McHugh for example (who was really the only incoming transfer outside of DeCriscio with experience):
Freshman year at VCU: Hit .253, 6 HRs, 33 RBIs
Sophomore year at State: Hit .365, 7 HRs, 48 RBIs

*Assuming he comes back* - we'd be pretty excited to get a transfer from an ACC school this offseason with that stat line.

Add in guys like Jaros, Ossenfort, and Lyons who had limited playing time at P4 schools as freshmen and it seems like the plan was to get untapped potential into the facility.
Yea I don't think I would lump McHugh in with the others IMO. Jaros, Ossenfort and Lyons were all basically top 100 can't miss guys. I'd imagine Hart had connections with all of them from their previous coaches and took them based on that and previous evals.

I mean you don't hate it if even one of the three blow up and go off, but when all three don't contribute it backfires.

We played VCU last year when McHugh was there so at least the coaches had seen him perform.
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Trickynic1
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12:46p, 6/3/25
Alex this is the 1st time Elliot's team has gone to postseason after a CWS year. So we made history but didn't reach Fan expections. We had young talent that we need to make sure is with us after portal season. Revenue share has made a lot of kids full scholarship now. Baseball staff gave a number needed for NIL that's been meet. I think it was a low number and more will be needed to beat off tampering for some young talent. Therefore if this board wants to help- give to the 1Pack for baseball specific or WPC for baseball. We have until June 30th to give players bonus before the rules change.
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CLTWolf
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In reply to Jtilley • 1:01p, 6/3/25
Jtilley said:
SportManagementEngineer said:
Jtilley said:
Too streaky of a team. Went 5-10 after the Clemson sweep.

One of the first times Harts evals and previous connections didn't work out.
But I keep coming back to- did Hart miss on his evals or was this moneyball/play for 2026 with our known lack of NIL funds/usage?

Take Chris McHugh for example (who was really the only incoming transfer outside of DeCriscio with experience):
Freshman year at VCU: Hit .253, 6 HRs, 33 RBIs
Sophomore year at State: Hit .365, 7 HRs, 48 RBIs

*Assuming he comes back* - we'd be pretty excited to get a transfer from an ACC school this offseason with that stat line.

Add in guys like Jaros, Ossenfort, and Lyons who had limited playing time at P4 schools as freshmen and it seems like the plan was to get untapped potential into the facility.
Yea I don't think I would lump McHugh in with the others IMO. Jaros, Ossenfort and Lyons were all basically top 100 can't miss guys. I'd imagine Hart had connections with all of them from their previous coaches and took them based on that and previous evals.

I mean you don't hate it if even one of the three blow up and go off, but when all three don't contribute it backfires.

We played VCU last year when McHugh was there so at least the coaches had seen him perform.
None of those 3 were top 100 guys, at least not on PG at any rate. two of the 3 were injured at different points of the season as well and that obviously didn't help their growth.

I think all 3 showed glimpses of why they were brought in at points in the year. Lyons was starting to hit the ball when he came back healthy before pulling the hammy that shut him down for good against Louisville.

I have the same question for all 3, where are they gonna play? Can Jaros play a corner OF spot? Ozzie plays first and that's about it but McHugh got that on lock. Lyons has to get healthy enough to play in the field somewhere first. ha

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Jtilley
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In reply to CLTWolf • 1:03p, 6/3/25
I thought Jaros and Lyons were both ranked really high?

Sorry Jaros was 147, Lyons 205.
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James Henderson
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In reply to CLTWolf • 1:54p, 6/3/25
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CLTWolf said:
Jtilley said:
SportManagementEngineer said:
Jtilley said:
Too streaky of a team. Went 5-10 after the Clemson sweep.

One of the first times Harts evals and previous connections didn't work out.
But I keep coming back to- did Hart miss on his evals or was this moneyball/play for 2026 with our known lack of NIL funds/usage?

Take Chris McHugh for example (who was really the only incoming transfer outside of DeCriscio with experience):
Freshman year at VCU: Hit .253, 6 HRs, 33 RBIs
Sophomore year at State: Hit .365, 7 HRs, 48 RBIs

*Assuming he comes back* - we'd be pretty excited to get a transfer from an ACC school this offseason with that stat line.

Add in guys like Jaros, Ossenfort, and Lyons who had limited playing time at P4 schools as freshmen and it seems like the plan was to get untapped potential into the facility.
Yea I don't think I would lump McHugh in with the others IMO. Jaros, Ossenfort and Lyons were all basically top 100 can't miss guys. I'd imagine Hart had connections with all of them from their previous coaches and took them based on that and previous evals.

I mean you don't hate it if even one of the three blow up and go off, but when all three don't contribute it backfires.

We played VCU last year when McHugh was there so at least the coaches had seen him perform.
None of those 3 were top 100 guys, at least not on PG at any rate. two of the 3 were injured at different points of the season as well and that obviously didn't help their growth.

I think all 3 showed glimpses of why they were brought in at points in the year. Lyons was starting to hit the ball when he came back healthy before pulling the hammy that shut him down for good against Louisville.

I have the same question for all 3, where are they gonna play? Can Jaros play a corner OF spot? Ozzie plays first and that's about it but McHugh got that on lock. Lyons has to get healthy enough to play in the field somewhere first. ha

Bro Jaros is likely gone, as he probably should be.
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CLTWolf
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In reply to James Henderson • 1:56p, 6/3/25
James Henderson said:
CLTWolf said:
Jtilley said:
SportManagementEngineer said:
Jtilley said:
Too streaky of a team. Went 5-10 after the Clemson sweep.

One of the first times Harts evals and previous connections didn't work out.
But I keep coming back to- did Hart miss on his evals or was this moneyball/play for 2026 with our known lack of NIL funds/usage?

Take Chris McHugh for example (who was really the only incoming transfer outside of DeCriscio with experience):
Freshman year at VCU: Hit .253, 6 HRs, 33 RBIs
Sophomore year at State: Hit .365, 7 HRs, 48 RBIs

*Assuming he comes back* - we'd be pretty excited to get a transfer from an ACC school this offseason with that stat line.

Add in guys like Jaros, Ossenfort, and Lyons who had limited playing time at P4 schools as freshmen and it seems like the plan was to get untapped potential into the facility.
Yea I don't think I would lump McHugh in with the others IMO. Jaros, Ossenfort and Lyons were all basically top 100 can't miss guys. I'd imagine Hart had connections with all of them from their previous coaches and took them based on that and previous evals.

I mean you don't hate it if even one of the three blow up and go off, but when all three don't contribute it backfires.

We played VCU last year when McHugh was there so at least the coaches had seen him perform.
None of those 3 were top 100 guys, at least not on PG at any rate. two of the 3 were injured at different points of the season as well and that obviously didn't help their growth.

I think all 3 showed glimpses of why they were brought in at points in the year. Lyons was starting to hit the ball when he came back healthy before pulling the hammy that shut him down for good against Louisville.

I have the same question for all 3, where are they gonna play? Can Jaros play a corner OF spot? Ozzie plays first and that's about it but McHugh got that on lock. Lyons has to get healthy enough to play in the field somewhere first. ha

Bro Jaros is likely gone, as he probably should be.
Good for him. I hope he finds somewhere to play.
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DecaturWolf
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In reply to JacksonWilliford • 5:02p, 6/3/25
JacksonWilliford said:
To me, the beauty of being a fan is following the journey.

If you told me at the start of last year we finish Top 4 and make a regional final - after what we lost - I'm probably taking it.

But the journey to get to *this* T4 + regional final result was tough. Finishing 5-9, blowing an opportunity to win a regular season title + hosting, and how you showed up in the post season hurts. It doesn't feel successful.

Where I'm at: 1) State met the standard of the program, and at the same time, 2) failed to capitalize on a big time opportunity
You summed it up for me. Nice season and left too much on the table.

Posted for years as ColoradoWolf and Rick from Littleton. On Twitter as @espwapoujacmel
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65Pack
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5:37p, 6/3/25
We need a lead off man , a better defensive catcher and two more power bats. Other than Marhon I'm not all that impressed with our starters this year.

If I was Boo I would convince Avent to retire and bring in new blood to lead this program.
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Bushpacker
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In reply to JacksonWilliford • 5:27p, 6/4/25
Agree 100%
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