RELEASE: Wilson Nabs ACC Defensive Player Of The Year; State Earns Four All-ACC Bids
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Junior shortstop Will Wilson was named Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year by the league on Monday afternoon, becoming the first NC State player to earn the honor.
This marks the second consecutive season that at least one NC State player has won a season award.
Along with Wilson's award, who was automatically named to the All-ACC First Team, three other Wolfpack players earned All-ACC honors. Patrick Bailey was also named to the first team, while Tyler McDonough collected second team and All-Freshman Team honors and Evan Edwards was selected to the third team.
For Wilson, this is his third year being named to an all-conference team, while for Bailey it is his second-straight season collecting a postseason award from the league. Additionally, it is the first mention for Edwards and McDonough.
In his 23 years at the helm of the program, Elliott Avent has had at least one player tabbed to the all-conference team every season.
Will Wilson, Kings Mountain, N.C.; SS — ACC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-ACC
Wilson has been a force defensively for the Pack this year, playing a vital role in the team's league-leading .981 fielding percentage. He has made 50 starts at shortstop, missing six games due to injury, compiling a .972 fielding percentage with 117 assists and just five errors in 176 chances.
At the plate, he leads the squad with a .356 batting average, 19 doubles and 16 home runs, as those numbers rank top six in the conference. He also owns a .698 slugging percentage, which is the second-best in the conference and ranks 21st in the NCAA.
Patrick Bailey, Greensboro, N.C.; C — First Team All-ACC
Bailey has made 55 starts this year serving as the Wolfpack's primary backstop. He followed up with stellar play in his sophomore season after being tabbed ACC Rookie of the Year in 2018.
Defensively, Bailey owns a .991 fielding percentage with just four errors while providing thump in the Pack's batting order with 65 hits, 17 doubles, nine homers and a .516 slugging percentage. He started the season with a 35-game reached base streak and has reached safely in 50 total games this year.
He was recently named at Buster Posey Award semifinalist, given to the best collegiate catcher of the year, and earned a spot on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team roster.
Tyler McDonough, Liberty Township, Ohio; CF — Second Team All-ACC, ACC All-Freshman Team
McDonough has turned in a stellar first year with the Wolfpack, starting in 55 of 56 games, the most among all freshman on the team. He is one of two players, alongside teammate Evan Edwards, in the conference to appear in every game for his team and compile a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
The rookie leads the team with 24 multi-hit games, including three four-hit outings, and paces all freshmen in the league with 78 hits.
Evan Edwards, Greensboro, N.C.; 1B — Third Team All-ACC
Edwards has been a mainstay for the Pack as the only member of the roster to play at first base this year. He has reached base in 52 games this year, including a 35-game streak to start the season, and is the only player in the ACC to start in every game for his team this season and not commit an error.
The senior is on track to turn in the best season of his collegiate career, leading the team with 58 runs batted in, a .455 on-base percentage and 47 walks. He additionally ranks second on the squad with a .335 clip, 72 hits, 13 homers and 58 runs scored.