While NCAA Regional play has been the full focus of the NC State baseball team this weekend, there is another event this week that the Pack is likely to be keeping an eye on.
The MLB draft begins Monday night, and wraps up Wednesday. A number of NC State players are likely to get selected, including two seniors who had their names called la st year but elected to return.
Here is a breakdown of some of NC State’s draft prospects, with stats updated through Sunday afternoon’s 11-1 win over Army:
Brett Kinneman, Junior, Outfielder
The York, Pa. native is the Pack’s top draft prospect, and is ranked the 148th-best draft prospect by MLB Pipeline. Kinneman enjoyed a solid junior year, slashing .278/.396/.591 and blasting a team-best 17 home runs. Kinneman also drove in a team-high 61 runs on the year, and was named the Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week twice.
The third team All-American is as well-rounded as they get, with the ability to hit for both average and power. Kinneman also plays the outfield well, and has reasonable speed and arm strength as well.
Earlier in the season Kinneman could have been flirting with a first-round selection, but a steep drop off probably has him sitting a couple rounds back of that. Kinneman went undrafted out of high school, but with a productive career under his belt could see his name called as early as the third round and probably no later than the fifth round.
Josh McLain, Senior, Outfielder
McLain elected to return to NC State after being drafted in the 14th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, and that decision has paid off nicely and should boost McLain’s draft stock even more. McLain leads the ACC in hits with 92, and at .342 also has one of the top five batting averages in the league.
The Hiddenite, N.C. native possesses the ability to hit for contact and put the ball in play at an above-average level, and has batted over .300 in all three seasons that he was an everyday starter for the Pack. McLain also has plus speed, and is a strong defensive center fielder that can cover a lot of ground.
He has a small frame at just 6-foot and 165 pounds, but has shown glimpses of power during his time at NC State. McLain has hit 14 home runs during his career, including four in his senior year. After being drafted in the 14th round last season and putting together his strongest campaign in his final year, McLain should crack the top-10 rounds of this week’s draft.
Brock Deatherage, Senior, Outfielder
Deatherage was a highly-touted recruit heading into his 2017 junior campaign, but struggled mightily to just a .218 batting average and .330 slugging percentage. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Deatherage in the 29th round following the worst season of his college career, and he elected to return to Raleigh for his senior campaign.
Like with McLain, that decision has paid off well for Deatherage, who has had an impressive bounce back season. The lefty from Burlington, North Carolina is hitting .308 and has found his power stroke that he missed last year, swatting 14 home runs on the year. Deatherage is a left-handed bat with plus power, but also struggles with strikeouts and getting the ball in play at times.
While his power and ability in right field make Deatherage a good prospect, his speed takes him to the next level. Deatherage has 18 stolen bases this year, and also has 11 triples throughout his career. Deatherage should go higher than his 29th-round selection last season, and could see his name called in the 10-15 round range.
Evan Edwards, Junior, First baseman
Edwards has spent just one season with the Wolfpack, after transferring from the USC-Lancaster. Edwards features a ton of raw power from the left side of the plate. In two seasons at Lancaster he hit 29 home runs, and in his junior year with the Wolfpack he has blasted 15 after hitting two Sunday against Army.
The Greensboro native does take his fair share of strikeouts, but also has drawn 39 walks, second-most on the team. He has a dependable glove at first base. While one season at the Division I level doesn’t offer the greatest sample size, his power speaks for itself, and should see the lefty taken in the first half of the draft.
Brian Brown, Senior, Left-handed pitcher
Brown is not the prototypical pitching prospect, but has the numbers throughout his career at NC State to show he knows how to get guys out. He isn’t tall at just 6-foot, and his fastball will never touch anywhere near even 90 miles per hour. However, an exceptional changeup and great command have made Brown a reliable pitcher for the Pack for years.
His senior campaign has been perhaps his strongest, as Brown is a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist and was named ACC Pitcher of the Year. He sports a 7-2 record and 2.74 ERA, and has struck out 98 batters opposed to just 26 walks in 98.2 innings pitched.
Players have made what Brown does work at the MLB level, with Brent Suter of the Milwaukee Brewers and Kyle Hendricks of the Chicago Cubs being two of note that don’t reach 90 MPH. What Brown lacks in speed he makes up for in consistency and command, and someone should take a bet on the Glenmoore, Pennsylvania native, likely in the middle rounds.
Joe O’Donnell, Redshirt senior, Right-handed pitcher
O’Donnell has been a journeyman for NC State. He’s started games in his career with success, and more recently has been one of the most reliable closers in the ACC. O’Donnell holds the NC State record for career appearances, and has shown his full capability in 2018. He has a miniscule 0.96 ERA, and has put together 11 saves.
The Wilmington, N.C. native has 37 strikeouts in 28 innings. O’Donnell has never been drafted before, and has battled a number of injuries throughout his career. The injuries and the age, as well as underwhelming speed on his fastball, make O’Donnell a questionable draft prospect, but he’s proven he can get people out and may get selected later in the draft.
These six players aren’t the Wolfpack’s only draft eligible student-athletes, and may not be the only ones selected. Graduate pitcher Johnny Piedmonte, senior infielders Stephen Pitarra and Shane Shepard, junior pitchers Nolan Clenney and Austin Staley, and junior catcher Jack Conley are all eligible. Clenney or Staley, who have battled injury all season, probably have the best chance from this group.
Senior outfielder Josh McLain prepares to swing against Auburn at Doak Field on Sunday. McLain went 2-4 with one double as the Wolfpack lost 15-7.
