For the third-straight year, NC State baseball produced five or more MLB draft picks. We take a look at how recent Wolfpackers are performing in the professional ranks.
First baseman Preston Palmeiro was the first of the five Pack players to be selected in the 2016 MLB Draft, going 211th overall to the Baltimore Orioles, the team his father, Rafael, played with for one-third of his career. Palmeiro signed right before the deadline for teams to sign draft picks, and quickly joined the short-season Class A affiliate Aberdeen IronBirds of the New York-Penn League. In 22 games, he has a .250 batting average, seven runs, 20 hits, three doubles, nine RBI, six walks and two stolen bases.
Catcher Andrew Knizner was also selected in the seventh round, shortly after Palmeiro, by the St. Louis Cardinals. He signed quickly with the organization and joined the Johnson City Cardinals of the rookie Appalachian League, where he is currently on a tear. In 45 games, Knizner boasts an impressive .306 batting average with 29 runs, 48 hits, 10 doubles, one triple, four homers, 34 RBI and 16 walks, and was just named an Appalachian League All-Star.
Left-handed pitcher Will Gilbert was drafted in the eighth round by the Oakland Athletics. After signing, the reliever was assigned to the Vermont Lake Monsters, the short-season Class A affiliate of the Athletics. In 22.1 innings pitched, Gilbert has a 1-2 record and a 3.22 ERA, appearing in a total of 13 games. He has given up eight runs on 16 hits, handed out 12 walks and struck out 25 batters. Opposing batters are hitting just .195 against the lefty and have yet to hit a home run off him.
Pitcher Ryan Williamson was drafted in the 15th round by the Washington Nationals, who took a bit of a chance on the lefty. Toward the end of the Pack’s season he tore the UCL in his throwing elbow, which reportedly needs Tommy John surgery. Williamson signed with Washington and was assigned to the GCL Nationals in the rookie Gulf Coast League. Because of his elbow injury, he has yet to make a professional baseball appearance and is currently on the 60-day disabled list.
Pitcher Cody Beckman was the final NC State player to be selected, going in the 25th round to the New York Mets. Beckman decided against signing and instead is returning to the Wolfpack for the upcoming season.
In addition to the players selected in this year’s draft, two former players have made their way to the big leagues, where they are making names for themselves.
Former Pack shortstop Trea Turner, who was selected 13th overall in the 2014 MLB Draft, has made the most of his most recent MLB call-up and appears to have carved out a permanent role with the Washington Nationals. In 35 MLB games this season, Turner is hitting .302 with 29 runs, 45 hits, four home runs, 20 RBI and 14 stolen bases. In addition to stealing bases, he has displayed his elite speed on numerous occasions with six triples on the year. His six triples tie him for ninth among league leaders in triples, despite having fewer at-bats than all players tied with and ahead of him on the list (all but one player have at least twice as many at-bats as Turner).
Left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon, who was drafted third overall in the 2014 MLB Draft, has spent the entire season with the Chicago White Sox where he has been a part of the starting pitching rotation. In his 20 games on the year, Rodon has pitched 116.1 innings and has a 3-8 record with a 4.26 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and .289 batting average against. He has given up 60 runs (55 earned) and 17 home runs while he has walked 39 and struck out 114.
