After making a run to the College World Series for the first time since 2021, NC State baseball saw several key players from its squad selected in the 2024 MLB Draft. Four Wolfpack players were selected over 20 rounds while three others were signed as undrafted free agents.
Jacob Cozart (Catcher) — Cleveland Guardians (Round 2, 48th overall)
First off the board for the Pack9 was its trusty backstop. Drafted by the Cleveland Guardians, catcher Jacob Cozart became the 22nd player from NC State to be taken in the first two rounds of the draft. In his junior season, Cozart enjoyed a successful campaign, earning first-team All-ACC honors as well as being named a finalist for the Buster Posey Award, which is given to the nation’s best collegiate catcher.
In his final season with the Pack, Cozart finished with a .305 batting average to go along with 19 homers and 54 RBIs. To pair with his solid bat, Cozart was a defensive stalwart behind the plate. Throwing out 13 runners, he led the ACC in pick-offs before adding another in the postseason. As he heads to Cleveland to embark on the next step of his baseball journey, Cozart joins a squad that holds the best record in the American League as of Sunday, July 28.
Eli Serrano (Outfielder) — New York Mets (Round 4, 111th overall)
As the Pack prepares for the 2025 campaign, it will have to replace a key member of its outfield from last season. After playing first base for the majority of his freshman season, Eli Serrano made a name for himself as the Pack’s primary center fielder in 2024. His tall frame and strong arm made him an elite defender in the outfield. Time and time again, Serrano made spectacular diving catches and home-run robberies. He finished his sophomore season with a .286 batting average and 70 base hits which included nine homers.
Serrano came up in several huge moments for NC State during the 2024 season. From drilling a walk-off home run, to securing a series win over Duke, to driving in six runs in the postseason, Serrano never shied away from delivering in the clutch. The future Met raised his stock in the postseason as he put together an average of .333 or better in both the Raleigh Regional and the Athens Super Regional. Tallying 10 hits and three homers across both regionals, Serrano played a key role in helping the Pack get back to Omaha.
Brandon Butterworth (Shortstop) — San Diego Padres (Round 12, 360th overall)
Last season was one in which Head Coach Elliott Avent found great success in using the transfer portal. A key piece he recruited to Raleigh was Brandon Butterworth. Transferring in from Western Carolina, Butterworth played every game of the season at shortstop. The future Padre was up-and-down offensively but he kept the offense moving with 40 walks and 13 stolen bases.
Despite an average bat, Butterworth was a mainstay in the lineup because of his elite defense. Avent has had great defensive shortstops in his 28 years coaching NC State, and multiple times Avent has said Butterworth might be the best defensive shortstop he’s ever coached. Helping his team escape jams, Butterworth turned 26 double plays throughout the season. His defense particularly shined during the Raleigh Regional in which he turned four double plays.
Logan Whitaker (Right-handed pitcher) — Minnesota Twins (Round 19, 578th overall)
Few others embodied the Jimmy Valvano spirit of not giving up like Logan Whitaker. Unable to play his first three seasons due to injuries, Whitaker persevered and became a constant arm for the Wolfpack. In the two rounds before the College World Series, Whitaker threw 10.1 innings, allowing just four runs to go with 13 strikeouts.
In an elimination game against Florida in the College World Series, Whitaker put on one of the best performances of his career — he tossed seven innings and fanned a career-high 10 batters. Now, as he begins his professional career with Minnesota, the Twins will get a hard worker who epitomizes perseverance.
Alec Makarewicz (Third baseman) — Chicago White Sox (undrafted free agent)
NC State struck gold last season in the transfer portal when it landed Alec Makarewicz, who started all 61 games in 2024. Putting together one of the most successful seasons in the history of NC State Baseball, Makarewicz earned second-team All-ACC and was named a second-team All-American by three different publications.
He churned out a .378 batting average to go with a staggering 98 hits, 24 homers and 84 RBIs which all ranked in the top 10 in NC State history. Getting a shot with the Chicago White Sox, Makarewicz gives Chicago a player with the ability to get on base and do damage at the plate.
Garrett Pennington (First baseman) — Detroit Tigers (undrafted free agent)
Further continuing its success in the portal, the Pack brought in Garrett Pennington from Wichita State for the 2024 season. As a mainstay at first base, Pennington earned third-team All-ACC honors. He was a reliable defender, committing only two errors in the field to go along with 438 putouts.
The future Tiger earned his worth at the plate with a .350 average to go with 18 homers and 65 RBIs. He now has a chance to further prove himself as he signs an undrafted free agent deal with the Detroit Tigers.
Sam Highfill (Right-handed pitcher) — Philadelphia Phillies (undrafted free agent)
The last member of the Pack 9 to get a call from the Big Leagues was its most trusted starter: Sam Highfill. One of the most experienced pitchers in program history, Highfill finished with a total of 26 wins over his five-year career donning the red and white.
First coming onto the national stage in the 2021 College World Series, Highfill became a legend in Raleigh for his performances in Omaha. The future Phillie threw 7.1 shutout innings against eventual National Champions Vanderbilt one game and the next game he went 3-for-4 at the plate.
In his final season with the Pack, Highfill pitched in 17 games and tallied 82 total strikeouts. His final season culminated in a return to Omaha in which he went seven innings while tossing seven strikeouts against Kentucky.
