Certain players are harder to replace than others. Some positions in sports require a level of leadership that is unparalleled to most. Point guards, quarterbacks and catchers are just a few.
When N.C. State lost catcher Jake Muyco, an eighth-round selection of the Chicago Cubs in the 2005 draft, serious questions arose about who could fill his shoes. “We lost one of the best catchers in the country in Jake last year, and a lot of people were curious about how we would replace him,” Wolfpack coach Eliott Avent said.
The answer came in the form of Caleb Mangum, a Raleigh area catcher who had sat behind Muyco for two years. Not wanting to miss his opportunity, Mangum began working out religiously to get ready for the start of the new season.
“This summer and fall he worked harder than he’s worked in his life in the weight room and conditioning,” Avent said.
Coupled with his off-season hard work, the two years of practice that Mangum shared alongside Muyco proved to be a very valuable tool in preparation for the junior’s new role.
“The biggest thing I learned from Jake was probably his work ethic,” Mangum said. “Just being able to see what it takes to catch at this level and be successful.”
Being successful is something to which Mangum is definitely accustomed. Upon joining the Pack, he was a member of Fuquay-Varina High School’s 2002 state championship team along with current teammate Adam McLaurin.
“Adam and I just try to bring a winning attitude here because we came from a very good high school team,” Mangum said.
For McLaurin, it was also an advantage to have a player like Mangum calling his pitches during their high school days.
“In high school, he was an unbelievable prospect,” McLaurin said. “I was lucky to be able to throw to him because most high school pitchers don’t have the luxury of throwing to a catcher [who] is so developed so early in their career.”
Although Mangum was sure he was college bound, he hesitated in making his decision about where he wanted to go.
“I was talking to a lot of in-state schools,” Mangum said. “I was talking to State and [North] Carolina the most; but being from around here, I really wanted to come to State.”
In the end, Mangum’s decision ultimately involved the thoughts of his family as well as his own.
“I grew up with my dad coaching me, and I knew that he wanted to have the chance to watch me play,” Mangum said. “Growing up a State fan, once they made me an offer, it was a pretty easy decision.”
With his family in attendance, Mangum has made himself into the Pack’s starting catcher and most recently came through in what could be looked back on as one of the most important moments of the 2006 season.
After UCLA swept the Pack, they began their first ACC series of the year against a tough Boston College squad.
“This game can beat you up,” Avent said. “We had lost some confidence.”
After winning the first two of the series, the Pack found themselves tied with BC in the final game heading into the bottom of the ninth.
“Me and Jonathan Diaz were talking when I was on deck about how much fun it was to be in such a tight game,” Mangum said. “Right before I went to the plate, he told me not to end it because he wanted to.”
Although Mangum isn’t much of a homerun threat, McLaurin had a feeling that his longtime teammate would come through.
“He’s such a competitor,” McLaurin said. “I’ve played with him for a long time and he’s always been one of those guys [who] if there’s ever a big situation, he usually gets a hit.”
Mangum proceeded to bounce a two run homer off the top of the left field wall not only giving the Pack the victory and their first ACC series sweep since 2002, but also a huge emotional lift to begin the conference season.
“It was definitely one of the most exciting times of my life,” Mangum said. “It was my first walk-off and my first home run here at N.C. State.”
Since then, Mangum has gone on a tear, hitting 6-for-12 since his walk-off blast including hitting the second homerun of his career in Friday’s upset of the nationally ranked Yellow Jackets.
“He’s just so consistent,” junior closer Sam Walls said. “He goes out day after day, does his thing and calls a great game.”
As Mangum continues to adjust to being an everyday catcher, he’s found that the biggest change that he’s made has been mental rather than physical.
“The biggest adjustment that I’ve had to make is not letting failure settle in on me because I know I’m going to be in there the next day,” Mangum said.
As the season progresses, new faces are sure to emerge as pivotal parts of the Pack’s balanced attack; but as of now, Mangum has been the catalyst to an ever-improving State squad, Avent said.
“As far as I’m concerned, he’s been the MVP of this team so far this season,” Avent said.