Closing the Book on ’08 Baseball

Baseball Non-Revenue14

For some of us, the last memories of ’07-’08 Wolfpack sports is a good one: the great run of the baseball team that ended one win away from a berth in Omaha. Included in this run was a win in the first regional hosted at home for the Wolfpack (and two nice wins over a loaded South Carolina team in the process).

The Wolfpack had a school record 9 players selected in the draft, including senior Eryk McConnell (drafted for what seemed to be the eleventy-billionth time). I’ve waited on posting this for a good reason. Last year, in order to avoid long negotiations, MLB implemented an August 15th signing deadline for selected players. So, August 15th having passed, we now have a pretty good idea of where we stand roster-wise next season. Below is the current signing status of the selected NC State players, in addition to the 5 drafted incoming freshmen. Of course, teams may not have released all signee information, but this is how it stands currently. I’ll update as I see more information filter in. Of note among the non-seniors is the signing of Eric Surkamp by the Giants and Clayton Shunick by the Reds, so they will be missed next season. How much, we don’t know- but based on the end of last season it looks like Jake Buchanan is more than ready to assume the role of staff ace, occupied at the beginning of the season by Surkamp and later usurped with extreme authority by Shunick.

Congrats again to the Wolfpack baseball team on a great season (albeit one that ended a few games to soon for my liking, but it leaves something to build on for next year).

Player Class Team Selection Signing Status
Clayton Shunick Jr Reds 149 Signed
Eric Surkamp Jr Giants 177 Signed
Marcus Jones Jr Nationals 331 Signed
Sam Brown So Diamondbacks 558 Unsigned
Eryk McConnell Sr Phillies 616 Signed
Alex Sogard Jr Diamondbacks 798 Unsigned
Matt Payne Sr Pirates 1014 Signed
Drew Taylor Jr Angels 1039 Signed
Jeremy Synan Jr Marlins 1258 Signed
Zak Sinclair HS Red Sox 1042 Unsigned
John Lambert CC Nationals 1081 Unsigned
Harold Riggins HS White Sox 1050 Unsigned
Mike Russo HS Phillies 1471 Unsigned
Cory Mazzoni HS Nationals 781 Unsigned

About Dr. BadgerPack

NCSU Class of 99 and PhD University of Wisconsin, 2006... Which should adequately explain the screen name I chose at 2am one Saturday...

Baseball Non-Revenue

14 Responses to Closing the Book on ’08 Baseball

  1. tvp1 08/16/2008 at 12:41 PM #

    Per Pack11 on PP, Jones signed with Washington.

    DBP: Thanks for the catch. I imagine a few more will trickle in over the next few days.

  2. Dr. BadgerPack 08/16/2008 at 1:19 PM #

    An interesting blurb on Harold Riggins…

    http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/07/16/scholastic/doc487e9d018dd3f611979179.txt

    and another snippet on Sinclair.

    http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/06/06/sports/high_school/doc484a0cdabea38097340306.txt

    I especially like this quote: “If I don’t sign, I’m going to an outstanding college program with the chance to play at a very high level.” I like hearing any team affiliated with NC State as being an outstanding program. It will be a big lift if some of the players can catch on at the MLB level, and become contributors (can we hope star??).

  3. old13 08/16/2008 at 4:31 PM #

    I’d rather be closing the book (and mouth, and administration, and presence, and . . . etc.) of Foulup!

  4. packalum44 08/16/2008 at 5:12 PM #

    could someone please explain college baseball recruiting for me…sounds like we go out and recruit, sing a class, MLB has an incredibly huge draft, the kid and team negotiate, the kid may or may not sign a contract (in which case he likely play in minor leauge developing several years but getting paid), if they don’t sign, they go to the college that offered them a scholarship and can re-enter the draft in 2 or 3 years??? is that about right???

    DBP: Pretty close. If they decline to sign with the drafting MLB team, they can go to a 4-year college and be eligible for the draft in 3 years (the letter of the rule states after the junior year of college or their 21st birthday). They can also go the JuCo or Community College route, and be draft eligible for any subsequent draft.

  5. BoKnowsNCS71 08/16/2008 at 8:44 PM #

    Hate to thread jack but did anyone see where ESPN the MAagazine listed NC State as 4 of 5 of the Most Spirited schools.

  6. blpack 08/17/2008 at 3:14 PM #

    The baseball team gave us a breath of fresh air last spring. Picked middle of the pack, but finished a respectable 4th in a stacked ACC. Then the run to the super regionals was great. Here’s hoping for more wins, national rankings and hosting NCAA game in the Pack’s future. The program has knocked on the door. Next thing is to bust it down.

  7. BAC79 08/17/2008 at 4:14 PM #

    This may not be the right place to post it but I swear this is true. I moved my daughter into her dorm at UNC yesterday. Yes I lost both daughters to the evil empire. Go figure. Anyway, she is in an all girls dorm and on the bulletin board is a flyer titled CAROLINA FOOTBALL TEAM TRY OUTS. Monday August 18th at 8:00 a.m. If a site administrator will contact me I can email a copy of it. And no my daughter will not be trying out for the team.

  8. packalum44 08/17/2008 at 4:44 PM #

    so how’s our recruiting going? is Tom Holliday as good as advertised? are we competing with the big boys in recruiting?

  9. blpack 08/17/2008 at 8:55 PM #

    ^BAC,
    It’s a girls school. I fear at least one of my daughters will end of there as well. Hang in there.

  10. vtpackfan 08/18/2008 at 7:58 AM #

    Recruiting this year was excellent, maybe the best on paper in years. There is a really nice mixture of ready to compete pitchers and position player along with some longer term players who could grow into really exciting ballplayers.

    Holliday has bought us big time status in the arms race and we were extremely fortunate that everyone of them drafted declined a pro career at this time.

    Russo, Mazzoni, Sinclair, and Lambert all have great arms and great control. Two or maybe even three may very well be in the starting rotation.

    The pitcher we are going to see that is most ingruiging is Greg Conver from Miami. Probably has the filthiest stuff out of any of the pitchers but control and consistency could keep his innings low this season. I can’t wait to see him after Holliday works some of the bad habits (movement on all the pitches is outstanding)

    Cameron Connor from F-V and Harold Riggins will probably be the best bets for frosh position players. Riggins can platoon w/Fergueson at 1B and Connor will probably compete for some OF time. Avent has to replace the whole OF after losing senior and draftees. It sounds like Russel Wilson may end in the OF for atleast the start of next season.

  11. packalum44 08/18/2008 at 8:50 PM #

    hey VTPACKFAN, thanks! is there a good website that tracks baseball recruiting?

  12. vtpackfan 08/19/2008 at 7:44 AM #

    Our recruiting? Ha-ha-ha.

    Vague would be the word to describe prep baseball recruits. For many of them there is the MLB Draft to consider. Another thing about baseball recruits is they tend to not announce schollie offers like football and basketball prospects, especially not in the annoying bragging matter then some of the swelled headed prospects do.

    THe bottom line is that the Pack has made significant strides in recruiting and I suspect a great deal has to do w/ Holliday. Hopefully the program can build on last years success.

  13. fer06 08/19/2008 at 7:29 PM #

    Has anybody other than catcher Nick Stanley, transferred out?

  14. Dr. BadgerPack 08/20/2008 at 8:06 AM #

    ^I haven’t heard about any other transfers as of yet.

    ^^Recruiting IS looking much better than in years past. Some of it is the specific targeting of Holliday as opposed to bulk signings, and another key is the kids actually showing up on campus. After all, a few years back we did sign Justin Upton.

    Incidentally, it may be possible that the Upton signing helped us– who knows. I have heard mentioned on several broadcasts over the years various permutations of “Upton” “college” and “NC State” in the same sentence. Certainly not bad publicity.

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