Wolfpack Draft Success
North Carolina State’s baseball program celebrated a milestone this week as seven of its players were selected in the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, tying for the second‑most draft picks in school history and marking the first time four selections landed in the top 150.
The selections spanned five different clubs, with right‑hander Ryan Marohn heading to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth round, outfielder Luke Nixon joining the San Francisco Giants also in the fifth round, and left‑hander Sherman Johnson being taken by the Cincinnati Reds in the seventh round. Additional picks included right‑hander Cooper Consiglio going to the Philadelphia Phillies in the ninth round, and infielder Chris McHugh being drafted by the San Diego Padres in the eleventh round.
Beyond the drafted talent, undrafted free agent Heath Andrews inked a deal with the Cleveland Guardians, capping a three‑year college career that saw him post a 7‑8 record and a 7.11 ERA across 27 appearances for the Wolfpack.
The draftees brought a mix of production and potential. Marohn finished the season at 6‑1 with a 3.18 ERA, while Nixon batted .367 with 79 hits and 45 RBIs. Johnson posted a .330 average with 60 hits and 48 RBIs, and McHugh combined a .320 batting line with 70 hits and 50 RBIs. Consiglio contributed a 3‑5 record and a 6.90 ERA, rounding out a class that blended pitching depth with offensive firepower.
What makes this draft class especially notable is the sustained excellence cultivated by longtime head coach Elliott Avent, who has now guided 143 professional prospects over his three‑decade tenure, including 64 since 2015. The achievement reinforces NC State’s reputation as a premier developer of major‑league talent.