Logan Brumley: Hello and welcome to WKNC's official sports podcast in the den.
Logan Brumley: Today we're going to be going over the Softball Wolf Pack Classic.
Logan Brumley: We're going to be looking at the ACC Indoor Track Championships, some notable athletes across the track and field season here at NC State and I'll finish by looking at MLB Spring training and some notable former NC State athletes who are either going to be on starting day rosters or on non roster invitees.
Logan Brumley: So get your headphones on and let's get straight to it.
Logan Brumley: NC State has looked pretty strong coming off a sloppy Clearwater Invitational as they were able to dominate through Queens and the Raleigh Times Invitational with Providence, Akron and Illinois for a whopping 8 to 7 record.
Logan Brumley: Some of the notable performers that are kind of worth talking about, freshman shortstop Carly Short.
Logan Brumley: She has kind of shown herself to be really strong batter this season.
Logan Brumley: She's hitting a four of six so far although she does not have a home run.
Logan Brumley: She has eight RBIs.
Logan Brumley: I think most of the power hitting comes from Kendall Simmers with a.326 average, four home runs, 14 RBIs and that Lily Livingston as well with her four home run 16 RBI performances.
Logan Brumley: And of course Maya Townsend, she's hitting well with a.347 average.
Logan Brumley: Trying to find base deals here.
Logan Brumley: See it on the stat sheet and on the pitch inside two pitchers with three and one records Wynne Gore.
Logan Brumley: with a 1.85 ERA and Morgan Talley with a 4.70 ERA which are both really low or you know, the overall team average with a about a 5.45 7 to 7 record compared to an opponent ERA of 5.93 and an opponent bat of .278 for opponents of States .295.
Logan Brumley: So overall not a sloppy performance for NC State even though they haven't really played too strong of opponents lately.
Logan Brumley: And I don't think that this competition is going to be really any different.
Logan Brumley: So it's going to be kind of like two double headers and then a Sunday matchup.
Logan Brumley: There's also going to be LeHigh there, but that is a one off game.
Logan Brumley: I'll focus more on the double headers with Loyola-Chicago and Toledo.
Logan Brumley: So let me start with Toledo and so Toledo's sitting at a 1-11 record.
Logan Brumley: Yikes.
Logan Brumley: So that's a pretty good opponent to look at.
Logan Brumley: Their only win coming at Longwood including some losses against Syracuse and let's see Arizona State.
Logan Brumley: Their closest loss was probably the Syracuse matchup teams hitting a .239 overall average not really get much when it comes to home runs.
Logan Brumley: They will have five home runs across the entire team.
Logan Brumley: Most of their kind of power hidden come in from.
Logan Brumley: Hold on, I got to find it.
Logan Brumley: Coming from the .385 batting average of Audrey Miller, their left fielder who herself has three home runs in all nine RBIs on a .385 batting average.
Logan Brumley: I mean outside of that, they do have a couple players sitting above .300 but no real power production outside of Audrey Miller.
Logan Brumley: Maybe their graduate shortstop Eli Enriquez with a home run of her own.
Logan Brumley: On the pitching side, nothing great.
Logan Brumley: They have a 0-7 record and if they're going to set their best pitcher against NC State, which is the most likely probability, NC State will have a 5.62 ERA junior with Katie McDonald who has that 0-1 record despite starting three games, an average batting average given up of 0.402.
Logan Brumley: So, it's not looking great for Toledo.
Logan Brumley: I think NC State will be able to dominate in that game.
Logan Brumley: I think that would be more of an offensive exhibition game.
Logan Brumley: But how about Loyola Chicago?
Logan Brumley: So as you can probably expect, Loyola Chicago is going to be a tougher opponent.
Logan Brumley: They are sitting at a 6 and 9 record.
Logan Brumley: They do have some.
Logan Brumley: They do not have a hitter above .300 with at least like 40 at bats.
Logan Brumley: So they're not really much of a hidden team.
Logan Brumley: They only have two players with home runs but some of their best hitter would probably be their first baseman Nat Lesnicki, who has six RBIs, a home run and a .295 batting average, which is the highest on the team.
Logan Brumley: Not really an offensive team.
Logan Brumley: They hit kind of the same as Toledo, just with less power.
Logan Brumley: So that'll be great for the pitching to look better headed into ACC competition.
Logan Brumley: Which.
Logan Brumley: When does that start?
Logan Brumley: Which would be about this time next month.
Logan Brumley: They have the Marucci Classic [False] right after this and pitching wise, they're a little bit better than Toledo.
Logan Brumley: They have a 5-9 record and some of their better pitching.
Logan Brumley: They have a team ERA of 4.67.
Logan Brumley: But they do have Anna Kiel, the freshman with a 32 record and a.277 ERA and two saves, which it's not bad at all.
Logan Brumley: And 10 appearances and five games started.
Logan Brumley: She has been playing pretty decent for the team.
Logan Brumley: I think that will be who they send out against at NC State.
Logan Brumley: If not,
Logan Brumley: Maddie Hickey, the junior has a 1:1 record in two starts with a 5.10 ERA but a low batting average of .261.
Logan Brumley: So you know, just something that's free admission.
Logan Brumley: If you're looking for something to do this weekend, make sure to check them out.
Logan Brumley: They're probably going to be able to take care of business against these guys.
Logan Brumley: But that's part of the Wolf Pack Classic is that lovely exhibition before they face off against tougher competition with Michigan State and the upcoming ACC schedule.
Logan Brumley: So with that out of the way, let's actually go on to the next ACC thing with the indoor championship.
Logan Brumley: So what do you need to know about the upcoming indoor conference championship?
Logan Brumley: It's going to of course be the preface to the national championship and it's usually like the top 16 athletes make it and NC State does not have quite that strong of a track and field program.
Logan Brumley: They are unranked in the men's out of 135 and are near the bottom of the conference, when it comes to the men's program.
Logan Brumley: I think the only male athlete who if he has a strong ACC performance could sneak his way into a regional matchup and that would be the long jump from Ryan John.
Logan Brumley: He is a Clemson transfer who has a record of the long jump at 1.588, which could be and that is with the triple jump actually the long jump.
Logan Brumley: His record is 7.08 as of his profile in 2023.
Logan Brumley: So you know he's probably the best male athlete that could be represented.
Logan Brumley: And of course the women's when it comes to long distance running, NC State dominates in the mile run we have Sadie Engelhardt the freshman ranked fifth and at the 3,000 meters Angelina Napoleon the junior at 13th.
Logan Brumley: Some other women athletes who could benefit from a really strong performance would be another 3,000 meter athlete with Hannah Gapes the senior 5,000 meters with Brooke Rauber and in the jumps with Mariama Hunt which actually I have to look up what her records are right.
Logan Brumley: She is a junior as well from Charlotte.
Logan Brumley: She was she is a former second team all ACC long jump in the outdoor track and field.
Logan Brumley: See her two her personal best is 6.43 at the long jump and 12.48 at the triple jump which is fifth on NC State's all time with the triple jump.
Logan Brumley: So she could be a player who has a strong performance and sneaks in but expect most of NC State's impact when it comes to track and field to be with the track long distance running which is something NT State is really good at.
Logan Brumley: This just will be another example of that kind of dominance.
Logan Brumley: All right, so I'll finish up with a kind of a preview of all of the NC State athletes I could find who are participating in spring training in some sort of capacity.
Logan Brumley: All right, so spring training has been going underway and it's, you know, just about time that we look at some of the top former NC State players who are getting looks for making the final rosters.
Logan Brumley: I'll first mention players who are most definitely going to be getting on rosters.
Logan Brumley: Of course.
Logan Brumley: Trae Turner, the Phillies shortstop, he batted last year .304 average with 15 home runs and 69 RBIs.
Logan Brumley: He's kind of walked down that short stop of the future.
Logan Brumley: Kind of like he's going to be there for a long time.
Logan Brumley: Taking a look at his contract real quick.
Logan Brumley: Yeah, I mean he signed an 11 million, no 11 year, 300 million dollar contract not too long ago.
Logan Brumley: So yeah, he's going to be here until 2033 at least unless if he gets traded.
Logan Brumley: So he will retire shortstop and he'll be there for a long time.
Logan Brumley: Who else is there to mention?
Logan Brumley: Carlos Rodon.
Logan Brumley: He's the only NC State player to be an All Star in 2025.
Logan Brumley: He had a 3.09 ERA with an 18-9 record in 33 starts.
Logan Brumley: However, he did have a surgery that is expected to sideline hemato at best late April, but it could be early May was a bone spur in his elbow.
Logan Brumley: He's probably going to miss opening day and he's definitely going to miss string training.
Logan Brumley: But you know, of course expect him to be back.
Logan Brumley: Maybe he'll have a rehab in that April and then return May.
Logan Brumley: But you know he would be the ace of the team that there was no Gerritt Cole.
Logan Brumley: So he's just, he's going to be a great pitcher for the Yankees for a good while and some of the.
Logan Brumley: The only other like certified starter would probably be Patrick Bailey, the catcher with the Giants.
Logan Brumley: He had a 0.222 average, six home runs of 55 RBIs which it's not terrible for someone who is a ninth hitter.
Logan Brumley: However, I think Baseball Savant projected his ERA, not ERA, WAR to be like 4.6 next year.
Logan Brumley: So he could be a maybe a breakout player if you are as delusional and hopeful as I am.
Logan Brumley: Okay.
Logan Brumley: No Fan Graphs has a 4.6 projection which is second highest on the team behind Matt Chapman.
Logan Brumley: I mean we'll see but you know he's going to be the catcher for a good while.
Logan Brumley: He does have a solid backup with Daniel Susak behind him.
Logan Brumley: So we'll see.
Logan Brumley: If he goes bad, maybe Susak comes in.
Logan Brumley: But I expect Patrick Bailey to be sticking around for a while.
Logan Brumley: And of course another player who I think can make a roster.
Logan Brumley: Andrew Knizner.
Logan Brumley: Knizner, catcher of the Seattle Mariners.
Logan Brumley: Maybe I should practice pronouncing names before I go into it.
Logan Brumley: It's Knizner.
Logan Brumley: He was a backup with the Giants last year.
Logan Brumley: They replaced him with Susac and in 77 at bats he had a .221 average, one home run and five RBIs.
Logan Brumley: So he's going to be the backup catcher at least for this year.
Logan Brumley: I do know that I think Seattle still has Harry Ford in their system.
Logan Brumley: Let me double check.
Logan Brumley: I think maybe they traded him actually.
Logan Brumley: Where did Harry Ford go?
Logan Brumley: Yeah, Harry Ford.
Logan Brumley: Okay.
Logan Brumley: He's with the Nationals now, so.
Logan Brumley: Okay, so he might be able to lock down that position for a while.
Logan Brumley: Maybe the Mariners go with a someone else who is kind of at the bottom of their.
Logan Brumley: What's it called, catcher depth.
Logan Brumley: But I would expect him to stick around and be back up behind the Cal Raleigh.
Logan Brumley: So let me get into the non roster invitees.
Logan Brumley: First up we're going to talk about Will Wilson, then fielder for the Tacoma Rainers, the AAA affiliate of Seattle.
Logan Brumley: He's not really a high level prospect.
Logan Brumley: I don't see him on the Mariners Prospect rankings for 2025.
Logan Brumley: The ones in 2026 have not been released yet.
Logan Brumley: But he could be someone that comes in as a backup.
Logan Brumley: He could just be a very a solid starter for Tacoma Rainers.
Logan Brumley: He could have some reps in the future, but he does have some MLB experience.
Logan Brumley: He's hitting .192 with two RBIs and two stolen bases and 34 point appearances with the Guardians last year.
Logan Brumley: So we'll see.
Logan Brumley: You know former all ACC first team played for the Collegiate National Baseball Team.
Logan Brumley: He could eventually get some more reps in the future.
Logan Brumley: Maybe not with the Mariners, but I think he'll get a lot of time with the Raiders and be able to play well.
Logan Brumley: Another to two other AAA players who are non roster Tyler McDonough who's sort of a utility infielder.
Logan Brumley: He's listed shortstop, left field and second base with the Worcester Red Sox who I guess you can probably guess who is the AAA affiliate for.
Logan Brumley: He's hitting a.254 baton average with five home runs and 27 RBIs in a full season with said team.
Logan Brumley: He is going to be a non roster and fightee.
Logan Brumley: He's going to get some reps but we'll see how much his impact on the team is going to be.
Logan Brumley: He could be someone who ends up being a solid career backup which is of course always respectable.
Logan Brumley: Can't really hate on someone who made it that high in AAA baseball.
Logan Brumley: And the other one would be LuJames Groover who's listed as the third baseman with the Reno Aces.
Logan Brumley: He was with the Double A Diamondback squad last year I believe.
Logan Brumley: Let me double check see with James Groover.
Logan Brumley: Was with the Amarillo Sod Puddles which I think is.
Logan Brumley: Yeah, Diamondbacks.
Logan Brumley: He was part of the National League future squad which is pretty cool to hear.
Logan Brumley: And let's see is he part of the and I don't think and he is 10th as of 2025 on the Diamondbacks top prospect.
Logan Brumley: So he is someone who could get MLB reps.
Logan Brumley: I mean we'll see how the third baseman kind of deft goes for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Logan Brumley: I think they are set for the future though they do have Nolan Arenado, Jordan Lalar so maybe we'll see.
Logan Brumley: But overall strong prospect and with a strong AAA season he could find his way onto the roster in the future.
Logan Brumley: The last athlete I'd like to talk about, Jacob Cozart, Double A affiliate for the Guardians, Akron rubber ducks and 94 point appearances with the rubber ducks.
Logan Brumley: He has a.235 baton average, two home runs and 11 RBI.
Logan Brumley: So he's not a great hitter.
Logan Brumley: I think he'll definitely have to spend some more time with the Akron Rubber Ducks.
Logan Brumley: But he did get an invitation.
Logan Brumley: Maybe that's because they just need bullpen players.
Logan Brumley: That is always a possibility but you know with a strong Triple eight showing, who knows maybe he can jump up to being the top catcher prospect.
Logan Brumley: He is listed as 17th and the second in the Guardian system behind Cooper Engel who is with the Columbus Clippers.
Logan Brumley: So maybe Angle goes up.
Logan Brumley: Let me see if he's a non roster in fightee.
Logan Brumley: I'm assuming he is but let me check see Reese Hoskins.
Logan Brumley: Yeah that makes sense as a. Yeah he is with us a non-roster invitee as is a couple other catchers but of course having experience will be great and I think he'll eventually be able to move his way up from double A and A plus to being a Triple A Double A kind of player and well I mean that's pretty much all I have.
Logan Brumley: Best of luck to the non-roster invitees and best of luck to all of the NC State athletes this year and in the future for baseball.
Logan Brumley: That's all I have today.
Logan Brumley: Have a good one and go pack.
