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The 2025 roster is beginning to take shape with 40 players in the mix
With the 2024 MLB Draft now in the rearview, let’s catch up on some NC State baseball news looking towards the 2025 season:
Wolfpack get commitment from San Diego transfer SS Justin DeCriscio
NC State SS Brandon Butterworth has not yet officially signed with the Padres after San Diego drafted him in the 12th round, but all indications are that he will sign. Adding to that expectation is a commitment the Pack received from San Diego transfer SS Justin DeCriscio.
A 5’10, 160 pound California native, DeCriscio started 118 games (90 starts at SS, 20 at 3B, 8 at 2B) over three seasons with the Toreros, hitting .299/.364/.390, 6.2 BB%, 8.9 K%, 28-40 SB. In 2024, he his .308/.374/.419, 6.1 BB%, 7.9 K%, 10-14 SB. DeCriscio earned Honorable Mention All-WCC recognition in 2023 and 2024.
A high-contact, free swinging right-handed hitter, DeCriscio adds a solid defensive glove at a now-vacant position in the Pack’s infield. Rising SO Luke Nixon would seem to be DeCriscio’s main competition for the starting SS job, although the Pack also returns rFR Peyton Young and has prep SS Ryder Woodson in the incoming freshman class.
NC State adds prep catcher Preston Bonn
With the likely loss of a player from the 2024 recruiting class due to the MLB Draft, NC State added a player this week in the form of catcher Preston Bonn from Lawrenceville, GA. Bonn had been committed to – and signed with – Georgia until reopening his recruitment in late June.
Ranked by Perfect Game as a Top 500 recruit nationally and the 50th overall player in the state of Georgia for his graduating class, Bonn likely slots in behind Alex Sosa in the catching rotation for the 2025 roster. Although if there is one thing that the Wolfpack have been great at under Elliott Avent, it’s identifying catching talent that can contribute early.
Bonn is listed at 6’0, 195 lbs but looks like he might be a bit taller than that with a frame that allows for the addition of muscle. He has strong hands with the bat and a line-drive focused swing that allows him to get on the top of the ball – and, hey, sometimes those line drives go over the fence. He can be a little pull-happy at times, but has the ability to go the opposite field with the pitch.
While not the fleetest of foot compared to some others in the class, he’s not your typical catcher and can move around the bases well. In addition to catching, he’s played some 3B and OF. Behind the dish, he has solid potential. He plays a little high, but with natural movements, good instincts, and a good arm.
Pack add JUCO pitcher Landon Carr
Also recently joining the Pack’s 2025 roster is Gaston College pitcher Landon Carr. The JUCO righty consistently sits in the low 90’s with his fastball, but can get up to the mid 90’s with it. Of Carr’s 37 career appearances with Gaston, 31 came in relief. Those six starts, however, were his last six appearances for the Rhinos, and he showed out big: 33.0 IP, 22 H, 7 R, 6 ER (1.64 ERA), 11 BB, 36 K. The Waxhaw native figures to be a relief piece for the Wolfpack, but given his successful run as a starter with Gaston, he could – and should – get a look in that role in fall camp.
State has commitments from JUCO OF Brayden Fraasman and LHP Eli Pillsbury
Also already in the fold for next year – but without the BTP article to announce it (sorry, fellas) – are fellow JUCO transfers LHP Eli Pillsbury and OF Brayden Fraasman. Pillsbury committed to the Pack on October 2nd and Fraasman followed a day later.
Pillsbury is a 6’2, 190 lbs southpaw originally from Indiana who spent the last two years at Logan College in Illinois. He has great stuff (69 K in 47.2 IP), but control has been an issue. After averaging 7.59 BB/9 as a freshman he brought that number down to 5.13 BB/9 this year. Pillsbury has an over-the-top delivery, bringing a high-80’s/low-90’s fastball that he pairs with a tight spin 12-6 breaking ball.
Fraasman is a 6’0, 200 lbs outfielder from Lincoln Trail College in Illinois. While also having some experience at catcher, Fraasman figures to add outfield depth as Josh Hogue returns from the leg injury that ended his 2024 campaign. He has some pop (20 HR in 391 AB over two years) and solid speed (23-of-26 SB).
Eli Serrano signs with Mets
There’s a full post on this, so not much need to spend too much time here. Best of luck to Eli!
Garrett Pennington, Alec Makarewicz, and Sam Highfill sign UDFA deals
After going undrafted, Garrett Pennington signed an undrafted free agent (UDFA) deal with the Detroit Tigers, Alec Makarewicz signed with the Chicago White Sox, and Sam Highfill signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. Great landing spots for each. To steal from myself from another post:
Detroit is a good landing spot for Penny. The Tigers drafted three infielders this year (HS SS, college middle infielder, college left-side infielder), but none of them are 1B. Pennington should move immediately to Low-A Lakeland, and then pretty quickly to High-A West Michigan. Since taking Spencer Torkleson with the first overall pick in the 2020 draft, the Tigers haven’t invested heavily in 1B, meaning there’s not much in the way of highly invested prospects blocking him.
The White Sox are a great landing spot for A-Mak. They only drafted one infielder: 5th rounder Sam Antonacci from Coastal Carolina. Antonacci played 3B for Coastal, but was a SS in the JUCO ranks and is not a good defensive player, thus he’s expected to move to 2B at the pro level.
Highfill joins a Phillies organization that has revamped their player development system in recent years and has done a great job in that short time at developing arms.
Looking ahead at the 2025 roster
With Serrano gone, Butterworth expected to sign, and prep commit Devin Fitz-Gerald also expected to sign a pro contract after being drafted, that puts NC State’s roster next year at 40 with 22 returnees and 18 newcomers (10 freshman, 5 D1 transfers, and 3 JUCO transfers). The roster limit for 2025 is 40, before it’s expected to be reduced into the mid-30’s for the 2026 season.