The third and final preview of the 2025 NC State baseball team covers the outfielders. We have discussed the pitching staff, with all the talent and depth it has to offer. Then the infielders were up next, and even though this group lacks some power threats there is still plenty of talent to go around. And now last, but definitely not least, we have reached the outfield positions. This Wolfpack outfield is somewhat of a mix of what we've seen between the pitching staff and infield. There is depth, which we saw from the pitching staff, across the outfield positions. Multiple guys can play any position in the outfield. Similar to the infield, there is a mix of experience and youth that could be tapped in to and includes a couple of transfer portal additions as well. The guys patrolling the grass for the Pack9 have talent, it just has to be put together. Let's get into the outlook for the Wolfpack outfield.
There is no better place to start our look into the outfielders than the corner outfield spots. In 2024, State saw multiple different guys have to play in a corner outfield spot at any given time throughout the season. Injuries at these positions really threw Elliott Avent and his coaching staff a curveball (no pun intended) when it came to solidifying those positions. Josh Hogue suffered a season ending leg injury in the Ball State series and Noah Soles had to have surgery early in the year as well. Due to Hogue's injury, Luke Nixon was forced to move away from his regular position at second base and spend many innings manning left field. This also forced Noah Soles to make an earlier return from his surgery rehab than was originally planned. This limited Soles down the stretch when it came to running and it was apparent late in the season. While Soles is no longer in college, Josh Hogue does return to the Wolfpack lineup this season and he will be ready for Opening Day. Many view Hogue as the leader of this outfield group, myself included. Prior to his injury last season, Hogue posted a slash line (average, OBP, slugging) of .314/.398/.450 with 4 homers and 28 RBI in 163 plate appearances. Hogue was one of the most productive bats in State's lineup early in the 2024 season, and the production shows in his numbers. If Hogue had the opportunity to play a full season, Hogue very well could have been another double figure home run guy in that lineup. Alongside Alex Sosa, Josh Hogue is the only other player on this Wolfpack team that I feel confident in hitting 10+ home runs this season. Keep in mind, there are multiple others who I feel COULD reach the 10 or more homer mark (some mentioned previously in the infielders preview) but Sosa and Hogue are the only two that I can say I fully and confidently trust will do that. Defensively, Hogue played both LF and RF last season prior to his injury and even started 1 game as the DH. He is versatile and can play any position in the outfield, although a corner spot fits him better, and could serve as the DH if needed as well.
Brayden Fraasman is the other prime candidate to start in a corner outfield spot in my eyes. Fraasman is a junior college transfer from Lincoln Trail College, and he excelled at the JUCO level. In his 2 seasons at Lincoln Trail, Fraasman's career JUCO stat line is quote impressive. Overall he hit .348/.414/.598 while tallying 20 homers, 105 RBI, and 23 stolen bases (17 last season). Fraasman has just about every tool a player can ask for at the plate. He hits for average, he hits for power, he can go gap to gap (30 doubles and 4 triples total in his 2 JUCO seasons), and when he gets on base he has the speed to steal bases or gain an extra base on a hit. Defensively, he is similar to Hogue and others in this outfield group in that he can play any position in the grass and do it effectively. Fraasman boasted a .972 fielding percentage in junior college, including a .986 fielding percentage last season while only committing 1 error. Obviously the jump from junior college to one of the nation's premier baseball conferences is significant, but Fraasman has the tools and talent to make that transition smoothly. After all, we have seen a long list of former JUCO players be successful at NC State. Fraasman could potentially be a breakout player for the Pack9 this season and I expect him to be a staple in the lineup. He, like I mentioned earlier, is a player I absolutely could see hitting double figure home runs this year, but since I haven't seen him play in person yet I just can't with complete confidence say that he WILL. Overall, I think Fraasman will be a solid, potentially great, addition to the Wolfpack lineup and will be an upgrade in a corner outfield spot since that is his natural territory.
Now we move on to the quarterback of the outfield, the center field position. Similarly to the corner outfield spots, there are options that State has to fill the center field spot. These options can too play either corner outfield spot as well. The first candidate is Ole Miss transfer, Trenton Lyons. Lyons only spent one year in Oxford before deciding to transfer to NC State. He saw limited action in 2024, only appearing in 22 games and making 7 starts. He hit .256 and drove in 3 runs on 10 hits during his freshman campaign. Many view Lyons as the favorite to land the starting center field spot as he is great defensively. Not only can he play across the outfield, he has the ability to slide into an infield position if needed. Similarly to Matt Ossenfort, being that he saw limited action in his lone college season thus far, the Pack would really be banking on his upside to shine through if he were to be successful. Playing in the SEC, especially as a true freshman, is nothing to scoff at though. The tools appear to be there, just putting them to work is the key. An interesting tidbit: Lyons played his collegiate summer ball last season for the Holly Springs Salamanders so he is familiar with the Triangle area a little bit already. Could that summer league play have contributed to his decision to come to NC State?
Another option to patrol center field is true freshman, Ty Head. Yes you read that correctly. A true freshman has a legitimate chance to earn a starting job in one of the most important positions on the field. Head comes out of Winter Garden, Florida which is just outside Orlando. The state of Florida, and the Orlando area in particular, is an area of the US that is rich with prep baseball talent. In 2024, Head was listed as the 8th overall prospect in the state, 2nd best outfield prospect in Florida, and ranked as a top 50 high school prospect in the country according to Perfect Game. Not only did he gain interest as an outfielder, he did as a catcher too. Perfect Game ranked him as a top 10 catcher in the country as well. Head's high school accolades get even better though. He was a member of the 16U/17U USA Baseball national team and was voted as a all-state and all-American selection his senior year. Many expected Head to be selected in the 2024 MLB Draft but he was not (coming as a surprise to many) so he enrolled at NC State. In his senior season, Head hit a scorching .408 with a 1.107 OPS. The sheer, raw talent for Head is apparent, but adjusting to the college game could be a learning curve. Whether it's this season or not, expect Ty Head to be a significant contributor to the Pack9 moving forward.
The third option, not necessarily the last option though, to be slotted in center field is Jet Gilliam. Another junior college transfer, Gilliam comes to NC State via the College of Southern Nevada. Does that school name ring a bell? That is where MLB All-Star, Bryce Harper, played his lone season of college baseball and is a significant program in the junior college ranks. In 2024, Gilliam hit .348 and had 6 home runs while driving in 43. He too can be a gap to gap hitter, as he added on 6 doubles and 6 triples as well. He totaled the same amount of homers, doubles, and triples in 2024, consistency at it's finest! You might ask yourself "with a name like Jet, is this guy speedy?" Well as a matter of fact he is. Speed is the biggest attribute to Gilliam's game. He stole 14 bases in 2024 and was caught stealing ZERO times. That's right, a 100% success rate on stolen bases. Whether it's out of the batters box, on the basepaths, or running down a fly ball, the speed that Gilliam brings to the table can't be coached and could be a huge weapon for State this season. Defensively, Gilliam had a .963 fielding percentage in '24 (3 errors) and added 4 outfield assists as well.
The individual talent across the Wolfpack outfield is plentiful. This includes the guys who will be named starters and those in the dugout. Depth is such a positive to have in the outfield positions, especially with what State experienced last season with Hogue and Soles both suffering injuries. Last season Coach Avent had to mix and match in the outfield by playing some guys out there who were out of their natural position or had to suffer through a talent drop off if the decision to play another outfielder on the roster was chosen. On paper, that isn't the case this year. This outfield has depth and has young talent, which bodes well for the future. Let's not forget that Drew Lanphere is also listed as a C/OF on the roster as well so there is even more depth if it were needed. Just like the infield, these guys meshing together and playing well together is the biggest key to success, no matter who may be in what position. If State is going to be as successful as we think this team can be, using the early portion of the schedule to gel and get used to playing with each other before the gauntlet portion of ACC play begins is crucial. Across all 3 levels of the field (pitchers, infielders, and outfielders) the Pack9 has talent and will be fun to watch!
Hope you have enjoyed these preview articles. Thank you for reading! State baseball is a passion of mine and I thoroughly enjoy spreading the word about it to others. Go Pack!
-Bobby Black
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