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In last week’s MLB Draft, NC State outfielder Jake Fincher finally heard his name called in the 29th round, with the Chicago White Sox taking him with the 862nd overall pick.

“It was a huge sign of relief to hear my name called,” Fincher said.  “I wasn’t ready to be done with the game just yet. It was a dream come true.”

There are a bunch of new experiences that await Fincher as he embarks on his professional career, but it won’t be without a few familiar faces.  Fincher’s former Wolfpack teammates Carlos Rodon and Brett Austin are both in the Chicago White Sox organization.  Rodan is in the starting rotation in the major leagues, and Brett Austin was just named to the South Atlantic League All-Star team representing the Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox Single-A Affiliate).

“Carlos and Brett both congratulated me very soon after my name got called,” Fincher said. “I responded “the group is back together!” Seeing them above me in the organization gives me even more motivation to get reunited with my old teammates.”

Fincher earned 2nd Team All-ACC honors this season, and leaves NC State with many great memories.

“I will remember the postseason runs with my teammates the most. Every season except my junior year was extremely special, but Omaha is something my teammates and I will forever remember,” Fincher said. “Omaha was the best thing I’ve experienced in my baseball career thus far.  The only thing that could be better would be to make it to the big leagues.”

You can never sum up a single player’s career by a single game or a single play, but when we asked what three plays he would never forget while wearing the Wolfpack Red and White he mentioned his home run at the Florida Super Regional and his walk off single against Rice in Game 1 of the Supers.  But we all know what the third play is that he will never forget…because no NC State fan will ever forget it. It’s the catch that landed as #1 on Sportscenter’s Top Plays.

Fincher finishes his NC State career ranked 8th in career at bats (866), 10th in hits (255) and 6th in triples.  He is already out at the White Sox’s Spring Training facility in Arizona, and now he waits for his assignment.

 

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Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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NC State Baseball

NC State Baseball Rankings Update After Another Undefeated Week

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7 months ago

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February 28, 2023

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The NC State Baseball team is now 7-0 through two weeks of play, going 4-0 last week, defeating Coastal Carolina 16-4 on the road in a midweek game, and sweeping Belmont at home this past weekend (11-4, 7-0, 7-1).

The Wolfpack remain ranked 21st in the D1Baseball Top-25.

(NCAA)

The Wolfpack moved up 11 spots to #19 in the Collegiate Baseball Poll, up 2 spots to #20 in the Coaches Poll, and up 1 spot to #24 in the Baseball America poll.

NC State will host Longwood today at 3pm in their next matchup.

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NC State Baseball

NC State Sticks at #21 After Opening Weekend Sweep

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7 months ago

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February 20, 2023

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NC State’s Men’s Baseball team stayed put at #21 in the D1Baseball Top-25 after an opening weekend sweep of Wagner.

(NCAA)

NC State also stayed put at #25 in the Baseball America’s new poll, and stayed put at #30 in the Collegiate Baseball Poll.

The Wolfpack will play Coastal Carolina on the road this Wednesday at

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NC State Baseball

NC State Picked 3rd in the Atlantic in the 2023 ACC Baseball Preseason Poll

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8 months ago

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February 3, 2023

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The 2023 ACC Preseason Poll was released yesterday, and NC State is projected to finish 3rd in the Atlantic.

NC State finished 5th in the Atlantic Division in 2022, with a 14-15 record in Conference play.

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NC State Baseball

The Doak is getting its renovation…and NC State fans aren’t exactly loving it

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8 months ago

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January 26, 2023

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I was just about to write a piece about the Doak renovation going down.

But while I was over on Twitter, I saw a ton of comments on it, all of them NC State fans, and almost all of them critical of the new look.


Look, I don’t know what’s going on here. Maybe it’ll look a lot better once it’s done, or maybe the grass will match up a lot better when it greens up. But right now, it’s a little jarring. Here is how it used to look…

And here is how it’s looking right now…

Again, I’m going to wait until it’s really done before I cast judgement, but I think the official tweet from the school marketing it and drawing attention to it, has people thinking it’s in it’s final form. And maybe it is. But I hope it’s not.

I remember this being shared a while back…

This shows grass in foul territory and dirt in the 1st/3rd baselines. So I’m not sure when this turf thing came along. And while we’re on the subject, aren’t we a turf management school? Shouldn’t we be turning up our noses at artificial turf?

Apparently, this is a thing now, where foul territories are artificial turf and fair territory is grass. Here is Mississippi State’s baseball field doing the same thing.

Can’t say I like it there either, honestly. It just seems like one of those fads. Remember when everyone was going crazy with field/court colors?

Did anyone ever really like those? Do people like them now? Have they ever gotten a recruit to come to the school? Have they ever scared a recruit away?

I don’t know. You tell me. I’ll hold final judgment, but things NC State fans don’t seem like they’re going to follow along.

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