D1Baseball ranks NC State’s Mikey Ryan as the #35 SS Heading Into 2026

D1Baseball has released its 2026 Preseason Shortstop Rankings, and NC State Sophomore Mikey Ryan checks in at No. 35 nationally. That ranking places Ryan 10th among ACC shortstops heading into the season.

ACC SS Preseason Rankings

6) Eric Becker, Virginia
9) Jake Ogden, Miami
10) Alex Alicea, Louisville
15) Carson Kerce, Georgia Tech
17) Jake Schaffner, North Carolina
19) Charlie Bates, Stanford
27) Caden Dulin, Pittsburgh
32) Pete Daniel, Virginia Tech
33) Jake Lambdin, Duke
35) Mikey Ryan, NC State

Ryan, listed at 6-foot, 195 pounds, transferred to NC State this offseason from LSU, bringing with him both pedigree and upside.

While Ryan’s on-field opportunities in Baton Rouge were limited, he did see action in 16 games for the Tigers, logging three official at-bats. Even in that extremely small sample size, Ryan produced when given chances, recording one hit, two walks, and two runs scored.

The lack of playing time at LSU shouldn’t overshadow the talent level.

High School Pedigree

Coming out of high school, Ryan was one of the most highly regarded middle infield prospects in the country. Perfect Game ranked him as the No. 113 overall prospect nationally in the 2024 recruiting class, and the No. 30 shortstop in the country.

Ryan played his high school baseball at Rummel High School in Luling, Louisiana, where Perfect Game also ranked him as the No. 1 shortstop in the state. His talent was recognized nationally, as Ryan participated in the 2024 MLB Draft Combine, an invitation reserved for the top amateur prospects in the country.

MLB Draft Evaluation

MLB Pipeline ranked Ryan as the No. 202 overall draft prospect in 2024, and their evaluation paints a clear picture of the type of player NC State is getting.

Ryan ranks as the top prep position player prospect in Louisiana, but he also tried to do too much at the plate as a senior. With scouts less confident about his bat than they were entering the year, he probably fits between the fourth and sixth rounds. That may not be early enough to lure him away from his Louisiana State commitment.

When Ryan stays under control at the plate, he employs a more compact right-handed stroke and is quick to the ball, producing hard contact from gap to gap. When he looked to hit for more power this spring, he got overly pull-conscious and let his swing get too uphill. He needs to stay more under control, focus on his bat-to-ball skills and let his 15-homer pop come naturally.

Ryan’s best tool is his plus speed, and he plays with constant energy. He has basestealing ability and also uses his quickness to cover ground at shortstop, where he displays solid arm strength. He’s more of a reliable than flashy defender, with a chance to remain at short but not a lock to stay there. (MLB)