NC State Adds Wright State Pitcher Chet Lax From Transfer Portal

For the second consecutive day, NC State has landed a transfer commitment from Wright State.

One day after second baseman Hunter Warren announced his commitment to the Wolfpack, right-handed pitcher Chet Lax revealed he will also be heading to Raleigh for the 2027 season.

With Jacob Dudan expected to pursue professional baseball through the 2026 MLB Draft, adding another experienced starting arm was a priority for new head coach Chris Hart and his staff. Lax may not arrive with the same level of prospect hype as Dudan, but he gives the Wolfpack a proven college starter with a track record of winning games.

Career Year in 2026

Lax is coming off the best season of his collegiate career.

The junior appeared in 17 games and made 13 starts for Wright State, posting:

9-1 record
4.23 ERA
69 strikeouts
78.2 innings pitched
1.35 WHIP
All-Horizon 1st Team

Perhaps the most impressive number is the win total. Lax was one of the most reliable starters in the Horizon League this season.

Even more encouraging for NC State fans, 2026 represented a major step forward across the board. Lax improved his production in virtually every statistical category and emerged as one of Wright State’s top arms.

Career Stats

Success Against NCAA Tournament Teams

Lax didn’t just dominate conference competition.

Some of his best performances came against SEC opponents that went on to earn NCAA Tournament bids.

vs. Georgia (February 14)

Win

4.0 innings

1 earned run

5 strikeouts

1 walk

Georgia entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 overall national seed and has since advanced to the College World Series.

vs. Tennessee (March 8)

Win

7.0 innings

0 earned runs

4 strikeouts

0 walks

Shutting out an SEC lineup for seven innings is impressive regardless of conference affiliation.

Those performances suggest Lax is capable of competing against the caliber of hitters he’ll see every weekend in the ACC.

Proven Track Record

The breakout junior season wasn’t the first sign of Lax’s talent.

As a freshman, he earned Horizon League All-Freshman Team honors, giving him a history of production throughout his collegiate career.

Now entering the ACC, he’ll have an opportunity to test himself against some of the best competition in college baseball.

Another Win for Chris Hart

The addition of Hunter Warren was a strong start to the portal cycle.

Adding Lax one day later gives NC State another important piece.

The Wolfpack needed help both in the lineup and on the mound, and Hart’s staff addressed both needs by pulling two productive players from the same Wright State program.

Considering both players have demonstrated success at the college level, these look more like proven additions than developmental projects.

Final Takeaway

NC State entered the offseason needing to add starting pitching depth.

Chet Lax checks that box.

A 9-game winner who has shown he can succeed against NCAA Tournament-caliber competition, Lax gives the Wolfpack another experienced arm to slot into the pitching staff heading into 2027.

He may not be arriving with All-American expectations, but there’s a strong chance he’ll play a meaningful role for NC State next season.