Seven Wolfpack Players Selected in Historic MLB Draft to Close Elliott Avent Era

Elliott Avent’s legendary run as NC State’s head baseball coach came to a fitting conclusion over the weekend.

A total of seven Wolfpack players heard their names called during the 2026 MLB Draft, tying for the third-most selections in a single draft in program history.

The seven selections also capped one of the most talented rosters of Avent’s tenure and further cemented NC State as one of the nation’s premier producers of professional baseball talent.

NC State’s 2026 MLB Draft Picks

CF Ty Head
2nd Round
No. 46 Overall

P Jacob Dudan
3rd Round
No. 83 Overall

P Ryan Marohn
5th Round
No. 140 Overall

2B Luke Nixon
5th Round
No. 150 Overall

3B Sherman Johnson
7th Round
No. 212 Overall

P Cooper Consiglio
9th Round
No. 279 Overall

1B Chris McHugh
11th Round
No. 335 Overall

One of the Best Draft Classes in School History

The seven selections tie the 2026 class with the 2014 and 2003 Wolfpack teams for the third-most draft picks in a single year.

2008: 9 draft picks
2021: 8 draft picks
2019: 8 draft picks
2017: 8 draft picks
2006: 8 draft picks
2026: 7 draft picks
2014: 7 draft picks
2003: 7 draft picks

The consistency of the program over the past two decades is evident, with six of the eight-best draft classes in school history coming under Avent.

More Program History

This year’s draft produced several additional milestones.

For the first time in program history, NC State had six or more players selected in back-to-back MLB Drafts.

The Wolfpack also had four players drafted inside the Top 150 overall for the first time in school history:

Ty Head (46)
Jacob Dudan (83)
Ryan Marohn (140)
Luke Nixon (150)

That level of top-end talent underscores just how deep this year’s roster was.

Ty Head Leads the Way

Center fielder Ty Head became NC State’s highest-drafted player in six years.

The Gold Glove-winning outfielder was selected 46th overall in the second round.

He’s the highest Wolfpack player drafted since Patrick Bailey was selected 13th overall by the San Francisco Giants in the 2020 MLB Draft.

A Fitting Ending for Elliott Avent

For more than a quarter century, Elliott Avent built NC State into one of the nation’s most respected baseball programs.

His final team continued that tradition by producing one of the strongest draft classes in school history.

While Chris Hart now takes over the program, the 2026 MLB Draft serves as one final reminder of the foundation Avent built in Raleigh and the talent he consistently developed into professional baseball players.