NC State Lands Mississippi State Catcher Andrew Raymond

NC State continued its busy offseason in the transfer portal by landing a commitment from Mississippi State catcher Andrew Raymond.

All in 🐺 pic.twitter.com/k161mpCf1S

— Andrew (@andrewmraymond9) June 12, 2026

The former George Mason and Mississippi State backstop arrives in Raleigh with two productive collegiate seasons already under his belt and gives new head coach Chris Hart another experienced bat to add to the roster.

While Raymond wasn’t an everyday starter for the Bulldogs this season, he certainly made the most of his opportunities.

Productive Season in the SEC

Raymond spent the 2026 season at Mississippi State, serving primarily as a reserve catcher.

When he was in the lineup, however, he produced at a high level.

2026 Statistics
.348 batting average
.444 on-base percentage
.988 OPS
22 games played
10 starts
54 plate appearances

It’s a relatively small sample size, but Raymond’s offensive numbers were impressive, particularly considering they came in the SEC.

His ability to get on base and produce quality at-bats should immediately attract attention from the Wolfpack coaching staff.

Strong Freshman Season at George Mason

Before transferring to Mississippi State, Raymond enjoyed a successful freshman campaign at George Mason.

2025 Statistics
.287 batting average
.393 on-base percentage
.824 OPS
5 home runs

His performance earned him a spot on the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team and established him as one of the conference’s top young catchers.

The transition from George Mason to Mississippi State represented a significant jump in competition, but Raymond continued to hit when given opportunities.

Why This Is A Nice Addition

As of now, starting catcher Drew Lanphere is set to return for his final season at NC State in 2027, but the Wolfpack was in need of a backup catcher after Vincent DeCarlo entered the Transfer Portal.

Raymond brings:

• Experience at two Division I programs
• SEC experience
• Proven offensive production
• Positional versatility behind the plate
• Multiple years of collegiate development

The fact that he hit at both George Mason and Mississippi State suggests his offensive game has a chance to translate regardless of conference affiliation.

Opportunity For A Larger Role

One of the most interesting aspects of Raymond’s transfer is the opportunity awaiting him in Raleigh.

Despite posting impressive numbers for the Bulldogs, he wasn’t a full-time starter.

At NC State, he could have a chance to compete for a much larger role and significantly more plate appearances. Lanphere struggled at the plate this season, batting .227.

Final Takeaway

The transfer portal is often about finding players who have already shown they can perform when given opportunities.

Andrew Raymond fits that description.

He earned All-Rookie honors at George Mason, hit nearly .350 in limited SEC action this season, and now arrives at NC State looking for an expanded role.

For Chris Hart and the Wolfpack, it’s another experienced piece added to a roster that continues to take shape for 2027.