North Carolina State University Athletics
Seven Wolfpack Selected in the 2026 MLB Draft
7/13/2026 12:07:00 PM | Baseball
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State Baseball saw seven players drafted in the 2026 MLB Draft, tying for the second most draft picks in program history. Following Ty Head and Jacob Dudan, who were selected on day one, Ryan Marohn, Luke Nixon, Sherman Johnson, Cooper Consiglio and Chris McHugh all heard their names called.Â
Among ACC schools, the Wolfpack had the second-highest number of players drafted. Following the draft, Heath Andrews signed with the Cleveland Guardians as an undrafted free agent.
It was the first time in program history that NC State had four picks in the top 150. Former head coach Elliott Avent has now coached 143 draft picks over his 30 years at NC State, including 64 since 2015.
LHP Ryan Marohn- Pittsburgh Pirates, Round 5, Pick 140
This past season, Marohn made eight starts for the Wolfpack before his season was cut short by injury. He finished 6-1 with a 3.18 ERA over 45.1 innings. The Chantilly, Va., native struck out 62 batters and issued just 22 walks while holding opposing batters to a .204 average. He struck out a career-high 10 batters in an ACC game against Florida State (3/20). Marohn was named to Baseball America's Pitcher of the Year Watch List, named a Third Team Preseason All-American by NCBWA, and named a Perfect Game College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Year Watch List honoree before the season.Â
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2B Luke Nixon- San Francisco Giants, Round 5, Pick 150
A 2026 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I Atlantic All-Region Second Team and All-ACC Second Team honoree, Nixon was one of just three players to start all 56 games for the Wolfpack, including 55 at second base and one at shortstop. He hit a career-best .367 in 215 at-bats, recording a team-high 79 hits, 59 runs scored, 128 total bases, and 45 RBIs. He totaled nine home runs, a career-best single-season total, 16 doubles, and three triples, all of which led the Wolfpack. The Wilmington native finished the season on a 15-game hitting streak, tied for the team lead with 23 multi-hit games, and recorded multiple runs in 12 games and multiple RBIs in 14 games. He earned a spot on the Baseball America Week 12 National Team of the Week after his first two-home-run game with the Wolfpack against Miami.Â
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3B Sherman Johnson- Cincinnati Reds, Round 7, Pick 212
In just one year with the Wolfpack, Johnson finished as an All-ACC Third Team honoree. He finished the 2026 season with a .330 average in 54 games, including 51 starts. In 182 at-bats, he had 60 hits, seven doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 48 RBIs and 42 runs scored. He hit safely in 15 straight games and reached base in 24 straight games to end the season. The Loganville, Ga., native recorded 17 games with multiple hits, 14 games with multiple RBIs and 12 multi-run games. At one point, he recorded at least one RBI in seven straight games (5/1-516).
Cooper Consiglio- Philadelphia Phillies, Round 9, Pick 279
In 2026, Cooper Consiglio made 11 starts and 16 appearances on the mound for the Wolfpack. He finished the season 3-5 with a 6.90 ERA over 60.0 innings and recorded three saves. He struck out 71 batters while walking only 29. He posted a career-best nine strikeouts in the Wolfpack's win over Miami (5/1). He recorded his first career save against Boston College (3/15), finishing the game after two innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three. The Palm Harbor, Fla., native went 5.0 or more innings seven times. He started in the NCAA Tournament's Auburn Regional against Auburn.Â
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Chris McHugh- San Diego Padres, Round 11, Pick 335
McHugh played in all 56 games for the Wolfpack in 2026, seeing time at first base, as a designated hitter, and in left field. He hit .320 for the season, leading the Wolfpack with 219 at-bats, 70 hits, 16 doubles, one triple, and a career-best nine home runs. The Commack, NY, native had a team-high 50 RBIs and achieved a 16-game hit streak. He recorded a team-best 23 multi-hit games, a team-high 16 multi-RBI games, and seven multi-run games. McHugh joined the Pack in 2025 and was named to the All-ACC Second Team.Â
Heath Andrews- Cleveland Guardians, UDFA
Over three seasons with the Wolfpack, Andrews went 7-8 with a 7.11 ERA in 39 appearances. In 138 innings, he struck out 117 batters. In his final season with the Pack, the Fincastle, Va., native appeared 15 times, making 13 starts on the mound. He went a season-high seven innings and matched his career-best in the win against Boston College (3/15). He recorded a career-best 10 strikeouts against UNC (5/14).
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Among ACC schools, the Wolfpack had the second-highest number of players drafted. Following the draft, Heath Andrews signed with the Cleveland Guardians as an undrafted free agent.
It was the first time in program history that NC State had four picks in the top 150. Former head coach Elliott Avent has now coached 143 draft picks over his 30 years at NC State, including 64 since 2015.
LHP Ryan Marohn- Pittsburgh Pirates, Round 5, Pick 140
This past season, Marohn made eight starts for the Wolfpack before his season was cut short by injury. He finished 6-1 with a 3.18 ERA over 45.1 innings. The Chantilly, Va., native struck out 62 batters and issued just 22 walks while holding opposing batters to a .204 average. He struck out a career-high 10 batters in an ACC game against Florida State (3/20). Marohn was named to Baseball America's Pitcher of the Year Watch List, named a Third Team Preseason All-American by NCBWA, and named a Perfect Game College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Year Watch List honoree before the season.Â
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2B Luke Nixon- San Francisco Giants, Round 5, Pick 150
A 2026 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I Atlantic All-Region Second Team and All-ACC Second Team honoree, Nixon was one of just three players to start all 56 games for the Wolfpack, including 55 at second base and one at shortstop. He hit a career-best .367 in 215 at-bats, recording a team-high 79 hits, 59 runs scored, 128 total bases, and 45 RBIs. He totaled nine home runs, a career-best single-season total, 16 doubles, and three triples, all of which led the Wolfpack. The Wilmington native finished the season on a 15-game hitting streak, tied for the team lead with 23 multi-hit games, and recorded multiple runs in 12 games and multiple RBIs in 14 games. He earned a spot on the Baseball America Week 12 National Team of the Week after his first two-home-run game with the Wolfpack against Miami.Â
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3B Sherman Johnson- Cincinnati Reds, Round 7, Pick 212
In just one year with the Wolfpack, Johnson finished as an All-ACC Third Team honoree. He finished the 2026 season with a .330 average in 54 games, including 51 starts. In 182 at-bats, he had 60 hits, seven doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 48 RBIs and 42 runs scored. He hit safely in 15 straight games and reached base in 24 straight games to end the season. The Loganville, Ga., native recorded 17 games with multiple hits, 14 games with multiple RBIs and 12 multi-run games. At one point, he recorded at least one RBI in seven straight games (5/1-516).
Cooper Consiglio- Philadelphia Phillies, Round 9, Pick 279
In 2026, Cooper Consiglio made 11 starts and 16 appearances on the mound for the Wolfpack. He finished the season 3-5 with a 6.90 ERA over 60.0 innings and recorded three saves. He struck out 71 batters while walking only 29. He posted a career-best nine strikeouts in the Wolfpack's win over Miami (5/1). He recorded his first career save against Boston College (3/15), finishing the game after two innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three. The Palm Harbor, Fla., native went 5.0 or more innings seven times. He started in the NCAA Tournament's Auburn Regional against Auburn.Â
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Chris McHugh- San Diego Padres, Round 11, Pick 335
McHugh played in all 56 games for the Wolfpack in 2026, seeing time at first base, as a designated hitter, and in left field. He hit .320 for the season, leading the Wolfpack with 219 at-bats, 70 hits, 16 doubles, one triple, and a career-best nine home runs. The Commack, NY, native had a team-high 50 RBIs and achieved a 16-game hit streak. He recorded a team-best 23 multi-hit games, a team-high 16 multi-RBI games, and seven multi-run games. McHugh joined the Pack in 2025 and was named to the All-ACC Second Team.Â
Heath Andrews- Cleveland Guardians, UDFA
Over three seasons with the Wolfpack, Andrews went 7-8 with a 7.11 ERA in 39 appearances. In 138 innings, he struck out 117 batters. In his final season with the Pack, the Fincastle, Va., native appeared 15 times, making 13 starts on the mound. He went a season-high seven innings and matched his career-best in the win against Boston College (3/15). He recorded a career-best 10 strikeouts against UNC (5/14).
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