:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55627545/117544480.0.jpg)
Despite losing Joe Dunand, Andy Cosgrove, and Evan Mendoza, NC State’s offense should be fine in 2018. Those losses hurt, no doubt, but the Wolfpack will return two-thirds of its lineup, including center fielder Josh McLain and right fielder Brock Deatherage, who were drafted but elected not to sign with their MLB clubs.
Pack The Bases was the first to report that both would be returning to college, and now that the MLB Draft signing deadline has come and gone (that was Friday), it’s official.
McLain was second on the team in batting average (.311), first in stolen bases (11), and tied for first in doubles (21). He should again be relied on to help get things going near the top of the order. Deatherage is coming off a down year in which he slashed only .218/.304/.330 while striking out 57 times. He’s better than that, and as a senior he needs to prove it.