The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544864
10 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN T rea Turner remembers the gray build- ing down the right field line at Doak Field. The nondescript structure with the metal roof housed NC State's two hitting cages during his three-year career with the Wolfpack. For Turner, a player obsessed with improvement and eager to reach the big leagues, NC State's baseball building was his place to "grind." But it wasn't up to par with other such buildings around the state, so he often had to work at finding a time when one of those cages was avail- able. In the end, his diligence paid off. Turner was an integral part of the Wolfpack's run to the College World Series in 2013, and he went on to become a first-round draft pick by the San Diego Padres the follow- ing year. Now in the midst of his fourth season with the Philadelphia Phillies, he's a three-time All Star, two-time National League batting champion and the owner of a World Series ring, which he earned in 2019 while playing for the Washington Nationals. In the years since Turner left Raleigh, NC State has been working to upgrade its baseball facilities. The results of those efforts are now on display. In March, NC State moved into its new $20 mil- lion clubhouse, a pristine brick structure equipped with state-of-the-art hitting cages and a pitching lab. The new facility is located on the very ground where its predecessor once stood. For Turner, whose name adorns the new hitting cages, the building was a long time coming. "I'm really glad it happened," he said. "The program has been so good for so long, but our facilities were pretty far behind some of the other schools, not only in our conference but even at some smaller levels." That situation has changed. NC State now has a building that is on par with — or better than — the facilities that other high-level college baseball pro- grams have at their disposal. It's a luxury that the program has been eager to get its hands on after two trips to Omaha in the past five years. The facility is decked out with every- thing NC State could need. The hitting cages are equipped with Maven baseball technology, which helps with training and assessment, while the pitching lab provides real-time feedback for players and coaches to use. In addition, the spa- cious locker room and players lounge are a step up from what the squad previously used just down the hallway. Since moving into the new building, NC State's players have been taking full advantage of everything the facility has to offer. "It's not just that it's cool," head coach Elliott Avent said. "Players utilize it. It's going to help make them better. I think [it will be even more impactful] next year, when we have this at the beginning of the fall when you can get better and utilize this stuff to make you a better player." The new facility is a 180-degree turn from what NC State had previously. That's not to say the previous building wasn't good enough to get the job done. While it was in use, NC State developed a succession of big leaguers like Turner, catcher Patrick Bailey and infielder Will Wilson, to name a few. But its replace- ment is in a different stratosphere. Associate head coach Chris Hart leads the Pack's recruiting efforts and envi- sions the new building making his job somewhat easier. After all, recruits of- ten do take facilities into account when they're making their decisions. "We've lost guys over the years be- cause of silly stuff like that," Hart said. "It's human nature. Kids are going to want the shiny bells and whistles. They T R A C K I N G THE THE PACK PACK New Baseball Facility Seen As New Baseball Facility Seen As Investment In Program's Future Investment In Program's Future NC State moved into its new clubhouse earlier this season. Work on the project began in 2022, prompting coach Elliott Avent to note that "I don't think I've come to practice in the past two years without walking around a ladder or having to hear a jackhammer." PHOTO BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN