The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/223560
Top Five NC State Pitchers The following is one observer's ranking of the five greatest pitchers in NC State history (current players not included). It was a tough call between Nos. 3 and 4. Suffice it to say, Carlos Rodon will go straight to the top of this list once his college career is over. 1. Mike Caldwell, 1968-71 • 1971 ACC Player of the Year • Set 13 school records that went unbroken for more than 20 years • Ranks in NC State's top five for wins (32), starts (44), innings (3481⁄3) and strikeouts (296) • Still holds the ACC records for complete games (32) and shutouts (10) • Led NC State to the College World Series in 1968 • Enjoyed a 14-year major league career with four teams I scouted was [Detroit Tigers ace] Justin Verlander when he was at Old Dominion. Carlos is different from Verlander, but the one thing they have in common is when the ball crosses home plate, they're really difficult to hit." In addition to the tremendous array of pitches, command and competitiveness, Rodon also has the ability to find that extra gear, to reach back for that something extra when the situation calls for it. He calls it "Beast Mode." He uses it judiciously, but effectively. "It's just a little extra, dig down and find that next level you have," Rodon said. "Second and third, bases juiced, you're in a jam, you've got to find that second wind, that next level, that extra gear, and you just While Rodon's stats were better his freshman season, he was at his most dominant in the second half of 2013. After starting the year 3-2 with a 4.91 ERA through nine starts, Rodon kick-started his season April 20 at Georgia Tech. Over his final 10 starts, he went 7-1 with a 1.78 ERA in 81 innings, allowing 57 hits, striking out 99 and walking just 18. "It really clicked about halfway through the year," Rodon said. "We were just starting on a streak and it was my start at Georgia Tech. I went nine, had a good start, and from there I pitched well the rest of the season." With Rodon as its workhorse on the mound, NC State won 32 of 36 games after an 18-9 start and earned its first bid to 2. Matt Donahue, 1991-92 • Second-team All-American in 1992 • Ranks fourth in school history in career wins (27), innings pitched (294) and strikeouts (285), and fifth in complete games (13) • Ranks first and second in Wolfpack history for single-season wins (14-2, 13-5), starts (20, 19) and innings pitched (1591⁄3, 1342⁄3), and second and third in strikeouts (147, 138) • Was 1992 ACC Tournament MVP 3. Joey Devine, 2003-05 • Second-team All-American in 2003 • The first relief pitcher ever to earn first-team All-ACC honors three times • Is the NC State leader in career saves with 36, which ranks fourth in ACC history • Saved 14 games in 2003 and 12 in 2005, ranking second and third in NC State single-season history • Averaged 13.32 strikeouts per nine innings as a junior in 2005, and 12.36 K's per nine innings for his career • Pitched parts of five major league seasons with the Braves and Athletics 4.Terry Harvey, 1992-95 • Third-team All-American in 1993 • NC State's all-time leader in career wins (35), innings pitched (426), games started (60) and strikeouts (386) • Ranks seventh in school history with 10 career complete games • Threw a complete-game no-hitter versus Florida State on March 26, 1993, the first time FSU ever was no-hit 5.Tim Stoddard, 1972-75 • Made 18 starts in 31 career appearances • Compiled a 16-3 career record with a 2.28 ERA and seven saves • Was the winning pitcher in NC State's ACC championship game victories over Clemson in 1973 and '74, then earned the save in the '75 title game win over the Tigers • Was 4-0 in ACC Tournament games • Pitched 13 seasons in the major leagues with six teams — Bruce Winkworth Rodon has a record of 19-3 with a 2.33 career ERA after two seasons, and he has a chance to become just the third 30-game winner in Wolfpack history. photo by ken martin bring it on and say no one can beat you." Through two seasons at NC State, if Rodon isn't already the best pitcher in program history, he certainly is the most decorated. He is a two-time All-American, a Golden Spikes Award finalist, the 2012 National Freshman of the Year, the 2012 ACC and National Pitcher of the Year, and a two-time Team USA hero. He's pitched at his best on the biggest stages, dominating great teams in the postseason. He led the nation and set a school record for strikeouts last year with 184, and stands 67 K's shy of breaking Terry Harvey's NC State career record, which Harvey set in four years. He's 19-3 with a 2.33 career ERA after two seasons. He has a chance to become just the third 30-game winner in Wolfpack history, joining Harvey (35-12) and Mike Caldwell (32-10), another four-year performer. the College World Series since 1968. The Wolfpack rode a 7-1 record through the ACC Championship, the NCAA Raleigh Regional and the Raleigh Super Regional to earn that long-sought trip to Omaha. In five postseason starts, Rodon was 2-1 with a 1.09 ERA. In 411⁄3 postseason innings, he struck out 47, walked seven, and allowed 23 hits and seven runs (five earned). In 10 innings against then thirdranked North Carolina in the ACC Tournament, he allowed just one hit (an infield single), struck out 14 and walked two. A week later in the NCAA regional, he tossed a complete-game two-hit shutout against William & Mary, striking out 10 without allowing a walk. The Wolfpack nearly stumbled in the NCAA Super Regional against a vastly underrated Rice team, a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Eugene Regional. NC State took 52 ■ the wolfpacker 50-53.Carlos Rodon.indd 52 12/5/13 3:37 PM