Miami’s recent theft of Alex Sosa left NC State without a proven starting catcher, and with a lot of playing time suddenly available, State was able to get Drew Lanphere back in the fold. Lanphere presumably entered the portal to seek a full-time opportunity somewhere, but now he has one at NC State.
In two seasons with the Wolfpack, Lanphere is slashing .244/.376/.341. He’s made 27 appearances at catcher, while also spending some time in the outfield and at designated hitter. More consistent playing time should help him at the plate, and while he hit only .217 this spring, he got on base at a .383 clip, walking 22 times against 13 strikeouts. That’s an encouraging thing to take into 2026.
He may not be a standout offensively but at least gives the Pack some reliability out of this spot. State probably has some more portal work ahead of it to complete the starting lineup for next year.