The pair of infielders will seek new homes for next year
NC State’s outgoing transfer total hit seven with the additions of infielders JR Matt Heavner and SO Ryan Jaros. They join five others who entered the portal earlier.
Heavner played in 49 games this year for NC State, starting 42 of them, primarily serving as the Wolfpack’s third baseman. He played 42 games at 3B for the Pack while also playing 10 games at SS and 1 game at 2B. For the year, the Lincolnton native hit .225/.307/.308, 1 2B, 3 HR, 8.5 BB%, 9.8 K%, 0-0 SB.
Over his three years in Raleigh, Heavner hit .233/.325/.332, 5 2B, 6 HR, 8.5 BB%, 12.6 K%, 0-1 SB. He has a .958 career fielding percentage, posting a .949 mark in 2025. There should be no shortage of suitors at the lower conference level for Heavner. His defensive flexibility and phenomenal contact skills will find him a starting role in a D1 lineup somewhere.
Jaros came to Raleigh after a one year stay at Georgia Tech. The New Jersey native hit .304/.437/.493, 4 2B, 3 HR, 17.0 BB%, 23.9 K%, 0-0 SB this year for State while appearing in 30 games and making 19 starts. All his playing time came at 3B where he posted an .818 fielding percentage.
The bat is not the question for Jaros, who has a career line of .317/.463/.510, 8 2B, 4 HR, 18.5 BB%, 23.7 K%, 0-0 SB over his time in Raleigh and Atlanta, but the glove is. He may need to move to 1B or corner OF to stay at a higher conference school or he can remain as a 3B at a lower level conference. Of course, there’s always the argument to be made that more playing time for him at the hot corner could improve his defensive chops.
FR Ryder Woodson’s emergence at 3B in the Auburn Regional, both offensively and defensively, no doubt played a factor in Heavner and Jaros hitting the portal. Hopefully their leaving is a sign that Woodson will return to State for the 2026 season.
Coupled with the graduation of Justin DeCriscio, NC State’s left side of the infield now sits a little light. Woodson and Luke Nixon were both prep SS, but Nixon has only played 2B in the infield for the Wolfpack. Chris McHugh has limited summer league experience at 3B and Brandon Novy was a prep 3B but only played 2 games there this spring for the Pack. Trenton Lyons missed almost the entire season for State (he should be eligible for a medical redshirt) but has the arm strength and athleticism to play on the left side, as well as experience at 2B, 3B, and SS from his summer league time, although he profiles more as a corner OF moving forward.
NC State’s incoming freshman class features two infielders: SS Aidan West and 3B Quinn Bentley. West is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the 118th best prospect for this year’s draft, so there’s a chance he doesn’t make it to campus. Additions to the left side of the infield via the transfer portal should be expected for State.