South Raleigh News

ARLINGTON, Texas – NC State outfielder Eli Serrano III was drafted No. 111 overall in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft by the New York Mets on Monday afternoon.

Serrano III, a fourth-round selection, was one of four Pack9 players to play and start in all 61 games in 2024, making all 61 starts in center field after serving as the starting first baseman as a freshman in 2023.

The center fielder led the Pack with 27 games in the leadoff spot, finishing the season with a .286 batting average, 70 hits, 56 runs scored, nine homers, nine doubles and 106 total bases. His 70 hits, 22 multi-hit games and seven stolen bases ranked third on the team in 2024.

Serrano III shined in the postseason for NC State, batting .333 with five runs scored, four hits and a home run in the NCAA Raleigh Regional to be named to the All-Regional Team. He then batted .429 with six hits, two doubles, two homers, three RBI and four runs scored in the Wolfpack's Super Regional series victory at No. 10 Georgia.

In the field, Serrano III transitioned smoothly to center field, finishing the 2024 season with six outfield assists, 156 putouts and a .988 fielding percentage.

In 2023, Serrano III made an immediate impact as a freshman, appearing in 53 games with 49 starts at first base. He was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team after batting .292 with 54 hits, 12 doubles, seven homers, 32 RBI and 15 multi-hit games. He tied for the team lead with eight doubles in ACC play.

With Serrano III's selection on day two of the MLB Draft head coach Elliott Avent has now helped guide129 players to MLB Draft selections during his28-year NC State coaching career. The final day ofthe2024 MLB Draft is set to begin at2 p.m ETon Tuesdaywith teams making selections for rounds11-20.