South Raleigh News

ARLINGTON, Texas – The NC State baseball team had two players selected Tuesday on Day Three of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft. Junior shortstop Brandon Butterworth and redshirt senior pitcher Logan Whitaker became the third and fourth NC State players picked in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Butterworth, the No. 360 overall pick, was a 12th-round selection by the San Diego Padres. Whitaker, the No. 578 overall selection, was a 19th-round pick by the Minnesota Twins.

With Butterworth and Whitaker's selections on Tuesday, head coach Elliott Avent has now helped guide 131 players to MLB Draft selections during his 28-year NC State coaching career. NC State concludes the 2024 MLB Draft with 194 all-time draft selections.

Brandon Butterworth | 12th Round | No. 360 Overall Pick | San Diego Padres

Butterworth, a junior from Monroe, North Carolina, was one of four Pack9 players to play and start in all 61 games this season. The Western Carolina transfer started all 61 games for NC State at shortstop, recording 71 putouts and 133 assists while helping turn 26 double plays.

The junior shortstop batted .250 with 46 runs scored, 56 hits, 13 doubles, two triples, seven homers and 33 RBI in his first season with the Wolfpack. His two triples ranked first on the team, while his 13 stolen bases (on just 14 attempts) and 40 walks both ranked second on the roster in 2024.

Butterworth recorded 14 multi-hit games and nine multi-RBI games in his first year with the Pack. In the postseason, Butterworth batted .333 with three RBI and two walks at the plate and helped turn four double plays in the NCAA Raleigh Regional to be named to the All-Regional Team.

Butterworth played in 84 games at Western Carolina between his freshman and sophomore seasons. He started 52 games at second base as a sophomore and led the Southern Conference with seven triples, tying for Western Carolina's single-season record.

Logan Whitaker |19th Round | No.578 Overall Pick | Minnesota Twins

Whitaker tossed a total of205.1 innings pitched over three seasons in an NC State uniform , finishing with a10-8 record ,210 strikeouts anda4 .78 ERAin46 career appearanceswith38 starts .

The right-hander overcame multiple injuries during his Wolfpack career to become a weekend staple for the Pack . In2024 , Whitakermade13 pitching appearanceswith nine starts , finishingwitha3-1 recordover59 .0 innings pitched despite missing amonth due to illness . He ranked thirdon the teamwith69 strikeouts , sportinga69-to-22 strikeoutto walk ratio . The veteran right-hander allowed just0 .37 walks per inningand limited opposing battersto.a252 batting average against him .

Whitaker dominated opposing hittersinNCState 's fourth journeyto.theMen 's College World Seriesin program history , posting.a1 -0 recordwitha2 .60 over17 .1 postseason innings He ledallNCState pitcherswith23 strikeoutsintheNCAA Tournamentand held opposing hittersto.just.a161 batting average against him Inhis final collegiate outing he tossed7 .0 innings of reliefinaCollege World Series gameagainst Florida allowingjusttwo hitsand one run.withacareer-high10 strikeouts

In2023 , Whitaker wastheWolfpack 's primary Friday night starter making15 startsin16 appearances He finishedthe season.witha5 -3 record4..29 ERAanda1 ..18 WHIP tossing79 strikeoutsover79 ..2 innings pitched The Winston-SalemNorthCarolina native earnedACC Pitcherof.theWeekhonors.onMay22 ,.2023 after tossingseven scoreless inningswhile allowingjustone hit.withsixstrikeoutsinhis final regular seasonstartof.hisredshirt juniorseason

In2022 , Whitakermade14 startsand17 total appearances logging62 strikeoutsover66 ..2 innings pitched Hefinishedhis redshirtsophomore season.witha4 ..73 ERAand notchedhisfirstcareer winagainst Longwood.onFeb23 ,.2022 spinningfive shutout frames