How NC State freshman INF Ryder Woodson cemented himself as a key piece of the future

Elliott Avent wasn’t sure why he thought to do it, but after 29 years at the helm of NC State, he has a feel for when it’s time to insert a new player into the lineup. With his team’s season on the line at the Auburn Regional this past weekend, the skipper started freshman third baseman Ryder Woodson.

Woodson, a highly-touted infield prospect out of Naples (Fla.) St. John Neumann, waited for his opportunity. He made 20 appearances in the regular season, but 10 of those were as a late-inning pinch-runner. The first-year collegiate player made just two starts, both against eventual NCAA team Wright State in early March. 

It wasn’t the most obvious idea to put Woodson in the lineup, but Avent believed it was the right time to do so, replacing sure-handed defender Matt Heavner for the freshman with potential. 

“I just felt like today was the day to go to him,” Avent said Saturday. “It might be an odd spot to do that, but I asked him on the bus if he was nervous and he said, ‘No because I’ve had enough playing time. I’m ready.’”

Sure enough, it worked. 

Woodson went 2-for-5 with a double and a home run and three RBI in his NCAA Tournament debut, helping pace the Wolfpack to a 12-0 win over Central Connecticut. That performance earned him the right to stay in the lineup the rest of the weekend, and he only continued to flourish.

The 6-foot-2, 182-pound infielder clubbed a pair of homers against Stetson. The latter of the two was the game-altering grand slam in the eighth that helped propel NC State to a 10-run frame and an eventual 17-12 win to secure a spot in the regional final. 

Although the Wolfpack’s season ended in the regional final, Woodson provided a glimpse into the future of the team’s infield. He’s capable of playing shortstop or third, both options for him to be tested at in the coming fall as the team has to replace outgoing shortstop Justin DeCriscio, while both of the team’s other third base options — Ryan Jaros and Heavner — entered the portal on Tuesday. 

But after Woodson went 5-for-14 with two doubles, three home runs, four runs scored and eight RBI in his first consistent action in the high-stakes environment, he seemed to carve out a role as a key building-block for Avent’s squad. 

As St. John Neumann coach Charlie Maurer watched from afar, he wasn’t surprised to see his former star player rise to the occasion when NC State needed him the most.

“I think what you saw is the type of player he is,” Maurer told TheWolfpacker.com. “He got an opportunity, he’s been patient all year. As excited as I was, I wasn’t shocked. He’s that type of player. He’s a special player, he’s a special talent.”

Woodson’s emergence as a stout hitter with solid defense is exactly what Maurer witnessed for the three seasons he played in his system. The infielder hit the ground running with a .429 average aided by seven doubles and two triples as a sophomore continued to grow the more he developed under Maurer’s tutelage.

By the time his senior campaign rolled around, Maurer believed Woodson was the best player on the field, regardless of which Florida powerhouse they were up against. No matter the situation, Woodson was able to come through. He hit .393 with seven doubles, four triples, five home runs, 17 RBI and 18 walks in his career-best power hitting year at the plate. 

“The best part about coaching Ryder is he always wanted to be challenged,” Maurer said. “He wanted you to coach him harder. And the higher the competition, the higher the stakes, the better he was.”

Woodson rose to the occasion at St. John Neumann, leading to MLB teams growing interested in his talent. He spurned the draft for the chance to play at NC State, and it has seemed to work out in his favor. Woodson was patient with the Wolfpack after he was 5-for-16 with a double, two walks, four strikeouts, four RBI and seven runs scored in his first 20 appearances on the diamond, but only four of them featured multiple at-bats.

He was ready, however, rewarded with his first-career home runs with the NC State logo across his chest in Auburn, Ala.

They came at a pivotal point of NC State’s season, but that never seemed to affect Woodson. He was cool as a cucumber at the plate in an SEC ballpark. Any mistake would have been magnified, but he didn’t seem rattled. 

“Before the game, I talked with Justin [DeCriscio] and he told me just to have fun,” Woodson said after his first-career blast. “I’ve been playing this game since I was a kid, and that’s what he’s taken pride in himself. That’s something I’ve learned from him throughout the season. I’m grateful for it.”

That mindset paid off for Woodson and the Pack. Now, he’s primed to take an even bigger role moving into his sophomore year. Woodson is ready to welcome that challenge in a program that expects to make it back to the College World Series every time it takes the field.

After all, that’s the cloth he’s cut from.

“He’s ready for the moment,” Maurer said. “Obviously, he’s very skilled, but he always delivers in the big moments. And he did that again.”