‘It felt like home’: Why South Carolina transfer RHP Ryder Garino picked NC State in portal

When South Carolina right-handed pitcher Ryder Garino entered the transfer portal on June 3, he heard from countless programs around the country. Each coach that reached out tried to get him on campus for a visit, looking to secure his commitment. 

But as he filtered through the list of schools that were looking to host him, Garino was drawn towards NC State. It was a stressful time, Garino admitted, but he landed on the Wolfpack for his first official visit of his portal recruitment. 

And, well, that’s all he needed to take. 

Garino committed to NC State on Monday night to become the Pack’s first transfer portal addition of the offseason. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

“I got there and found a home immediately,” Garino told TheWolfpacker.com. “It felt like home. I felt like I made the right decision, for sure.”

The 6-foot-5, 195-pound rising sophomore knew NC State was the place for him based on his bond with the Wolfpack’s coaching staff. He was around coach Elliott Avent, associate head coach Chris Hart, pitching coach Clint Chrysler and assistant Bo Robinson, all of which were able to make a significant impact in their short time with the former Gamecock.

“A big part of it was the coaches,” Garino said. “All the coaches, I absolutely loved them. Me and my dad absolutely had a ball with them the whole day we were there. It was just an endless conversation about baseball, about life. I feel like we just all really connected.”

Garino enters his second year of college baseball after he carved out a role within South Carolina’s bullpen. He fanned 34 batters with 13 walks as he allowed 20 runs (16 earned) on 18 hits, while opposing hitters posted just a .196 average against him in 24.2 innings pitched across 16 appearances. 

The Cherry Hill, N..J., native’s 31.8 percent strikeout rate would have led NC State’s pitching staff this past spring (min. 10 innings). Star reliever Jacob Dudan paced the Wolfpack with a 30.6 percent mark. 

Garino, who was a dominant prep pitcher with 185 strikeouts in 109 combined innings from his junior and senior seasons, possesses a low 90s fastball with an effective slider that he is looking to improve this offseason. 

Speaking of growing as a pitcher going into his sophomore year, Chrysler’s development process is what seemed to be most intriguing for Garino. 

“The development piece was really big for me, that’s what I was looking for in this whole process,” Garino said. “I wanted a home where I could really get to know the coaches, get a good relationship and really develop. I think Coach Chrysler was really heart-to-heart. It sounds like I’m going to get on campus and we’re going to get to work. It seems like he can really develop me.”

As Garino looks to build upon his debut collegiate campaign, which featured five outings with four strikeouts or more, he wants to battle for a starting role within the Wolfpack’s pitching staff. This fall will be key in that, but as junior lefty Dominic Fritton is a likely selection in July’s MLB Draft, at least one rotation spot is up for grabs. 

Garino feels like he has what it takes to start at the college level and his three no-hit innings with four strikeouts against Florida in early May seemed to provide a glimpse of that. Still, however, Garino will have to compete against NC State’s stable of young arms that are eager to start, including rising sophomore Anderson Nance and Dudan.

If Garino is placed in the bullpen next spring instead, he still lines up to be an effective reliever that can bridge multiple innings in leverage situations. 

No matter what role Garino has next spring, he is more confident after a season in the SEC. He knows he can battle the best lineups in the nation on a given night, which will be key as he prepares for ACC hitters. 

“When I step on that mound, I’m going to compete from pitch to pitch,” Garino said. “Whether things go wrong or go well, I’m just a competitor.”

Garino knows what it takes to pitch at the college level. Now, he’s ready to prove it again with NC State.