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Former NC State RHP Derrick Smith drafted by Colorado Rockies

image_6483441 (3)by:Noah Fleischman•07/14/25•

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Derrick Smith
Jun 15, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; NC State Wolfpack pitcher Derrick Smith (25) throws against the Kentucky Wildcats during the tenth inningat Charles Schwab Filed Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

NC State junior right-handed reliever Derrick Smith, a key piece of the Wolfpack’s 2024 College World Series appearance, was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 17th round with the 497th overall pick.

Smith, who is currently in the transfer portal, has until Aug. 1 to sign with the Rockies or elect to return to college. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

A flame-throwing closer, Smith only made six appearances this spring as he dealt with an undisclosed injury early in the season. He tossed a total of three innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with six walks and eight strikeouts.

The White Bear Lake, Minn., native made his season debut on March 11 against North Carolina A&T, striking out the side in an inning of work, before doing the same thing a week later against Davidson.

He ran into trouble in late March with 0.2 innings of one-run baseball against USC Upstate on March 25, which was followed by not recording an out with one run allowed and three walks at Duke on March 30.

Smith made just two appearances the rest of the season. He recorded one out, which came via a strikeout, against UNCW on April 29, before allowed a hit and two walks without getting an out in the team’s 11-2 loss to Stetson to open the NCAA Tournament on May 30.

Smith helped anchor the Wolfpack’s shutdown bullpen with 41 strikeouts in 29.2 innings across 24 total appearances during the 2024 campaign. He allowed just three earned runs in his final 15 outings last spring, all of which came in Omaha.

Smith is NC State’s eighth draft pick of the 2025 event. He joins junior lefty Dominic Fritton (4th round, Tampa Bay Rays), shortstop signee Aidan West (4th round, Los Angeles Dodgers) and right-handed pitcher signee CJ Gray (5th round, Los Angeles Angels), junior right-handed pitcher Shane Van Dam (9th round, Kansas City Royals), senior shortstop Justin DeCriscio (10th round, San Diego Padres), junior outfielder Josh Hogue (15th round, Miami Marlins) and junior right-hander Andrew Shaffner (15th round, Cincinnati Reds) as the Pack’s draft selections this weekend.

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