Why JMU transfer INF Wyatt Peifer, a Gold Glove defender, picked NC State

James Madison transfer third baseman Wyatt Peifer wasn’t sure what to expect when he suited up for the Dukes in the 2024 Raleigh Regional. He’d never been to NC State, but soon enough, the standout corner infielder fell in love with what Doak Field had to offer.

The Wolfpack capacity crowd was invested in every pitch. The packed house of more than 3,000 fans inside the program’s home stadium seemed to react to nearly every play, looking to will their beloved NC State team past JMU in the regional final. 

NC State eventually downed Peifer and the Dukes before continuing its run to the College World Series with a Super Regional series win at Georgia the following weekend. But ever since that summer weekend in Raleigh, Peifer yearned for that feeling again. 

Soon enough, he entered the portal after the 2025 season and NC State was quick to get involved. Peifer, whose mother graduated from the university in 1993, knew the Wolfpack was going to be the right program for him. That postseason weekend experience seemed to be the cherry on top.

“Honestly, it was the best recruiting tactic anyone could have,” Peifer told TheWolfpacker.com. “The atmosphere was unbelievable. It was really special to play in an environment like that in meaningful games. It was something for my last year that I was trying to experience again and play in front of that crowd that would be on my side this time.”

Peifer, a rising senior, was the Wolfpack’s fourth transfer portal addition of the offseason. He joins rising sophomore right-handed pitchers Collins Black (Duke) and Ryder Garino (South Carolina), and rising sophomore infielder Mikey Ryan (LSU) in the current portal haul. 

Peifer’s portal recruitment was busy with a 2024 Gold Glove Award at third on his resume, but NC State assistant Bo Robinson formed a “special” connection with him before coach Elliott Avent and associate head coach Chris Hart also jumped into the mix. All three of the Pack’s assistants sold Peifer on the idea of competing for the starting third base position to wrap his collegiate career. 

They were also able to point to the elite player development with transfer portal players, most specifically ECU transfer third baseman Alec Makarewicz. The Wolfpack was able to help unlock another level in Makarewicz’s bat, which allowed him to hit .378 with 25 doubles, 24 home runs and 84 RBI to pace the team to Omaha in his lone season at NC State. 

Now, it seems the Pack is looking to do the same with Peifer.

“We talked a lot about player development,” Peifer said. “I did my homework and saw all the players they brought in and developed into professionals. Alec Makarewicz is one of the big ones that stands out to me. He was a third baseman switch hitter and came to NC State for his last year and really took off. I think that was something that gave me confidence in their abilities.”

Peifer’s 2025 statline doesn’t jump off the page. He hit .241 with 10 doubles, six home runs and 32 RBI. But when looking closer at the third baseman, there’s a reason why. Peifer underwent labrum surgery last summer, which led to a slow start to his junior campaign. 

Although he struggled in the early parts of this past spring — hitting .172 with three doubles, a homer, 10 RBI, eight walks and 28 strikeouts through the first 25 games — Peifer was able to put it all together down the stretch. The veteran hit .339 with seven doubles, five home runs, 22 RBI, 10 walks and 17 strikeouts in JMU’s final 30 games. 

In addition to the improved hitting numbers, Piefer posted a seven-game hitting streak before he logged a hit in 10 of the last 12 games of the 2025 campaign. That didn’t appear to be a fluke, either. Peifer hit .397 with seven doubles, a home run, 11 RBI, 18 walks and eight strikeouts in 21 games with the Staunton Braves of the Valley Baseball League this summer. 

Peifer’s momentum at the plate is something that both he and NC State’s coaching staff hopes can carry over into fall ball and the spring within the Wolfpack’s batting order. 

“I’m a Gold Glove infielder. Confidence-wise, I’m the best third baseman in the country, defensively,” Peifer said. “[The coaches] really think between myself and them, we can really find and get everything out of my bat.”

If the Wolfpack can engineer another development turnaround with Peifer like it did with Makarewicz, then the JMU transfer is a likely candidate for a breakthrough campaign at NC State. Time will tell, but Peifer is ready to do whatever it takes to help the Pack reach the Men’s College World Series for the third time in six seasons.

“I just want to be able to make an impact on a really good ball club,” Peifer said. “Getting a chance to win and make a run to Omaha for a national championship, that’s every kid’s dream. It’s a real possibility at NC State.”