Early Look: Harwich

HARWICH MARINERS
Manager: Steve Englert
2008 Record: 24-20

The 2008 Harwich Mariners didn't have a ton of players on leaderboards and didn't really separate themselves in any of the team statistics.

And yet.

In a season filled with parity, the Mariners were the last team standing. They won the franchise's first league championship since 1987. They got hot at the right time, won a ridiculous 18-inning game over Orleans in the semis and rode the momentum to the title.

While getting hot was a big part of the run, for sure, Harwich manager Steve Englert wanted everybody to know that it wasn't the only part. All year, he said his Mariners had tremendous chemistry. In a league with essentially 10 all-star teams, how those teams fit together is as important as anything else. Harwich made things fit perfectly.

The hard part will be doing it again. When you're building a team at any level, chemistry is a tough attribute to quantify. For a summer league squad, a good place to start is taking players from successful programs. If they fit on a College World Series team, chances are they'll fit on a lot of other teams, too.

But you can have too much of a good thing, and that might be the case for Harwich in '09. The thing that stands out right now about Harwich's roster is this: nine players are on their way to Omaha, not on their way to Harwich. It's great for them. But it means the first few weeks of the season will be a little hectic in Harwich. Hopefully for the Mariners, that won't be a defining aspect of the season, but it's certainly something to keep an eye on.

Aside from the Omaha flavor, Harwich has some potential. The starting pitching would get a big lift from Fullerton's Daniel Renken, who's got the Team USA-College World Series double whammy. If he doesn't make it to Harwich, look for big things from guys like Aaron Meade, John Gast, Eric Jokisch, Justin Wright and Chase Reid. Geoff Parker and Glenn Troyanowski have been relievers all spring, and they should play big roles as well.

Five of the nine in Omaha are position players, so the lineup will probably be mixed and matched in the early going. If Bryce Brentz somehow doesn't go with Team USA, Harwich will have perhaps the best sophomore hitter in the country. There's enough depth to fill the hole, though, even if he does stick with Team USA. Twelve of Harwich's 15 position players hit over .300 this year and two who didn't -- Levi Michael and Trent Mummey -- hit double-digit home runs. There's also a veteran flavor to the offense, with four juniors.

As always, we'll have to wait and see how it fits together, but on paper, the Mariners can make a pretty good case to be called the best team in the East.

They just hope it all fits together at the right time.


Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 2
Juniors: 4
Sophomores: 21
Freshmen: 4

Notable

• The nine CWS-bound players come from four different teams -- North Carolina, LSU, Cal State Fullerton and Virginia. Off the top of my head, I'd call those teams four of the top six who are in Omaha, so we may not see many early exits.


• I should note that, this time last year, Harwich had six players on its roster who were headed to Omaha. I guess that worked out alright.


• I'm hoping Daniel Renken will make it to Harwich and not Team USA. He has been one of the nation's best sophomore pitchers, and has been particularly good lately. After a Super Regional loss to him, Louisville coach Dan McDonell called Renken the best pitcher his team had faced all year.


• Like a couple of other teams, Harwich doesn't have a ton of weekend starters, but I think one of them, Aaron Meade, could turn into a potential ace, based on what he did this year. He struck out around a batter an inning for Missouri State and had a 3.39 ERA.


• I'm sure Vandy's Chase Reid is looking forward to a return to New England. He pitched for the Newport Gulls in the NECBL last year and struck 11 for every batter he walked.


• We'll see how things shake out with starters and relievers, but Harwich could have some lights-out guys in the bullpen -- Daniel Bradshaw, Nate Striz, Geoff Parker and Glen Troyanowski.


• Harwich continues an '09 league trend that I'll probably touch on soon: really productive catchers. Anthony Sosnoskie had a great season for Virginia Tech, while Jeff Vigurs put up huge numbers for Bryant. Every team seems to have good offensive catchers, and Harwich should be right there.


• D.J. LeMahieu is certainly a guy to keep an eye on in the coming days. As I'm writing this at 10:00 on Tuesday, he hasn't been drafted, but he could go in the first few rounds. He's also in Omaha. From everything I've read, he didn't flash as much power as scouts hoped this year and he also got moved off shortstop. As a draft-eligible sophomore, he's a prime candidate to head to the Cape and look for some leverage. UPDATE (6/9 10:21 p.m.): He literally got drafted two minutes after I posted this. He goes to the Cubs in the second round, with the 79th overall pick. That's pretty high. He might not need leverage.


• Virginia has a ton of good hitters this season, and Harwich-bound Phil Gosselin and Dan Grovatt are two of the best.


• Since I'm sure he'll be with Team USA if he wants to be -- he's not going to get cut -- I'm going to do my best to not get over-excited about Bryce Brentz. But I really hope he somehow ends up in Harwich. If you're not familiar with him, he led the nation in batting average and tied for the lead in home runs.


• Team USA updated its invite list today and Ross Wilson was one of two new additions. He's coming off a real good sophomore season at Alabama.


• Even without Brentz and Wilson, this offense has the potential to be really good.

Five Players I'm Excited to See
1. Bryce Brentz
2. Daniel Renken
3. D.J. LeMahieu
4. Levi Michael
5. Trent Mummey

Pitchers

Daniel Bradshaw - RHP - 6'1 208 - LSU - Sophomore
Garrett Davis - RHP - 6'4 215 - North Carolina - RS Freshman
*Brian Dupra - RHP - 6'3 205 - Notre Dame - Sophomore
John Gast - LHP - 6'2 215 - Florida State - Sophomore
Mike Gipson - RHP - 6'1 195 - Florida Atlantic - Sophomore
Eric Jokisch - LHP - 6'2 180 - Northwestern - Sophomore
Aaron Meade - LHP - 6'3 185 - Missouri State - Sophomore
Nate Striz - RHP - 6'2 240 - North Carolina - Sophomore
Geoff Parker - RHP - 6'3 240 - Florida State - Sophomore
Matthew Price - RHP - 6'2 165 - Virginia Tech - Freshman
Justin Wright - LHP - 5'9 170 - Virginia Tech - Sophomore
Chase Reid - RHP - 6'3 205 - Vanderbilt - Sophomore
Daniel Renken - RHP - 6'4 200 - Cal State Fullerton - Sophomore
Glen Troyanowski - RHP - 6'1 165 - Florida Atlantic - Sophomore


Daniel Bradshaw - RHP - 6'1 208
LSU
Sophomore

Bradshaw put up pretty solid numbers as a freshman reliever, and he's been even better this year for the Omaha-bound Tigers. Nineteen of his 23 appearances have come out of the bullpen, and he's been one of the team's best relievers. He's got a 4-0 record, a 3.38 record and 32 strikeouts against 11 walks in 45.1 innings of work.

Garrett Davis - RHP - 6'4 215
North Carolina
RS Freshman

A North Carolina high school star, Davis didn't get much of a chance to make a splash last year in Chapel Hill. After two appearances, he had Tommy John surgery and took a redshirt. This season, Davis has made nine appearances, posting a 4.50 ERA.

Brian Dupra - RHP - 6'3 205
Notre Dame
Sophomore

Dupra was a pretty solid reliever for Harwich last summer, posting a 3.40 ERA while tying for the team lead in appearances. His second year at Notre Dame was a struggle. Dupra pitched in the weekend rotation and put up a 7.13 ERA. He struck out 48 and only walked 16, but opponents hit over .300 against him.

John Gast - LHP - 6'2 215
Florida State
Sophomore

Gast was a fifth-round pick out of high school in 2007, but Tommy John surgery kept him out for much of his freshman season at Florida State. He eventually worked his way back and posted a 2.70 ERA in 14 appearances. This season, Gast made 28 appearances with three starts. He ended up with a 5.82 ERA.

Mike Gipson - RHP - 6'1 195
Florida Atlantic
Sophomore

Gipson hasn't registered great ERA's in his two years at Florida Atlantic -- 6.10 last year and 5.93 this year -- but some of his peripheral numbers have been pretty good. He struck out 58 in 62 innings last year and 64 in 71 innings this season.

Eric Jokisch - LHP - 6'2 180
Northwestern
Sophomore

Jokisch was a 39th-round pick out of high school, and he made an immediate impact last year in Evanston. His 8-2 record and 4.17 ERA earned him Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. His seven wins in conference play were the most-ever by a freshman in Big Ten history. This year, Jokisch went 4-7 with a 5.48 ERA.

Aaron Meade - LHP - 6'3 185
Missouri State
Sophomore

Joining former Brewster Whitecaps Buddy Baumann and Tim Clubb in the Missouri State weekend rotation, Meade delivered a fantastic sophomore season. He went 9-2 with a 3.39 ERA and he struck out 89 in 90.1 innings. All his numbers put him just behind Baumann's pace, and Baumann is projected as a fifth or sixth-round pick this year.

Nate Striz - RHP - 6'2 240
North Carolina
Sophomore

Striz has been one of North Carolina's best relievers this season. He's third on the team in appearances and he boasts a 3.42 ERA. He has struck out 27 in 23.2 innings. Opponents have hit just .216 against him, second-best on the team. Striz played for Falmouth last summer, posting a 5.63 ERA in seven relief appearances. Striz was a fifth-round pick out of high school.

Geoff Parker - RHP - 6'3 240
Florida State
Sophomore

A Freshman All-American last year, Parker was a workhorse for the Seminoles this season, and he had a fair amount of success. He led the team with 31 appearances, going 6-2 with a 4.82 ERA. He struck out 65 in 65.1 innings of work.

Matthew Price - RHP - 6'2 165
Virginia Tech
Freshman

Price was a 34th round pick out of high school last year, and he showed some flashes this season in Blacksburg. Though his ERA climbed to 6.90, he struck out 53 in 58.2 innings.

Justin Wright - LHP - 5'9 170
Virginia Tech
Sophomore

As a freshman, Wright worked his way into a starting role and had a great season. This year, he went 7-2 with a 3.95 ERA. He struck out 59 and walked only 17 in 66 innings.

Chase Reid - RHP - 6'3 205
Vanderbilt
Sophomore

Reid posted a 4.30 ERA last year for Vandy then became one of the best pitchers in the NECBL last summer. Pitching for the Newport Gulls, he went 4-0 with a 1.88 ERA, 55 strikeouts in 38.1 innings and just five walks. This spring, he pitched mostly out of the bullpen for the Commodores, finishing with a 4.46 ERA, 38 strikeouts and 10 walks in 34.1 innings.

Daniel Renken - RHP - 6'4 200
Cal State Fullerton
Sophomore

Renken was a 35th-round pick out of high school and he turned in a solid freshman season last year. This year, he's been far better than solid as he has turned into one of the nation's best pitchers. He has gone 11-2 with a 2.36 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 118 innings. Renken has been invited to Team USA.

Glen Troyanowski - RHP - 6'1 165
Florida Atlantic
Sophomore

Troyanowski served as Florida Atlantic's closer this season and though he had an ERA above five, he tallied a team-best six saves. He also struck out 50 in 40.1 innings, which gave him the team's best K/9 ratio. Opponents hit just .234 against him.


Position Players

Anthony Sosnoskie - C - 5'11 193 - Virginia Tech - Junior
Jeff Vigurs - C - 6'0 190 - Bryant - Junior
Stephen Cardullo - IF - 6'0 200 - Florida State - Junior
Phil Gosselin - IF - 6'1 185 - Virginia - Sophomore
Daniel Grovatt - IF - 6'2 187 - Virginia - Sophomore
*D.J. LeMahieu - IF - 6'4 200 - LSU - Sophomore
Levi Michael - IF - 5'10 175 - North Carolina - Freshman
Joe Loftus - IF - 6'4 200 - Vanderbilt - Freshman
Stuart Tapley - IF - 5'10 200 - Florida State - Sophomore
Chris Wade - IF - 6'0 160 - Kentucky - Sophomore
Ross Wilson - IF - 5'11 185 - Alabama - Sophomore
Bryce Brentz - OF - 6'0 187 - Middle Tennessee State - Sophomore
Jacob Goebbert - OF - 6'1 205 - Northwestern - Junior
Leon Landry - OF - 6'0 200 - LSU - Sophomore
Trent Mummey - OF - 5'11 185 - Auburn - Sophomore


Anthony Sosnoskie - C - 5'11 193
Virginia Tech
Junior

Sosnoskie has put up consistent numbers throughout his career at Virginia Tech. After hitting .292 as a freshman and .315 as a sophomore, he hit .314 this year with a career-high seven home runs and 51 RBI. He upped his on-base percentage almost 50 points from last year. BA ranked Sosnoskie as the fourth-best prospect in the Southern Collegiate League last year.

Jeff Vigurs - C - 6'0 190
Bryant
Junior

Bryant is making the transition to Division I, and Vigurs has been one of the program's biggest building blocks. He had a fantastic junior season, finishing with a .389 average, nine home runs, 23 doubles and 70 RBI. He also struck out just 15 times in 203 at-bats. Among players whose teams were reclassifying like Bryant, Vigurs was the nation's leading hitter and RBI man.

Stephen Cardullo - IF - 6'0 200
Florida State
Junior

Cardullo only played in 12 games as a freshman and only made 10 starts as a sophomore. But his patience was rewarded in a big way this season. As the Noles' starting shortstop and No. 2 hitter, Cardullo hit .376 with 10 home runs, 20 doubles and 51 RBI. He also had a .479 on-base percentage and stole 20 bases.

Phil Gosselin - IF - 6'1 185
Virginia
Sophomore

Gosselin has been a key part of Virginia's dynamic offense this season. After hitting .305 as a freshman, he has started every game this season. As the Cavaliers head to Omaha, Gosselin is hitting .314 with six home runs and 63 RBI.

Daniel Grovatt - IF - 6'2 187
Virginia
Sophomore

Along with Gosselin, Grovatt is part of a tremendous sophomore class at Virginia, and among his peers, he has had one of the best seasons. He's currently hitting a team-best .365 with seven home runs, 50 RBI and 14 stolen bases.

D.J. LeMahieu - IF - 6'4 200
LSU
Sophomore

LeMahieu was one of the most intriguing freshman prospects in the nation last year and he lived up to the hype with a great first season in Baton Rouge. After hitting .290 for Harwich last summer, LeMahieu has hit a team-best .340 for the Tigers this season, with four home runs and 19 extra-base hits. He's a draft-eligible sophomore and a potential high pick, so that'll definitely have an impact on his summer plans.

Levi Michael - IF - 5'10 175
North Carolina
Freshman

Six months ago, Michael was in high school. Now he's the starting second baseman for North Carolina as it heads into the College World Series. Michael graduated from high school in January and immediately enrolled at North Carolina. Though that's a pretty huge step without much time in between, Michael didn't miss a beat. He has .298 this season with 13 home runs and 56 RBI.

Joe Loftus - IF - 6'4 200
Vanderbilt
Freshman

Loftus was a 29th-round pick out of high school last year, and he made immediate contributions at Vandy. Emerging as the team's starting left-fielder, Loftus hit .263 with four home runs and 28 RBI.

Stuart Tapley - IF - 5'10 200
Florida State
Sophomore

Tapley had a fantastic freshman season in Tallahassee, hitting .383, which was good for fifth in the ACC. His average went down a bit this year, but he still had a strong season. He finished at .316 with 13 home runs, 18 doubles and 60 RBI.

Chris Wade - IF - 6'0 160
Kentucky
RS 3Sophomore

Wade led the SEC in doubles last year and earned several Freshman All-America nods. After hitting .228 in the Northwoods League, he batted .314 for Kentucky this season, hitting 10 doubles and six home runs. Wade played shortstop and made only six errors.

Ross Wilson - IF - 5'11 185
Alabama
Sophomore

The brother of Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson, Ross has made his mark on the baseball field. After hitting .295 with 15 home runs as a freshman, Wilson headed to Bourne last summer and hit .218. This spring, he was one of Alabama's top hitters, finishing at .353 with nine home runs and 47 RBI. Wilson is a late addition to Team USA's invite list.

Bryce Brentz - OF - 6'0 187
Middle Tennessee State
Sophomore

Based on production this season, it might be safe to call Brentz the nation's best sophomore. He has been invited to Team USA, so we might not get to see him, but if we do: wow. He led the nation with a .465 batting average and tied for the national lead with 28 home runs. He had 73 RBI. He was also a weekend starter for the Blue Raiders, and he went 5-3 with a 4.57 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 88.2 innings. Brentz was a 30th-round pick out of high school.

Jacob Goebbert - OF - 6'1 205
Northwestern
Junior

Goebbert finished his first two years at Northwestern with a career batting average of .343. It dipped a bit this year down to .280, but he didn't have a chance to bring it up. Playing against Minnesota this spring, he crashed into the wall at the Metrodome and lacerated a kidney. He missed the rest of the season, but should be ready for the summer.

Leon Landry - OF - 6'0 200
LSU
Sophomore

A 36th-round pick out of high school, Landry made a big impact as a freshman in Baton Rouge, helping lead the Tigers to last year's College World Series. This season, he's hitting .305 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI. Landry was tabbed by BA as the Cal Ripken Sr. League's top prospect last summer.

Trent Mummey - OF - 5'11 185
Auburn
Sophomore

Mummey was Auburn's leadoff hitter this season, but he put up numbers that could play in the middle of just about any order. He hit .289 with 15 home runs, 12 doubles and 42 RBI. His .409 OBP was second among the team's starters, and he also stole 17 bases.

Early Look: Brewster

BREWSTER WHITECAPS
Manager: Tom Myers
2008 Record: 19-21-4

It's a year of fresh starts in Brewster, where the Whitecaps welcome a new manager, and potentially, an entirely new roster. Tom Myers, the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at UC Santa Barbara, takes over as manager for Bob Macaluso, who was at the helm for seven years. Myers inherits a team with one player who played in Brewster last year, and that's Yasmani Grandal, who could end up with Team USA.

But while there's a shortage of Cape League experience, there's no shortage of college experience. With only four freshman -- two of whom are redshirt freshmen -- Brewster appears to have the oldest team in the league.

And a lot of their sophomores will be out to prove something.

Out of all the teams I've previewed so far, Brewster had the most players who went through sub-par 2009 seasons. If you read through the bios, you can see it. There are pitchers who were Freshman All-Americans last year and charted ERA's above five this year. There are hitters who hit over .300 in their first year and dipped well below that this year. If this is really is a year of fresh starts in Brewster, there will be a long list of guys looking for their own. How it turns out for them could say a lot for Brewster's season.

There are several players who won't need fresh starts, but a lot of them might not be making it to Brewster, either. Jarrett Parker and Jedd Gyorko, the hitters who had the best seasons, have both been invited to Team USA, and Grandal isn't far behind those two in terms of '09 success. It also looks like four players will be in Omaha when the Cape season begins.

So a lot will fall to the players in need of big summers, and it'll be interesting to see what they deliver.

The pitching staff is a little light on weekend starters, but that was the case this time last year, too, and Brewster ended up having solid starting pitching. Guys like Sean Hoelscher, Matt Lujan and Danny Sandbrink will need bounce-back summers. Guys who had success out of the pen this spring like David Goforth and Tyler Thornburg will also be key.

As for the offense, it looks like the Whitecaps should be stronger there. Even if Parker, Gyorko and Grandal end up with Team USA, there's a decent nucleus with Mark Canha, Tobias Streich, Tim Ferguson and Harold Martinez.

All in all, I don't think Brewster has the depth of Cotuit, Bourne or Falmouth, and there are certainly a lot of players who struggled this spring.

But I wouldn't be shocked to see Brewster have success this year. You never know how the roster will shake out, and the chance for those fresh starts can't be entirely ignored. If the Cape League is a proving ground, I'll gladly take a bunch of players with a little extra to prove.


Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 1
Juniors: 1
Sophomores: 22
Freshmen: 4

Notable

• To get an idea of the how the pitching staff shakes out, take a look at the Five Players I'm Excited to See section, which includes no pitchers. That doesn't mean there's no talent. Just that there aren't many guys who had good numbers this spring. But I'll say this: in the Cape League, I'd rather have a group of pitchers who struggled than a group of hitters who struggled. Wooden bats change everything.


• One guy who could give Brewster's staff a big lift is San Diego ace Kyle Blair. People are hearing that he'll be added to the roster, and that's good news for the Whitecaps. Blair was a fifth-round pick out of high school and pitched briefly for Chatham last year. He had a 3.13 ERA this year and struck out 62 in 54.2 innings.


• If Blair indeed comes to Brewster, you can bet he won't be the only addition. The Whitecaps haven't updated their roster in quite some time, so it will almost certainly look a little different when the season opens.


• Keep an eye on Erik Goeddel this spring. As I wrote below, he has a long track record in the scouting world, but he just hasn't been able to add to it much because of injury. Depending on how he's holding up these days, this could be a prime opportunity for Goeddel to re-establsih himself.


• I wouldn't discount the impact of experience on the Brewster roster. Freshmen often struggle on the Cape. Plenty of sophomores do too, of course, but the extra year can be a big one.


• The fact that Virginia is heading for Omaha means the Whitecaps will be waiting for the services of Jarrett Parker, John Barr and Neal Davis. In the case of Parker, that might not be a bad thing. If the Cavaliers can make a deep run, Parker is less likely to go with Team USA.


• As I wrote the bios, I was getting a little nervous about Brewster's offense. The players with the best numbers were all Team USA invites. But the list saved the best for last. Mark Canha was Cal's best hitter this season, hitting for average and power.


• Grandal could potentially be the best catching prospect on the Cape, but even if Team USA takes him, Tobias Streich would be a pretty good consolation prize. He's one of the best catchers in the Big East.

Five Players I'm Excited to See
1. Jarrett Parker
2. Jedd Gyorko
3. Mark Canha
4. Harold Martinez
5. Yasmani Grandal

Pitchers

Scott Alexander - LHP - 6'2 200 - Pepperdine - Sophomore
Sean Bierman - LHP - 6'0 190 - Vanderbilt - Sophomore
Neal Davis - LHP - 6'6 210 - Virginia - Junior
Erik Goeddel - RHP - 6'3 180 - UCLA - RS Freshman
David Goforth - RHP - 5'11 184 - Ole Miss - RS Freshman
Sean Hoelscher - RHP - 6'3 196 - TCU - Sophomore
Matt Lujan - LHP - 6'1 205 - San Francisco - Sophomore
Casey Schmidt - RHP - 6'3 205 - San Diego - RS Sophomore
Danny Sandbrink - RHP - 6'2 200 - Stanford - Sophomore
Sean Tierney - LHP - 6'5 190 - James Madison - Sophomore
Stayton Thomas - RHP - 5'11 175 - Texas - Sophomore
Tyler Thornburg - RHP/OF - 5'11 175 - Charleston Southern - Sophomore


Scott Alexander - LHP - 6'2 200
Pepperdine
Sophomore

A 37th-round pick out of high school, Alexander has a solid career at Pepperdine. This year, he went 4-5 with a 4.11 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 65.2 innings pitched. Opponents hit .230 against him and he didn't allow a home run all year. Pepperdine's web site has a list of summer placements and Alexander isn't on it, so I'm not sure what the deal is there.

Sean Bierman - LHP - 6'0 190
Vanderbilt
Sophomore

Bierman, a late-round pick out of high school, did not have a great first season in Nashville, but his second one was much better. One of the team's most improved pitchers in the fall, Bierman carried it over to the spring by posting a 4.57 ERA while pitching mostly in relief. He struck out 37 and walked 15 in 43.1 innings.

Neal Davis - LHP - 6'6 210
Virginia
Junior

Davis has been a key part of Virginia's bullpen the last two seasons. Last year, he posted a 1.58 ERA, second-best among Cavalier relievers. He also had a streak of 27.2 scoreless innings. This year, Davis hasn't been quite as good, with an ERA of 4.63.

Erik Goeddel - RHP - 6'3 180
UCLA
RS Freshman

Goeddel was on the Y-D roster last summer but didn't make it, just another part of a lost year for the highly-touted Goeddel. He was originally rated as the second-best pitcher in the class of 2007 by Baseball America, but an injury in his senior season kept him from getting drafted. He then missed all of his freshman season. This spring, Goeddel finally saw some time on the mound, posting a 3.38 ERA in nine relief appearances.

David Goforth - RHP - 5'11 184
Ole Miss
RS Freshman

Goforth has been lights out in his first season in Oxford, putting up a 2.80 ERA while making 25 appearances out of the pen, the second-highest total on the team. He has struck out 36 in 35.1 innings.

Sean Hoelscher - RHP - 6'3 196
TCU
Sophomore

Hoelscher had an ERA over five as a freshman, but his 7-3 record and good strikeout numbers earned him some Freshman All-America nods. This year, Hoelscher has gone 2-2 with a 7.03 ERA. He struck out 22 in 24.1 innings, but walked 20.

Matt Lujan - LHP - 6'1 205
San Francisco
Sophomore

Like Hoelscher, Lujan was a Freshman All-American last year on the strength of a 7-2 record and a 3.17 ERA. His second season with the Dons hasn't been as good. Lujan finished 5-7 with a 5.74 ERA. He struck out 52 in 80 innings.

Casey Schmidt - RHP - 6'3 205
San Diego
RS Sophomore

Schmidt hasn't pitched in a college game since 2007, when he went 6-1 with a 3.12 ERA in his freshman season at Creighton. After that, he missed all of 2008 with an injury and transferred to San Diego, where he sat out this season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Danny Sandbrink - RHP - 6'2 200
Stanford
Sophomore

Sandbrink surged to a strong freshman season in Palo Alto last year, finishing with a 2.81 ERA. This year, he had his share of trouble, going 1-1 with a 7.09 ERA. He struck out 22 and walked 16 in 33 innings.

Sean Tierney - LHP - 6'5 190
James Madison
Sophomore

Tierney, like Schmidt, will be playing this summer after not pitching at all this spring. Tierney transferred from Virginia and sat out this season. At Virginia, Tierney made only two appearances, finishing with a 6.75 ERA. He was a 35th-round pick out of high school.

Stayton Thomas - RHP - 5'11 175
Texas
Sophomore

Thomas was lights-out as a reliever last season, leading the team in appearances and finishing with a 3.82 ERA. He has been even better this year, with a 2.11 ERA and a 4-0 record out of the pen.

Tyler Thornburg - RHP/OF - 5'11 175
Charleston Southern
Sophomore

After making solid contributions in two spots as a freshman, Thornburg became a standout at those spots these season. As a pitcher, he made 16 relief appearances and put up a 3.73 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 31.1 innings. As a hitter, he finished with a .292 batting average and a team-high 12 home runs.


Position Players

*Yasmani Grandal - C - 6'2 210 - Miami - Sophomore
Zach Jones - C - 6'0 185 - Stanford - Sophomore
Tobias Streich - C - 6'0 210 - West Virginia - Sophomore
Lyle Allen - OF/1B - 6'3 210 - Georgia - Sophomore
Tim Ferguson - IF - 6'1 184 - Ole Miss - Sophomore
Niko Gallego - IF - 5'11 165 - UCLA - Sophomore
Jedd Gyorko - IF - 5'10 195 - West Virginia - Sophomore
Harold Martinez - IF - 6'3 200 - Miami - Freshman
Tant Shepherd - 3B/OF - 5'11 210 - Texas - Sophomore
Colin Walsh - IF - 6'1 200 - Stanford - Sophomore
Davy Wright - UTIL - 6'1 195 - TCU - Freshman
Stephen Yarrow - IF - 6'4 205 - San Francisco - Sophomore
John Barr - OF - 6'2 190 - Virginia - Sophomore
Mark Canha - OF - 6'2 195 - California - Sophomore
Jarrett Parker - OF - 6'4 205 - Virginia - Sophomore


Yasmani Grandal - C - 6'2 210
Miami
Sophomore

A 27th-round pick out of high school who was projected to go much higher, Grandal split time behind the plate last year but still lived up to much of the hype. Last summer, he played 20 games for Brewster and hit .279. He followed that up with a strong sophomore season, finishing at .299 with 16 home runs and 45 RBI. Grandal has been invited to Team USA.

Zach Jones - C - 6'0 185
Stanford
Sophomore

Jones started every game for Stanford this year but didn't have a great season at the plate. He ended up hitting .239 with three home runs and 26 RBI. Jones was a 45th-round pick out of high school and hit .249 as a freshman.

Tobias Streich - C - 6'0 210
West Virginia
Sophomore

Last year Streich became just the second freshman to serve as West Virginia's everyday catcher and he delivered a solid season. This year, he emerged as one of the top catchers in the Big East, hitting .322 with six home runs and 57 RBI.

Lyle Allen - OF/1B - 6'3 210
Georgia
Sophomore

Allen had a good first season at Georgia and by the end of it, he was the starting left fielder for the Bulldogs in Omaha. This year, Allen hit .255 with five home runs and 23 RBI.

Tim Ferguson - IF - 6'1 184
Ole Miss
Sophomore

Ferguson has had to fight for time in each of his first two years in Oxford but he has made an impression, even without an everyday job. After hitting .289 last year, he led the team with a .358 average this year. He also added 12 extra-base hits, 21 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

Niko Gallego - IF - 5'11 165
UCLA
Sophomore

The son of former Major Leaguer Mike Gallego, Niko has put together two pretty good seasons as UCLA's shortstop. After hitting .317 as a freshman, he hit .279 this season. Though he didn't hit a home run, he knocked in 27, stole six bases and committed just nine errors.

Jedd Gyorko - IF - 5'10 195
West Virginia
Sophomore

Gyorko was a star as a freshman, finishing with a .409 average and eight home runs. He didn't miss a beat this season and even out-did himself. He hit .421 with eight home runs, 28 doubles and 58 RBI, all while dealing with the switch from second base to shortstop. That doubles total was second-best in the country. Gyorko has been invited to Team USA.

Harold Martinez - IF - 6'3 200
Miami
Freshman

Like Grandal last year, Martinez will come to Brewster as a highly-touted Miami freshman. Once thought of as a potential first-round pick, Martinez had some struggles in his senior year of high school and slipped to the 19th round. Miami was happy to welcome him to campus, and he delivered a pretty good freshman season. He hit .270 with nine home runs, 11 doubles and 47 RBI.

Tant Shepherd - 3B/OF - 5'11 210
Texas
Sophomore

Shepherd has been a versatile performer since day one, and he hit .357 as a freshman. This year, his average went down to .264 but he did total 17 extra-base hits.

Colin Walsh - IF - 6'1 200
Stanford
Sophomore

Walsh only got nine starts as a freshman on Stanford's 2008 CWS team, but he was a key player off the bench and he delivered a .323 average. This year, he grabbed a starting job and led the team with a .320 average. He didn't hit a home run but he did have 11 doubles.

Davy Wright - UTIL - 6'1 195
TCU
Freshman

A high-school standout on the hill and at the plate, Wright was rated as one of Texas' top 100 prospects, but he only played in one game this season. Perhaps there was an injury. I haven't been able to find anything.

Stephen Yarrow - IF - 6'4 205
San Francisco
Sophomore

Yarrow didn't see a ton of action as a freshman but was an honorable mention all-league pick last summer in the West Coast Collegiate League. This year, he hit .277 with a team-best 13 home runs and 44 RBI.

John Barr - OF - 6'2 190
Virginia
Sophomore

Barr had a great 2008 season in Charlottesville, leading the Cavaliers in both batting average and on-base percentage. This year, he is hitting .305 for the Omaha-bound Cavaliers.



Jarrett Parker - OF - 6'4 205
Virginia
Sophomore

Parker didn't have as good a freshman season as his teammate Barr, but he has been out-of-this-world this season. A surefire All-Conference and All-America pick, Parker has hit .369 with 16 home runs, 42 extra-base hits, 65 RBI and 19 stolen bases. A potential five-tool talent, Parker has been invited to Team USA.

Mark Canha - OF - 6'2 195
California
Sophomore

After a decent but not spectacular freshman season, Canha burst onto the scene this year in a big way. He ended up leading the Bears in every major offensive category. He hit .366, blasted 12 home runs, totaled 17 doubles and drove in 43. He also led the team with a .444 on-base percentage.

Early Look: Yarmouth-Dennis

YARMOUTH-DENNIS RED SOX
Manager: Scott Pickler
2008 Record:18-25-1

We all knew it had to end at some point. We didn't know it would end like it did last year for the Y-D Red Sox.

After winning back-to-back league championships, the Red Sox never got off the ground last summer and finished with the worst record in the Eastern Division. It shouldn't have been all that surprising. In a summer league with heavy turnover, one year means very little for the next. For a Y-D team with few returnees, that was especially true.

But as unsurprising as it was, I'm guessing it was still jarring for the Y-D camp.

You can bet Scott Pickler and Co. are geared up for a return to form.

Five players are set to come back from last year's squad and they'll team up with a deep group of productive sophomores and some highly-touted freshman. Though the four Team USA invites could take some of the luster off, I think right now, the Red Sox are in better position than they were last year.

The pitching staff struggled last year, with Y-D's best starter posting a 3.43 ERA. If Anthony Ranaudo and Trevor Bauer don't go to Team USA, you've got two potential aces who should be able to better that number. Even if those two are gone, sophomores Chris Sale, Greg Holle, Austin Ross and returnee Tyler Waldron are primed to step in. A couple of big-name freshman, Brett Mooneyham and Michael Palazzone, could also make a big splash.

At the plate, the Red Sox return Josh Rutledge and Andy Wilkins, two players who would have made last year's Cape all-freshman team, if there was such a thing. For all the big bats ticketed for the Cape this summer, few teams have two hitters coming back with solid Cape League track records like Rutledge and Wilkins. When you mix in great seasons from guys like Austin Wates, Derek Ingui, Mickey Wiswall and Nick Santomauro, with the potential for breakout seasons from freshmen like Ben McMahan and Chase Davidson, you've got the makings of a solid lineup.

As is the case for every team, how it all comes together will be the key. In Y-D's championship seasons, the fact that things came together perfectly was as important to the equation as talent.

The Red Sox will be hoping the 2009 equation can yield a similar product.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 5
Juniors: 2
Sophomores: 18
Freshmen: 10

Notable

• I think Anthony Ranaudo was one of my five to be excited about last year, but this year, I'm more excited -- and hopeful that he doesn't go to Team USA. Ranaudo has been a prospect for awhile, but he has truly broken out this season. His strikeout numbers alone -- 138 in 102 innings -- make him perhaps the top-performing sophomore pitcher in the country. With those numbers in the book and his 6'7 frame, he'll be one of the most-talked about prospects on the Cape this year if he makes it.


• Ranaudo's teammate Austin Ross is also set to come to Y-D, and he's had a great sophomore season as well. Ross is part of a real solid-looking group of starters on the Y-D roster.


• One member of that group is Chris Sale, who looks like a pretty intriguing prospect. A 6'6 lefty, he put up really good numbers for Florida Gulf Coast this season. I'm sure he's already drawn plenty of attention from scouts, but with a big summer, he'll get even more looks.


• In Trevor Bauer, Brett Mooneyham and Michael Palazzone, the Red Sox have three highly-touted freshman who are currently on different places in the spectrum. Bauer was still in high school for last year's draft but graduated early and promptly became the Pac 10 Freshman of the Year. Mooneyham was a major name in last year's draft and he showed some great flashes this year, with 72 strikeouts in a starting role. Palazzone, another big name for the draft, has sort of been eased in at Georgia, where he didn't make a single start.


• Come draft time, watch for Mike Belfiore's name. From what I've read, Belfiore has some draft helium, so he's likely to go pretty early. If he doesn't sign right away, Y-D will be getting an elite closer.


• Whether Belfiore comes or not, the closer spot should be taken care of. Kevin Rhoderick has been Oregon State's closer for two years, with a lot of success.


• If Cal State Fullerton keeps rolling in the tournament, that probably increases the chance that Christian Colon would end up with Y-D, rather than Team USA. Go Titans? I think so. I saw Colon with Team USA last summer, and he's fun to watch.


• Nick Santomauro will be an interesting player to watch. He's the reigning Ivy League Player of the Year, and by all accounts, he can flat-out hit.


• Chase Davidson was a third-round pick last year, but he didn't have a huge impact in his first year at Georgia. I always like freshman hitters as breakout candidates more than hitters, but a prospect like Davidson could be the exception.


• I wasn't familiar with the names Mickey Wiswall and Austin Wates before I wrote all this up, but maybe I should have been. Both were big-time performers in the ACC.


• Since I haven't finished all the previews, I can't say this for sure, but I think we can pencil in Andy Wilkins as the top returning power hitter in the league.

Five Players I'm Excited to See
1. Anthony Ranaudo
2. Trevor Bauer
3. Andy Wilkins
4. Chris Sale
5. Brett Mooneyham


Pitchers
Trevor Bauer - RHP - 6'1 170 - UCLA - Freshman
*Mike Belfiore - LHP - 6'3 220 - Boston College - Junior
Tyler Burgoon - RHP - 5'10 165 - Michigan - Sophomore
Darrin Campbell - RHP - 6'4 205 - San Diego - RS Sophomore
Danny Coulombe - LHP - 5'11 180 - USA - Freshman
Anthony DeSclafani - RHP - 6'2 175 - Florida - Freshman
Tyler Hess - RHP - 6'5 240 - Pepperdine - Sophomore
Greg Holle - RHP - 6'8 225 - Texas Christian - Sophomore
Brett Mooneyham - LHP - 6'5 230 - Stanford - Freshman
Michael Palazzone - RHP - 6'3 180 - Georgia - Freshman
*Anthony Ranaudo - RHP - 6'7 235 - LSU - Sophomore
Kevin Rhoderick - RHP - 6'0 190 - Oregon State - Sophomore
Austin Ross - RHP - 6'3 190 - LSU - Sophomore
Chris Sale - LHP - 6'6 185 - Florida Gulf Coast - Sophomore
*Tyler Waldron - RHP - 6'1 190 - Oregon State - Sophomore


Trevor Bauer - RHP - 6'1 170
UCLA
Freshman

Bauer came to UCLA without the post-draft hype of fellow freshman pitcher Gerrit Cole, but that's mostly because he wasn't eligible for it: He had just completed his junior year in high school at last year's draft. Bauer was on pace to graduate from high school early, and he took his baseball career with him, enrolling at UCLA in January after graduating high school in December. Now, he'll head to the Cape this summer -- or Team USA -- with his own share of buzz. Bauer ended up with better numbers than Cole in most every category this year, going 9-3 with a team-best 2.99 ERA. He struck out 92 and walked 27 in 105.1 innings, and also finished off four complete games. Those numbers earned Bauer Pac 10 Freshman of the Year honors.

Mike Belfiore - LHP - 6'3 220
Boston College
Junior

Belfiore played for Y-D last year but is listed as a temp this year, probably because he's likely to get drafted in the early rounds. After striking out 21 and walking just four in 14 innings for Y-D last summer, Belfiore served as BC's closer and put up great numbers. He saved nine games and struck out 59 in 48.1 innings. Baseball America has him ranked 89th in the country for the upcoming draft.

Tyler Burgoon - RHP - 5'10 165
Michigan
Sophomore

Burgoon pitched in relief for Michigan this season, turning in a 4-2 record, a 4.86 ERA and three saves. He struck out 32 in 37 innings of work. Burgoon was also a reliever last year, when he finished with an identical 4.86 ERA and five saves.

Darrin Campbell - RHP - 6'4 205
San Diego
RS Sophomore

After redshirting his freshman year, Campbell compiled a 4.08 ERA last year while pitching mostly out of the bullpen. He went for more of a swing role this year, with eight of his 14 appearances coming as starts. He finished the year with a 5.16 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 52.1 innings.

Danny Coulombe - LHP - 5'11 180
USC
Freshman

Coulombe was a 17th-round pick last year who was considered a tough sign. He did indeed honor his commitment to USC, but an injury kept him out for a good chunk of his freshman year. He finished the year with just four appearances. He struck out 13 in eight innings.

Anthony DeSclafani - RHP - 6'2 175
Florida
Freshman

DeSclafani got picked by the Red Sox in the 22nd round of last year's draft, but stuck with Florida, where he's had a decent first season for the Super Regional-bound Gators. Pitching both in relief and in a starting role, DeSclafani went 6-3 with a 4.98 ERA. He struck out 47 and walked 16 in 65 innings.

Tyler Hess - RHP - 6'5 240
Pepperdine
Sophomore

Hess posted good strikeout numbers in his freshman year then was tabbed as the Central Illinois Collegiate League's top prospect last summer, showing off electric stuff. This year, his ERA was high again for the Waves, but he struck out 29 in 24.2 innings. He also walked 21, which goes a long way in explaining the plus-seven ERA.

Greg Holle - RHP - 6'8 225
Texas Christian
Sophomore

As imposing a presence as there is in college baseball, Holle has turned in two solid seasons in Fort Worth. After posting a 4.50 ERA last year, Holle has gone 5-2 with a 3.89 ERA this year, while pitching mostly as a starter. He has tallied 26 strikeouts in 41.2 innings. Holle was a 35th-round pick out of high school.

Brett Mooneyham - LHP - 6'5 230
Stanford
Freshman

Mooneyham was rated by Baseball America as the 78th best prospect in the nation for last year's draft, but his initial scouting report that he might be considered an impossible sign. On draft day, Mooneyham dropped to the 15th round, where San Diego took a shot. Mooneyham did indeed stick with his commitment to Stanford, and he turned in pretty good numbers this season. He finished with a 6-3 record, a 4.14 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 67.1 innings. On the negative side, Mooneyham walked 54.

Michael Palazzone - RHP - 6'3 180
Georgia
Freshman

Palazzone wasn't too far behind Mooneyham in the rankings last year, coming into the draft as the nation's 139th-best prospect, according to Baseball America. He ended up going in the 18th round but opted to head for Georgia. This season, Palazzone pitched exclusively out of the bullpen, and though he finished with a 5.13 ERA, he struck out 43 and walked only 15 in 33.1 innings.

Anthony Ranaudo - RHP - 6'7 235
LSU
Sophomore

An 11th-round pick in 2007, Ranaudo came to LSU with as much hype as any pitcher in the country last year, but he didn't get much of a chance to show off: an injury limited him to 12 innings last season. After LSU's postseason run ended, Ranaudo joined Y-D and didn't have a great summer, finishing with a 6.63 ERA. But this spring, everything has clicked for Ranaudo. With the Tigers heading to a Super Regional, Ranaudo is 9-3 with a 3.09 ERA and 138 strikeouts against 42 walks in 102 innings. That's the third-highest total in the nation, behind Stephen Strasburg and Mike Leake. Pretty good company. Ranaudo has been invited to team USA.

Kevin Rhoderick - RHP - 6'0 190
Oregon State
Sophomore

Rhoderick was on Y-D's roster last summer before making Team USA. He didn't pitch for either team, though, because of an injury. An 18th-round pick in 2007 who earned Freshman All-American honors last year, Rhoderick reprised his role as Oregon State's closer this year and finished with nine saves. He struck out 33 and walked 15 in 23.2 innings.

Austin Ross - RHP - 6'3 190
LSU
Sophomore

Ross had a very good freshman season while pitching out of the bullpen last year, and over the summer, he was picked as the second-best prospect in the Central Illinois Collegiate League. He got off to fantastic start in LSU's rotation, and he's currently toting a 4.94 ERA with 72 strikeouts and 20 walks in 78.1 innings.

Chris Sale - LHP - 6'6 185
Florida Gulf Coast
Sophomore

With his build, Sale certainly carries that projectable tag, and he's got the production to match in his college career, particularly this season. After putting up big strikeout numbers in a relief role as a freshman, Sale moved into the rotation this year and went 7-4 with a 2.72 ERA. He struck out 104 and walked just 27 in 89.1 innings. Last summer, Sale was ranked by PG Crosschecker as the 12th-best prospect in the Northwoods League.

Tyler Waldron - RHP - 6'1 190
Oregon State
Sophomore

After spending his freshman year at Pacific, Waldron pitched for Y-D last year and had a pretty good summer for himself. He ended up making four starts and four relief appearances and finished the season with a 2.92 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 37 innings. He transferred to Oregon State for his sophomore season and went 6-4 with a 4.15 ERA as a weekend starter. He struck out 70 in 93.1 innings.


Position Players

Micah Gibbs - C/1B - 5'11 200 - LSU - Sophomore
Ben McMahan - C - 6'0 201 - Florida - Freshman
Christian Colon - SS - 6'0 180 - Cal State Fullerton - Sophomore
Chase Davidson - INF - 6'5 225 - Georgia - Freshman
Tyler Hanover - 2B/3B - 5'7 165 - LSU - Freshman
Derek Ingui - 3B/OF - 6'2 200 - Franklin Pierce - Sophomore
*Josh Rutledge - INF - 6'1 190 - Alabama - Sophomore
Jake Schlander - INF - 6'2 190 - Stanford - Sophomore
Austin Wates - INF - 6'1 186 - Virginia Tech - Sophomore
Jerico Weitzel - INF - 5'11 185 - Florida - Freshman
*Andy Wilkins - 1B/3B - 6'1 225 - Arkansas - Sophomore
Mickey Wiswall - INF - 6'1 205 - Boston College - Sophomore
Jonathan Jones - OF - 5'11 185 - Long Beach State - Sophomore
Nick Santomauro - OF - 6'2 205 - Dartmouth - Junior
Steven Selsky - OF/3B - 6'1 200 - Arizona - Freshman


Micah Gibbs - C/1B - 5'11 200
LSU
Sophomore

Gibbs was one of the best freshmen in the country last year and he helped carry the Tigers to Omaha, hitting .322 with two home runs and 35 RBI. Last summer, he went with Team USA and hit .264. This spring, Gibbs has batted .291 with six home runs and 38 RBI.

Ben McMahan - C - 6'0 201
Florida
Freshman

McMahan was one of the top prep catchers in the country last year and he got drafted in the 30th round by the Yankees. He decided to head to Florida, where he hasn't had much of a chance to make an impact. He has played in only 18 games and has put up three hits.

Christian Colon - SS - 6'0 180
Cal State Fullerton
Sophomore

A 10th-round pick out of high school, Colon was ticketed for Orleans last summer, but he joined Team USA instead and was the only player to start every game. A defensive wiz, Colon is getting his bat in gear as well. After hitting .263 for Team USA, Colon has hit .351 this spring with seven home runs and 35 RBI. He has been invited to Team USA again.

Chase Davidson - INF - 6'5 225
Georgia
Freshman

Part of a very highly-touted recruiting class, Davidson made it to campus in Athens despite getting picked in the third round of last year's draft. A big left-handed swinger with a high ceiling, Davidson wasn't a regular for the Bulldogs this year. He got 31 starts and hit .231 with three home runs.

Tyler Hanover - 2B/3B - 5'7 165
LSU
Freshman

Hanover was the Gatorade Player of the Year in North Carolina last year and he has made an immediate impact in Baton Rouge. Starting 52 games, Hanover has hit .315 with four home runs and 44 RBI.

Derek Ingui - 3B/OF - 6'2 200
Franklin Pierce
Sophomore

A native of Sterling, Mass., Ingui started college at the University of Tampa but transferred to Franklin Pierce before last season. He has had two very good years for the Ravens. This season, he hit .356 with nine home runs and 47 RBI. He also legged out seven triples and stole 16 bases.

Josh Rutledge - INF - 6'1 190
Alabama
Sophomore

After posting the second-highest average by a freshman in Alabama history, Rutledge delivered a steady summer with Y-D last year. He ended up hitting .294 with a home run and 10 RBI. He had 12 extra-base hits. This spring, Rutledge hit .305 with five home runs and 44 RBI.

Jake Schlander - INF - 6'2 190
Stanford
Sophomore

For the second year in a row, Schlander started every single one of Stanford's games and, also for the second year in a row, he finished with a .232 average. He had 14 extra-base hits, and in the field, made just nine errors.

Austin Wates - INF - 6'1 186
Virginia Tech
Sophomore

After hitting .324 as a freshman, Wates put together a fantastic sophomore season. He hit .397, second on the team, with five home runs, 28 extra-base hits and 42 RBI. He also stole 16 bases and got caught just once. Listed as a utilityman on the Hokies' roster, Wates generally played first base this season.

Jerico Weitzel - INF - 5'11 185
Florida
Freshman

Weitzel was a 27th-round pick out of high school, but like his Gator teammate McMahan, he's had a tough time grabbing a starting job in Gainesville. Weitzel has started only 15 games, though he has become a regular defensive replacement at third base and has seen action in 54 games. He's hitting .208.

Andy Wilkins - 1B/3B - 6'1 225
Arkansas
Sophomore

After getting drafted in the 25th round out of high school, Wilkins delivered a real solid freshman season and carried it over to the Cape, where he hit .271 and led Y-D in home runs and RBI. This spring, Wilkins has been Arkansas' top hitter, with a .329 average, 17 home runs and 51 RBI. All of those are team-bests.

Mickey Wiswall - INF - 6'1 205
Boston College
Sophomore

Boston College's lineup featured '08 Y-D star Tony Sanchez, a likely early-round pick in June, but Wiswall wasn't far behind him in terms of production. While starting at third base, Wiswall hit .320 with 14 home runs, 31 extra-base hits and a team-high 63 RBI. Wiswall is a native of Stoneham, Mass.

Jonathan Jones - OF - 5'11 185
Long Beach State
Sophomore

As a freshman last year Jones posted Long Beach's second-best average and was honorable mention All-Big West. This season, Jones hit .307 with a home run, 23 RBI and 15 stolen bases. Jones is the nephew of Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard.

Nick Santomauro - OF - 6'2 205
Dartmouth
Junior

Santomauro added another chapter to a great career at Dartmouth by taking home Ivy League Player of the Year honors this spring. He hit .372 for the Big Green with eight home runs and 40 RBI. Last summer, Santomauro hit .286 and was an all-star for the Newport Gulls of the NECBL.

Steven Selsky - OF/3B - 6'1 200
Arizona
Freshman

Selsky was a sought-after recruit and he delivered a great first season for the Wildcats. He finished with a .318 average, seven home runs, 17 extra-base hits and 21 RBI.

Early Look: Hyannis

HYANNIS METS
Manager: Chad Gassman
2008 Record: 22-22

For the third year in a row, it'll be a bit of a new era in Hyannis. Former pitching coach Chad Gassman is taking over as manager for Rick Robinson, who spent just a year at the helm.

But for all the turnover in that spot, the Hyannis roster has had a consistent look over those years, and it won't be changing this year. While some other franchises continually end up with the highest of the highly-touted freshman and the certain-to-be-team-USA-invites sophomores, Hyannis seems to operate on a slightly different plane. There's talent, of course. Every team has talent. And there are prospects, like Ben Paulsen and Chris Dominguez last year. But in general, I always get the feeling that there isn't quite as much hype for a lot of the guys that end up in Mets uniforms, not as many guys who have were draft picks out of high school or Freshman All-Americans.

And that's not really a bad thing. The Mets have finished right around .500 the last two years, just outside the playoffs. They'd like to take a leap forward, of course, but when you put together solid teams year after year, eventually, you'll turn solid into something bigger.

Is this the year? I have no idea, but I do think the Mets have once again created a solid squad.

The pitching staff is a little light on weekend starters, but if 2008 ERA leader Austin Hudson does indeed come back for a third year on the Cape, the Mets will have an anchor at the top. Casey Harman has had a great year as a starter for Clemson, so he should be good, too. And the back end? Well, that should be more than fine. The Mets have five pitchers who have had big seasons as their teams' closers.

If the Mets are really going to take a big step, I think it's the offense that can deliver it. Cody Hawn had a fantastic season at Tennessee and, with a big summer, could emerge as one of the best hitters in the country. Catcher Dan Burkhart was the Big 10 Player of the Year at Ohio State. Those two guys, alone, have the potential to make a huge splash this summer, but they're not the only ones. The Mets have seven players who hit over .330 for their teams this spring, and a lot of them mixed in some power.

So there's definitely potential, and unlike some teams, there probably won't be a ton of ifs when the season begins. A few players could still get Team USA invites, but there aren't a ton of players whose teams appear to be Omaha contenders.

That means the Mets are likely to be steady again. I guess the more things change in Hyannis, the more they stay the same.


Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 3
Juniors: 3
Sophomores: 18
Freshmen: 9

Notable

• Out of character thought it may be, the Mets did have Danny Hultzen, a very, very highly-touted freshman, on their initial roster. But Hultzen got a Team USA invite and he is not on the latest roster. That's a big loss for the Mets and for the league, because Hultzen is probably the best freshman pitcher in the country.


• A year after having saves leader Russell Brewer on the roster, the Mets have lined up themselves up to have the saves leader again. They've got plenty of options, at least. As I mentioned above, five players were closers this year. Oklahoma's Ryan Duke was the most prolific of the bunch, with 15 saves and a 2.78 ERA.


• Austin Hudson has already had himself a heck of a Cape League career, and he's apparently thinking of coming back for more. I don't think it would be a bad thing for him. His career ERA at Central Florida is 7.15. On the Cape, it's 2.70.


• In addition to Hultzen, Thomas Girdwood is also a Team USA invitee, though he is still on the roster.


• It should be fun to watch Boston College pitcher Kevin Moran, who hails from Yarmouthport.


• Colin Bates had a lot of success as a starter for Hyannis last year, but he's been North Carolina's closer this year. I'm wondering what role he plays this summer. Since North Carolina is a likely Omaha contender, Bates could be late, in which case he probably wouldn't be the closer out of the gate.


• The Mets have some catchers who can hit. Even if you take out Eddie Rohan, who has played mostly DH this spring, you're left with Dan Burkhart and Kenny Swab, both of whom hit over .330 this year.


• Among players across the league who haven't been invited to Team USA, Cody Hawn will enter the summer as one of the top two or three hitters, based on production. From what I've read on Hawn, he was a potential high pick out of high school before an injury, so he has been on the radar for a while as a legitimate hitter.


• The Mets have four outfielders on the roster, all of whom are coming off really good seasons.


• One of those guys is East Carolina's Trent Whitehead. Last year, Hyannis had pretty good success with another East Carolina outfielder named Trent. That's Trent Ashcraft, who was an all-star.

Five Players I'm Excited to See
1. Cody Hawn
2. Dan Burkhart
3. Casey Harman
4. Ryan Duke
5. Trent Whitehead

Pitchers

*Colin Bates - RHP - 6'1 185 - RS Sophomore - North Carolina
Kevin Brandt - LHP - 6'2 195 - Freshman - East Carolina
Ryan Duke - RHP - 5'11 175 - Sophomore - Oklahoma
Dallas Gallant - RHP - 6'3 185 - Sophomore - Sam Houston
Thomas Girdwood - RHP - 6'2 215 - Sophomore - Elon
Chris Haney - RHP/C - 5'11 185 - Sophomore - Dallas Baptist
Casey Harman - LHP - 6'2 200 - Sophomore - Clemson
*Austin Hudson - RHP - 6'5 195 - Junior - Central Florida
Cole Johnson - RHP - 6'3 200 - Sophomore - Notre Dame
Eric Maust - RHP - 6'2 190 - Junior - Notre Dame
Jimmy Messer - RHP - 6'1 195 - Freshman - North Carolina
Kevin Moran - RHP - 6'4 205 - Sophomore - Boston College
Dave Peterson - RHP - 6'4 200 - Freshman - College of Charleston
Seth Rosin - RHP - 6'6 250 - Freshman - Minnesota
*Will Weidig - RHP - 6'1 210 - Junior - Brown
Tyler Wilson - RHP - 6'2 185 - Sophomore - Virginia


Colin Bates - RHP - 6'1 185
Sophomore
North Carolina

A Freshman All-American last year, Bates has moved into the closer's role for the Tar Heels this season and has done very well himself. As UNC starts regional play, he's got six saves, a 3.02 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 53.2 innings. Bates took a medical redshirt in 2007. After his strong freshman campaign last year, he made seven starts for Hyannis, posting a 2.85 ERA.

Kevin Brandt - LHP - 6'2 195
Freshman
East Carolina

Pitching mostly out of the bullpen, Brandt has had a great first season in Greenville. He's got an 8-1 record, a 3.42 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 68.1 innings.

Ryan Duke - RHP - 5'11 175
Sophomore
Oklahoma

After pitching fairly well in the rotation as a freshman, Duke moved into the closer's spot this year and has emerged as one of the best in the country. He finished the regular season with 15 saves, good for seventh in the nation. He's also got good peripheral numbers, with 39 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 32.1 innings, along with a 2.78 ERA.

Dallas Gallant - RHP - 6'3 185
Sophomore
Sam Houston

Pitching in a swing role for the regional-bound Bearkats, Gallant is second on the team in strikeouts with 64 in 69 innings, but he's also carrying an ERA of 6.52. Gallant had the same good strikeout numbers last year, but finished with a little better ERA.

Thomas Girdwood - RHP - 6'2 215
Sophomore
Elon

As one of the top closers in the country, Girdwood has helped lead Elon to the an NCAA tournament regional. The righty has recorded 17 saves to go with a 4.01 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 24.2 innings. Girdwood has been invited to Team USA, so you know he's got a power arm.

Chris Haney - RHP/C - 5'11 185
Sophomore
Dallas Baptist

Haney is another closer coming off a pretty good season. He finished with seven saves, a 4.64 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 42.2 innings. Haney follows in the footsteps of Dallas Baptist's Victor Black, who came to Bourne last year and is now projected as an early pick in the draft.

Casey Harman - LHP - 6'2 200
Sophomore
Clemson

Harman has emerged as Clemson's most consistent starting pitcher this season. He enters the regionals with a 7-3 record and a 3.86 ERA. In 74.2 innings, he has struck out 77 and walked only 12. Harman is a New England kid, hailing from South Burlington, Vermont, the same hometown as Clemson coach Jack Leggett. Harman pitched for Vermont in the NECBL last year and was picked by Baseball America as the league's fourth-best prospect.

Austin Hudson - RHP - 6'5 195
Junior
Central Florida

Hudson is about as veteran a Cape League pitcher as you'll ever see, and he's had a lot of success, too. He pitched for Hyannis after his freshman year and finished with a 3.59 ERA. Last year, he quietly led the league in ERA, finishing at 1.50 in seven starts. PG Crosschecker wrote in January that Hudson looked like a second-to-fifth round talent for this year's draft. The fact that he finished the season at UCF with a 10.98 ERA might impact that perception, and it could be why he just showed up on the Hyannis roster.

Cole Johnson - RHP - 6'3 200
Sophomore
Notre Dame

Johnson was Notre Dame's best starter this season, finishing with a 7-3 record and a 4.47 ERA. He struck out 64 in 94.2 innings of work. Johnson was initially an invited walk-on at Notre Dame but he has had success all the way along. Last summer, he had a 2.87 ERA in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League.

Eric Maust - RHP - 6'2 190
Junior
Notre Dame

In addition to being a member of Notre Dame's weekend rotation, Maust is the punter for Charlie Weis and the Irish football team. This spring, Maust went 6-3 with a 4.94 ERA.

Jimmy Messer - RHP - 6'1 195
Freshman
North Carolina

Messer was a 44th-round pick out of high school last year. Since arriving in Chapel Hill, he has made nine appearances -- five starts -- and has posted a 6.35 ERA. Control appears to be an issue, with Messer striking out 19 but walking 15.

Kevin Moran - RHP - 6'4 205
Sophomore
Boston College

Moran is a native of Yarmouthport, so he'll be living the dream of every young Cape League fan when he suits up for Hyannis this summer. He has certainly earned the chance. After a so-so freshman season, Moran has posted a 2.84 ERA this season, second-best on the team. He has pitched almost exclusively out of the bullpen, delivering 36 strikeouts in 50.2 innings.

Dave Peterson - RHP - 6'4 200
Freshman
College of Charleston

A tall and lanky freshman, Peterson was drafted in the 40th round out of high school. He earned a starting gig right out of the gate at Charleston, where he finished his freshman season with a 7-3 record and a 5.73 ERA. He struck out 47 and walked only 15 in 77 innings.

Seth Rosin - RHP - 6'6 250
Freshman
Minnesota

A 28th-round pick out of high school, Rosin grabbed a spot in the weekend rotation and has turned in a pretty solid season for the Gophers. With the Gophers heading to a regional, Rosin has a 7-1 record, a 4.08 ERA and 58 strikeouts against 14 walks in 70.2 innings.

Will Weidig - RHP - 6'1 210
Junior
Brown

Weidig pitched for Hyannis last summer and did well, finishing with a 3.41 ERA while pitching mostly in relief. This spring, Weidig made eight starts for Brown, finishing with a 2-5 record and an 8.55 ERA.

Tyler Wilson - RHP - 6'2 185
Sophomore
Virginia

Wilson only pitched 15 innings as a freshman in Charlottesville but played in the Great Lakes League last summer and was named the league's top prospect. This spring, Wilson has lived up to the hype, posting a 2.96 ERA while pitching in a relief role. Wilson has struck out 52 and walked only 19 in 54.2 innings.

Position Players

Dan Burkhart - C - 5'11 210 - Sophomore - Ohio State
Eddie Rohan - C/OF - 6'1 195 - Sophomore - Winthrop
Kenny Swab - C - 6'2 218 - Sophomore - Young Harris
Nick Crawford - 2B/SS - 5'9 150 - Sophomore - UAB
Dustin Harrington - SS - 5'10 187 - Sophomore - East Carolina
Cody Hawn - 1B/3B - 6'0 185 - Sophomore - Tennessee
Shane Kroker - 3B/SS - 6'4 194 - Freshman - Wake Forest
Cam Seitzer - 1B/3B - 6'5 205 - Freshman - Oklahoma
Elliot Soto - SS - 5'9 155 - Sophomore - Creighton
Jamal Austin - OF - 5'8 170 - Freshman - UAB
Jackie Bradley, Jr. - OF - 5'10 178 - Freshman - South Carolina
Casey Johnson - OF - 5'11 195 - Sophomore - Oklahoma
Johnny Ruettiger - OF - 6'2 190 - Freshman - Arizona State
Trent Whitehead - OF - 5'11 180 - Sophomore - East Carolina


Dan Burkhart - C - 5'11 210
Sophomore
Ohio State

Burkhart was part of a young nucleus that took its lumps last year. He has led the way this year as the Buckeyes grabbed a regional berth. Burkhart was named the Big 10 Player of the Year after hitting .362 with 10 home runs and 60 RBI. Burkhart also has a reputation as a leader behind the plate who handles pitchers very well.

Eddie Rohan - C/OF - 6'1 195
Sophomore
Winthrop

Listed as a catcher/outfielder/first baseman, it looks like Rohan played mostly DH this season. Wherever he was, he was hitting. He finished the year with a .348 average, 14 home runs, 53 RBI and 32 extra-base hits. Last year, Rohan tied the Winthrop freshman home run record, which was held by Daniel Carte, the 2004 Cape League MVP

Kenny Swab - C - 6'2 218
Sophomore
Young Harris

Swab has committed to play for Virginia next year, and he's coming off a big season for Young Harris, a junior college team coached by former Hyannis manager Rick Robinson. Swab hit .342 this year with eight home runs and 59 RBI.

Nick Crawford - 2B/SS - 5'9 150
Sophomore
UAB

Crawford was a member of the C-USA all-freshman team a year ago and he followed it up with a solid sophomore season. He finished with a .292 average, one home run, 35 RBI and 15 steals.

Dustin Harrington - SS - 5'10 187
Sophomore
East Carolina

In a lineup that can flat-out mash, Harrington has been a key cog this season. After a strong freshman year, he's hitting .323 this year with 12 home runs, 43 RBI and 27 extra-base hits.

Cody Hawn - 1B/3B - 6'0 185
Sophomore
Tennessee

After getting picked in the 23rd round out of high school in 2007, Hawn headed for Walters State CC, where he hit over .400. Drafted again in the 41st round last year, Hawn decided to enroll at Tennessee instead of signing or staying at Walters. Based on the stats, it was probably the right decision. Hawn hit .364 this season with 22 home runs and 81 RBI, in the process becoming one of the best players in the SEC.

Shane Kroker - 3B/SS - 6'4 194
Freshman
Wake Forest

A highly-touted recruit, Koker delivered a solid first season in Winston-Salem. He finished up with a .261 batting average, two home runs and 21 RBI.

Cam Seitzer - 1B/3B - 6'5 205
Freshman
Oklahoma

In a stacked lineup, Seitzer has had to fight for playing time this season. But even though he's gotten only 25 starts, he has made an impression. He's hitting .307 with four home runs and 21 RBI. Seitzer is the son of former Major Leaguer and former Cape Leaguer Kevin Seitzer.

Elliot Soto - SS - 5'9 155
Sophomore
Creighton

Creighton's starting shortstop, Soto delivered a very strong sophomore season. He hit .322, second-best on the team, and drove in 26. He also stole 13 bases and committed just nine errors.

Jamal Austin - OF - 5'8 170
Freshman
UAB

A two-sport standout in high school, Austin was a 50th-round pick in last year's draft. At UAB, he put together a good freshman season, hitting .297 with 10 extra-base hits and 20 steals.

Jackie Bradley, Jr. - OF - 5'10 178
Freshman
South Carolina

Bradley has had a fantastic freshman season at South Carolina. With the Gamecocks off to a regional, Bradley is their second-best hitter, carrying a .338 average, nine home runs and 41 RBI. Those numbers earned him an SEC all-freshman nod.

Casey Johnson - OF - 5'11 195
Sophomore
Oklahoma

A regular since day one, Johnson was second on the team in batting average as a freshman and he has delivered another solid season this year. He's hitting .325 with seven home runs and 44 RBI.

Johnny Ruettiger - OF - 6'2 190
Freshman
Arizona State

A 35th-round pick out of high school, Ruettiger has only started 20 games for the Sun Devils, but he has certainly taken advantage of his opportunities. He's hitting .338 with a home run, 10 RBI and eight steals. Ruettiger is the nephew of Dan "Rudy" Ruettiger, whose football career at Notre Dame was made famous by the movie "Rudy."

Trent Whitehead - OF - 5'11 180
Sophomore
East Carolina

Whitehead hit .273 as a freshman, but he has taken a huge leap forward this season and has turned into one of the Pirates' best hitters. He's currently hitting .380 with six home runs, 42 RBI, and 30 extra-base hits.

Early Look: Cotuit

COTUIT KETTLEERS
Manager: Mike Roberts
2008 Record: 24-18

When the first 2009 rosters started popping up, Cotuit's emerged in my eyes as the most intriguing.

I'm still intrigued, for a number of reasons.

We can start with the bad news. The Kettleers' 30-player roster has some big stars but six of the biggest are draft-eligible and projected to go very early. That means we may not see Chris Dwyer, Mike Nesseth and Drew Storen lighting up radar guns, or Robbie Shields and Tyler Townsend slugging home runs. In addition, three more players have been invited to Team USA, including UCLA freshman pitcher Gerrit Cole, a first-round pick last year.

So the intrigue with those guys now revolves around the comings and goings.

But the intrigue with the rest of the roster is rooted in some emerging talent. That's the biggest thing I took from all the bio writing for Cotuit's players: a lot of guys with star power and hype and track records might not make it to the Cape; but the rest might turn into stars this summer.

Go down the list of position players, and I think you'll see that most of them fit that mold. Cameron Rupp, Kevin Keyes and Cory Vaughn were top prospects in other summer leagues last year and are coming off big college seasons. Kevin Patterson was one of the league's stars last year and will be looking to prove himself after a so-so sophomore year. Cody Stanley, Chris Bisson, Brock Holt, Rico Noel and Jeff Rowland have had fantastic springs. Zach Cone and Zack Cox are highly-touted freshmen ready for breakout summers. The pitching staff fits the same profile, with players like Chad Bell, Seth Blair, Brandon Cumpton, Justin Grimm, Max Russell and Daniel Tillman poised for big things.

That means the summer should be an exciting time for a lot of Cotuit's players, and that has to be a good thing.

As far as what the talent can do, I think Cotuit stacks up pretty favorably to West rivals Bourne, Wareham and Falmouth. The Kettleers pitching staff could take a big hit from the draft, with Dwyer, Nesseth, Storen and Bell all eligible. Depth could be an issue, but Blair was a standout last summer, and Russell and Tillman had tremendous seasons at D-II Florida Southern. And we can't forget about Chance Ruffin, who's one of the best pitchers in the country.

The lineup is probably in better shape, even if Rice's Rick Hague ends up with Team USA. There's power, with Vaughn, Keyes, Rupp and Patterson, and there's serious speed potential, with four legit leadoff hitters on the roster.

All in all, I like this team. They may not have the depth of talent that Bourne and Falmouth appear to be bringing in, but I really am intrigued by all the up-and-coming talent. It should make for a fun year in Cotuit.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 4
Juniors: 4
Sophomores: 20
Freshmen: 6

Notable

• Among the draft-eligible pitchers, keep an eye on Clemson's Chris Dwyer. If I'm placing bets on who doesn't sign, I'm probably taking him. He's a draft-eligible freshman (based on age), but his first-year ups and downs at Clemson underscore his development level. From what I gather, he could still go in the second or third round. If he's planning on heading back to Clemson and proving himself further, the Cape would be a good place to start.


• The other draft-eligible pitchers are Nebraska's Mike Nesseth, Stanford's Drew Storen and Walters State's Chad Bell.


• All those guys have big arms, for sure, but the biggest on Cotuit's roster probably belongs to Gerrit Cole, the Yankees' first-round pick last year who has a mid to upper-90s fastball. This spring, Cole led all NCAA freshmen in strikeouts with 104. I think it's pretty likely that he goes with Team USA, but if not, he would be the highest-drafted player out of high school to play on the Cape since 2003, when John Mayberry, Jr., hit .370 for Y-D.


• Cotuit's roster features two big freshman prospects from Vanderbilt in Sonny Gray and Navery Moore. Both were all-everything in high school, but only Gray has had sustained success in Nashville so far. He's been invited to Team USA, but Moore hasn't. It'll be very interesting to see what Moore can do. He was considered the best pitcher in his high school class before Tommy John Surgery. This summer will be big for him.


• I haven't looked closely at this, but off the top of my head, I think Seth Blair could be the league's best returning pitcher. He had a 1.72 ERA last year, third in the league. It's probably between him and Brandon Workman.


• The list of position players includes a pair of juniors who would be huge additions if they don't sign right away. Robbie Shields played for Cotuit last year, and his story is well-known. Tyler Townsend is right there with Middle Tennessee's Bryce Brentz -- who's on Harwich's roster -- for the best season among 2009 Cape Leaguers.


• Florida Southern sent Shields to Cotuit last year, and this year, it's a pair of pitchers -- Daniel Tillman and Max Russell. Both have put up great numbers this season.


• The Kettleers have some Major League bloodlines. Chance Ruffin is the son of former pitcher Bruce Ruffin, while Cory Vaughn is the son of Greg Vaughn.


• In Cameron Rupp and Cody Stanley, Cotuit has two catchers who have delivered great production. It's not a stretch to envision both of them having big summers.


• Cotuit's outfield is going to be really, really athletic. Kevin Keyes, Zach Cone and Cory Vaughn get that "toolsy" label, while Jeff Rowland is a great leadoff hitter for Georgia Tech. Add in Coastal Carolina leadoff man Rico Noel, who can play infield or outfield, and it's even more impressive.


• Speaking of Noel, he should be the odds-on favorite to win the stolen base title. He's been successful on 46 of 49 this year, and might be the first prototypical speedster on the Cape since Manny Burriss, who stole 37 bases in 2005. Blake Tekotte in 2007 kind of fits the mold, but last year, it was Tim Wheeler, a corner outfielder, who led the league.

Five Players I'm Excited to See
1. Gerrit Cole
2. Cory Vaughn
3. Tyler Townsend
4. Chris Dwyer
5. Kevin Keyes

Pitchers

Chad Bell - LHP - 6'2 180 - Walters State CC - Sophomore
*Seth Blair - RHP - 6'2 190 - Arizona State - Sophomore
Jake Buchanan - RHP - 6'0 205 - North Carolina State - Sophomore
Gerrit Cole - RHP - 6'3 195 - UCLA - Freshman
Brandon Cumpton - RHP - 6'1 190 - Georgia Tech - Sophomore
Chris Dwyer - LHP - 6'2 200 - Clemson - Freshman
Matt Grace - LHP - 6'4 205 - UCLA - Sophomore
Sonny Gray - RHP - 5'10 180 - Vanderbilt - Freshman
Justin Grimm - RHP - 6'4 195 - Georgia - Sophomore
Navery Moore - RHP - 6'3 205 - Vanderbilt - Freshman
Mike Nesseth - RHP - 6'5 213 - Nebraska - Junior
Ryan Rodebaugh - RHP - 6'0 165 - Kennesaw State - Sophomore
Chance Ruffin - RHP - 6'0 190 - Texas - Sophomore
Max Russell - LHP - 6'2 190 - Florida Southern - Sophomore
*Drew Storen - LHP - 6'2 175 - Stanford - Sophomore
Daniel Tillman - RHP - 6'1 186 - Florida Southern - Sophomore

Chad Bell - LHP - 6'2 180
Walters State CC
Sophomore

After originally committing to Memphis, Bell headed to Walters State for his freshman year with an eye on the 2008 draft. But after getting picked in the 25th round pick out of high school, he dropped to the 37th round last year. He opted to stay at Walters, where he's had another fantastic season. He's posted a 2.08 ERA, with 78 strikeouts in 65 innings and five complete games. He is committed to Tennessee, but he'll be weighing his options after the draft. Bell was on Harwich's roster this time last year, but didn't make it to the Cape.

Seth Blair - RHP - 6'2 190
Arizona State
Sophomore

Blair was one of the most impressive pitchers on the Cape last summer, going 4-1 with a 1.72 ERA for the Kettleers. He has followed that up with a very good sophomore season in Tempe. As ASU's third starter, he is 6-2 with a 3.42 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 71 innings.

Jake Buchanan - RHP - 6'0 205
North Carolina State
Sophomore

After a solid freshman season, Buchanan saw his ERA ballon up over six this season. He still had good strikeout numbers, with 72 in 74.1 innings.

Gerrit Cole - RHP - 6'3 195
UCLA
Freshman

Cole made national headlines last year when he turned down first-round money from the New York Yankees to go to UCLA, becoming the highest pick to enroll in college since 2002, when first-rounder John Mayberry, Jr., went to Stanford. Obviously, Cole brought a lot of hype with him to the UCLA campus and he has done a pretty good job living up to it. Despite a 4-8 record, he's got a 3.49 ERA with 104 strikeouts and 38 walks in 85 innings. Not surprisingly, he has been invited to Team USA.

Brandon Cumpton - RHP - 6'1 190
Georgia Tech
Sophomore

Cumpton had a decent summer for Cotuit last year, posting a 4.43 ERA while pitching as a starter and a reliever. As one of Tech's weekend starters this year, Cumpton has gone 4-2 with a 4.83 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 59.2 innings.

Chris Dwyer - LHP - 6'2 200
Clemson
Freshman

Dwyer is the rare draft-eligible freshman. He's in that position because of an extra year in elementary school and another at a prep school. He's considered to be a second-round talent, but since he's just a freshman, there may be some signability concerns. This spring, Dwyer had some strong starts but ended up with a 5.30 ERA. He struck out 75 in 73 innings.

Matt Grace - LHP - 6'4 205
UCLA
Sophomore

Grace put up good numbers in a relief role his freshman year and he has done the same this year. He's got a 4.54 ERA with 33 strikeouts and only 10 walks in 39.2 innings.

Sonny Gray - RHP - 5'10 180
Vanderbilt
Freshman

Boasting a mid-90s fastball and a sharp curveball, Gray was one of the top high school pitchers in the nation a year ago, but his size, a spring injury and a strong commitment to Vanderbilt pushed him to the 27th round of the draft. He opted to honor his commitment to Vandy, where he has surged to a strong finish. For the season, he's got a 5.14 ERA, but he's turned in three solid starts since sliding into the rotation.

Justin Grimm - RHP - 6'4 195
Georgia
Sophomore

Grimm didn't have a great freshman season but he has posted the best ERA -- 4.19 -- among Georgia's weekend starters this year. A 13th-round pick out of high school in 2007, Grimm has struck out 67 in 73 innings.

Navery Moore - RHP - 6'3 205
Vanderbilt
Freshman

Before Tommy John surgery in 2007, Moore was considered one of the top pitchers in his class. Though he made it back for last season, his senior year, he ended up slipping to the 26th round of the draft. Like Gray, he stuck with his commitment to Vanderbilt. He has thus far seen limited action, with a 7.20 ERA in three appearances.

Mike Nesseth - RHP - 6'5 213
Nebraska
Junior

Ranked as the second-best prospect in the Northwoods League a year ago, Nesseth was looking for a big junior year after two solid seasons in Lincoln. He didn't quite have it though, finishing with a 5.01 ERA. He did, however, strike out 73 in 64.2 innings. Nesseth will probably go in the first 10 rounds in June, so we'll have to wait and see on his summer destination.

Ryan Rodebaugh - RHP - 6'0 165
Kennesaw State
Sophomore

On a pitching staff with two big-time prospects -- Kyle Heckathorn and Chad Jenkins -- Rodebaugh has shown some good things, too. Pitching in a swing role, he's got a 4.10 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 48.1 innings of work.

Chance Ruffin - RHP - 6'0 190
Texas
Sophomore

The son of former Major Leaguer Bruce Ruffin, Chance was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year last season and one of the best freshman pitchers in the nation. He finished his first year with an ERA of 1.96. This season, his ERA isn't quite as low, but he's still one of the best in the nation. Heading into regional play, Ruffin is 9-2 with a 2.96 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 100.1 innings.

Max Russell - LHP - 6'2 190
Florida Southern
Sophomore

Cotuit got a great start from D-II Florida Southern's Robbie Shields last year, before an injury cut short his season. Shields is still projected as a high pick, and Russell will try to follow in his footsteps. He has put up fantastic numbers this year, going 10-2 with a 3.80 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 104.1 innings.

Drew Storen - LHP - 6'2 175
Stanford
Sophomore

A late-round pick because of signability, Storen had a great first season at Stanford and he added to his resume in Cotuit last summer, when he recorded five saves while posting a 2.76 ERA. This spring, he's recorded seven saves with 66 strikeouts and just eight walks in 42.2 innings. A draft-eligible sophomore, Storen's big arm could land him in the top two or three rounds.

Daniel Tillman - RHP - 6'1 186
Florida Southern
Sophomore

Tillman will join Russell in Cotuit, and he's coming off a great season in his own right. While serving as Florida Southern's closer, he has posted 12 saves to go with a 3.15 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 54.1 innings.


Position Players
Cameron Rupp - C - 6'2 235 - Texas - Sophomore
Cody Stanley - C - 5'10 200 - UNC Wilmington - Sophomore
Chris Bisson - INF - 5'11 185 - Kentucky - Sophomore
Zack Cox - INF/RHP - 6'0 215 - Arkansas - Freshman
Rick Hague - INF - 6'2 185 - Rice - Sophomore
Brock Holt - INF - 5'9 170 - Rice - Junior
Rico Noel - INF/OF - 5'9 165 - Coastal Carolina - Sophomore
*Kevin Patterson - 1B - 6'4 220 - Auburn - Sophomore
*Robbie Shields - INF - 6'1 195 - Florida Southern - Junior
Tyler Townsend - 1B - 6'3 215 - Florida International - Junior
Zach Cone - OF - 6'2 204 - Georgia - Freshman
Kevin Keyes - OF - 6'4 225 - Texas - Sophomore
Jeff Rowland - OF - 5'10 185 - Georgia Tech - Sophomore
Cory Vaughn - OF - 6'3 225 - San Diego State - Sophomore


Cameron Rupp - C - 6'2 235
Texas
Sophomore

A late-round pick out of high school in 2007, Rupp immediately grabbed the starting catcher's job at Texas and delivered a .309 batting average and four home runs, numbers that earned him several Freshman All-America honors. He spent the summer in the California Collegiate League, and was named the league's third-best prospect. This season, Rupp has hit .269 with seven home runs.

Cody Stanley - C - 5'10 200
UNC Wilmington
Sophomore

After hitting .286 as a freshman, Stanley turned in a big summer in the NECBL and was tabbed by Baseball America as the league's 10th-best prospect. He has continued his upward rise this spring with a .332 average, 12 home runs and 56 RBI. He led the team with 31 extra-base hits.

Chris Bisson - INF - 5'11 185
Kentucky
Sophomore

A middle-infielder who hails from Canada, Bisson really came on this season. In a starting role, he led the Wildcats with a .362 average and 52 RBI. He also had 14 extra-base hits and 13 steals.

Zack Cox - INF/RHP - 6'0 215
Arkansas
Freshman

Cox was rated as the 72nd best prospect in last year's draft by Baseball America, but when he dropped to the 20th round, he decided to honor his commitment to Arkansas. Though he has a fastball that reaches the low 90s, it seems his future may be as a hitter. For now, he's doing both. In his freshman year, he hit .266 with nine home runs. In 18 innings on the mound, he posted a 3.50 ERA with 15 strikeouts and only three walks.

Rick Hague - INF - 6'2 185
Rice
Sophomore

Hague was on Wareham's roster last summer, but an injury kept him home and kept us from seeing one of the best young shortstops in college baseball. This year, Hague has hit .320 with nine home runs and 51 RBI. He has been invited to Team USA.

Brock Holt - INF - 5'9 170
Rice
Junior

A junior-college transfer, Holt has been a key part of Rice's success this season. After grabbing the starting second base gig and the leadoff spot in the lineup, Holt has hit .344 with 10 home runs and 38 RBI. He's also got 10 steals.

Rico Noel - INF/OF - 5'9 165
Coastal Carolina
Sophomore

Noel is one of several leadoff hitters on the Cotuit roster this year, but he might have the edge over the rest. This spring, he has stolen 46 bases in 49 attempts. He's also got a .424 on-base percentage to go with a .317 batting average and seven home runs.

Kevin Patterson - 1B - 6'4 220
Auburn
Sophomore

Patterson had a steady summer for Cotuit last year and was probably the top-performing freshman in the league. He ended up hitting .296 with four home runs and a team-best 27 RBI. He also won the league's Daniel J. Silva Sportsmanship Award. This spring at Auburn, Patterson had kind of a down a year, hitting .231 with six home runs.

Robbie Shields - INF - 6'1 195
Florida Southern
Junior

Shields was the talk of the league last year when he got off to a .349/2 HR start in 12 games. An injury derailed the rest of his season, but he still made an impression and entered the spring as a potential first or second-rounder. After hitting .345 with five home runs this spring, he's being mentioned as a third or fourth-round talent by Baseball America.

Tyler Townsend - 1B - 6'3 215
Florida International
Junior

Recently named a first-team All-American by Louisville Slugger, Townsend had a remarkable junior season at FIU. He ended up hitting .434 with 24 home runs and 77 RBI. He finished 13th in the nation in batting average and fifth in home runs. As a junior, he's draft-eligible this year and is sure to be rising up draft boards as we speak.

Zach Cone - OF - 6'2 204
Georgia
Freshman

Cone was the third-highest pick to attend college from last year's draft, behind Gerrit Cole and Cone's Georgia teammate, Chase Davidson, who's on the Y-D roster. In a tough-to-crack Georgia lineup, Cone has gotten only 17 starts this spring. He has hit .308 with two home runs.

Kevin Keyes - OF - 6'4 225
Texas
Sophomore

A big-time prospect with a lot of tools, Keyes went in the 26th round out of high school in 2007, but honored his commitment to Texas, where he is putting together a solid career. He hit .339 as a freshman, tore up the California Collegiate League en route to top prospect honors last summer, and is hitting .293 with four home runs this year.

Jeff Rowland - OF - 5'10 185
Georgia Tech
Sophomore

Rowland had a great first season in Atlanta and hasn't missed a beat this season. He's hitting .348 with eight home runs and 35 RBI. He has also stolen a team-best 18 bases. Last summer, he was rated the fourth-best prospect in the Cal Ripken Senior League.

Cory Vaughn - OF - 6'3 225
San Diego State
Sophomore

The son of former Major League slugger Greg Vaughn, Cory has done some slugging of his own this season. He's hit .329 with 10 home runs and 51 RBI for the Aztecs. He has also stolen 15 bases, tops on the team. Vaughn played in the Northwoods League last summer and impressed scouts with his enormous potential. He was tabbed by Baseball America as the league's top prospect.