HYANNIS METS
Manager: Rick Robinson
Last Season: 20-21
The best number to sum up the 2007 season for Hyannis is a simple one: 25. That’s the number of players who donned a Hyannis uniform. For the Cape League, that’s unusually low. Most teams are up in the 30’s, thanks to temporary players, players who leave early, etc. Hyannis had none of that typical turnover. Their 25-man roster rarely fluctuated.
That stability served them fairly well – they were probably the steadiest team in the league. While Y-D was putting up ridiculous numbers and Bourne was adjusting on the fly, while Chatham and Falmouth were riding a rollercoaster, Hyannis was always right there.
Unfortunately for the Mets, that consistency didn’t pay off in the standings. They finished a half game out of second place and missed the playoffs.
But that won’t stop the Mets from trying for consistency again.
The ’08 Mets appear to have shied away from the biggest of the big-time prospects. On top of that, they’ll have what is sure to be the oldest roster on the Cape, with seven juniors. A lot of teams don’t have any.
Now, it would be almost impossible for the Mets to avoid any and all turnover like they did last year, and with a new manager, they’ll have a different look. But they do look steady once again. They bring back five players, all of whom were solid. Returning pitchers Andrew Doyle and Austin Hudson should anchor the staff, while shortstop Ryan Jackson, catcher Dale Cornstubble and outfielder Joey Gonzales bring a veteran presence to the lineup. With a few good-looking players mixed in, the Mets look like they can make some noise.
But, if it’s anything like last year, the volume probably won’t go up and down too much.
Roster Rundown
Returning players: 5
Juniors: 7
Sophomores: 11
Freshmen : 7
Notable
• As I mentioned above, the Mets have a lot of juniors, which could be interesting if they all make it to the Cape
• If there are any who don’t make it, Brown’s Ryan Lavarnway and Virginia’s Andrew Carraway are the likeliest candidates. Lavarnway is one of the best hitters in the country, while Carraway is one of the ACC’s best pitchers.
• If we do get to see Lavarnway, look out. He led the NCAA in hitting last year and hasn’t fallen too far off the pace this year. With questions about his ability to stick at catcher, he may be thinking of using the summer to prove himself, so it may not be a foregone conclusion that he’s gone, even if he gets drafted high.
• Miami’s Ryan Jackson was one of the top defensive shortstops in the league last year but now he’s got some offense to go with his defense. He has hit .360 this year.
• In Furman’s Jay Jackson, Michigan’s Adam Abraham and Brown’s Matt Nuzzo, the Mets have three of the most versatile athletes around. Jackson was a baseball and basketball star in high school and now pitchers and plays in the field for Furman. Abraham played junior hockey before switching to baseball, where he, too, pitches and plays in the field. Nuzzo was the top football player in Massachusetts in high school before switching full time to baseball this year.
• Speaking of other sports, with a pitching staff that includes 6’5 Austin Hudson, 6’6 Drew Muren and 6’7 Alex McRee to go with Jay Jackson, the Mets might make a decent basketball team
• Can we go ahead and call Hyannis the smartest team in the league? They’ve got two players from Brown and one from Yale, not to mention one from Virginia and one from Vanderbilt
• Serious predictions will come later, but I really like this Hyannis team as a sleeper pick. They’ve clearly taken a different approach than the Wareham’s and Chatham’s of the world, and I could see it paying off, both in terms of experience and stability.
Five Players I’m Excited to See
1. Ryan Lavarnway
2. Andrew Carraway
3. Ryan Jackson
4. Jay Jackson
5. Adam Abraham
Pitchers
Colin Bates – RHP – 6’1 185 – North Carolina – Freshman
Russell Brewer – RHP – 6’1 185 – Vanderbilt – Freshman
Andrew Carraway – RHP – 6’2 200 – Virginia – Junior
Jeff DeCarlo – LHP – 6’2 190 – Michigan – Sophomore
*Andrew Doyle – RHP – 6’3 215 – Oklahoma – Sophomore
*Austin Hudson – RHP – 6’5 190 – Central Florida – Sophomore
Jay Jackson – RHP – 6’1 195 – Furman – Junior
Eric Katzman – LHP – 6’0 210 – Michigan – Sophomore
Alex McRee – LHP – 6’7 238 – Georgia – Junior
Drew Muren – RHP – 6’6 185 – CS-Northridge – Freshman
Matt Ridings – RHP – 6’0 195 – Western Kentucky – Sophomore
Ryan Sharpley – RHP – 6’4 195 – Notre Dame – Freshman
Graham Stoneburner – RHP – 6’1 190 – Clemson – Freshman
* returning player
Colin Bates – RHP – 6’1 185
North Carolina
Freshman
After redshirting last year due to a blood clot in his shoulder, Bates has been lights out this season in a relief role. In 20 appearances, he has a 5-0 record, a 1.49 ERA and 46 strikeouts against 11 walks in 42.1 innings.
Russell Brewer – RHP – 6’1 185
Vanderbilt
Freshman
Another redshirt freshman at a powerhouse program, Brewer has worked mostly out of the bullpen for the Commodores and has excelled in that role. In 20 appearances, he has a 2.50 ERA, 47 strikeouts and just seven walks. He’s also been used as a closer at times and has recorded five saves.
Andrew Carraway – RHP – 6’2 200
Virginia
Junior
Carraway was a reliever last season and pitched well. As a starter this year, he’s done better than well. In 11 starts, he’s 3-3 with a 3.43 ERA. He has struck out 66 and walked only 10 in 60.1 innings. This comes after a solid summer in the NECBL. Carraway had a 2.19 ERA and struck out 40 for the Newport Gulls.
Jeff DeCarlo – LHP – 6’2 190
Michigan
Sophomore
DeCarlo is a New England kid, hailing from Medford, Mass., so he’ll be close to home this summer. He has pitched well for the Wolverines in his sophomore season, posting a 3.00 ERA in seven appearances, all but one out of the bullpen. He appears to be the crafty lefthander type.
Andrew Doyle – RHP – 6’3 215
Oklahoma
Sophomore
Doyle pitched last year on the Cape and was quietly solid. Despite a 4-1 record and a 2.83 ERA, he flew under the radar, at least for me, and was overshadowed by fellow frosh Kyle Gibson and Andy Oliver. But if Doyle, who has a 4.48 ERA this spring for Oklahoma, can have another god summer, he’ll step out of the shadows a bit.
Austin Hudson – RHP – 6’5 190
Central Florida
Sophomore
Hudson joins Doyle as a returning pitcher for the Mets, and he too will try to build on a strong summer. He finished with a 3.59 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 47.2 innings. Though he started all summer, he has been in the bullpen this spring, posting a 4.78 ERA in 18 appearances.
Jay Jackson – RHP – 6’1 195
Furman
Junior
Jackson is listed as just a pitcher on the Hyannis roster so that may be his focus this summer. But this spring, he’s one of the most versatile players around. He’s hitting .319 with eight home runs, and on the mound, he’s 9-2 with a 2.90 ERA. He could be an interesting player to watch for the Mets.
Eric Katzman – LHP – 6’0 210
Michigan
Sophomore
Katzman has pitched mostly in relief for the Wolverines this spring, and he has done it well. In 14 appearances, he has a 3.21 ERA. Katzman was all-everything as a high school pitcher in New Jersey.
Alex McRee – LHP – 6’7 238
Georgia
Sophomore
It’s unclear exactly how big McRee is – the Georgia site says 6’6 230 – but whatever the exact measurements are, McRee is tall. He is also putting in a good season this spring, with a 3.76 ERA mostly out of the bullpen.
Drew Muren – RHP – 6’6 185
CS-Northridge
Freshman
Muren has the projectable frame that scouts like and he has pitched fairly well this spring for Northridge. In eight appearances – six starts – he’s 3-4 with a 4.20 ERA. His strikeout numbers are low for a power pitcher, though. He has just 15 in 30 innings. Muren has also seen a lot of time in the outfield and has hit. 264 in 129 at-bats.
Matt Ridings – RHP – 6’0 195
Western Kentucky
Sophomore
Ridings has been the best starter for the Hilltoppers this spring, posting a 9-2 record with a 4.29 ERA. He has struck out 80 and walked 30 in 77 innings. Ridings also led the team in strikeouts as a freshman, when he earned All-American honors from Ping Baseball.
Ryan Sharpley – RHP – 6’4 195
Notre Dame
Freshman
Like fellow ND freshman Evan Danieli – who will play for Falmouth – Sharpley is a highly-touted, highly projectable hurler. He has put up good numbers to match, with a 4-1 record in six starts and a 2.45 ERA. He has struck out 28 in 29.1 innings. Sharpley’s brother, Evan, also plays for Notre Dame.
Graham Stoneburner – RHP – 6’1 190
Clemson
Freshman
Stoneburner redshirted last season due to a torn ACL, but he has moved into the rotation this year. A fairly highly-touted prospect out of Virginia, Stoneburner has shaken off the rust this year to post a 5-4 record and a 4.98 ERA.
Position Players
Curt Casali – C – 6’2 215 – Vanderbilt – Freshman
*Dale Cornstubble – C – 6’0 180 – Central Michigan – Junior
Ryan Lavarnway – C – 6’4 225 – Yale – Junior
Adam Abraham – 3B/RHP – 6’0 215 – Michigan – Junior
Casey Frawley – 2B – 5’10 160 – Stetson – Sophomore
John Hinson – 2B – 6’1 190 – Clemson – Freshman
*Ryan Jackson – SS – 6’2 175 – Miami – Sophomore
Matt Nuzzo – SS/3B – 6’0 200 – Brown – Junior
Ben Paulsen – 1B – 6’4 205 – Clemson – Sophomore
Steve Daniels – OF – 5’11 180 – Brown – Junior
Ryan Eden – OF – 6’1 195 – New Orleans – Sophomore
*Joey Gonzales – OF – 5’9 180 – UC Riverside – Sophomore
* returning player
Curt Casali – C – 6’2 215
Vanderbilt
Freshman
One of the top high school prospects in New England last year, Casali, who hails from New Canaan, Conn., took his game south and has turned in a solid freshman season for the Commodores. He has had to fight for playing time, but has seen action in 28 games and has posted a .317 batting average and a .463 on-base percentage.
Dale Cornstubble – C – 6’0 180
Central Michigan
Sophomore
Statistically, Cornstubble is a bit of an anomaly among Cape Leaguers. This will be his second summer with Hyannis and he’ll be there despite a career average at Central Michigan that’s in the .250s. But by all accounts, Cornstubble is a tremendous defensive catcher, a quality that’s extremely valuable. And with the potential to hit better, he should play a big role for the Mets this summer.
Ryan Lavarnway – C – 6’4 225
Yale
Junior
There have been questions about Lavarnway’s defense and he may end up being an outfielder not a catcher, but when it comes to offense, there are no questions. As a sophomore, Lavarnway led the nation in hitting with a .467 batting average. He spent the summer in the NECBL and was named one of the league’s top prospects. He is draft eligible this year so he may not make it to Hyannis, but if he does, you can expect him to be one of the league’s top hitters.
Adam Abraham – 3B/RHP – 6’0 215
Michigan
Junior
Abraham will be the only player on the Cape with this claim: he’s been a professional athlete. Not too long ago, he was giving up baseball to play major junior hockey in Canada, which is considered a professional level. He had his eyes on the NHL draft. These days, after giving up hockey to play baseball full-time at Michigan, Abraham probably isn’t too far away from the MLB draft. This season, he has hit .344 with seven home runs and 50 RBI.
Casey Frawley – 2B – 5’10 160
Stetson
Sophomore
Another Connecticut kid who headed South, Frawley will be back in New England this summer toting a solid resume. After hitting .303 as a freshman, Frawley has batted .346 for Stetson this season, with seven home runs and 34 RBI.
John Hinson – 2B – 6’1 190
Clemson
Freshman
Hinson can play all over the infield and has seen pretty significant action as a freshman for the Tigers. In 38 games, he’s hit .271. Hinson was a 40th-round pick out of high school last year.
Ryan Jackson – SS – 6’2 175
Miami
Sophomore
Jackson was a big prospect out of high school and though he started all year as a freshman for the Hurricanes, he hit only .236. Playing for Hyannis last summer, he met similar results, finishing the season with a .215 average and no home runs. But Jackson has had a breakthrough this season, posting a .360 average and a team-best 19 doubles, to go with the stellar defense that was always there.
Matt Nuzzo – SS/3B – 6’0 200
Brown
Junior
Nuzzo is a Cape League veteran, having spent parts of the last two summers in Falmouth, though he was only there for 12 games last year. At one time, Nuzzo, who was a star football player in high school, was a backup quarterback at Brown, but he decided to focus exclusively on baseball this year. He has hit .298 with six home runs.
Ben Paulsen – 1B – 6’4 205
Clemson
Sophomore
Paulsen showed flashes of potential as a freshman then put his tools on full display in the NECBL last summer, hitting .318. He has built on that performance this spring, notching a .322 average with 12 home runs and 45 RBI.
Steve Daniels – OF – 5’11 180
Brown
Junior
Another Ivy League junior, Daniels profiles as a leadoff-hitting centerfielder for the Mets. In the same role for Brown, Daniels has hit .341 with a .427 on-base percentage and a team-best 19 steals.
Ryan Eden – OF – 6’1 195
New Orleans
Sophomore
After college teammate Johnny Giavotella turned in a solid summer for Harwich last year, Eden will try to do the same this summer with the Mets. Eden has hit .297 with two home runs this spring for the Privateers. He also has 15 steals.
Joey Gonzales – OF – 5’9 180
UC Riverside
Sophomore
Gonzales arrived to Hyannis a little late last year but still made his presence felt, hitting .255 in 27 games. That performance came after Gonzales earned Big West Freshman of the Year honors. This season, Gonzales has hit .326 with four home runs.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
dream team, etc.
The 2007 Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox were perhaps the best offensive team of the Cape League's modern era, and we don't need much more proof of that. The numbers they put up were staggering.
Nonetheless, there is more proof. As the college season winds down, it's becoming increasingly clear that Y-D was simply a special collection of talent. Here's a look at the college statistics of last year's Y-D starters.
C - Buster Posey - Florida State - .469, 16 HR, 66 RBI
1B - Sean Ochinko - LSU - .256, 3 HR, 17 RBI
2B - Joey Railey - San Francisco - .329, 4 HR, 36 RBI
3B - Nick Romero - San Diego State - .327, 11 HR, 59 RBI
SS - Gordon Beckham - Georgia - .402, 22 HR, 55 RBI
OF - Colin Cowgill - Kentucky - .378, 18 HR, 54 RBI
OF - Aaron Luna - Rice - .344, 8 HR, 48 RBI
OF - Matt Long - Santa Clara - .305, 9 HR, 36 RBI
DH - Jason Castro - Stanford - .366, 11 HR, 52 RBI
Util - Grant Green - USC - .386, 8 HR, 42 RBI
If your eyes glossed over when you read that, let me summarize.
Wow.
Ochinko is the only player who's struggling. Everybody else is crushing the ball. Your typical Y-D starter's college numbers: .356, 11 HR, 47 RBI.
If you did the same for every Cape team, you'd see good numbers across the board there, too. But these numbers are a little beyond good, just like that Y-D offense.
I imagine will get further proof come draft time. Both Posey and Beckham could be top-10 picks.
NOTES
Nonetheless, there is more proof. As the college season winds down, it's becoming increasingly clear that Y-D was simply a special collection of talent. Here's a look at the college statistics of last year's Y-D starters.
C - Buster Posey - Florida State - .469, 16 HR, 66 RBI
1B - Sean Ochinko - LSU - .256, 3 HR, 17 RBI
2B - Joey Railey - San Francisco - .329, 4 HR, 36 RBI
3B - Nick Romero - San Diego State - .327, 11 HR, 59 RBI
SS - Gordon Beckham - Georgia - .402, 22 HR, 55 RBI
OF - Colin Cowgill - Kentucky - .378, 18 HR, 54 RBI
OF - Aaron Luna - Rice - .344, 8 HR, 48 RBI
OF - Matt Long - Santa Clara - .305, 9 HR, 36 RBI
DH - Jason Castro - Stanford - .366, 11 HR, 52 RBI
Util - Grant Green - USC - .386, 8 HR, 42 RBI
If your eyes glossed over when you read that, let me summarize.
Wow.
Ochinko is the only player who's struggling. Everybody else is crushing the ball. Your typical Y-D starter's college numbers: .356, 11 HR, 47 RBI.
If you did the same for every Cape team, you'd see good numbers across the board there, too. But these numbers are a little beyond good, just like that Y-D offense.
I imagine will get further proof come draft time. Both Posey and Beckham could be top-10 picks.
NOTES
- One top-flight prospect who apparently will never make it to the Cape is San Diego State's Stephen Strasburg. The 6'4 righty has become one of the most talked about players in the nation this spring thanks to these numbers: 8-1 record, 1.28 ERA and 125 strikeouts against 11 walks in 84.1 innings. He's likely to be one of the top picks in 2009, and he'll be surrounded there by Cape League alums. But Strasburg won't be one of them. He pitched last summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, and he isn't on any Cape League rosters this year, which suggests that he'll spend the summer with Team USA. It's rare that a major college prospect doesn't spend at least one summer on the Cape, but such is the case with Strasburg. In one sense, it speaks to the fact that bringing freshmen to the Cape is a bit of a crapshoot. Rosters are largely filled before the college season begins, so freshmen who make it to the Cape get there because of hype and potential. It's possible that Strasburg didn't have enough of either before his freshman season, which pushed him to the NECBL. Now that he's become one of the top pitchers in college baseball, he's almost gone beyond the Cape League.
- I just noticed that Tyler Ladendorf, who I wrote about at length in the Cotuit early look, is listed in the "Contract Released" section of Cotuit's roster. I guess we won't be seeing him.
- The Hyannis early look is almost done, then it's on to the Eastern Division. Keep checking.
Friday, May 9, 2008
early look: cotuit
COTUIT KETTLEERS
Manager: Mike Roberts
Last Season: 14-27-3
Cotuit was right in the thick of things through the early part of last summer, but when things went south, they went way south. The Kettleers hit the skids in July and went on a 12-game losing streak. In a 44-game season, that’s extremely difficult to recover from. They ended up finishing last in the Western Division, the first time since 2004 that they didn’t make the playoffs.
Clearly, the Kettleers had a lot of things go wrong. The biggest one was this: aside from Reese Havens, Cotuit didn’t have any stars. A couple of hitters had good seasons but didn’t truly separate themselves. A few pitchers showed flashes but didn’t deliver on a consistent basis.
That’s why it’s a little bit surprising that Cotuit’s 2008 roster has probably the fewest hyped players of any roster in the league.
But hype doesn’t always make stars, and sometimes, the best Cape League teams are the ones that are solid, not necessarily spectacular. If the Kettleers have success this year, that’s probably how they’ll do it.
One player returns from last year – Robert Stock – and he’s the one with the most hype. He gives the Kettleers a solid foundation and he should one of the top two catchers in the league this summer.
Aside from that, Cotuit’s a little tough to read. Mike Leake would give them a bona fide ace, but he was on Team USA’s initial invites list, meaning he probably won’t be in Cotuit this summer. Tyler Ladendorf could be a star at the plate, but he’s likely to get drafted in the early rounds this June.
But if being solid is the name of the game, the Kettleers could be in good shape. They have twice as many sophomores as freshmen so they’ll be a veteran team, and on top of that, a majority of their hitters are turning in great college seasons.
For now, I don’t know if that’s enough to put Cotuit in the same breath as some of the teams with loaded rosters like Wareham. But come summer, the Kettleers could very well be right there.
Roster Rundown
Returning players: 1
Juniors: 1
Sophomores: 15
Freshmen : 8
Notable
• As I mentioned above, Arizona State’s Mike Leake is a Team USA invitee, and losing him would be a big blow to the pitching staff. Leake is 7-1 with a 3.45 ERA for the Sun Devils this spring.
• If Leake indeed goes with Team USA, Florida State’s Matt Fairel is a likely choice to take the torch. Fairel is 9-1 for the Seminoles with a 2.84 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 76 innings.
• Fairel, Mario Hollands, Casey Gaynor, and Zach von Tersch look like the top candidates to grab spots in the starting rotation
• Drew Stoern, Steve Richards and Daniel Wolford have all been putting up great numbers out of the bullpen this spring
• I wrote a lot below about JUCO player Tyler Ladendorf. The gist is he’s really good, he might get drafted very high and if he makes it to the Cape, he’ll be an interesting player to watch.
• I’m curious to see what Robert Stock can do this year. Last summer, he was the youngest player on the Cape by far and hit a wall late in the season. As he tries to ramp things up for the 2009 draft, you can expect big things.
• Outfielders Tyler Holt (Florida State), Brett Jackson (Cal) and Jeff Schaus (Clemson) are all hitting well over .300 for their college teams.
• In case you start wondering, the Evan Crawford slated to play shortstop for the Kettleers is not the same Evan Crawford who pitched last summer for Harwich
Five Players I’m Excited to See
1. Mike Leake
2. Robert Stock
3. Tyler Ladendorf
4. Matt Fairel
5. Mario Hollands
Pitchers
Paul Applebee – LHP – 6’3 185 – UC-Riverside – Sophomore
Seth Blair – RHP – 6’1 195 – Arizona State – Freshman
Brandon Cumpton – RHP – 6’1 190 – Georgia Tech – Freshman
Matt Fairel – LHP – 6’3 200 – Florida State – Sophomore
Casey Gaynor – RHP – 6’2 215 – Rutgers – Sophomore
Mario Hollands – LHP – 6’5 205 – UC-Santa Barbara – Sophomore
Mike Leake – RHP – 6’0 160 – Arizona State – Freshman
Steve Richards – LHP – 5’11 160 – Arkansas – Sophomore
Trent Rothlin – RHP – 6‘1 185 – Clemson – Freshman
Drew Storen – RHP – 6’1 165 – Stanford – Freshman
Zach Von Tersch – RHP – 6’5 215 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
Daniel Wolford – RHP – 6’2 210 – California - Sophomore
Paul Applebee – LHP – 6’3 185
UC-Riverside
Sophomore
Applebee saw very limited action as a freshman for the Highlanders, but he has emerged this season as one of the team’s top pitchers. In 12 appearances – five starts – he has a 4.25 ERA to go with 30 strikeouts and eight walks.
Seth Blair – RHP – 6’1 195
Arizona State
Freshman
Blair was the top player in Illinois as a high school senior and he took his talents to the desert after being drafted in the 47th round. So far, he’s been used both as a starter and as a reliever. He has a 7.82 ERA in 14 appearances.
Brandon Cumpton – RHP – 6’1 190
Georgia Tech
Freshman
Cumpton had a tremendous high school career in Evans, Ga., and has seen a lot of action for the Yellow Jackets in this his freshman season. So far, he has a 6.21 ERA in 10 appearances.
Matt Fairel – LHP – 6’3 200
Florida State
Sophomore
After a solid freshman campaign that saw him work mostly out of the bullpen, Fairel has made the transition to the rotation, and he has made it well. With an 8-1 record and a 2.81 ERA, he has become the Seminoles’ top starting pitcher, as well as one of the top starters in the ACC.
Casey Gaynor – RHP – 6’2 215
Rutgers
Sophomore
Gaynor started all season as a freshman and has become Rutgers’ best starter this year. Despite a 1-4 record, he has a 3.32 ERA with 39 strikeouts and nine walks in 40.2 innings. As a side note, Gaynor was a member of the Tom’s River, N.J., Little League team that won a world championship in Williamsport. Former Scarlet Knight and Chatham A Todd Frazier was also on that team.
Mario Hollands – LHP – 6’5 205
UC-Santa Barbara
Redshirt Freshman
A highly-touted lefthander, Hollands red-shirted in his first year on campus but has moved into the weekend rotation this year and has been solid. In 10 starts, he has a 3.12 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 60 innings.
Mike Leake – RHP – 6’0 160
Arizona State
Sophomore
Leake turned in a very impressive freshman season last year and he hasn’t shown any signs of a sophomore slump. In 11 starts, Leake has a 7-1 record, a 3.29 ERA, and 68 strikeouts against 12 walks. Last summer, he stayed in Arizona and played in a collegiate league there. He should make a big splash this summer on the Cape.
Steve Richards – LHP – 5’11 160
Arkansas
Sophomore
Richards put up some decent numbers as a freshman but has become Arkansas’ best reliever this season. In 13 appearances – all out of the bullpen – the lefty has a 3.27 ERA with 30 strikeouts and nine walks in 22 innings.
Trent Rothlin – RHP – 6‘1 185
Clemson
Freshman
Rothlin was a late-round draft pick out of high school but hasn’t quite found his footing yet for the Tigers. In seven appearances, he has a 9.69 ERA. According to Clemson’s official site, Rothlin battled injuries in the fall ball season.
Drew Storen – RHP – 6’1 165
Stanford
Freshman
Hailing from Brownsburg, Ind., Storen made the long trek to Palo Alto and it’s been worth the trip, based on his performance so far. Storen has been pretty dominant coming out of the bullpen. In 18 appearances, he has four saves, a 2.97 ERA, 34 strikeouts and 10 walks in 33 innings.
Zach Von Tersch – RHP – 6’5 215
Georgia Tech
Sophomore
Von Tersch is an imposing figure on the mound and he has the numbers to match this season. After posting an ERA over 10 last year, he has moved into the rotation this season and has a 3.44 ERA in 10 starts.
Daniel Wolford – RHP – 6’2 210
California
Sophomore
A transfer from Long Beach State, Wolford has been a key piece of No. 6 Cal’s bullpen. He has a 4.62 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 33 innings of work.
Position Players
Joey Lewis – C – 6’4 215 – Georgia – Sophomore
Robert Stock – C/P – 6’1 195 – USC – Sophomore
Kevin Patterson – 1B/C – 6’4 220 – Auburn – Freshman
Evan Crawford – SS – 6’2 160 – Indiana – Sophomore
Jeff Kobernus – 3B/OF – 6’2 190 – California – Sophomore
Tyler Ladendorf – INF/OF – 6’1 205 – Howard College – Sophomore
Dallas Poulk – INF – 6’0 180 – NC State – Sophomore
Robbie Shields – INF – 6’1 195 – Florida Southern – Sophomore
Blair Dunlap – OF – 5’11 185 – UCLA – Junior
Tyler Holt – OF – 6’0 180 – Florida State – Freshman
Brett Jackson – OF – 6’2 210 – California – Sophomore
Jeff Schaus – OF – 6’1 200 – Clemson – Freshman
Joey Lewis – C – 6’4 215
Georgia
Sophomore
Lewis started 49 games at catcher for the Bulldogs last year and is on a similar pace this season, though he’s also seeing some time at the DH spot. Through 43 games, he’s hitting .259 with three home runs and 21 RBI.
Robert Stock – C/P – 6’1 195
USC
Sophomore
Stock was one of the more interesting stories in college baseball last spring and on the Cape last summer. A highly-touted prospect, he skipped his senior year of high school to enroll early at USC then became the youngest player on the Cape when he signed on with Cotuit. He was an all-star before a late-season slump left his final batting average at .228 Still, Stock is a major prospect and is hitting .311 in this his sophomore season. He also moonlights as a relief pitcher.
Kevin Patterson – 1B/C – 6’4 220
Auburn
Freshman
Patterson was a 24th-round pick out of high school last year after posting a career .392 average in high school. The results haven’t yet been there this season, with Patterson hitting .242. He does have four home runs, and his versatility should be a major asset this summer.
Evan Crawford – SS – 6’2 160
Indiana
Sophomore
Crawford emerged as a dynamic player for the Hoosier last year and he’s only gotten better. After hitting .311 and stealing 18 bases as a freshman, he’s hitting .329 this year, and is already up to 12 steals.
Jeff Kobernus – 3B/OF – 6’2 190
California
Sophomore
Kobernus burst onto the scene last year and earned Freshman All-American honors after hitting .331, good for second best on the team. This season, Kobernus has hit .309 with 16 extra-base hits, and he’s maintained that steady pace despite a position shift. After playing in the outfield last year, he’s become Cal’s starting third baseman this season.
Tyler Ladendorf – INF/OF – 6’1 205
Howard College
Sophomore
Ladendorf is an intriguing player, and he’ll be someone to watch if he actually makes it to Cotuit. Ladendorf plays for Howard College, a junior college in Texas. He’s there largely because he was a draft-and-follow player back in 2006, when he was picked in the 34th round by the Yankees. Leading up to the ’07 draft, he opted not to sign with the Yankees, thus entering the draft again. He was again a 34th-round pick, this time by the Giants, and again he didn’t sign. Since then, his stock has risen significantly. This season for Howard, he’s hitting .552 with 14 home runs and 29 steals in 30 attempts. Last year, he was 65 for 65 in stolen bases. The future is up in the air for Ladendorf, who could go in the early rounds of this June’s draft. Regardless of where he goes, he may end up on the Cape looking to gain some leverage. If he again chooses not to sign after the draft, he has committed to Oklahoma for next year.
Dallas Poulk – INF – 6’0 180
NC State
Sophomore
Poulk made a big splash in his freshman season for the Wolfpack, leading the team with a .394 batting average and earning Freshman All-America honors in the process. He’s seen his numbers drop this year, with the average dipping to .277.
Robbie Shields – INF – 6’1 195
Florida Southern
Sophomore
Shields started 60 games as a freshman and hit .298 with eight home runs. Things have been even better this year, as Shields leads the team with a .354 average and nine home runs while holding down the starting shortstop job.
Blair Dunlap – OF – 5’11 185
UCLA
Redshirt Sophomore
Dunlap hit .300 in his freshman season with the Bruins but missed almost all of last season with an injury. After receiving a medical redshirt, Dunlap has worked his way back but the numbers haven’t yet followed. In 23 games this year, he’s hitting .232.
Tyler Holt – OF – 6’0 180
Florida State
Freshman
Holt has started every game of his freshman season with the powerful Seminoles and has done his part in helping FSU to its lofty rankings. Through 42 games, Holt has hit .320 with three home runs and 27 RBI.
Brett Jackson – OF – 6’2 210
California
Sophomore
Jackson got 19 starts in center field as a freshman last year and didn’t put up great numbers. But changed that tune in the Northwoods League, where he hit .343. So far this season, he’s built on that performance. He’s hitting .329 with an on-base percentage of .436.
Jeff Schaus – OF – 6’1 200
Clemson
Freshman
Schaus hasn’t shown a lot of power, but he has hit early and often with the Tigers. In 44 games, he has a .318 average, second on the team. Schaus was a 35th-round pick out of high school.
Manager: Mike Roberts
Last Season: 14-27-3
Cotuit was right in the thick of things through the early part of last summer, but when things went south, they went way south. The Kettleers hit the skids in July and went on a 12-game losing streak. In a 44-game season, that’s extremely difficult to recover from. They ended up finishing last in the Western Division, the first time since 2004 that they didn’t make the playoffs.
Clearly, the Kettleers had a lot of things go wrong. The biggest one was this: aside from Reese Havens, Cotuit didn’t have any stars. A couple of hitters had good seasons but didn’t truly separate themselves. A few pitchers showed flashes but didn’t deliver on a consistent basis.
That’s why it’s a little bit surprising that Cotuit’s 2008 roster has probably the fewest hyped players of any roster in the league.
But hype doesn’t always make stars, and sometimes, the best Cape League teams are the ones that are solid, not necessarily spectacular. If the Kettleers have success this year, that’s probably how they’ll do it.
One player returns from last year – Robert Stock – and he’s the one with the most hype. He gives the Kettleers a solid foundation and he should one of the top two catchers in the league this summer.
Aside from that, Cotuit’s a little tough to read. Mike Leake would give them a bona fide ace, but he was on Team USA’s initial invites list, meaning he probably won’t be in Cotuit this summer. Tyler Ladendorf could be a star at the plate, but he’s likely to get drafted in the early rounds this June.
But if being solid is the name of the game, the Kettleers could be in good shape. They have twice as many sophomores as freshmen so they’ll be a veteran team, and on top of that, a majority of their hitters are turning in great college seasons.
For now, I don’t know if that’s enough to put Cotuit in the same breath as some of the teams with loaded rosters like Wareham. But come summer, the Kettleers could very well be right there.
Roster Rundown
Returning players: 1
Juniors: 1
Sophomores: 15
Freshmen : 8
Notable
• As I mentioned above, Arizona State’s Mike Leake is a Team USA invitee, and losing him would be a big blow to the pitching staff. Leake is 7-1 with a 3.45 ERA for the Sun Devils this spring.
• If Leake indeed goes with Team USA, Florida State’s Matt Fairel is a likely choice to take the torch. Fairel is 9-1 for the Seminoles with a 2.84 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 76 innings.
• Fairel, Mario Hollands, Casey Gaynor, and Zach von Tersch look like the top candidates to grab spots in the starting rotation
• Drew Stoern, Steve Richards and Daniel Wolford have all been putting up great numbers out of the bullpen this spring
• I wrote a lot below about JUCO player Tyler Ladendorf. The gist is he’s really good, he might get drafted very high and if he makes it to the Cape, he’ll be an interesting player to watch.
• I’m curious to see what Robert Stock can do this year. Last summer, he was the youngest player on the Cape by far and hit a wall late in the season. As he tries to ramp things up for the 2009 draft, you can expect big things.
• Outfielders Tyler Holt (Florida State), Brett Jackson (Cal) and Jeff Schaus (Clemson) are all hitting well over .300 for their college teams.
• In case you start wondering, the Evan Crawford slated to play shortstop for the Kettleers is not the same Evan Crawford who pitched last summer for Harwich
Five Players I’m Excited to See
1. Mike Leake
2. Robert Stock
3. Tyler Ladendorf
4. Matt Fairel
5. Mario Hollands
Pitchers
Paul Applebee – LHP – 6’3 185 – UC-Riverside – Sophomore
Seth Blair – RHP – 6’1 195 – Arizona State – Freshman
Brandon Cumpton – RHP – 6’1 190 – Georgia Tech – Freshman
Matt Fairel – LHP – 6’3 200 – Florida State – Sophomore
Casey Gaynor – RHP – 6’2 215 – Rutgers – Sophomore
Mario Hollands – LHP – 6’5 205 – UC-Santa Barbara – Sophomore
Mike Leake – RHP – 6’0 160 – Arizona State – Freshman
Steve Richards – LHP – 5’11 160 – Arkansas – Sophomore
Trent Rothlin – RHP – 6‘1 185 – Clemson – Freshman
Drew Storen – RHP – 6’1 165 – Stanford – Freshman
Zach Von Tersch – RHP – 6’5 215 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
Daniel Wolford – RHP – 6’2 210 – California - Sophomore
Paul Applebee – LHP – 6’3 185
UC-Riverside
Sophomore
Applebee saw very limited action as a freshman for the Highlanders, but he has emerged this season as one of the team’s top pitchers. In 12 appearances – five starts – he has a 4.25 ERA to go with 30 strikeouts and eight walks.
Seth Blair – RHP – 6’1 195
Arizona State
Freshman
Blair was the top player in Illinois as a high school senior and he took his talents to the desert after being drafted in the 47th round. So far, he’s been used both as a starter and as a reliever. He has a 7.82 ERA in 14 appearances.
Brandon Cumpton – RHP – 6’1 190
Georgia Tech
Freshman
Cumpton had a tremendous high school career in Evans, Ga., and has seen a lot of action for the Yellow Jackets in this his freshman season. So far, he has a 6.21 ERA in 10 appearances.
Matt Fairel – LHP – 6’3 200
Florida State
Sophomore
After a solid freshman campaign that saw him work mostly out of the bullpen, Fairel has made the transition to the rotation, and he has made it well. With an 8-1 record and a 2.81 ERA, he has become the Seminoles’ top starting pitcher, as well as one of the top starters in the ACC.
Casey Gaynor – RHP – 6’2 215
Rutgers
Sophomore
Gaynor started all season as a freshman and has become Rutgers’ best starter this year. Despite a 1-4 record, he has a 3.32 ERA with 39 strikeouts and nine walks in 40.2 innings. As a side note, Gaynor was a member of the Tom’s River, N.J., Little League team that won a world championship in Williamsport. Former Scarlet Knight and Chatham A Todd Frazier was also on that team.
Mario Hollands – LHP – 6’5 205
UC-Santa Barbara
Redshirt Freshman
A highly-touted lefthander, Hollands red-shirted in his first year on campus but has moved into the weekend rotation this year and has been solid. In 10 starts, he has a 3.12 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 60 innings.
Mike Leake – RHP – 6’0 160
Arizona State
Sophomore
Leake turned in a very impressive freshman season last year and he hasn’t shown any signs of a sophomore slump. In 11 starts, Leake has a 7-1 record, a 3.29 ERA, and 68 strikeouts against 12 walks. Last summer, he stayed in Arizona and played in a collegiate league there. He should make a big splash this summer on the Cape.
Steve Richards – LHP – 5’11 160
Arkansas
Sophomore
Richards put up some decent numbers as a freshman but has become Arkansas’ best reliever this season. In 13 appearances – all out of the bullpen – the lefty has a 3.27 ERA with 30 strikeouts and nine walks in 22 innings.
Trent Rothlin – RHP – 6‘1 185
Clemson
Freshman
Rothlin was a late-round draft pick out of high school but hasn’t quite found his footing yet for the Tigers. In seven appearances, he has a 9.69 ERA. According to Clemson’s official site, Rothlin battled injuries in the fall ball season.
Drew Storen – RHP – 6’1 165
Stanford
Freshman
Hailing from Brownsburg, Ind., Storen made the long trek to Palo Alto and it’s been worth the trip, based on his performance so far. Storen has been pretty dominant coming out of the bullpen. In 18 appearances, he has four saves, a 2.97 ERA, 34 strikeouts and 10 walks in 33 innings.
Zach Von Tersch – RHP – 6’5 215
Georgia Tech
Sophomore
Von Tersch is an imposing figure on the mound and he has the numbers to match this season. After posting an ERA over 10 last year, he has moved into the rotation this season and has a 3.44 ERA in 10 starts.
Daniel Wolford – RHP – 6’2 210
California
Sophomore
A transfer from Long Beach State, Wolford has been a key piece of No. 6 Cal’s bullpen. He has a 4.62 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 33 innings of work.
Position Players
Joey Lewis – C – 6’4 215 – Georgia – Sophomore
Robert Stock – C/P – 6’1 195 – USC – Sophomore
Kevin Patterson – 1B/C – 6’4 220 – Auburn – Freshman
Evan Crawford – SS – 6’2 160 – Indiana – Sophomore
Jeff Kobernus – 3B/OF – 6’2 190 – California – Sophomore
Tyler Ladendorf – INF/OF – 6’1 205 – Howard College – Sophomore
Dallas Poulk – INF – 6’0 180 – NC State – Sophomore
Robbie Shields – INF – 6’1 195 – Florida Southern – Sophomore
Blair Dunlap – OF – 5’11 185 – UCLA – Junior
Tyler Holt – OF – 6’0 180 – Florida State – Freshman
Brett Jackson – OF – 6’2 210 – California – Sophomore
Jeff Schaus – OF – 6’1 200 – Clemson – Freshman
Joey Lewis – C – 6’4 215
Georgia
Sophomore
Lewis started 49 games at catcher for the Bulldogs last year and is on a similar pace this season, though he’s also seeing some time at the DH spot. Through 43 games, he’s hitting .259 with three home runs and 21 RBI.
Robert Stock – C/P – 6’1 195
USC
Sophomore
Stock was one of the more interesting stories in college baseball last spring and on the Cape last summer. A highly-touted prospect, he skipped his senior year of high school to enroll early at USC then became the youngest player on the Cape when he signed on with Cotuit. He was an all-star before a late-season slump left his final batting average at .228 Still, Stock is a major prospect and is hitting .311 in this his sophomore season. He also moonlights as a relief pitcher.
Kevin Patterson – 1B/C – 6’4 220
Auburn
Freshman
Patterson was a 24th-round pick out of high school last year after posting a career .392 average in high school. The results haven’t yet been there this season, with Patterson hitting .242. He does have four home runs, and his versatility should be a major asset this summer.
Evan Crawford – SS – 6’2 160
Indiana
Sophomore
Crawford emerged as a dynamic player for the Hoosier last year and he’s only gotten better. After hitting .311 and stealing 18 bases as a freshman, he’s hitting .329 this year, and is already up to 12 steals.
Jeff Kobernus – 3B/OF – 6’2 190
California
Sophomore
Kobernus burst onto the scene last year and earned Freshman All-American honors after hitting .331, good for second best on the team. This season, Kobernus has hit .309 with 16 extra-base hits, and he’s maintained that steady pace despite a position shift. After playing in the outfield last year, he’s become Cal’s starting third baseman this season.
Tyler Ladendorf – INF/OF – 6’1 205
Howard College
Sophomore
Ladendorf is an intriguing player, and he’ll be someone to watch if he actually makes it to Cotuit. Ladendorf plays for Howard College, a junior college in Texas. He’s there largely because he was a draft-and-follow player back in 2006, when he was picked in the 34th round by the Yankees. Leading up to the ’07 draft, he opted not to sign with the Yankees, thus entering the draft again. He was again a 34th-round pick, this time by the Giants, and again he didn’t sign. Since then, his stock has risen significantly. This season for Howard, he’s hitting .552 with 14 home runs and 29 steals in 30 attempts. Last year, he was 65 for 65 in stolen bases. The future is up in the air for Ladendorf, who could go in the early rounds of this June’s draft. Regardless of where he goes, he may end up on the Cape looking to gain some leverage. If he again chooses not to sign after the draft, he has committed to Oklahoma for next year.
Dallas Poulk – INF – 6’0 180
NC State
Sophomore
Poulk made a big splash in his freshman season for the Wolfpack, leading the team with a .394 batting average and earning Freshman All-America honors in the process. He’s seen his numbers drop this year, with the average dipping to .277.
Robbie Shields – INF – 6’1 195
Florida Southern
Sophomore
Shields started 60 games as a freshman and hit .298 with eight home runs. Things have been even better this year, as Shields leads the team with a .354 average and nine home runs while holding down the starting shortstop job.
Blair Dunlap – OF – 5’11 185
UCLA
Redshirt Sophomore
Dunlap hit .300 in his freshman season with the Bruins but missed almost all of last season with an injury. After receiving a medical redshirt, Dunlap has worked his way back but the numbers haven’t yet followed. In 23 games this year, he’s hitting .232.
Tyler Holt – OF – 6’0 180
Florida State
Freshman
Holt has started every game of his freshman season with the powerful Seminoles and has done his part in helping FSU to its lofty rankings. Through 42 games, Holt has hit .320 with three home runs and 27 RBI.
Brett Jackson – OF – 6’2 210
California
Sophomore
Jackson got 19 starts in center field as a freshman last year and didn’t put up great numbers. But changed that tune in the Northwoods League, where he hit .343. So far this season, he’s built on that performance. He’s hitting .329 with an on-base percentage of .436.
Jeff Schaus – OF – 6’1 200
Clemson
Freshman
Schaus hasn’t shown a lot of power, but he has hit early and often with the Tigers. In 44 games, he has a .318 average, second on the team. Schaus was a 35th-round pick out of high school.
team usa
Team USA announced Thursday its list of initial invitees, which includes seven players who are on Cape League rosters for the upcoming summer. The list:
Christian Colon - INF - Cal State Fullerton - Fr. - Orleans
Kyle Gibson - RHP - Missouri - So. - Falmouth
A.J. Griffin - RHP - San Diego - So. - Brewster
Mike Leake - RHP - Arizona State - So. - Cotuit
Mike Minor - RHP - Vanderbilt - So. - Wareham
Hunter Morris - 1B - Auburn - Fr. - Falmouth
Andy Oliver - LHP - Oklahoma State - So. - Wareham
It's my understanding that being invited doesn't necessarily mean these players will automatically go and spurn the Cape. Timing will also play a big role. For players whose teams make the College World Series, Team USA becomes a less likely option. Team USA's trials begin a full two weeks before the CWS ends, and its official season begins on the day the CWS ends. Last year, that meant that Team USA didn't have a single player from Oregon State or North Carolina, the CWS finalists.
However, last year, every single one of the players on the initial list was on the team, so take that for what it's worth.
Christian Colon - INF - Cal State Fullerton - Fr. - Orleans
Kyle Gibson - RHP - Missouri - So. - Falmouth
A.J. Griffin - RHP - San Diego - So. - Brewster
Mike Leake - RHP - Arizona State - So. - Cotuit
Mike Minor - RHP - Vanderbilt - So. - Wareham
Hunter Morris - 1B - Auburn - Fr. - Falmouth
Andy Oliver - LHP - Oklahoma State - So. - Wareham
It's my understanding that being invited doesn't necessarily mean these players will automatically go and spurn the Cape. Timing will also play a big role. For players whose teams make the College World Series, Team USA becomes a less likely option. Team USA's trials begin a full two weeks before the CWS ends, and its official season begins on the day the CWS ends. Last year, that meant that Team USA didn't have a single player from Oregon State or North Carolina, the CWS finalists.
However, last year, every single one of the players on the initial list was on the team, so take that for what it's worth.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
buster posey is good, etc.
The best catcher on the Cape last summer was Florida State's Buster Posey, who helped power Yarmouth-Dennis to another league championship. He was good: .281 AVG, 3 HR, 19 RBI, .736 OPS.I didn't know he was this good.
Posey has put up some numbers this spring for the Seminoles that could best be desrcibed as ridiculous. In 42 games, he's hit .465. He has 11 home runs and 49 RBI, and a total of 31 extra-base hits. His OPS is 1.380.
I know college numbers are far different than Cape League numbers, but even in that realm, those statistics are astounding.
And plenty of people are astounded.
This ESPN story from earlier this month highlights Posey's remarkable junior season.
"I'll be shocked if he doesn't go in the first five picks," said FSU assistant Mike Martin Jr. "I'll tell anybody that will listen: Having been with him for three years, he's Jason Varitek behind the plate and he's Derek Jeter as a hitter. I really believe that. He's that good."Catcher is always a premium position come June. Players who can stay at the position and hit become very hot commodities. Witness the 2006 draft, when four catchers who played on the Cape were first-round or supplemental round picks.
I figured Posey would fall into the same category, but his stock has gone through the roof thanks to his incredible spring. We may be talking Matt Wieters territory when all is said and done.
Pretty good for a guy who didn't even catch until his sophomore season at FSU.
Don't Forget About Beckham
If Posey is the '07 Cape Leaguer making the biggest impression this spring, his Y-D teammate Gordon Beckham isn't far behind.
The Georgia shortstop, who would have been the MVP of the league last season if not for Conor Gillaspie, has picked up right where he left off. As of April 27, he was hitting .427 with 20 home runs, 48 RBI and an OPS of 1.421.
With that combination of power and average, Beckham is making a serious case for national player of the year honors. Regardless of what happens there, Beckham will surely join Posey near the top of the June draft.
Notes
- When I put together the Right Field Fog Top 25 back in January, I knew it wouldn't really reflect a college team's actual strength, just its strength on the Cape the previous summer. I still thought strong teams would be strong, though, but in the case of USC, I was wrong. I had the Trojans ranked No. 1 because of their hitting and pitching balance, but they've struggled to a 20-22 record. Former Cape Leaguers Tom Milone and Grant Green have been great -- Milone has a 2.89 ERA and Green is hitting .391 -- but not much else has gone right for the Trojans. Shows what I know.
- Chatham and Harwich, the last two teams to put up rosters, finally did get them up. Perhaps the most exciting -- and least surprising -- roster inclusion is Matt Harvey in Chatham. Harvey was drafted in the third round last year out of high school in Connecticut but opted to attend North Carolina, immediately making himself one of the top freshmen in the nation. It's no surprise, then, that he's signed on with a Cape team, and even less of a surprise that he's in Chatham. The A's and the Tar Heels have had quite the pipeline working the last few season, and the minute Harvey didn't sign, it became a foregone conclusion that he'd be in Chatham. Let's hope he does indeed make it. With a 2.13 ERA this spring, he's lived up to the hype and may be a prime candidate for Team USA. But young and highly touted UNC pitchers Andrew Miller and Alex White have made it to the Cape in past years, so that could be working in Chatham's favor. Definitely something to watch.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
a couple of programming notes
I finally got another early look posted, so check below for that one. It's Falmouth. They look pretty good, but with three of these done, Wareham still looks like the best team.
I'm going to be picking up the pace on these early looks so that all of them will be done by June. Cotuit is coming next. Unfortunately, the first two don't include this season's college stats, so I might add in some updates here and there. I will make a note of it if I do.
When all the early looks are done, I plan to put together a big season preview that will include the 50 players I'm excited to see, made up of the five from each team.
Also, from now until the start of the season, I'm going to post a weekly notes column in addition to the early looks. I'll be shooting for Tuesday nights on those.
Only 47 days, people. I'm excited.
I'm going to be picking up the pace on these early looks so that all of them will be done by June. Cotuit is coming next. Unfortunately, the first two don't include this season's college stats, so I might add in some updates here and there. I will make a note of it if I do.
When all the early looks are done, I plan to put together a big season preview that will include the 50 players I'm excited to see, made up of the five from each team.
Also, from now until the start of the season, I'm going to post a weekly notes column in addition to the early looks. I'll be shooting for Tuesday nights on those.
Only 47 days, people. I'm excited.
early look: falmouth (finally)
FALMOUTH COMMODORES
Manager: Jeff Trundy
Last Season: 22-22
Roster
At times last season, the Falmouth Commodores were great. Other times, they weren’t.
I guess a 22-22 record kind of tells that story.
The bottom line was that the Commodores turned out pretty good, blowing past Bourne in the West finals before falling to Y-D in the league championship series. In any other year, Falmouth might have won the league, but this time around, Y-D was just too strong.
Still, it was a season to remember for Falmouth, and not just because of the playoff run. The Commodores also boasted an incredible collection of top-shelf talent, headed by the duo from Missouri, Aaron Crow and Kyle Gibson.
Crow was dazzling all summer and could have won the pitcher of the year award as well as the top prop prospect award, which he did take home. In all, Crow was one of the best stories of the summer, and he could end up being the No. 1 overall pick in the June draft.
Gibson could pull off the same feat in 2009. The tall righty emerged as the top freshman pitcher on the Cape last summer and with his projectable frame, he’s being labeled as one of the top prospects for the ’09 draft.
Falmouth’s pitching staff also included likely ’08 first or second-rounders Christian Friedrich, Luke Burnett and Shooter Hunt. As if that wasn’t enough, Falmouth also had the league’s top hitter in third baseman Conor Gillaspie, who turned in a historic offensive season and earned league MVP honors. Not to mention David Adams, the best second baseman in the league.
As Falmouth gets set for the summer of ’08, they can only hope to have a similar collection of talent, but they will be starting in a good spot. Gibson, who’s been great this spring for Missouri, will be back in the fold, as will Oregon State shortstop Joey Wong, who helped anchor Falmouth’s infield last year. Two players who played for different Cape teams last summer – Diego Seastrunk and Andrew Clark – will be in Falmouth this year with a chance to make a big impact.
After that, it’s all unknowns. The Commodores have some hyped freshman like Hunter Morris and Tommy Toledo, as well as some dynamic sophomores in Tem Fedroff and A.J. Pollock.
They may be unknown, but this time last year, Aaron Crow wasn’t exactly a household name either.
Roster Rundown
Returning players: 3 (and two from other teams)
Sophomores: 16
Freshmen : 12
Notable
• The Commodores have a large number of highly-touted players who are struggling this spring. No time like the summer to turn it around.
• Falmouth’s Oregon State connection – four Beavers on the roster – is certainly a good one to have, but with the Beavers and a lot of their top players struggling this year, it looks a little different than the past few years
• Kyle Gibson arguably will be the top returning player on the Cape this summer
• Falmouth has eight freshman pitchers, and as of now, Nate Striz and Tommy Toledo stand out the most, based on college numbers
• Striz looks like a potential closer candidate
• Jorge Reyes was the MVP of the College World Series last year but has hit the skids this season. A definite bounce-back candidate this summer.
• Auburn’s Hunter Morris may enter the Cape League summer as the most-hyped freshman in the league, and if college is any indication, he’ll live up to it
• Fearless prediction: Notre Dame’s A.J. Pollock finishes the summer as one of the top five hitters in the league
• Diego Seastrunk may not be far behind
• You could also put Tim Fedroff in that group, meaning the Commodores have a pretty good stable of offensive players
Five Players I’m Excited to See
1. Kyle Gibson
2. Hunter Morris
3. Tim Fedroff
4. Nate Striz
5. Diego Seastrunk
Pitchers
Chad Bettis – RHP – 6’0 174 – Texas Tech – Freshman
Rex Brothers – LHP – 6’0 185 – Lipscomb – Sophomore
*Preston Claiborne – RHP – 6’3 225 – Tulane – Sophomore
Evan Danieli – RHP – 6’7 230 – Notre Dame – Freshman
*Kyle Gibson – RHP – 6’5 180 – Missouri – Sophomore
Nate Karns – RHP – 6’3 210 – Texas Tech – Sophomore
Dan Klein – RHP – 6’3 190 – UCLA – Freshman
Travis Lawler – RHP – 6’2 170 – Florida – Freshman
Aaron Loup – LHP – 6’0 185 – Tulane – Sophomore
Jorge Reyes – RHP – 6’5 175 – Oregon State – Sophomore
Tanner Robles – LHP – 6’4 200 – Oregon State – Freshman
Nate Striz – RHP – 6’2 237 – North Carolina – Freshman
Nick Tepesch – RHP – 6’5 219 – Missouri – Freshman
Tommy Toledo – RHP – 6’3 185 – Florida – Freshman
Ben Tootle – RHP – 6’0 170 – Jacksonville St. – Sophomore
* returning player
(Note: The player's name is linked to his school bio.)
Chad Bettis – RHP – 6’0 174
Texas Tech
Freshman
Bettis was an eighth-round pick out of high school in Lubbock last year, but opted to stay home and pitch for his hometown Red Raiders. So far in his freshman season, he has made eight starts and is 3-3 with a 5.21 ERA. The stellar control he flashed in high school – 109 strikeouts against 11 walks his senior year – hasn’t yet carried over. He has 28 strikeouts and 22 walks this season.
Rex Brothers – LHP – 6’0 185
Lipscomb
Sophomore
Brothers made a name for himself last year when he turned in a solid season and earned Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year honors. He hasn’t had quite as much success this season, having gone 2-3 so far with a 5.66 ERA.
Preston Claiborne – RHP – 6’3 225
Tulane
Sophomore
Claiborne is one of three returning players returning for their second summer in Falmouth, and he should see an expanded role after putting up a 3.22 ERA in 11 relief appearances last summer. Claiborne has toyed with being a two-way player in the past but is focusing exclusively on pitching this spring for Tulane. In 13 appearances out of the bullpen, he has a 5.14 ERA.
Evan Danieli – RHP – 6’7 230
Notre Dame
Freshman
Danieli headed into his freshman season with the Irish as an intriguing prospect, but he hasn’t yet put up the numbers to match, with a 7.43 ERA in four appearances. Danieli was a 33rd-round pick out of high school but would have gone much higher if not for his strong commitment to Notre Dame.
Kyle Gibson – RHP – 6’5 180
Missouri
Sophomore
Gibson entered his first summer on the Cape as a relative unknown but became one of the league’s best pitchers and emerged as one of the top prospects for the 2009 draft. When he returns for his second summer, he’ll have scouts watching his every move. So far this spring, Gibson hasn’t disappointed and is 6-0 with a 2.63 ERA.
Nate Karns – RHP – 6’3 210
Texas Tech
Sophomore
A transfer from North Carolina State, Karns brought big credentials with him to Lubbock. He was a 10th-round pick out of high school and had a 2.67 ERA in eight starts for the Wolfpack last year. It’s been a different story this year though. In eight starts, Karns is 1-6 with a 10.12 ERA.
Dan Klein – RHP – 6’3 190
UCLA
Freshman
Klein was a 24th-round pick out of high school and came into the UCLA program as a highly-touted recruit. He’s posted some solid numbers so far (13 strikeouts, one walk) but his ERA is hovering around seven, thanks largely to the 25 hits he’s allowed in 15 innings.
Travis Lawler – RHP – 6’2 170
Florida
Freshman
One of the best pitchers in Texas high school ball last year, Lawler was picked in the 34th round of the draft. With Florida so far this season, Lawler has a 2-0 record with a 5.09 ERA in three starts and 10 total appearances
Aaron Loup – LHP – 6’0 185
Tulane
Sophomore
Loup pitched out of the bullpen as a freshman for the Green Wave and he’s moved into a starting role this year, with mixed results. He’s 2-3 in seven starts with a 5.09 ERA. Loup pitched last summer in the Clark Griffith Collegiate Baseball League, and was named the league’s top prospect by Baseball America.
Jorge Reyes – RHP – 6’5 175
Oregon State
Sophomore
Reyes made headlines as a freshman last year when he emerged as the ace of the staff and lifted Oregon State to its second consecutive College World Series title. He was also the CWS Most Outstanding Player. But Reyes has hit a rough patch this spring, posting a 6.38 ERA in eight starts for the Beavers, who have likewise struggled to a 16-12 record.
Tanner Robles – LHP – 6’4 200
Oregon State
Freshman
A tall lefty with loads of potential, Robles was a 14th-round pick out of high school, but still opted to head to Corvallis. He’s lived up to the hype so far, with a 3.50 ERA and a .150 batting average against in five appearances.
Nate Striz – RHP – 6’2 237
North Carolina
Freshman
A fifth-round pick of the Twins, Striz came to North Carolina as one of the highest unsigned picks in the 2007 draft. Working exclusively out of the bullpen, he hasn’t disappointed. In 16 appearances, Striz has two saves, an ERA of 1.00 and 22 strikeouts in 18 innings.
Nick Tepesch – RHP – 6’5 219
Missouri
Freshman
Tepesch was Missouri’s Gatorade Player of the Year in his senior season and though he stood little chance of cracking the Tigers’ deep pitching rotation, he has pitched well out of the bullpen. In 12 appearances, he has a 4.20 ERA.
Tommy Toledo – RHP – 6’3 185
Florida
Freshman
Based strictly on draft position last year, Toledo is the best of Falmouth’s talented crop of freshman pitchers, and his numbers are there to match. A third-round pick out of high school, Toledo has a 4-3 record with a 3.38 ERA in eight starts, all that despite walking one more than he’s struck out.
Ben Tootle – RHP – 6’0 170
Jacksonville St.
Sophomore
Tootle was a member of the Ohio Valley Conference All-Freshman team last year. This season, he has a 5.18 ERA but 51 strikeouts in 48.2 innings of work.
Position Players
Trevor Coleman – C – 6’1 210 – Missouri – Sophomore
Michael Thomas – C – 6’4 220 – Southern – Freshman
Andrew Clark – 1B – 6’2 215 – Louisville – Sophomore
Brian Fletcher – INF – 6’1 185 – Auburn – Freshman
Hunter Morris – INF – 6’4 205 – Auburn – Freshman
Garret Nash – 2B – 5’10 170 – Oregon State – Freshman
Kevin Nolan – INF – 6’2 196 – Winthrop – Sophomore
A.J. Pollock – 3B/OF – 6’1 200 – Notre Dame – Sophomore
Diego Seastrunk – INF – 5’10 180 – Rice – Sophomore
*Joey Wong – INF – 5’10 160 – Oregon State – Sophomore
Gabe Cohen – OF – 6’2 205 – UCLA – Sophomore
Tim Fedroff – OF – 5’11 191 – North Carolina – Sophomore
Ryan Jones – OF – 6’0 185 – Wichita State – Sophomore
* returning player
Trevor Coleman – C – 6’1 210
Missouri
Sophomore
Coleman posted an impressive freshman season last year, so impressive that he was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year after hitting .282 with nine home runs. This season, his average has remained about the same but he has yet to hit a home run through 35 games.
Michael Thomas – C – 6’4 220
Southern
Sophomore
Thomas plays catcher for Southern, and I know absolutely nothing else because Southern’s web site is terrible.
Andrew Clark – 1B – 6’2 215
Louisville
Sophomore
Clark played last year at Ole Miss before transferring to Louisville. Despite not finishing the year at Ole Miss, Clark did come to the Cape, but only played 10 games for Bourne. Still, Clark is a solid left-handed bat with a lot of upside, and this year for the Cardinals, he’s hitting .342 with three home runs.
Brian Fletcher – INF – 6’1 185
Auburn
Freshman
One of two Auburn freshmen on the Falmouth roster, Fletchers has stepped into a starting role for the Tigers and has done well. In 39 games, he’s hitting .299 with three home runs. He has played mostly in the outfield.
Hunter Morris – INF – 6’4 205
Auburn
Freshman
The left-handed hitting first baseman was a second-round pick (84th overall) last year, making him the highest unsigned high schooler in the draft. He hasn’t disappointed in his freshman season. He’s leading the Tigers with a .362 batting average, 10 home runs and 40 RBI. Morris may be one of the leading candidates for SEC Freshman of the Year honors.
Garret Nash – 2B – 5’10 170
Oregon State
Freshman
Nash wasn’t too far behind Morris in last year’s draft, where he ended up being a fourth-round pick. He stuck with Oregon State, and so far this season, he’s hitting .296 with one home run.
Kevin Nolan – INF – 6’2 196
Winthrop
Sophomore
Nolan, a New Hampshire native, will return to New England for the summer in the midst of a solid career at Winthrop. After starting all season as a freshman, mostly at shortstop, Nolan has become the team’s top hitter this year. His average stands at .337 and he has 13 doubles.
A.J. Pollock – 3B/OF – 6’1 200
Notre Dame
Sophomore
Pollock was an all-Big East pick as a freshman and excelled in the NECBL last summer, where he was fourth in the league with a .348 batting average. This season, he leads the Irish with a .397 batting average and 33 RBI. He’s played mostly in the outfield after starting at third last year.
Diego Seastrunk – INF – 5’10 180
Rice
Sophomore
After a good freshman season for the Owls, Seastrunk never quite got his feet under him on the Cape last summer, hitting .243 in limited time for Y-D. That was partially due to a late arrival from the College World Series, but even if he’s late again this summer, don’t expect a repeat performance. He’s leading the Owls in hitting this year with a .363 average.
Joey Wong – INF – 5’10 160
Oregon State
Sophomore
Wong made a big impact on the national champion Beavers as a freshman, and made his presence felt on the Cape as well. His arrival stabilized Falmouth’s lineup last summer, and he ended up hitting .252 while playing an outstanding defensive shortstop. This season, Wong is hitting .263 for Oregon State.
Gabe Cohen – OF – 6’2 205
UCLA
Sophomore
Cohen was named a Freshman All-American by Baseball America last year after hitting .345. He also was Co-Newcomer of the Year in the Pac 10. This season hasn’t been quite so good, with Cohen hitting just .220 through 32 games. He does have seven home runs.
Tim Fedroff – OF – 5’11 191
North Carolina
Sophomore
Fedroff started from day one last year and finished second on the team in batting average. He’s picked up right where he left off this season and has put up All-American type numbers. Through 42 games, he has a .398 average and nine home runs.
Ryan Jones – OF – 6’0 185
Wichita State
Sophomore
His freshman stats weren’t very good, but Jones has turned things around completely in his sophomore season. With a regular starting gig, he’s hit .340 with two home runs.
Manager: Jeff Trundy
Last Season: 22-22
Roster
At times last season, the Falmouth Commodores were great. Other times, they weren’t.
I guess a 22-22 record kind of tells that story.
The bottom line was that the Commodores turned out pretty good, blowing past Bourne in the West finals before falling to Y-D in the league championship series. In any other year, Falmouth might have won the league, but this time around, Y-D was just too strong.
Still, it was a season to remember for Falmouth, and not just because of the playoff run. The Commodores also boasted an incredible collection of top-shelf talent, headed by the duo from Missouri, Aaron Crow and Kyle Gibson.
Crow was dazzling all summer and could have won the pitcher of the year award as well as the top prop prospect award, which he did take home. In all, Crow was one of the best stories of the summer, and he could end up being the No. 1 overall pick in the June draft.
Gibson could pull off the same feat in 2009. The tall righty emerged as the top freshman pitcher on the Cape last summer and with his projectable frame, he’s being labeled as one of the top prospects for the ’09 draft.
Falmouth’s pitching staff also included likely ’08 first or second-rounders Christian Friedrich, Luke Burnett and Shooter Hunt. As if that wasn’t enough, Falmouth also had the league’s top hitter in third baseman Conor Gillaspie, who turned in a historic offensive season and earned league MVP honors. Not to mention David Adams, the best second baseman in the league.
As Falmouth gets set for the summer of ’08, they can only hope to have a similar collection of talent, but they will be starting in a good spot. Gibson, who’s been great this spring for Missouri, will be back in the fold, as will Oregon State shortstop Joey Wong, who helped anchor Falmouth’s infield last year. Two players who played for different Cape teams last summer – Diego Seastrunk and Andrew Clark – will be in Falmouth this year with a chance to make a big impact.
After that, it’s all unknowns. The Commodores have some hyped freshman like Hunter Morris and Tommy Toledo, as well as some dynamic sophomores in Tem Fedroff and A.J. Pollock.
They may be unknown, but this time last year, Aaron Crow wasn’t exactly a household name either.
Roster Rundown
Returning players: 3 (and two from other teams)
Sophomores: 16
Freshmen : 12
Notable
• The Commodores have a large number of highly-touted players who are struggling this spring. No time like the summer to turn it around.
• Falmouth’s Oregon State connection – four Beavers on the roster – is certainly a good one to have, but with the Beavers and a lot of their top players struggling this year, it looks a little different than the past few years
• Kyle Gibson arguably will be the top returning player on the Cape this summer
• Falmouth has eight freshman pitchers, and as of now, Nate Striz and Tommy Toledo stand out the most, based on college numbers
• Striz looks like a potential closer candidate
• Jorge Reyes was the MVP of the College World Series last year but has hit the skids this season. A definite bounce-back candidate this summer.
• Auburn’s Hunter Morris may enter the Cape League summer as the most-hyped freshman in the league, and if college is any indication, he’ll live up to it
• Fearless prediction: Notre Dame’s A.J. Pollock finishes the summer as one of the top five hitters in the league
• Diego Seastrunk may not be far behind
• You could also put Tim Fedroff in that group, meaning the Commodores have a pretty good stable of offensive players
Five Players I’m Excited to See
1. Kyle Gibson
2. Hunter Morris
3. Tim Fedroff
4. Nate Striz
5. Diego Seastrunk
Pitchers
Chad Bettis – RHP – 6’0 174 – Texas Tech – Freshman
Rex Brothers – LHP – 6’0 185 – Lipscomb – Sophomore
*Preston Claiborne – RHP – 6’3 225 – Tulane – Sophomore
Evan Danieli – RHP – 6’7 230 – Notre Dame – Freshman
*Kyle Gibson – RHP – 6’5 180 – Missouri – Sophomore
Nate Karns – RHP – 6’3 210 – Texas Tech – Sophomore
Dan Klein – RHP – 6’3 190 – UCLA – Freshman
Travis Lawler – RHP – 6’2 170 – Florida – Freshman
Aaron Loup – LHP – 6’0 185 – Tulane – Sophomore
Jorge Reyes – RHP – 6’5 175 – Oregon State – Sophomore
Tanner Robles – LHP – 6’4 200 – Oregon State – Freshman
Nate Striz – RHP – 6’2 237 – North Carolina – Freshman
Nick Tepesch – RHP – 6’5 219 – Missouri – Freshman
Tommy Toledo – RHP – 6’3 185 – Florida – Freshman
Ben Tootle – RHP – 6’0 170 – Jacksonville St. – Sophomore
* returning player
(Note: The player's name is linked to his school bio.)
Chad Bettis – RHP – 6’0 174
Texas Tech
Freshman
Bettis was an eighth-round pick out of high school in Lubbock last year, but opted to stay home and pitch for his hometown Red Raiders. So far in his freshman season, he has made eight starts and is 3-3 with a 5.21 ERA. The stellar control he flashed in high school – 109 strikeouts against 11 walks his senior year – hasn’t yet carried over. He has 28 strikeouts and 22 walks this season.
Rex Brothers – LHP – 6’0 185
Lipscomb
Sophomore
Brothers made a name for himself last year when he turned in a solid season and earned Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year honors. He hasn’t had quite as much success this season, having gone 2-3 so far with a 5.66 ERA.
Preston Claiborne – RHP – 6’3 225
Tulane
Sophomore
Claiborne is one of three returning players returning for their second summer in Falmouth, and he should see an expanded role after putting up a 3.22 ERA in 11 relief appearances last summer. Claiborne has toyed with being a two-way player in the past but is focusing exclusively on pitching this spring for Tulane. In 13 appearances out of the bullpen, he has a 5.14 ERA.
Evan Danieli – RHP – 6’7 230
Notre Dame
Freshman
Danieli headed into his freshman season with the Irish as an intriguing prospect, but he hasn’t yet put up the numbers to match, with a 7.43 ERA in four appearances. Danieli was a 33rd-round pick out of high school but would have gone much higher if not for his strong commitment to Notre Dame.
Kyle Gibson – RHP – 6’5 180
Missouri
Sophomore
Gibson entered his first summer on the Cape as a relative unknown but became one of the league’s best pitchers and emerged as one of the top prospects for the 2009 draft. When he returns for his second summer, he’ll have scouts watching his every move. So far this spring, Gibson hasn’t disappointed and is 6-0 with a 2.63 ERA.
Nate Karns – RHP – 6’3 210
Texas Tech
Sophomore
A transfer from North Carolina State, Karns brought big credentials with him to Lubbock. He was a 10th-round pick out of high school and had a 2.67 ERA in eight starts for the Wolfpack last year. It’s been a different story this year though. In eight starts, Karns is 1-6 with a 10.12 ERA.
Dan Klein – RHP – 6’3 190
UCLA
Freshman
Klein was a 24th-round pick out of high school and came into the UCLA program as a highly-touted recruit. He’s posted some solid numbers so far (13 strikeouts, one walk) but his ERA is hovering around seven, thanks largely to the 25 hits he’s allowed in 15 innings.
Travis Lawler – RHP – 6’2 170
Florida
Freshman
One of the best pitchers in Texas high school ball last year, Lawler was picked in the 34th round of the draft. With Florida so far this season, Lawler has a 2-0 record with a 5.09 ERA in three starts and 10 total appearances
Aaron Loup – LHP – 6’0 185
Tulane
Sophomore
Loup pitched out of the bullpen as a freshman for the Green Wave and he’s moved into a starting role this year, with mixed results. He’s 2-3 in seven starts with a 5.09 ERA. Loup pitched last summer in the Clark Griffith Collegiate Baseball League, and was named the league’s top prospect by Baseball America.
Jorge Reyes – RHP – 6’5 175
Oregon State
Sophomore
Reyes made headlines as a freshman last year when he emerged as the ace of the staff and lifted Oregon State to its second consecutive College World Series title. He was also the CWS Most Outstanding Player. But Reyes has hit a rough patch this spring, posting a 6.38 ERA in eight starts for the Beavers, who have likewise struggled to a 16-12 record.
Tanner Robles – LHP – 6’4 200
Oregon State
Freshman
A tall lefty with loads of potential, Robles was a 14th-round pick out of high school, but still opted to head to Corvallis. He’s lived up to the hype so far, with a 3.50 ERA and a .150 batting average against in five appearances.
Nate Striz – RHP – 6’2 237
North Carolina
Freshman
A fifth-round pick of the Twins, Striz came to North Carolina as one of the highest unsigned picks in the 2007 draft. Working exclusively out of the bullpen, he hasn’t disappointed. In 16 appearances, Striz has two saves, an ERA of 1.00 and 22 strikeouts in 18 innings.
Nick Tepesch – RHP – 6’5 219
Missouri
Freshman
Tepesch was Missouri’s Gatorade Player of the Year in his senior season and though he stood little chance of cracking the Tigers’ deep pitching rotation, he has pitched well out of the bullpen. In 12 appearances, he has a 4.20 ERA.
Tommy Toledo – RHP – 6’3 185
Florida
Freshman
Based strictly on draft position last year, Toledo is the best of Falmouth’s talented crop of freshman pitchers, and his numbers are there to match. A third-round pick out of high school, Toledo has a 4-3 record with a 3.38 ERA in eight starts, all that despite walking one more than he’s struck out.
Ben Tootle – RHP – 6’0 170
Jacksonville St.
Sophomore
Tootle was a member of the Ohio Valley Conference All-Freshman team last year. This season, he has a 5.18 ERA but 51 strikeouts in 48.2 innings of work.
Position Players
Trevor Coleman – C – 6’1 210 – Missouri – Sophomore
Michael Thomas – C – 6’4 220 – Southern – Freshman
Andrew Clark – 1B – 6’2 215 – Louisville – Sophomore
Brian Fletcher – INF – 6’1 185 – Auburn – Freshman
Hunter Morris – INF – 6’4 205 – Auburn – Freshman
Garret Nash – 2B – 5’10 170 – Oregon State – Freshman
Kevin Nolan – INF – 6’2 196 – Winthrop – Sophomore
A.J. Pollock – 3B/OF – 6’1 200 – Notre Dame – Sophomore
Diego Seastrunk – INF – 5’10 180 – Rice – Sophomore
*Joey Wong – INF – 5’10 160 – Oregon State – Sophomore
Gabe Cohen – OF – 6’2 205 – UCLA – Sophomore
Tim Fedroff – OF – 5’11 191 – North Carolina – Sophomore
Ryan Jones – OF – 6’0 185 – Wichita State – Sophomore
* returning player
Trevor Coleman – C – 6’1 210
Missouri
Sophomore
Coleman posted an impressive freshman season last year, so impressive that he was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year after hitting .282 with nine home runs. This season, his average has remained about the same but he has yet to hit a home run through 35 games.
Michael Thomas – C – 6’4 220
Southern
Sophomore
Thomas plays catcher for Southern, and I know absolutely nothing else because Southern’s web site is terrible.
Andrew Clark – 1B – 6’2 215
Louisville
Sophomore
Clark played last year at Ole Miss before transferring to Louisville. Despite not finishing the year at Ole Miss, Clark did come to the Cape, but only played 10 games for Bourne. Still, Clark is a solid left-handed bat with a lot of upside, and this year for the Cardinals, he’s hitting .342 with three home runs.
Brian Fletcher – INF – 6’1 185
Auburn
Freshman
One of two Auburn freshmen on the Falmouth roster, Fletchers has stepped into a starting role for the Tigers and has done well. In 39 games, he’s hitting .299 with three home runs. He has played mostly in the outfield.
Hunter Morris – INF – 6’4 205
Auburn
Freshman
The left-handed hitting first baseman was a second-round pick (84th overall) last year, making him the highest unsigned high schooler in the draft. He hasn’t disappointed in his freshman season. He’s leading the Tigers with a .362 batting average, 10 home runs and 40 RBI. Morris may be one of the leading candidates for SEC Freshman of the Year honors.
Garret Nash – 2B – 5’10 170
Oregon State
Freshman
Nash wasn’t too far behind Morris in last year’s draft, where he ended up being a fourth-round pick. He stuck with Oregon State, and so far this season, he’s hitting .296 with one home run.
Kevin Nolan – INF – 6’2 196
Winthrop
Sophomore
Nolan, a New Hampshire native, will return to New England for the summer in the midst of a solid career at Winthrop. After starting all season as a freshman, mostly at shortstop, Nolan has become the team’s top hitter this year. His average stands at .337 and he has 13 doubles.
A.J. Pollock – 3B/OF – 6’1 200
Notre Dame
Sophomore
Pollock was an all-Big East pick as a freshman and excelled in the NECBL last summer, where he was fourth in the league with a .348 batting average. This season, he leads the Irish with a .397 batting average and 33 RBI. He’s played mostly in the outfield after starting at third last year.
Diego Seastrunk – INF – 5’10 180
Rice
Sophomore
After a good freshman season for the Owls, Seastrunk never quite got his feet under him on the Cape last summer, hitting .243 in limited time for Y-D. That was partially due to a late arrival from the College World Series, but even if he’s late again this summer, don’t expect a repeat performance. He’s leading the Owls in hitting this year with a .363 average.
Joey Wong – INF – 5’10 160
Oregon State
Sophomore
Wong made a big impact on the national champion Beavers as a freshman, and made his presence felt on the Cape as well. His arrival stabilized Falmouth’s lineup last summer, and he ended up hitting .252 while playing an outstanding defensive shortstop. This season, Wong is hitting .263 for Oregon State.
Gabe Cohen – OF – 6’2 205
UCLA
Sophomore
Cohen was named a Freshman All-American by Baseball America last year after hitting .345. He also was Co-Newcomer of the Year in the Pac 10. This season hasn’t been quite so good, with Cohen hitting just .220 through 32 games. He does have seven home runs.
Tim Fedroff – OF – 5’11 191
North Carolina
Sophomore
Fedroff started from day one last year and finished second on the team in batting average. He’s picked up right where he left off this season and has put up All-American type numbers. Through 42 games, he has a .398 average and nine home runs.
Ryan Jones – OF – 6’0 185
Wichita State
Sophomore
His freshman stats weren’t very good, but Jones has turned things around completely in his sophomore season. With a regular starting gig, he’s hit .340 with two home runs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
