Here are the Top 10 pitching prospects from the 2009 Cape Cod Baseball League. With this post, all of my rankings are complete, and so is the Cape Cod League Blog. I'm still not sure what I am going to be doing in summer 2010, but in case this is it, thanks a lot for reading. Keep following me on Twitter for future blog news.
10. Kyle Blair, Brewster/San Diego. Throws R. 6'3" 200. Monte Sereno, Calif.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 3-1, 1.42 ERA, 51 K's, 44.1 IP
Blair has been a highly-touted prospect since high school, and he performed very well on the Cape this summer after he was limited by injury in the spring. Blair has some mechanical issues, but his stuff is very good and he could definitely be a first round pick next June with a good season at USD.
Here is what I blogged about Blair on June 30: "Righthander Kyle Blair from the University of San Diego started for Brewster and looked decent in his five innings of work. Blair has good size for a pitcher at 6'3" 200 and a big frame. He tends to open up his front side too early and his arm trails behind, leading him to often throw pitches farther outside than he would like. Blair's fastball sat in the 90-92 mph range and had good tailing action in on right-handed hitters. He threw a good 76-78 mph breaking ball with tight break that really falls off the table late. Blair also showed an 81 mph changeup with good tailing action. All in all he was pretty good, and he is considered a prospect."
9. Daniel Tillman, Cotuit/Florida Southern. Throws R. 6'1" 185. Live Oak, Fla.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 31 K's, 22 IP, 11 Saves
Tillman had the best statistical summer of any pitcher on the Cape, and he really impressed moving up in class from a small school to the Cape League. Tillman was pretty well-known before the summer, but he has moved himself into the first-round conversation for June. He is going to be a reliever, but he can be a very good one.
Here is what I blogged about Tillman on August 6: "Cotuit right-handed reliever Daniel Tillman from Florida Southern appeared to be back at top form after his velocity was down in his last appearance. Tillman finished the regular season without allowing a run in 22 innings pitched over 16 appearances. He entered a tie game in the bottom of the eighth Wednesday with the bases loaded and one out and got a strikeout and a flyout to get out of the jam. His low 90s sinking fastball/hard slider combination makes him one of the best relievers in the Cape League. He will be a high pick next year."
8. Justin Grimm, Cotuit/Georgia. Throws R. 6'4" 195. Bristol, Va.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-4, 2.84 ERA, 47 K's, 44.1 IP
At times this summer Grimm looked like one of the best pitchers in the league, and at other times his stuff looked very flat and he got hit. People seem to think he is closer to the good than the bad, and many think he will go in the first round next year.
Here is what I blogged about Grimm on June 21: "Cotuit's right-handed starter Justin Grimm from Georgia was the best pitcher last night. Grimm has good size and an athletic build at 6'4 195. He has a sort of jerky motion that has a lot of parts to it, and he had a tendency to speed up his arm and overthrow early in the game. Once he settled in and found more consistency in his mechanics he was very good. His fastball sat in the 92-93 mph range, and he threw a very good curveball with nice overhand break that he could throw for strikes. He also showed a good changeup."
7. Alex Wimmers, Bourne/Ohio State. Throws R. 6'2" 195. Cincinnati, Ohio
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-0, 1.23 ERA, 37 K's, 22 IP
Wimmers pitched extremely well for Bourne once he arrived late after Team USA tryouts, and he seemed to get better and stronger as the summer went along. Wimmers had an excellent spring season in the Big 10 and threw a no-hitter. He is going to be a good professional starter.
Here is what I blogged about Wimmers on July 14: "Bourne right-handed starter Alex Wimmers from Ohio State came to the Cape as a fairly highly-touted prospect, and he looked very good on Monday. Wimmers is average height for a pitcher with an athletic build but a slightly small frame at 6'2" 195. He throws with some effort and falls off the mound toward first. Wimmers' fastball sat in the 88-92 mph range, but his best pitch was definitely his 74-75 mph curveball with really good downward break. The curve's late break fooled a lot of Bourne hitters as it dropped into the strike zone. Wimmers also has a good 76-78 mph changeup with good downward movement."
6. Chris Sale, Y-D/ Florida Gulf Coast. Throws L. 6'6" 185. Lakeland, Fla.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 4-2, 1.47 ERA, 57 K's, 55 IP
Sale had a tremendous summer for Yarmouth-Dennis, and he was named the Cape League's Outstanding Pitcher of the Year and the East Division MVP of the All-Star Game, and he led the league in strikeouts. If Sale can bulk up a little he could be even better, and he is definitely a name to watch.
Here is what I blogged about Sale on June 29: " Sale didn't appear to have his best stuff Sunday but he still looked good. Sale is tall and strikingly thin at 6'6" 185, and he has a jerky, deceptive motion in which his long limbs flail toward the hitter. He throws from a low three-quarter arm angle. Sale's fastball sat in the 89-92 range and had really good sinking action. The pitch gets him a lot of ground ball outs. He also showed an average 77-78 mph slider and a good 77-80 mph changeup that also had really good downward movement. Sale needs to bulk up, but he has good stuff and has been one of the more effective pitchers so far this summer."
5. Taylor Wall, Falmouth/Rice. Throws L. 6'2" 180. Houston, Texas
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 3-3, 2.62 ERA, 26 K's, 34 IP
Wall is one of the better rising sophomores in the country and he pitched like it at the Cape. The lefty had the best changeup in the league and did a great job keeping hitters off-balance. He is a prospect to watch for the 2011 draft.
Here is what I blogged about Wall on August 1: "Wall is certainly one of the 10 best starters in the Cape League, and he should be a high draft pick when he becomes eligible in 2011. Wall is average height for a pitcher with a thin, athletic build. He rushes through his motion but he throws with ease and with good arm action. Wall's fastball sits in the upper 80's but he spots it well. He throws a devastating changeup that is probably the best change on the Cape this summer, and is the pitch that makes him such an intriguing prospect. It is very deceptive out of his hand and floats in with big time movement. He relies heavily on the change, and understandably so as it gets a lot of swings and misses. Wall still needs to develop a reliable breaking ball to maximize the effectiveness of his fastball/changeup combination. He throws both a curveball and a slider, but both pitches are just average at this point."
4. Rob Rasmussen, Orleans/UCLA. Throws L. 5'11" 170. Arcadia, Calif.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 4-0, 1.80 ERA, 42 K's, 35 IP
I probably have Rasmussen rated higher than just about anybody else would, but I have been very impressed by Rasmussen two summers in a row and think he will make a very good pro. He is consistently very good and you know exactly what you are going to get out of him whenever he takes the ball. Rasmussen started the All-Star Game for the East Division. Rasmussen may not be drafted as high as some of these other guys next June, but I bet he ends up doing very well for himself.
Here is what I blogged about Rasmussen on July 30: "Left-handed starter Rob Rasmussen from UCLA started for Orleans. I saw him throw an inning during the All-Star Game, but this was the first time I watched him for an extended appearance. Rasmussen is a small-body guy at 5'11" 170, but he doesn't throw with as much effort as many other pitchers in the league with similar size. He has a tight motion and throws with good arm action, and the ball looks like it's really flying out of his hand. Rasmussen's fastball sat in the 90-92 mph range. He had good command of it early in his start Wednesday but he started to lose it later in the appearance and lost some of his effectiveness. He also throws a really good 77-78 mph curveball with sharp, tight break that he could both throw for strikes and get hitters to chase out of the zone. Rasmussen also had an 82-84 mph slider with horizontal run that gives hitters a different look to think about but which isn't as effective as the curve. His fastball/curveball combination makes him one of the better starters in the league."
3. Jesse Hahn, Chatham/Virginia Tech. Throws R. 6'5" 195. Groton, Conn.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-1, 5.28 ERA, 17 K's, 15.1 IP
Hahn was arguably the biggest story of the summer for scouts. He was dominant for his first several appearances before getting hit a few times toward the end of the season. The word is Hahn was dealing with numbness in his finger throughout the season, which must have affected his feel for his breaking pitches. Still, Hahn can be overpowering and is the best relief pitching prospect in the league.
Here is what I blogged about Hahn on July 10: "The story of this game from a scout's perspective was unquestionably Chatham's right-handed reliever Jesse Hahn from Virginia Tech. Hahn had scouts salivating and double checking each other's radar guns when his fastball sat between 96-98 mph. Hahn is tall with a solid, athletic build at 6'5" 195, and he gets a tremendously powerful drive from his lower body. He also throws a decent 75-76 mph curveball and an 83-84 mph change. Hahn subtly tips his pitches by opening up his front side a little too soon on his curveball and changeup, but his fastball is simply overpowering. If he can stay healthy Hahn could be a first round draft pick next June."
2. Brandon Workman, Wareham/Texas. Throws R. 6'5" 225. Bowie, Texas.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-1, 5.06 ERA, 24 K's, 21.1 IP
Workman was a little inconsistent once he came to the Cape after the College World Series but when he was on his game he was probably the best pitcher in the league. Workman was a third-round selection by the Phillies in 2007 and he is almost certain to be a first-round pick in June. His curveball was the best in the league. Workman was named the starting pitcher for the West Division All-Star team even though he had only made a couple of appearances before the event.
Here is what I blogged about Workman on July 24 after his All-Star Game start at Fenway Park: "Wareham righthander Brandon Workman from the University of Texas looked like an All-Star starter in his inning of work. His fastball sat in the 94-95 mph range, and his 77-78 mph hammer curveball looked tremendous even from a more distant vantage point. Barring injury I would be very surprised if he didn't go in the first round of next June's draft."
1. Jack Armstrong, Wareham/Vanderbilt. Throws R. 6'7" 230. Jupiter, Fla.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 4-1, 2.57 ERA, 31 K's, 35 IP
This might be an unconventional pick for the top pitching prospect because Armstrong hardly pitched at all during his freshman season at Vanderbilt, but Armstrong has the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the league. Armstrong has the stuff, the body and the pedigree to be a very good major league pitcher. His father, Jack, Sr., used to pitch in the big leagues. It will be very interesting to watch Armstrong progress over the next two years and beyond.
Here is what I blogged about Armstrong on July 7: "Armstrong had a very effective fastball-changeup combination and while he might project to a bullpen role in the future, he has a major-league arm. Armstrong has a great body for a pitcher at 6'7" 230, and he throws with good, smooth arm action. He throws with a lot of effort but his mechanics are sound. Armstrong's fastball sat mainly in the 94-95 mph range early on and he once touched 96. His velocity did drop to the low 90s by the end of his seven-inning outing, but he was still missing bats at the end of his start. Armstrong's 80-82 mph changeup was also a really good, deceptive pitch that got him a lot of outs. Armstrong also showed a decent 81-82 mph curveball. He is certainly somebody to keep an eye on as a top prospect for the 2011 draft."
So that's it. That's the list. Keep in touch, everybody, and check back next year just in case.
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Third Basemen, Shortstops, Outfielders 10-6, Outfielders 5-1, Top 30 Position Players, Pitchers 40-31, Pitchers 30-21, Pitchers 20-11.
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Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Postseason Prospect Rankings: Pitchers 20-11
Here are the next 10 pitchers in my Top 40 rankings. In case the format is not self-explanatory, each player's vital information is followed by his 2009 Cape League regular season statistics, a short overarching blurb and a scouting blog post from earlier in the summer.
20. Bryan Morgado, Bourne/Tennessee. Throws L. 6'3" 205. Miami, Fla.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-1, 3.06 ERA, 47 K's, 32.1 IP
Morgado was selected by the White Sox in the third round of June's draft, but he stayed on the Cape the entire summer and he never ended up signing. Morgado looked excellent in some outings this summer and not nearly as good other times. He has a chance to be really good, and should at least be a solid pro, but he needs to be effective more consistently. Also, Morgado needs to find a way to be quicker to the plate. Base stealers ran wild on him all summer.
Here is what I blogged about Morgado on July 18: "Bourne starter Bryan Morgado from the University of Tennessee, the White Sox' third-round pick who disappointed me the last time I saw him, had better stuff Friday but he struggled with his control. Morgado's fastball sat in the 90-92 mph range and a couple of times crept up to 94. This was an improvement from the 88-91 I saw a couple of weeks ago. One Major League scout said he saw Morgado touch 96 in a relief appearance earlier in his pitching career. Morgado's 78-80 mph slider was average and he threw a decent 78-81 mph changeup. Morgado walked six and hit a batter in five innings, but also struck out eight. He still knows how to pitch, and the increased velocity made him more impressive, but I'm still not sure he was worth a third-round pick."
19. Brian Dupra, Harwich/Notre Dame. Throws R. 6'3" 205. Rochester, N.Y.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-1, 5.48 ERA, 25 K's, 23 IP
Dupra had one of the better bullpen arms on the Cape two summers in a row, but his numbers weren't nearly as good in 2009 as they were during his All-Star summer in 2008. Still, Dupra is highly-touted and could be in the discussion for a first-round pick next June.
Here is what I blogged about Dupra on July 4: "Right-handed reliever Brian Dupra from Notre Dame showed he is one of the better relievers in the league again this summer, pitching for Harwich for the second consecutive season. Dupra has good size and a solid, athletic build at 6'3" 205, and he has a smooth motion until the end and throws with good arm action. He does buck his head upon release. Dupra throws a 91-93 mph fastball with good tail in on right-handed hitters, and also throws an 88-91 mph cutter that runs nicely the other way. He also has a good 79-81 mph slider with tight break. His repertoire is well-suited for the bullpen, and he thrives in that role in the summer."
18. Patrick Cooper, Falmouth/Des Moines CC. Throws R. 6'2" 200. Danville, Ky.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-1, 0.66 ERA, 39 K's, 27.1 IP
There weren't many, but Cooper was probably the best junior college pitcher on the Cape this summer. Cooper was named a NJCAA Division II All-American and was selected in the 34th round by Arizona in June but did not sign. He is scheduled to play for Bradley University in the spring. Cooper was dominant out of Falmouth's bullpen all summer, and one has to believe he dramatically improved his draft stock for 2010.
Here is what I blogged about Cooper on July 30: "Right-handed reliever Patrick Cooper from Des Moines Community College looked really good for Falmouth with his fastball/slider combination. Cooper is average height with a solid, athletic build at 6'2" 200. He stands tall in his delivery and throws with some effort. Cooper's fastball sat in the 90-92 mph range, and his 83-84 mph slider was excellent. The slider had very sharp break and he got a lot of swings and misses with it. Cooper has an ERA under 1 this summer and he is one of the better relievers in the league."
17. Tommy Kahnle, Orleans/Lynn. Throws R. 6'0" 225, Latham, N.Y.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-2, 2.41 ERA, 23 K's, 18.2 IP
Kahnle was solid out of the bullpen for Orleans this summer and really threw hard. There was a rumor Kahnle hit 99 mph during a playoff appearance after I left the Cape for the summer, but I have been unable to confirm whether that really happened. It's unlikely, but not impossible. Kahnle will be draft-eligible after his redshirt sophomore season next June and could definitely go in the first few rounds.
Here is what I blogged about Kahnle on June 17 after one of his less impressive outings of the summer: "Scouts were slightly abuzz about Orleans right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle from Lynn University. One scout said he saw Kahnle touch 95 mph during the spring, but his fastball topped out at 93 on Tuesday. Kahnle had a solid build at 6'0" 225, and he threw with some effort in his delivery. Kahnle looked to be overthrowing a little bit and he struggled with his control. He also threw a tight 80-81 mph slider."
16. Cecil Tanner, Falmouth/Georgia. Throws R. 6'6" 240. Waycross, Ga.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 0-2, 3.28 ERA, 28 K's, 24.2 IP
Tanner is a promising young reliever who will be a big prospect for the 2011 draft. He is probably better suited for a bullpen role even though he did make a few starts during his freshman year for Georgia. It will be interesting to see where his velocity is when it is time for him to be drafted.
Here is what I blogged about Tanner on July 28: Right-handed reliever Cecil Tanner from the University of Georgia looked good as a short-relief prospect for Falmouth. One NL scout said he saw Tanner sit consistenly around 96-97 mph this spring during his freshman season at UGA. I haven't seen him hit higher than 94 in three glimpses of him this summer, but he is still worth keeping an eye on. Tanner has good size at 6'6" 240. He looks a little stiff and awkward on the mound, but it's possible he is still growing into his body. Tanner's fastball sat in the 91-93 mph range Monday and had some sinking action. He also showed a good 77 mph slider with sharp break. If Tanner can regain that alleged 96-97 mph heat, one would have to believe he will be a high pick in 2011.
15. Kevin Munson, Bourne/James Madison. Throws R. 6'2" 200. Roanoke, Va.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 0-1, 1.80 ERA, 24 K's, 15 IP
Munson was good in somewhat limited action this summer, as there were whispers that he was nursing a minor injury. He had a very good sophomore season at JMU as the Dukes' closer this spring, and he was named First-Team All-CAA. Munson has a good fastball he can run up into the mid 90's and an effective slider when he throws it well. Munson will be a high pick next year.
Here is what I blogged about Munson on July 9: "Finally, right-handed reliever Kevin Munson from James Madison pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for Bourne and picked up the save. I had seen Munson earlier in the year, but his stuff was a lot more memorable this time. Munson is also average size for a pitcher at 6'2" 200. He needs to tighten up his motion, and he throws with some effort, but he has two good pitches that really work for him in a bullpen role. Munson's fastball sat in the 93-94 mph range Wednesday and he spotted it well. He also threw an 80-83 mph slider with good run that he both throw for strikes and get hitters to chase out of the zone."
14. Brandon Cumpton, Cotuit/Georgia Tech. Throws R. 6'1" 190 Evans, Ga.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-0, 1.59 ERA, 7 K's, 17 IP
Cumpton was very effective for Cotuit for three starts before he shut it down for the summer with a sore shoulder. Assuming Cumpton is healthy, he should be high draft pick next June. Cumpton may not have as high a ceiling as some of the pitchers ranked ahead of him, but he is definitely consistently solid.
Here is what I blogged about Cumpton on June 18: "Cotuit's right-handed starter Brandon Cumpton from Georgia Tech shares Player of the Game honors with Vaughn. Cumpton is just average height and has a thin frame at 6'1 190, but he has smooth mechanics and good arm action and he was able to run his fastball up to 93 mph. Cumpton's heater sat in the 91-93 range, and he was still throwing it by hitters late in his eight-inning no-run, three-hit performance. Cumpton also showed a good 74 mph curveball and a decent 80-83 mph changeup that he tended to float up in the zone but he could also throw for strikes."
13. Taylor Hill, Chatham/Vanderbilt. Throws R. 6'4" 225. Old Hickory, Tenn.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-1, 1.44 ERA, 35 K's, 31.1 IP
Hill was consistently one of the better relievers in the league all summer. His mechanics aren't great, which to me means he can only get better when he enters a professional system. Hill has some starting experience at Vanderbilt, and while he seems to do better out of the bullpen he has the repertoire to start. He will be a high pick next June.
Here is what I blogged about Hill on July 19: "Right-handed reliever Taylor Hill from Vanderbilt looked really good for Chatham. Hill is tall with a solid, athletic build at 6'4" 225. He has raw mechanics in which he wastes some movement and he throws with some effort, but his stuff is really good. Hill's fastball sat in the 89-92 mph range with late sinking movement. He threw a very good 80-82 mph slider with late frisbee-like movement that was his most effective, impressive pitch. He also threw a very good 78-79 mph changeup with downward movement and some tail in. All of his pitches have late life. Hill is one of the better relievers in the league."
12. Tyler Wilson, Hyannis/Virginia. Throws R. 6'2" 185. Midlothian, Va.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 3-1, 1.60 ERA, 28 K's, 39.1 IP
Wilson was excellent for Hyannis once he joined the team after the College World Series, and he was one of the most effective pitchers in the league during the second half of the season. Wilson's stuff isn't necessarily outstanding, but it is very good and he has really good command. He had a really good spring season for Virginia where he was used mostly as a reliever, but he proved this summer he can be a starter. Wilson will be in the conversation for a first-round pick next June.
Here is what I blogged about Wilson on July 17: "Wilson was dominant Thursday, and he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. He ended up going seven and allowed no runs on two hits while striking out nine. Wilson is average height for a pitcher with a thin, athletic build at 6'2" 185, but you can tell he is a really good athlete and he brings an intense, competitive presence to the mound. Wilson throws easily with good arm action. Wilson's fastball sat in the 90-91 mph range, and he had really good command working both sides of the plate Thursday. His 81-82 mph slider had tight break but was just average, and he also threw a pretty good 78 mph changeup. Wilson competes, but he needs to have command like he did Thursday to be continually effective."
11.Brett Eibner, Wareham/Arkansas. Throws R. 6'3" 205. The Woodlands, Texas.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-0, 2.19 ERA, 14 K's, 12.1 IP
.240 BA, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .944 OPS
The main thing holding back Eibner's professional potential as a pitcher is his professional potential as a hitter. Wareham used Eibner almost exclusively as a hitter in 2008, but after seeing one of his three starts this season, I think he is better on the mound. Eibner needs to improve his stamina on the mound, but with a focus only on pitching, Eibner could definitely be a first-round pick next June. He could go just as high as a hitter.
Here is what I blogged about Eibner on July 7: "Wareham's Game 2 starter was righthander Brett Eibner from the University of Arkansas. Eibner is one of the better hitters in the league, and I was unaware before Monday the Gatemen had even planned to use him on the mound this summer. Eibner had a really good arm, though he did get tired quickly and didn't make it out of the fourth inning. Eibner has a thin, athletic build at 6'3" 205, and he throws easily with good, loose arm action. He tends to fall off the mound toward first base. Eibner's fastball sat in the 93-95 mph range in his first two innings, but he was down to 89-91 mph by the fourth. He threw an 85-88 mph slider with hard biting action, and a decent 84-87 mph changeup. He also showed an occasional 81 mph curveball."
Thursday: Top 10 Pitchers
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Third Basemen, Shortstops, Outfielders 10-6, Outfielders 5-1, Top 30 Position Players, Pitchers 40-31, Pitchers 30-21
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20. Bryan Morgado, Bourne/Tennessee. Throws L. 6'3" 205. Miami, Fla.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-1, 3.06 ERA, 47 K's, 32.1 IP
Morgado was selected by the White Sox in the third round of June's draft, but he stayed on the Cape the entire summer and he never ended up signing. Morgado looked excellent in some outings this summer and not nearly as good other times. He has a chance to be really good, and should at least be a solid pro, but he needs to be effective more consistently. Also, Morgado needs to find a way to be quicker to the plate. Base stealers ran wild on him all summer.
Here is what I blogged about Morgado on July 18: "Bourne starter Bryan Morgado from the University of Tennessee, the White Sox' third-round pick who disappointed me the last time I saw him, had better stuff Friday but he struggled with his control. Morgado's fastball sat in the 90-92 mph range and a couple of times crept up to 94. This was an improvement from the 88-91 I saw a couple of weeks ago. One Major League scout said he saw Morgado touch 96 in a relief appearance earlier in his pitching career. Morgado's 78-80 mph slider was average and he threw a decent 78-81 mph changeup. Morgado walked six and hit a batter in five innings, but also struck out eight. He still knows how to pitch, and the increased velocity made him more impressive, but I'm still not sure he was worth a third-round pick."
19. Brian Dupra, Harwich/Notre Dame. Throws R. 6'3" 205. Rochester, N.Y.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-1, 5.48 ERA, 25 K's, 23 IP
Dupra had one of the better bullpen arms on the Cape two summers in a row, but his numbers weren't nearly as good in 2009 as they were during his All-Star summer in 2008. Still, Dupra is highly-touted and could be in the discussion for a first-round pick next June.
Here is what I blogged about Dupra on July 4: "Right-handed reliever Brian Dupra from Notre Dame showed he is one of the better relievers in the league again this summer, pitching for Harwich for the second consecutive season. Dupra has good size and a solid, athletic build at 6'3" 205, and he has a smooth motion until the end and throws with good arm action. He does buck his head upon release. Dupra throws a 91-93 mph fastball with good tail in on right-handed hitters, and also throws an 88-91 mph cutter that runs nicely the other way. He also has a good 79-81 mph slider with tight break. His repertoire is well-suited for the bullpen, and he thrives in that role in the summer."
18. Patrick Cooper, Falmouth/Des Moines CC. Throws R. 6'2" 200. Danville, Ky.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-1, 0.66 ERA, 39 K's, 27.1 IP
There weren't many, but Cooper was probably the best junior college pitcher on the Cape this summer. Cooper was named a NJCAA Division II All-American and was selected in the 34th round by Arizona in June but did not sign. He is scheduled to play for Bradley University in the spring. Cooper was dominant out of Falmouth's bullpen all summer, and one has to believe he dramatically improved his draft stock for 2010.
Here is what I blogged about Cooper on July 30: "Right-handed reliever Patrick Cooper from Des Moines Community College looked really good for Falmouth with his fastball/slider combination. Cooper is average height with a solid, athletic build at 6'2" 200. He stands tall in his delivery and throws with some effort. Cooper's fastball sat in the 90-92 mph range, and his 83-84 mph slider was excellent. The slider had very sharp break and he got a lot of swings and misses with it. Cooper has an ERA under 1 this summer and he is one of the better relievers in the league."
17. Tommy Kahnle, Orleans/Lynn. Throws R. 6'0" 225, Latham, N.Y.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-2, 2.41 ERA, 23 K's, 18.2 IP
Kahnle was solid out of the bullpen for Orleans this summer and really threw hard. There was a rumor Kahnle hit 99 mph during a playoff appearance after I left the Cape for the summer, but I have been unable to confirm whether that really happened. It's unlikely, but not impossible. Kahnle will be draft-eligible after his redshirt sophomore season next June and could definitely go in the first few rounds.
Here is what I blogged about Kahnle on June 17 after one of his less impressive outings of the summer: "Scouts were slightly abuzz about Orleans right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle from Lynn University. One scout said he saw Kahnle touch 95 mph during the spring, but his fastball topped out at 93 on Tuesday. Kahnle had a solid build at 6'0" 225, and he threw with some effort in his delivery. Kahnle looked to be overthrowing a little bit and he struggled with his control. He also threw a tight 80-81 mph slider."
16. Cecil Tanner, Falmouth/Georgia. Throws R. 6'6" 240. Waycross, Ga.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 0-2, 3.28 ERA, 28 K's, 24.2 IP
Tanner is a promising young reliever who will be a big prospect for the 2011 draft. He is probably better suited for a bullpen role even though he did make a few starts during his freshman year for Georgia. It will be interesting to see where his velocity is when it is time for him to be drafted.
Here is what I blogged about Tanner on July 28: Right-handed reliever Cecil Tanner from the University of Georgia looked good as a short-relief prospect for Falmouth. One NL scout said he saw Tanner sit consistenly around 96-97 mph this spring during his freshman season at UGA. I haven't seen him hit higher than 94 in three glimpses of him this summer, but he is still worth keeping an eye on. Tanner has good size at 6'6" 240. He looks a little stiff and awkward on the mound, but it's possible he is still growing into his body. Tanner's fastball sat in the 91-93 mph range Monday and had some sinking action. He also showed a good 77 mph slider with sharp break. If Tanner can regain that alleged 96-97 mph heat, one would have to believe he will be a high pick in 2011.
15. Kevin Munson, Bourne/James Madison. Throws R. 6'2" 200. Roanoke, Va.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 0-1, 1.80 ERA, 24 K's, 15 IP
Munson was good in somewhat limited action this summer, as there were whispers that he was nursing a minor injury. He had a very good sophomore season at JMU as the Dukes' closer this spring, and he was named First-Team All-CAA. Munson has a good fastball he can run up into the mid 90's and an effective slider when he throws it well. Munson will be a high pick next year.
Here is what I blogged about Munson on July 9: "Finally, right-handed reliever Kevin Munson from James Madison pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for Bourne and picked up the save. I had seen Munson earlier in the year, but his stuff was a lot more memorable this time. Munson is also average size for a pitcher at 6'2" 200. He needs to tighten up his motion, and he throws with some effort, but he has two good pitches that really work for him in a bullpen role. Munson's fastball sat in the 93-94 mph range Wednesday and he spotted it well. He also threw an 80-83 mph slider with good run that he both throw for strikes and get hitters to chase out of the zone."
14. Brandon Cumpton, Cotuit/Georgia Tech. Throws R. 6'1" 190 Evans, Ga.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-0, 1.59 ERA, 7 K's, 17 IP
Cumpton was very effective for Cotuit for three starts before he shut it down for the summer with a sore shoulder. Assuming Cumpton is healthy, he should be high draft pick next June. Cumpton may not have as high a ceiling as some of the pitchers ranked ahead of him, but he is definitely consistently solid.
Here is what I blogged about Cumpton on June 18: "Cotuit's right-handed starter Brandon Cumpton from Georgia Tech shares Player of the Game honors with Vaughn. Cumpton is just average height and has a thin frame at 6'1 190, but he has smooth mechanics and good arm action and he was able to run his fastball up to 93 mph. Cumpton's heater sat in the 91-93 range, and he was still throwing it by hitters late in his eight-inning no-run, three-hit performance. Cumpton also showed a good 74 mph curveball and a decent 80-83 mph changeup that he tended to float up in the zone but he could also throw for strikes."
13. Taylor Hill, Chatham/Vanderbilt. Throws R. 6'4" 225. Old Hickory, Tenn.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-1, 1.44 ERA, 35 K's, 31.1 IP
Hill was consistently one of the better relievers in the league all summer. His mechanics aren't great, which to me means he can only get better when he enters a professional system. Hill has some starting experience at Vanderbilt, and while he seems to do better out of the bullpen he has the repertoire to start. He will be a high pick next June.
Here is what I blogged about Hill on July 19: "Right-handed reliever Taylor Hill from Vanderbilt looked really good for Chatham. Hill is tall with a solid, athletic build at 6'4" 225. He has raw mechanics in which he wastes some movement and he throws with some effort, but his stuff is really good. Hill's fastball sat in the 89-92 mph range with late sinking movement. He threw a very good 80-82 mph slider with late frisbee-like movement that was his most effective, impressive pitch. He also threw a very good 78-79 mph changeup with downward movement and some tail in. All of his pitches have late life. Hill is one of the better relievers in the league."
12. Tyler Wilson, Hyannis/Virginia. Throws R. 6'2" 185. Midlothian, Va.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 3-1, 1.60 ERA, 28 K's, 39.1 IP
Wilson was excellent for Hyannis once he joined the team after the College World Series, and he was one of the most effective pitchers in the league during the second half of the season. Wilson's stuff isn't necessarily outstanding, but it is very good and he has really good command. He had a really good spring season for Virginia where he was used mostly as a reliever, but he proved this summer he can be a starter. Wilson will be in the conversation for a first-round pick next June.
Here is what I blogged about Wilson on July 17: "Wilson was dominant Thursday, and he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. He ended up going seven and allowed no runs on two hits while striking out nine. Wilson is average height for a pitcher with a thin, athletic build at 6'2" 185, but you can tell he is a really good athlete and he brings an intense, competitive presence to the mound. Wilson throws easily with good arm action. Wilson's fastball sat in the 90-91 mph range, and he had really good command working both sides of the plate Thursday. His 81-82 mph slider had tight break but was just average, and he also threw a pretty good 78 mph changeup. Wilson competes, but he needs to have command like he did Thursday to be continually effective."
11.Brett Eibner, Wareham/Arkansas. Throws R. 6'3" 205. The Woodlands, Texas.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-0, 2.19 ERA, 14 K's, 12.1 IP
.240 BA, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .944 OPS
The main thing holding back Eibner's professional potential as a pitcher is his professional potential as a hitter. Wareham used Eibner almost exclusively as a hitter in 2008, but after seeing one of his three starts this season, I think he is better on the mound. Eibner needs to improve his stamina on the mound, but with a focus only on pitching, Eibner could definitely be a first-round pick next June. He could go just as high as a hitter.
Here is what I blogged about Eibner on July 7: "Wareham's Game 2 starter was righthander Brett Eibner from the University of Arkansas. Eibner is one of the better hitters in the league, and I was unaware before Monday the Gatemen had even planned to use him on the mound this summer. Eibner had a really good arm, though he did get tired quickly and didn't make it out of the fourth inning. Eibner has a thin, athletic build at 6'3" 205, and he throws easily with good, loose arm action. He tends to fall off the mound toward first base. Eibner's fastball sat in the 93-95 mph range in his first two innings, but he was down to 89-91 mph by the fourth. He threw an 85-88 mph slider with hard biting action, and a decent 84-87 mph changeup. He also showed an occasional 81 mph curveball."
Thursday: Top 10 Pitchers
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Third Basemen, Shortstops, Outfielders 10-6, Outfielders 5-1, Top 30 Position Players, Pitchers 40-31, Pitchers 30-21
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Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Postseason Prospect Rankings: Pitchers 30-21
Here are the next 10 pitchers in my Top 40 rankings. In case the format is not self-explanatory, each player's vital information is followed by his 2009 Cape League regular season statistics, a short overarching blurb and a scouting blog post from earlier in the summer.
30. Tyler Lyons, Chatham/Oklahoma State. Throws L. 6'2" 205. Lubbock, Texas
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-4, 1.77 ERA, 44 K's, 45.2 IP
Lyons was one of the better pitchers among guys who were under a Major League team's control and ended up staying the whole summer. The Yankees took Lyons in the 10th round of June's draft but Lyons did not sign and will return to Oklahoma State for his senior season. Lyons has been an effective starter in the Big 12 for the past two seasons, and with his Cape League performance and a strong senior year he should be selected higher next year.
Here is what I blogged about Lyons on July 27, when he pitched against unconventional lefty Mario Hollands: "Lyons was a lot more conventional, and while he stuff was not overpowering he had four pretty good pitches and was effective. Lyons is average height for a pitcher with an athletic build at 6'2" 205. He has a smooth motion and has good arm action but does throw with a little effort. His fastball sat in the 87-89 mph range and once touched 90. His two-seamer had good tailing action in on left-handed hitters and his four-seamer moved a little bit the other way. He threw a very good 75-76 mph curveball with sweeping break which he could throw for strikes, and also threw a good 78-79 mph slider with late break. The two breaking pitches had a similar trajectory but the curveball had more depth to it. Lyons also threw a deceptive 79-80 mph changeup with some downward movement. The Yankees have several guys under control up here, and Lyons is one of their better ones."
29. Matt Harvey, Chatham/UNC. Throws R. 6'5" 225. Mystic, Conn.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 0-2, 6.00 ERA, 16 K's, 18 IP
Harvey is a unique case, as he could turn out to be the best pitcher to come out of this year's league, or he could flame out as a mechanical mess with unrealized potential. Harvey's velocity is way down from where it was when he was a high school All-American in 2007, and the severe hitch in his motion is very disconcerting. But if Harvey can regain his old form he could be a dominant pro. There is a chance a team might risk its first-round pick on him next June. I ranked him this low because he just seems so mixed up on the mound I don't think it will be easy for him to find his way completely back.
Here is what I blogged about Harvey on July 19: "Harvey is a really interesting case to me. He was one of the nation's best pitching prospects out of high school in 2007, dropped to the third round of the draft because he had signability issues, didn't sign, and then watched as his stock has dropped dramatically over the past two years. His mechanics are really out of whack right now, but he still has the potential to be really good and a team might take a chance on him with a high draft pick next June anyway. One scout said he should have signed in '07, and another agreed and said it must "leave a mark" every time Harvey watches fellow '07 high school phenom Rick Porcello pitch for the Detroit Tigers. Harvey is big with a solid build at 6'5" 225. He has poor arm action and a strange hitch in his delivery toward the top of his motion. He falls off toward third base and sometimes throws severely across his body. All of these things affect his command and velocity. I saw Harvey throw 94-95 for Chatham last summer, but his fastball sat in the 86-89 mph range on Saturday. He has a really good 73-75 mph overhand curveball with big break, but he tends to leave it up in the zone. He also throws a good 77-79 mph changeup with good downward movement when he throws it well. It'll be interesting to see what happens with Harvey next year, but ultimately he could have saved himself a lot of stress by taking what would have been big money in 2007."
28. Brett Weibley, Orleans/Kent State. Throws R. 6'3" 220. Duncansville, Pa.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-1, 1.23 ERA, 26 K's, 22 IP
I only got a brief glimpse of Weibley in a relief appearance, but his fastball touched 96 that day so he earned this ranking. Weibley threw mostly one pitch so he is probably only going to be a reliever. Weibley is a raw thrower who was more of a hitter than a pitcher until this past spring, and he was used solely as a pitcher by Orleans. It will be interesting to see how he develops as he gains more experience on the mound. Weibley is expected to go in the first few rounds next June.
Here is what I blogged about Weibley on July 30: "Orleans right-handed reliever Brett Weibley from Kent State hit 96 with his fastball. Weibley is above-average height with a solid build at 6'3" 220. He throws with a lot of effort and falls off the mound toward first base, but he throws with good arm action. Weibley's fastball sat mostly in the 93-95 mph range and did hit 96 once. He does well changing his locations. Weibley threw mostly all fastballs, showing just an average slider and a good changeup that he only threw during warmups."
27. Russell Brewer, Chatham/Vanderbilt. Throws R. 6'0" 190. Norwood, N.C.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Statistics: 2-1, 1.90 ERA, 33 K's, 23.2 IP, 10 saves
Brewer is the type of guy you need to watch several times before you can really appreciate how good he is. He doesn't have great stuff but he has tremendous command and consistently gets the job done. Brewer went undrafted after his redshirt sophomore season, but with two consecutive stellar seasons on the Cape under his belt, I am convinced he can be an effective pro.
Here is what I blogged about him on June 16: "The Anglers brought in righthander Russell Brewer, also from Vanderbilt, to pick up the save in the ninth. I really liked Brewer a lot when he closed games for Hyannis last summer, and he was exactly how I remembered him. His stuff is not that good, but he has excellent command and just consistently gets the job done. He's a little undersized at 6'0" 190, and his fastball tops out at 89 mph, but he hits his spots with it and makes hitters beat him. Brewer also throws a 75-76 mph slider that doesn't have very tight break but gets outs."
26. Matt Barnes, Wareham/UConn. Throws R. 6'4" 185. Bethel, Conn.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-3, 4.78 ERA, 33 K's, 26.1 IP
Barnes is a raw, young, high-ceiling guy whose performance on the Cape didn't measure up to his stuff or his expectations coming in. If he is able to pitch more consistently against good competition he could be very good. It will also be interesting to see if he fills out more and increases his already good velocity.
Here is what I blogged about Barnes on July 1: "Barnes was also really impressive and had one of the Top 5 arms I have seen so far. He just turned 19 earlier this month, and there are indications that he has not even reached his full potential. Barnes has good size at 6'4" and a thin, very projectable 185-pound frame. He throws with really smooth arm action and makes everything look natural and easy. Barnes' fastball sat in the 90-93 mph range, and for the most part he spotted it really well and worked both sides of the plate. He threw a very good 75-76 mph curveball with tight break that he was able to throw for strikes, and also showed a good 83-84 mph changeup with sharp downward movement. Barnes is definitely a freshman to watch."
25. Jake Buchanan, Cotuit/N.C. State. Throws R. 6'0" 205. Gastonia, N.C.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 3-1, 0.84 ERA, 38 K's, 43 IP
Buchanan led all qualifying pitchers in ERA this summer, and was statistically one of the best pitchers in the league for the entire season. Still, his stuff is not dominant and he was not considered a very high prospect coming into this summer. This season definitely helped his stock, but he needs to continue to show he can get it done in the future.
This is what I blogged about Buchanan on July 21: "Buchanan, whose ERA was 0.67 before he pitched a shutout Monday, didn't have tremendous stuff, but he had a good feel for four solid pitches and he wasn't afraid to throw any of them in any count. In the middle innings of his start, one American League scout said "This guy doesn't ever throw the same pitch twice in a row." Hyannis' hitters were off-balance the entire game, and only four balls left the infield. Buchanan is average height with a stocky build at 6'0" 205. He short-arms his pitches a little but throws easy and has good balance. Buchanan's fastball sat in the 88-90 mph range but hitters always seemed unsure of when it was coming and therefore it was effectively faster than its actual speed. Buchanan's best pitch was probably his tumbling 74-77 mph curveball with very good, sharp break. He also threw a 76-80 mph slider with good run and a good 76-79 mph changeup with nice downward movement. None of Buchanan's pitches, other than maybe his curveball, was sensational on its own but his full repertoire was very effective. He could certainly be drafted in the first few rounds next June."
24. Seth Blair, Cotuit/Arizona State. Throws R. 6'2" 190. Rock Falls, Ill.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 3-2, 2.75 ERA, 30 K's, 39.1 IP
Blair was one of the better starters in the Cape League this season, but I only caught him throw in relief on the last day of the regular season. Because of my limited exposure to him, I may be ranking him a little low. I also saw Blair pitch in the Cape League All-Star Game in 2008, when he gave up seven earned runs on five hits in 0.2 IP.
Here is what I blogged about Blair on August 6: "Cotuit right-handed reliever Seth Blair from Arizona State was very impressive. Usually a starter, Blair has a really good fastball/changeup combination and while his breaking pitches need some refining he definitely has a lot of potential. Blair is average height with a thin, athletic build at 6'2" 190. He throws with some effort but has good, loose arm action. Blair throws a low 90s fastball with late life that has really good tailing action in on right-handed hitters. The pitch appears to find a new gear in midair. His changeup also moves a lot and is a good, deceptive pitch. Blair throws a curveball with tight break that he tends to leave up in the zone, and a slider with two-plane break he has trouble commanding. Blair needs to throw his curveball with more consistency and develop a better feel for the slider to maximize his effectiveness, but he should be selected in the first few rounds of next June's draft."
23. Cole Green, Wareham/Texas. Throws R. 6'0" 210. Coppell, Texas.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-1, 3.12 ERA, 33 K's, 26 IP
Green is the only player on any of my lists who I did not see this summer and therefore did not blog about. He started four games after coming to the Cape late after the College World Series, and unfortunately I didn't see any of them. People tell me Green is very good, and that he could be selected in the first few rounds of next year's draft. It's possible I would have ranked him higher if I had seen him in person, but I didn't want to put him much higher than the guys coming up on the list.
22. Kyle Winkler, Falmouth/TCU. Throws R. 5'11" 195. Sugar Land, Texas.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-2, 3.62 ERA, 31 K's, 32.1 IP
Winkler was one of the more impressive freshman I saw over the course of the summer. His sinker is a really good pitch and he just has a solid repertoire overall. Winkler is raw and young, but he was coming off a good freshman season at TCU and there is no reason to think his success won't continue. Winkler has a bright future and could go high in the 2011 draft.
Here is what I blogged about Winkler on July 28: "Righthander Kyle Winkler from TCU started for Falmouth and looked really good. Winkler threw the only true sinker I can remember seeing all summer and it was a great pitch. Winkler has a stocky build at 5'11" 195, and while he has a jerky motion and throws with some effort he has good arm action and a very strong-looking lower body which should limit some concerns about his durability. Winkler's fastball sat in the 91-93 mph range and once touched 94. The 85-86 mph sinker was really effective and with its late movement was very difficult for hitters to pick up. Winkler also threw a decent 76-78 mph curveball with sharp break and an 81-83 mph slider with hard run that wasn't really that good. Winkler just turned 19 last month, and he is somebody to watch for the 2011 draft."
21. Caleb Cotham, Brewster/Vanderbilt. Throws R. 6'3" 210. Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 15 K's, 13 IP
Cotham was the Yankees' fifth-round draft pick this year and just signed with them right before the deadline. Cotham didn't come to the Cape until midway through the summer, but he was very effective in his limited action there. By my unofficial count, the Yankees selected 12 players I saw play on the Cape in 2008 and/or 2009. Cotham is the best.
Here is what I blogged about Cotham on July 20: "Another fifth-round pick, righthander Caleb Cotham from Vanderbilt, who was selected by the Yankees' last month, looked even more impressive in relief for Brewster. Cotham is above-average height with a solid build at 6'3" 210. He throws easy with tight mechanics and has good arm action. Cotham's fastball sat in the 90-92 mph range and he had pretty good command of it. He threw a hard 85-87 mph breaking ball with tight movement and a very good 83-84 mph changeup with very good downward movement. The Yankees would do well to sign him."
Wednesday: Pitchers 20-11
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Third Basemen, Shortstops, Outfielders 10-6, Outfielders 5-1, Top 30 Position Players, Pitchers 40-31.
Questions? Comments? E-Mail me at schimmeldbk@gmail.com
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30. Tyler Lyons, Chatham/Oklahoma State. Throws L. 6'2" 205. Lubbock, Texas
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-4, 1.77 ERA, 44 K's, 45.2 IP
Lyons was one of the better pitchers among guys who were under a Major League team's control and ended up staying the whole summer. The Yankees took Lyons in the 10th round of June's draft but Lyons did not sign and will return to Oklahoma State for his senior season. Lyons has been an effective starter in the Big 12 for the past two seasons, and with his Cape League performance and a strong senior year he should be selected higher next year.
Here is what I blogged about Lyons on July 27, when he pitched against unconventional lefty Mario Hollands: "Lyons was a lot more conventional, and while he stuff was not overpowering he had four pretty good pitches and was effective. Lyons is average height for a pitcher with an athletic build at 6'2" 205. He has a smooth motion and has good arm action but does throw with a little effort. His fastball sat in the 87-89 mph range and once touched 90. His two-seamer had good tailing action in on left-handed hitters and his four-seamer moved a little bit the other way. He threw a very good 75-76 mph curveball with sweeping break which he could throw for strikes, and also threw a good 78-79 mph slider with late break. The two breaking pitches had a similar trajectory but the curveball had more depth to it. Lyons also threw a deceptive 79-80 mph changeup with some downward movement. The Yankees have several guys under control up here, and Lyons is one of their better ones."
29. Matt Harvey, Chatham/UNC. Throws R. 6'5" 225. Mystic, Conn.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 0-2, 6.00 ERA, 16 K's, 18 IP
Harvey is a unique case, as he could turn out to be the best pitcher to come out of this year's league, or he could flame out as a mechanical mess with unrealized potential. Harvey's velocity is way down from where it was when he was a high school All-American in 2007, and the severe hitch in his motion is very disconcerting. But if Harvey can regain his old form he could be a dominant pro. There is a chance a team might risk its first-round pick on him next June. I ranked him this low because he just seems so mixed up on the mound I don't think it will be easy for him to find his way completely back.
Here is what I blogged about Harvey on July 19: "Harvey is a really interesting case to me. He was one of the nation's best pitching prospects out of high school in 2007, dropped to the third round of the draft because he had signability issues, didn't sign, and then watched as his stock has dropped dramatically over the past two years. His mechanics are really out of whack right now, but he still has the potential to be really good and a team might take a chance on him with a high draft pick next June anyway. One scout said he should have signed in '07, and another agreed and said it must "leave a mark" every time Harvey watches fellow '07 high school phenom Rick Porcello pitch for the Detroit Tigers. Harvey is big with a solid build at 6'5" 225. He has poor arm action and a strange hitch in his delivery toward the top of his motion. He falls off toward third base and sometimes throws severely across his body. All of these things affect his command and velocity. I saw Harvey throw 94-95 for Chatham last summer, but his fastball sat in the 86-89 mph range on Saturday. He has a really good 73-75 mph overhand curveball with big break, but he tends to leave it up in the zone. He also throws a good 77-79 mph changeup with good downward movement when he throws it well. It'll be interesting to see what happens with Harvey next year, but ultimately he could have saved himself a lot of stress by taking what would have been big money in 2007."
28. Brett Weibley, Orleans/Kent State. Throws R. 6'3" 220. Duncansville, Pa.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-1, 1.23 ERA, 26 K's, 22 IP
I only got a brief glimpse of Weibley in a relief appearance, but his fastball touched 96 that day so he earned this ranking. Weibley threw mostly one pitch so he is probably only going to be a reliever. Weibley is a raw thrower who was more of a hitter than a pitcher until this past spring, and he was used solely as a pitcher by Orleans. It will be interesting to see how he develops as he gains more experience on the mound. Weibley is expected to go in the first few rounds next June.
Here is what I blogged about Weibley on July 30: "Orleans right-handed reliever Brett Weibley from Kent State hit 96 with his fastball. Weibley is above-average height with a solid build at 6'3" 220. He throws with a lot of effort and falls off the mound toward first base, but he throws with good arm action. Weibley's fastball sat mostly in the 93-95 mph range and did hit 96 once. He does well changing his locations. Weibley threw mostly all fastballs, showing just an average slider and a good changeup that he only threw during warmups."
27. Russell Brewer, Chatham/Vanderbilt. Throws R. 6'0" 190. Norwood, N.C.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Statistics: 2-1, 1.90 ERA, 33 K's, 23.2 IP, 10 saves
Brewer is the type of guy you need to watch several times before you can really appreciate how good he is. He doesn't have great stuff but he has tremendous command and consistently gets the job done. Brewer went undrafted after his redshirt sophomore season, but with two consecutive stellar seasons on the Cape under his belt, I am convinced he can be an effective pro.
Here is what I blogged about him on June 16: "The Anglers brought in righthander Russell Brewer, also from Vanderbilt, to pick up the save in the ninth. I really liked Brewer a lot when he closed games for Hyannis last summer, and he was exactly how I remembered him. His stuff is not that good, but he has excellent command and just consistently gets the job done. He's a little undersized at 6'0" 190, and his fastball tops out at 89 mph, but he hits his spots with it and makes hitters beat him. Brewer also throws a 75-76 mph slider that doesn't have very tight break but gets outs."
26. Matt Barnes, Wareham/UConn. Throws R. 6'4" 185. Bethel, Conn.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-3, 4.78 ERA, 33 K's, 26.1 IP
Barnes is a raw, young, high-ceiling guy whose performance on the Cape didn't measure up to his stuff or his expectations coming in. If he is able to pitch more consistently against good competition he could be very good. It will also be interesting to see if he fills out more and increases his already good velocity.
Here is what I blogged about Barnes on July 1: "Barnes was also really impressive and had one of the Top 5 arms I have seen so far. He just turned 19 earlier this month, and there are indications that he has not even reached his full potential. Barnes has good size at 6'4" and a thin, very projectable 185-pound frame. He throws with really smooth arm action and makes everything look natural and easy. Barnes' fastball sat in the 90-93 mph range, and for the most part he spotted it really well and worked both sides of the plate. He threw a very good 75-76 mph curveball with tight break that he was able to throw for strikes, and also showed a good 83-84 mph changeup with sharp downward movement. Barnes is definitely a freshman to watch."
25. Jake Buchanan, Cotuit/N.C. State. Throws R. 6'0" 205. Gastonia, N.C.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 3-1, 0.84 ERA, 38 K's, 43 IP
Buchanan led all qualifying pitchers in ERA this summer, and was statistically one of the best pitchers in the league for the entire season. Still, his stuff is not dominant and he was not considered a very high prospect coming into this summer. This season definitely helped his stock, but he needs to continue to show he can get it done in the future.
This is what I blogged about Buchanan on July 21: "Buchanan, whose ERA was 0.67 before he pitched a shutout Monday, didn't have tremendous stuff, but he had a good feel for four solid pitches and he wasn't afraid to throw any of them in any count. In the middle innings of his start, one American League scout said "This guy doesn't ever throw the same pitch twice in a row." Hyannis' hitters were off-balance the entire game, and only four balls left the infield. Buchanan is average height with a stocky build at 6'0" 205. He short-arms his pitches a little but throws easy and has good balance. Buchanan's fastball sat in the 88-90 mph range but hitters always seemed unsure of when it was coming and therefore it was effectively faster than its actual speed. Buchanan's best pitch was probably his tumbling 74-77 mph curveball with very good, sharp break. He also threw a 76-80 mph slider with good run and a good 76-79 mph changeup with nice downward movement. None of Buchanan's pitches, other than maybe his curveball, was sensational on its own but his full repertoire was very effective. He could certainly be drafted in the first few rounds next June."
24. Seth Blair, Cotuit/Arizona State. Throws R. 6'2" 190. Rock Falls, Ill.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 3-2, 2.75 ERA, 30 K's, 39.1 IP
Blair was one of the better starters in the Cape League this season, but I only caught him throw in relief on the last day of the regular season. Because of my limited exposure to him, I may be ranking him a little low. I also saw Blair pitch in the Cape League All-Star Game in 2008, when he gave up seven earned runs on five hits in 0.2 IP.
Here is what I blogged about Blair on August 6: "Cotuit right-handed reliever Seth Blair from Arizona State was very impressive. Usually a starter, Blair has a really good fastball/changeup combination and while his breaking pitches need some refining he definitely has a lot of potential. Blair is average height with a thin, athletic build at 6'2" 190. He throws with some effort but has good, loose arm action. Blair throws a low 90s fastball with late life that has really good tailing action in on right-handed hitters. The pitch appears to find a new gear in midair. His changeup also moves a lot and is a good, deceptive pitch. Blair throws a curveball with tight break that he tends to leave up in the zone, and a slider with two-plane break he has trouble commanding. Blair needs to throw his curveball with more consistency and develop a better feel for the slider to maximize his effectiveness, but he should be selected in the first few rounds of next June's draft."
23. Cole Green, Wareham/Texas. Throws R. 6'0" 210. Coppell, Texas.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-1, 3.12 ERA, 33 K's, 26 IP
Green is the only player on any of my lists who I did not see this summer and therefore did not blog about. He started four games after coming to the Cape late after the College World Series, and unfortunately I didn't see any of them. People tell me Green is very good, and that he could be selected in the first few rounds of next year's draft. It's possible I would have ranked him higher if I had seen him in person, but I didn't want to put him much higher than the guys coming up on the list.
22. Kyle Winkler, Falmouth/TCU. Throws R. 5'11" 195. Sugar Land, Texas.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-2, 3.62 ERA, 31 K's, 32.1 IP
Winkler was one of the more impressive freshman I saw over the course of the summer. His sinker is a really good pitch and he just has a solid repertoire overall. Winkler is raw and young, but he was coming off a good freshman season at TCU and there is no reason to think his success won't continue. Winkler has a bright future and could go high in the 2011 draft.
Here is what I blogged about Winkler on July 28: "Righthander Kyle Winkler from TCU started for Falmouth and looked really good. Winkler threw the only true sinker I can remember seeing all summer and it was a great pitch. Winkler has a stocky build at 5'11" 195, and while he has a jerky motion and throws with some effort he has good arm action and a very strong-looking lower body which should limit some concerns about his durability. Winkler's fastball sat in the 91-93 mph range and once touched 94. The 85-86 mph sinker was really effective and with its late movement was very difficult for hitters to pick up. Winkler also threw a decent 76-78 mph curveball with sharp break and an 81-83 mph slider with hard run that wasn't really that good. Winkler just turned 19 last month, and he is somebody to watch for the 2011 draft."
21. Caleb Cotham, Brewster/Vanderbilt. Throws R. 6'3" 210. Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 15 K's, 13 IP
Cotham was the Yankees' fifth-round draft pick this year and just signed with them right before the deadline. Cotham didn't come to the Cape until midway through the summer, but he was very effective in his limited action there. By my unofficial count, the Yankees selected 12 players I saw play on the Cape in 2008 and/or 2009. Cotham is the best.
Here is what I blogged about Cotham on July 20: "Another fifth-round pick, righthander Caleb Cotham from Vanderbilt, who was selected by the Yankees' last month, looked even more impressive in relief for Brewster. Cotham is above-average height with a solid build at 6'3" 210. He throws easy with tight mechanics and has good arm action. Cotham's fastball sat in the 90-92 mph range and he had pretty good command of it. He threw a hard 85-87 mph breaking ball with tight movement and a very good 83-84 mph changeup with very good downward movement. The Yankees would do well to sign him."
Wednesday: Pitchers 20-11
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Third Basemen, Shortstops, Outfielders 10-6, Outfielders 5-1, Top 30 Position Players, Pitchers 40-31.
Questions? Comments? E-Mail me at schimmeldbk@gmail.com
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Monday, August 17, 2009
Postseason Prospect Rankings: Pitchers 40-31
Now that I have completed ranking all of the top position players, it is time to conclude the Cape Cod League Blog for 2009 with the Top 40 professional pitching prospects. Because I reported extensively on nearly all of the pitchers on the upcoming lists, most of these postseason reports will include a lot of information previously included on the blog. For the sake of suspense and excitement, I will unveil my Top 40 pitchers over the course of the next four days. Here are pitchers 40-31, based on professional potential, not just performance this summer.
40. Tyler Thornburg, Brewster/Charleston Southern. Throws R. 5'11" 176. Atlanta, Ga.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 0-0, 2.60 ERA, 18 K's, 17.1 IP, 8 Saves
Thornburg was Brewster's hard-throwing closer who impressed some scouts with big velocity despite his small frame, but who looked like a one-pitch pitcher in some outings. If his body holds up and he can command his secondary pitches more consistently, he could be a very good pro, but those are two big question marks with him.
Here is what I blogged about Thornburg on July 23: "Brewster right-handed reliever Tyler Thornburg from Charleston Southern was also interesting to watch. I caught Thornburg throw during the first week of the season, but hadn't seen him since then before Wednesday night. Thornburg is undersized at 5'11" 176, and he throws with big-time effort. He gets good extension and has a hitch in his motion before he throws straight over the top. I hesitate to make this comparison, as his mechanics are not as exaggerated and his stuff is not as good, but Thornburg evokes a faint comparison to Tim Lincecum. But Thornburg's command is not as good, he doesn't throw as hard and his curveball doesn't break as much. Still, Thornburg's fastball sat in the 93-94 mph range, and his 77 mph curveball had very good overhand break. He also showed a decent changeup with some tailing action in on right-handed hitters. Thornburg impressed me more than he did the last time I saw him when his curveball wasn't working for him, but with his command he is kind of an adventure every time out."
39. Mike Gipson, Harwich/Florida Atlantic. Throws R. 6'1" 195. West Palm Beach, Fla.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-4, 3.89 ERA, 50 K's, 31 IP
Gipson was one of Harwich's more consistent starters and finished third in the league in strikeouts. He was never overpowering but pitched well all summer. His secondary stuff is what earned him a spot on this list, with the hopes that he will someday learn how to keep his fastball down.
Here is what I blogged about him on August 5: "Gipson, a righthander from Florida Atlantic, had decent stuff but he threw an incredibly straight fastball and got hit pretty well by Brewster. Gipson is average height with a solid build at 6'1" 195. He throws with big effort and falls forward when he releases and falls way off the mound toward first. He threw a very good curveball with big downward break, and once every few times he threw it, it had devastating 12/6 movement. Gipson also threw a deceptive changeup with good tailing action in on righties. But hitters sat on his fastball and took advantage of it."
38. Blake Monar, Wareham/Indiana. Throws L. 6'2" 198. Rockport, Ind.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-3, 3.02 ERA, 37 K's, 47.2 IP
Monar was actually the fourth or fifth starter on a stacked Wareham pitching staff depending on what point of the season it was, but he had very dependable stuff and gets the most out of the talent he has. He could go in the first few rounds next June and then it will be a matter of seeing how high he can go throwing in just the mid 80's.
Here is what I blogged about him on July 13: "Wareham left-handed starter Blake Monar from Indiana University pitched 7.1 strong innings, and the soon-to-be draft-eligible sophomore could go fairly high in next year's draft. Monar is average height for a pitcher with an athletic build at 6'2" 198. He throws easily and with good arm action, though he does fall off the mound toward third base. Monar's fastball sits in the 84-86 mph range but has good tailing action and he is able to spot it on both sides of the plate. His best pitch is a 73-74 mph curveball that is really a great pitch when he throws it well. Monar was leaving it up early in his start Sunday but once he settled in his hook got him a lot of outs. He also threw a good hard slider with two-plane break and began to work in a decent changeup later in his outing. Despite his limited velocity, Monar looked very impressive."
37. Jason Zylstra, Falmouth/Jacksonville State. Throws R. 6'4" 220. Sylacauga, Ala.
I only caught one brief glimpse of Zylstra toward the end of the summer, so this ranking is based mostly on what I have heard about him from other people. Zylstra was taken in the 36th round of the draft by Minnesota this June, but as far as I know he still hasn't signed and likely will return to school. Expect him to go a lot higher next year.
Here is what I blogged about Zylstra on July 30: "I only caught a brief glimpse of Falmouth right-handed reliever Jason Zylstra from Jacksonville State and only saw him throw fastballs. Zylstra is tall with an average build and room to fill out at 6'4" 220. He gets good extension and throws with good, loose arm action. His fastball sat in the 91-93 mph range and had good sinking action."
36. David Goforth, Brewster/Ole Miss. Throws R. 5'11" 185. Philadelphia, Miss.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 0-1, 5.27 ERA, 19 K's, 13.2 IP
Goforth is similar to fellow Brewster reliever Thornburg in that he is an undersized flame thrower with limited command and secondary stuff. Goforth will have the same durability and command question marks in pro ball that will follow Thornburg. And while Thornburg had a better summer, Goforth reaches his peak velocity more consistently and is not quite as small.
Here is what I blogged about Goforth on July 5 (Note a hint of early-season hyperbole, but I mostly stand by it): "Right-handed reliever David Goforth from Ole Miss showed one of the best arms in the league pitching the eighth and ninth for Brewster. Goforth is a little small for a pitcher at an athletic 5'11" 185, and he throws with a lot of effort in his delivery. But Goforth's fastball repeatedly touched 95 mph, sitting in the 93-95 mph range for both of his two innings. His heater is straight, though, and his command comes and goes. His most impressive batter faced was when he broke Harwich's star right fielder Dan Grovatt's bat with a fastball in on Grovatt's hands. Goforth also showed an average 83 mph slider with sweeping break that he could throw for strikes and the occasional changeup. His consistent velocity alone makes him one of the better relievers in the league."
35. Tyler Burgoon, Y-D/Michigan. Throws R. 5'10" 165. Defiance, Ohio
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-1, 1.69 ERA, 34 K's, 21.1 IP
Here is yet another big-effort undersized reliever. Burgoon does not throw as hard as either Thornburg or Goforth, but his slider is very good and he was much more consistently effective this summer. Burgoon's 12 saves led the Cape League and he was pretty much automatic as the closer for the league's best team all summer long.
Here is what I blogged about Burgoon on July 25: "A reliever of interest was Y-D righthander Tyler Burgoon from the University of Michigan, who has put up tremendous numbers as Y-D's closer since I last saw him during the first week of the season. Burgoon hasn't allowed an earned run all season, and he entered Friday's game having given up just four hits in 17.1 innings pitched and striking out 27. He's doing it with only two pitches and a fastball that tops out at 91 mph. Burgoon is undersized at 5'10" 165 and he throws with big effort. His fastball sat in the 89-91 mph range and had good tailing action in on right-handed hitters. He threw a very good 81-82 mph slider with sharp two-plane break. It is pretty clear it is that slider that gets him a lot of his strikeouts. You can't argue with his results."
34. Matt Price, Harwich/Virginia Tech. Throws R. 6'2" 185. Marietta, Ga.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-2, 2.97 ERA, 34 K's, 36.1 IP
Price is a projectable righthander who threw both as a starter and out of the bullpen for Harwich this summer. His July birthday makes him just old enough to be a draft-eligible sophomore in next June's draft. Price will need a good spring season to earn a high draft selection, but I think he is a sleeper who might develop late in professional ball and become a pretty good pitcher.
Here is what I blogged about Price on July 5 after a relief appearance: "Right-handed reliever Matt Price from Virginia Tech also showed a good arm for Harwich, but he struggled with his command and an inconsistent release point. Price is thin with a projectable frame at 6'2" 185. He throws with good loose arm action but he throws across his body and as previously noted frequently changes his release point. Price's fastball sat in the 90-92 mph range Saturday and touched 93. He threw a 79 mph slider that was good when he threw it well, but he didn't throw it well each time He also showed a good changeup with nice downward movement."
33. Jorge Reyes, Orleans/Oregon State. Throws R. 6'2" 200. Warden, Wash.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-2, 1.06 ERA, 40 K's, 34 IP
I have been waffling about Reyes since the middle of last summer, and this ranking reflects that. He is much lower than where I would have placed him last year, but probably a little higher than where I had him right after I saw him this year. Reyes is really just inconsistent, and if he puts everything together he can be a dominant pitcher. He ended up putting up really good numbers for Orleans this summer. Reyes was taken by San Diego in the 17th-round this year but has yet to sign. This ranking suggests he will be taken higher next year and will realize his potential in professional ball.
Here is what I blogged about Reyes on July 14: Orleans right-handed Game 2 starter Jorge Reyes from Oregon State, the Padres' 17th-round pick last month, was one of my top-rated Cape League starters when he pitched for Falmouth last year, and while he was decent Monday I can't really remember what made me think he was so special in 2008. Reyes is average height for a pitcher with a thin, athletic build at 6'2" 200. He is a quick worker who throws easily with smooth arm action. When Reyes spots his 89-91 mph fastball he is really effective, but his command comes and goes from one inning to the next. He also threw an average 83-85 mph slider that had tight break but which didn't really move all that much.
32. Aaron Meade, Harwich/Missouri State. Throws L. 6'3" 185. Kansas City, Mo.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 3-1, 1.91 ERA, 47 K's, 42.1 IP
Meade was a very effective starter for Harwich all summer and was among the league leaders in many major categories. Meade was selected in the 28th round by the Yankees in June's draft, but has not signed and will likely be taken a lot higher in 2010. Professional teams will always give solid lefties who can throw strikes and mix in three quality pitches a long look.
Here is what I blogged about Meade on July 16: "Meade also looked very good in Game 1, allowing one run on five hits in seven innings pitched and striking out nine. Meade is above-average height with a thin, athletic build at 6'3" 185. He throws easily with good arm action, though he doesn't always follow through and he can tend to allow his pitches to drift up in the strike zone. Meade's fastball sat in the 88-90 mph range with good arm-side run. He threw an average, running 80 mph slider, and his best pitch was his 77-78 mph changeup. He tipped the changeup a little bit by slowing his body down as he threw it, but it was still a really good pitch and got him a lot of his strikeouts."
31. Jimmy Reyes, Orleans/Elon. Throws L. 6'0" 190 Miami, Fla.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 3-2, 3.40 ERA, 38 K's, 47.2 IP
Reyes is an advanced pitcher and a situation where what you see is pretty much what you are going to get. I really like his stuff, though, and I think he could be an effective pro. He is another guy who might not be drafted really high next year but who could fly under the radar and climb his way to the big leagues.
Here is what I blogged about Reyes on August 3, after he outpitched Cotuit's Chad Bell even though Cotuit won: "Reyes was probably the better of the two southpaws. He is average height with an athletic build at 6'0" 190, though the 6'0" listing might be generous. He has a tight motion but throws with some effort and falls off the mound toward third base. Reyes is what you would call an advanced pitcher because he has four pitches, he mixes them well, and he has very good command. Reyes' fastball sat between 86-88 mph and had good tailing action in on left-handed hitters. Despite his limited velocity, Reyes was not afraid to challenge hitters inside. His 73-75 mph curveball was a very good pitch. It had slow, sweeping break but its late movement and Reyes' ability to spot it made it effective. Reyes also threw a slider with a similar trajectory but less depth than the curveball and a 78 mph changeup. Reyes isn't really a high ceiling guy, but he is solid and his command and know-how could translate to success at higher levels."
Tuesday: Pitchers 30-21
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Third Basemen, Shortstops, Outfielders 10-6, Outfielders 5-1, Top 30 Position Players
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? E-Mail me at Schimmeldbk@gmail.com
Want to be alerted every time I update this blog? Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Greg_Schimmel
40. Tyler Thornburg, Brewster/Charleston Southern. Throws R. 5'11" 176. Atlanta, Ga.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 0-0, 2.60 ERA, 18 K's, 17.1 IP, 8 Saves
Thornburg was Brewster's hard-throwing closer who impressed some scouts with big velocity despite his small frame, but who looked like a one-pitch pitcher in some outings. If his body holds up and he can command his secondary pitches more consistently, he could be a very good pro, but those are two big question marks with him.
Here is what I blogged about Thornburg on July 23: "Brewster right-handed reliever Tyler Thornburg from Charleston Southern was also interesting to watch. I caught Thornburg throw during the first week of the season, but hadn't seen him since then before Wednesday night. Thornburg is undersized at 5'11" 176, and he throws with big-time effort. He gets good extension and has a hitch in his motion before he throws straight over the top. I hesitate to make this comparison, as his mechanics are not as exaggerated and his stuff is not as good, but Thornburg evokes a faint comparison to Tim Lincecum. But Thornburg's command is not as good, he doesn't throw as hard and his curveball doesn't break as much. Still, Thornburg's fastball sat in the 93-94 mph range, and his 77 mph curveball had very good overhand break. He also showed a decent changeup with some tailing action in on right-handed hitters. Thornburg impressed me more than he did the last time I saw him when his curveball wasn't working for him, but with his command he is kind of an adventure every time out."
39. Mike Gipson, Harwich/Florida Atlantic. Throws R. 6'1" 195. West Palm Beach, Fla.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-4, 3.89 ERA, 50 K's, 31 IP
Gipson was one of Harwich's more consistent starters and finished third in the league in strikeouts. He was never overpowering but pitched well all summer. His secondary stuff is what earned him a spot on this list, with the hopes that he will someday learn how to keep his fastball down.
Here is what I blogged about him on August 5: "Gipson, a righthander from Florida Atlantic, had decent stuff but he threw an incredibly straight fastball and got hit pretty well by Brewster. Gipson is average height with a solid build at 6'1" 195. He throws with big effort and falls forward when he releases and falls way off the mound toward first. He threw a very good curveball with big downward break, and once every few times he threw it, it had devastating 12/6 movement. Gipson also threw a deceptive changeup with good tailing action in on righties. But hitters sat on his fastball and took advantage of it."
38. Blake Monar, Wareham/Indiana. Throws L. 6'2" 198. Rockport, Ind.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-3, 3.02 ERA, 37 K's, 47.2 IP
Monar was actually the fourth or fifth starter on a stacked Wareham pitching staff depending on what point of the season it was, but he had very dependable stuff and gets the most out of the talent he has. He could go in the first few rounds next June and then it will be a matter of seeing how high he can go throwing in just the mid 80's.
Here is what I blogged about him on July 13: "Wareham left-handed starter Blake Monar from Indiana University pitched 7.1 strong innings, and the soon-to-be draft-eligible sophomore could go fairly high in next year's draft. Monar is average height for a pitcher with an athletic build at 6'2" 198. He throws easily and with good arm action, though he does fall off the mound toward third base. Monar's fastball sits in the 84-86 mph range but has good tailing action and he is able to spot it on both sides of the plate. His best pitch is a 73-74 mph curveball that is really a great pitch when he throws it well. Monar was leaving it up early in his start Sunday but once he settled in his hook got him a lot of outs. He also threw a good hard slider with two-plane break and began to work in a decent changeup later in his outing. Despite his limited velocity, Monar looked very impressive."
37. Jason Zylstra, Falmouth/Jacksonville State. Throws R. 6'4" 220. Sylacauga, Ala.
I only caught one brief glimpse of Zylstra toward the end of the summer, so this ranking is based mostly on what I have heard about him from other people. Zylstra was taken in the 36th round of the draft by Minnesota this June, but as far as I know he still hasn't signed and likely will return to school. Expect him to go a lot higher next year.
Here is what I blogged about Zylstra on July 30: "I only caught a brief glimpse of Falmouth right-handed reliever Jason Zylstra from Jacksonville State and only saw him throw fastballs. Zylstra is tall with an average build and room to fill out at 6'4" 220. He gets good extension and throws with good, loose arm action. His fastball sat in the 91-93 mph range and had good sinking action."
36. David Goforth, Brewster/Ole Miss. Throws R. 5'11" 185. Philadelphia, Miss.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 0-1, 5.27 ERA, 19 K's, 13.2 IP
Goforth is similar to fellow Brewster reliever Thornburg in that he is an undersized flame thrower with limited command and secondary stuff. Goforth will have the same durability and command question marks in pro ball that will follow Thornburg. And while Thornburg had a better summer, Goforth reaches his peak velocity more consistently and is not quite as small.
Here is what I blogged about Goforth on July 5 (Note a hint of early-season hyperbole, but I mostly stand by it): "Right-handed reliever David Goforth from Ole Miss showed one of the best arms in the league pitching the eighth and ninth for Brewster. Goforth is a little small for a pitcher at an athletic 5'11" 185, and he throws with a lot of effort in his delivery. But Goforth's fastball repeatedly touched 95 mph, sitting in the 93-95 mph range for both of his two innings. His heater is straight, though, and his command comes and goes. His most impressive batter faced was when he broke Harwich's star right fielder Dan Grovatt's bat with a fastball in on Grovatt's hands. Goforth also showed an average 83 mph slider with sweeping break that he could throw for strikes and the occasional changeup. His consistent velocity alone makes him one of the better relievers in the league."
35. Tyler Burgoon, Y-D/Michigan. Throws R. 5'10" 165. Defiance, Ohio
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-1, 1.69 ERA, 34 K's, 21.1 IP
Here is yet another big-effort undersized reliever. Burgoon does not throw as hard as either Thornburg or Goforth, but his slider is very good and he was much more consistently effective this summer. Burgoon's 12 saves led the Cape League and he was pretty much automatic as the closer for the league's best team all summer long.
Here is what I blogged about Burgoon on July 25: "A reliever of interest was Y-D righthander Tyler Burgoon from the University of Michigan, who has put up tremendous numbers as Y-D's closer since I last saw him during the first week of the season. Burgoon hasn't allowed an earned run all season, and he entered Friday's game having given up just four hits in 17.1 innings pitched and striking out 27. He's doing it with only two pitches and a fastball that tops out at 91 mph. Burgoon is undersized at 5'10" 165 and he throws with big effort. His fastball sat in the 89-91 mph range and had good tailing action in on right-handed hitters. He threw a very good 81-82 mph slider with sharp two-plane break. It is pretty clear it is that slider that gets him a lot of his strikeouts. You can't argue with his results."
34. Matt Price, Harwich/Virginia Tech. Throws R. 6'2" 185. Marietta, Ga.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 2-2, 2.97 ERA, 34 K's, 36.1 IP
Price is a projectable righthander who threw both as a starter and out of the bullpen for Harwich this summer. His July birthday makes him just old enough to be a draft-eligible sophomore in next June's draft. Price will need a good spring season to earn a high draft selection, but I think he is a sleeper who might develop late in professional ball and become a pretty good pitcher.
Here is what I blogged about Price on July 5 after a relief appearance: "Right-handed reliever Matt Price from Virginia Tech also showed a good arm for Harwich, but he struggled with his command and an inconsistent release point. Price is thin with a projectable frame at 6'2" 185. He throws with good loose arm action but he throws across his body and as previously noted frequently changes his release point. Price's fastball sat in the 90-92 mph range Saturday and touched 93. He threw a 79 mph slider that was good when he threw it well, but he didn't throw it well each time He also showed a good changeup with nice downward movement."
33. Jorge Reyes, Orleans/Oregon State. Throws R. 6'2" 200. Warden, Wash.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 1-2, 1.06 ERA, 40 K's, 34 IP
I have been waffling about Reyes since the middle of last summer, and this ranking reflects that. He is much lower than where I would have placed him last year, but probably a little higher than where I had him right after I saw him this year. Reyes is really just inconsistent, and if he puts everything together he can be a dominant pitcher. He ended up putting up really good numbers for Orleans this summer. Reyes was taken by San Diego in the 17th-round this year but has yet to sign. This ranking suggests he will be taken higher next year and will realize his potential in professional ball.
Here is what I blogged about Reyes on July 14: Orleans right-handed Game 2 starter Jorge Reyes from Oregon State, the Padres' 17th-round pick last month, was one of my top-rated Cape League starters when he pitched for Falmouth last year, and while he was decent Monday I can't really remember what made me think he was so special in 2008. Reyes is average height for a pitcher with a thin, athletic build at 6'2" 200. He is a quick worker who throws easily with smooth arm action. When Reyes spots his 89-91 mph fastball he is really effective, but his command comes and goes from one inning to the next. He also threw an average 83-85 mph slider that had tight break but which didn't really move all that much.
32. Aaron Meade, Harwich/Missouri State. Throws L. 6'3" 185. Kansas City, Mo.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 3-1, 1.91 ERA, 47 K's, 42.1 IP
Meade was a very effective starter for Harwich all summer and was among the league leaders in many major categories. Meade was selected in the 28th round by the Yankees in June's draft, but has not signed and will likely be taken a lot higher in 2010. Professional teams will always give solid lefties who can throw strikes and mix in three quality pitches a long look.
Here is what I blogged about Meade on July 16: "Meade also looked very good in Game 1, allowing one run on five hits in seven innings pitched and striking out nine. Meade is above-average height with a thin, athletic build at 6'3" 185. He throws easily with good arm action, though he doesn't always follow through and he can tend to allow his pitches to drift up in the strike zone. Meade's fastball sat in the 88-90 mph range with good arm-side run. He threw an average, running 80 mph slider, and his best pitch was his 77-78 mph changeup. He tipped the changeup a little bit by slowing his body down as he threw it, but it was still a really good pitch and got him a lot of his strikeouts."
31. Jimmy Reyes, Orleans/Elon. Throws L. 6'0" 190 Miami, Fla.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: 3-2, 3.40 ERA, 38 K's, 47.2 IP
Reyes is an advanced pitcher and a situation where what you see is pretty much what you are going to get. I really like his stuff, though, and I think he could be an effective pro. He is another guy who might not be drafted really high next year but who could fly under the radar and climb his way to the big leagues.
Here is what I blogged about Reyes on August 3, after he outpitched Cotuit's Chad Bell even though Cotuit won: "Reyes was probably the better of the two southpaws. He is average height with an athletic build at 6'0" 190, though the 6'0" listing might be generous. He has a tight motion but throws with some effort and falls off the mound toward third base. Reyes is what you would call an advanced pitcher because he has four pitches, he mixes them well, and he has very good command. Reyes' fastball sat between 86-88 mph and had good tailing action in on left-handed hitters. Despite his limited velocity, Reyes was not afraid to challenge hitters inside. His 73-75 mph curveball was a very good pitch. It had slow, sweeping break but its late movement and Reyes' ability to spot it made it effective. Reyes also threw a slider with a similar trajectory but less depth than the curveball and a 78 mph changeup. Reyes isn't really a high ceiling guy, but he is solid and his command and know-how could translate to success at higher levels."
Tuesday: Pitchers 30-21
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Third Basemen, Shortstops, Outfielders 10-6, Outfielders 5-1, Top 30 Position Players
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? E-Mail me at Schimmeldbk@gmail.com
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Sunday, August 16, 2009
Postseason Prospect Rankings: Top 30 Position Players
Now that I have run through all of the individual positions, it is time to unveil my overall 30 best position player prospects from the 2009 Cape Cod League. My criteria was pretty simple. If I was conducting a Major League draft consisting only of position players from the 2009 Cape League, regardless of their next year of draft eligibility, who would I take? The link within the players' names is the standard link to their college profile pages. The link within their position is a link to my Top 5 (or Top 10 for outfielders) rankings page, where you can read my scouting report of that player. The players' next year of draft eligibility is noted in parentheses. If there are no parentheses, that player is eligible in 2010.
Note: I have been struggling since the Top 2 players arrived on the Cape about seven weeks ago about who is No. 1 and who is No. 2. It is still pretty much a toss-up.
1. Zack Cox, 3B Cotuit/Arkansas
2. Micah Gibbs, C Y-D/LSU
3. Hunter Morris, 1B Falmouth/Auburn
4. B.A. Vollmuth, SS Falmouth/Southern Miss. (2011)
5. Cameron Rupp, C Cotuit/Texas
6. Derek Dietrich, SS Wareham/Georgia Tech
7. Mickey Wiswall, 1B Y-D/Boston College
8. Jedd Gyorko, 3B Brewster/West Virginia
9. Rob Segedin, 3B Bourne/Tulane
10. Jarrett Parker, OF Brewster/Virginia
11. Dan Grovatt, OF Harwich/Virginia
12. Kyle Roller, 1B Bourne/East Carolina (Drafted in 2009 by Oakland, remains unsigned)
13. Leon Landry, OF Harwich/LSU
14. Gary Brown, OF Orleans/Cal St. Fullerton
15. Cody Hawn, 1B Hyannis/Tennessee
16. Todd Cunningham, OF Falmouth/Jacksonville State
17. Johnny Ruettiger, OF Hyannis/Arizona State (2011)
18. Colin Walsh, 2B Brewster/Stanford
19. Ben McMahan, C Y-D/Florida (2011)
20. Tyler Hanover, 3B Y-D/LSU (2011)
21. Jaren Matthews, 1B Orleans/Rutgers
22. Kevin Keyes, OF Cotuit/Texas
23. Zach Cone, OF Cotuit/Georgia (2011)
24. Austin Wates, OF Y-D/Virginia Tech
25. Phil Gosselin, 2B Harwich/Virginia
26. Mark Canha, OF Brewster/California
27. Jason Esposito, 3B Falmouth/Vanderbilt (2011)
28. Scott Woodward, OF Bourne/Coastal Carolina
29. Trent Mummey, OF Harwich/Auburn
30. Pierre LePage, 2B Bourne/UConn
Monday Evening: Pitchers 40-30
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Third Basemen, Outfielders 10-6, Outfielders 5-1
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? E-Mail me at schimmeldbk@gmail.com
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Note: I have been struggling since the Top 2 players arrived on the Cape about seven weeks ago about who is No. 1 and who is No. 2. It is still pretty much a toss-up.
1. Zack Cox, 3B Cotuit/Arkansas
2. Micah Gibbs, C Y-D/LSU
3. Hunter Morris, 1B Falmouth/Auburn
4. B.A. Vollmuth, SS Falmouth/Southern Miss. (2011)
5. Cameron Rupp, C Cotuit/Texas
6. Derek Dietrich, SS Wareham/Georgia Tech
7. Mickey Wiswall, 1B Y-D/Boston College
8. Jedd Gyorko, 3B Brewster/West Virginia
9. Rob Segedin, 3B Bourne/Tulane
10. Jarrett Parker, OF Brewster/Virginia
11. Dan Grovatt, OF Harwich/Virginia
12. Kyle Roller, 1B Bourne/East Carolina (Drafted in 2009 by Oakland, remains unsigned)
13. Leon Landry, OF Harwich/LSU
14. Gary Brown, OF Orleans/Cal St. Fullerton
15. Cody Hawn, 1B Hyannis/Tennessee
16. Todd Cunningham, OF Falmouth/Jacksonville State
17. Johnny Ruettiger, OF Hyannis/Arizona State (2011)
18. Colin Walsh, 2B Brewster/Stanford
19. Ben McMahan, C Y-D/Florida (2011)
20. Tyler Hanover, 3B Y-D/LSU (2011)
21. Jaren Matthews, 1B Orleans/Rutgers
22. Kevin Keyes, OF Cotuit/Texas
23. Zach Cone, OF Cotuit/Georgia (2011)
24. Austin Wates, OF Y-D/Virginia Tech
25. Phil Gosselin, 2B Harwich/Virginia
26. Mark Canha, OF Brewster/California
27. Jason Esposito, 3B Falmouth/Vanderbilt (2011)
28. Scott Woodward, OF Bourne/Coastal Carolina
29. Trent Mummey, OF Harwich/Auburn
30. Pierre LePage, 2B Bourne/UConn
Monday Evening: Pitchers 40-30
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Third Basemen, Outfielders 10-6, Outfielders 5-1
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? E-Mail me at schimmeldbk@gmail.com
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Saturday, August 15, 2009
Postseason Prospect Rankings: Top 5 Outfielders
Here is the continuation of the list I started yesterday; the Top 5 professional outfield prospects from the 2009 Cape Cod League.
5. Todd Cunningham, Falmouth/Jacksonville St. Bats S/Throws R. 6'1" 205. Jacksonville, Ala.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .378 BA/3 HR/22 RBI/.958 OPS
Cunningham, the Cape League's batting champion, is the second consecutive Jacksonville State Gamecock to have a breakout summer in Falmouth, following flamethrower Ben Tootle's eye-opening performance as the Commodores' closer in 2008. Cunningham is probably not as good a hitter as his batting average suggests, and I am a little dubious about him winning the league's Pro Prospect Award, but a guy who hits .378 in the Cape League is obviously going to get a lot of looks from Major League teams and will be given a very good chance to be successful. Cunningham also had a strong spring season, during which he hit .339 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs. Cunningham is a really good player, and I promise I am not trying to discredit what he did on the Cape, but it seemed like every time I saw him play he got a hit or two that benefited from questionable official scoring or a misaligned defense. Still, Cunningham has a quick bat and a compact swing that allows him to put the ball in play. He will occasionally flash some power but he will mostly be a singles and doubles hitter in professional ball. He is advanced in that he can take what pitchers give him and find the holes in the defense. Cunningham is a good defensive outfielder who can cover a lot of ground and goes back well on deep fly balls. He has an average arm. He has good speed on the basepaths and can be a threat to steal. Cunningham has a lot of tools and his performance this summer will likely push him into the first couple rounds next June. He needs to show he can perform against top competition over a longer sample of games.
4. Gary Brown, Orleans/Cal St. Fullerton. Bats R/Throws R. 6'0" 180. Diamond Bar, Calif.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .310 BA/2 HR/14 RBI/.768 OPS
Brown is an excellent all-around player who is exactly what you want out of a top-of-the order player. Some scouts disagree and consider Brown to be slightly overrated, but I have been impressed by him for two summers now. Brown was a freshman All-American in 2008, and had a big sophomore season in 2009 for the College World Series participant Titans during which he hit .340 with three home runs and 40 RBIs. Brown is mostly a contact hitter who will flash occasional power. He has quick hands and a smooth stroke. Brown had arguably the best speed in the Cape League, getting down to first base in 4.0 seconds from the right side of the plate, and he does a good job putting the ball on the ground and trying to get on base. He very rarely strikes out. Brown is an excellent centerfielder who reads the ball off the bat very well and gets a good jump on fly balls. That ability, along with his speed, allows him to play more shallow than usual and take away some hits while still being able to go back and get deeper fly balls. Brown should at least be in the conversation for a first-round pick next June, and I think he will be a successful pro.
3. Leon Landry, Harwich/LSU. Bats L/Throws R. 5'11" 195. Baton Rouge, La.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .364 BA/2 HR/12 RBI/.850 OPS
Landry is an incredible athlete who starred in three sports in high school and gets by mostly with his superior athletic ability on the baseball field. He lost his starting job for the National Champion Tigers toward the end of this spring, but still hit .300 with 12 home runs and 47 RBIs. He had a tremendous half-season run for Harwich this summer once he arrived after the College World Series. Landry is mostly a line drive hitter who does have power potential. He has a lot of extra movement in his hands when he swings but seems to be able to make consistent contact anyway. Landry is aggressive at the plate and often swings early in the count. He is still raw at the plate but definitely has the natural ability. Landry is a very good outfielder who has the athleticism to make highlight-reel catches at any moment. He has really good speed but is an undeveloped base stealer who gets caught stealing too often. Landry is a high-ceiling talent who will be taken high in the draft next June, but he still has a lot of developing to do in his game.
2. Dan Grovatt, Harwich/Virginia. Bats L/Throws L. 6'1" 175. Tabernacle, N.J.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .288 BA/1 HR/12 RBI/.783 OPS
Grovatt is an advanced hitter and a solid all-around player who was very impressive once he arrived after the College World Series. He led the Cavaliers in batting this spring with a .356 batting average, and also hit eight home runs and had 51 RBIs. Grovatt swings hard but is also in control at the plate. He has very good plate coverage and uses the whole field, and he is a patient hitter who works the count. He has good pitch recognition and is able to stay back on breaking balls and drive them. Grovatt will hit for occasional power but he is mostly a line drive or gap hitter. Defensively, Grovatt is solid but not outstanding. His arm is above-average but not great, but it is probably good enough for him to stay in right field. He has average speed. Grovatt strikes me as somebody who will hit fifth or sixth in a Major League lineup and contribute on an everyday basis.
1. Jarrett Parker, Brewster/Virginia. Bats L/Throws L. 6'3" 190. Stafford, Va.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .188 BA/1 HR/13 RBI/.674 OPS
Parker was a major statistical disappointment on the Cape this summer, but he was practically a consensus first-round pick among scouts for next June coming into the season so this ranking is based a lot on his reputation. Parker had an excellent spring season for the Cavaliers, hitting .355 with a team-leading 16 home runs and 65 RBIs. He struggled at the plate all summer once he arrived after the College World Series. Parker's main issue on the Cape was that he was opening up his front side too soon and getting way out in front of pitches. Clearly he was just overanxious to perform. When he makes contact, Parker can really drive the ball with authority. Parker has a projectable frame and his power potential is very high if he is able to put everything together. I saw him hit a couple of absolute bombs during batting practice this summer, but his swing was very inconsistent. When he doesn't bail out, he can drive the ball to all fields. Parker is also strong defensively and has an above-average arm in the outfield. He has good speed and is a very good base stealer. Parker has the potential to be a five-tool talent, but he needs to relax at the plate so he can hit with more consistentcy. Parker is still considered a first-round pick in many circles, but it is less of a sure thing than it was before he arrived in Brewster.
Sunday: Top 30 Overall Position Players. Pitchers begin Monday.
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Third Basemen, Shortstops
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? E-Mail me at schimmeldbk@gmail.com
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5. Todd Cunningham, Falmouth/Jacksonville St. Bats S/Throws R. 6'1" 205. Jacksonville, Ala.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .378 BA/3 HR/22 RBI/.958 OPS
Cunningham, the Cape League's batting champion, is the second consecutive Jacksonville State Gamecock to have a breakout summer in Falmouth, following flamethrower Ben Tootle's eye-opening performance as the Commodores' closer in 2008. Cunningham is probably not as good a hitter as his batting average suggests, and I am a little dubious about him winning the league's Pro Prospect Award, but a guy who hits .378 in the Cape League is obviously going to get a lot of looks from Major League teams and will be given a very good chance to be successful. Cunningham also had a strong spring season, during which he hit .339 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs. Cunningham is a really good player, and I promise I am not trying to discredit what he did on the Cape, but it seemed like every time I saw him play he got a hit or two that benefited from questionable official scoring or a misaligned defense. Still, Cunningham has a quick bat and a compact swing that allows him to put the ball in play. He will occasionally flash some power but he will mostly be a singles and doubles hitter in professional ball. He is advanced in that he can take what pitchers give him and find the holes in the defense. Cunningham is a good defensive outfielder who can cover a lot of ground and goes back well on deep fly balls. He has an average arm. He has good speed on the basepaths and can be a threat to steal. Cunningham has a lot of tools and his performance this summer will likely push him into the first couple rounds next June. He needs to show he can perform against top competition over a longer sample of games.
4. Gary Brown, Orleans/Cal St. Fullerton. Bats R/Throws R. 6'0" 180. Diamond Bar, Calif.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .310 BA/2 HR/14 RBI/.768 OPS
Brown is an excellent all-around player who is exactly what you want out of a top-of-the order player. Some scouts disagree and consider Brown to be slightly overrated, but I have been impressed by him for two summers now. Brown was a freshman All-American in 2008, and had a big sophomore season in 2009 for the College World Series participant Titans during which he hit .340 with three home runs and 40 RBIs. Brown is mostly a contact hitter who will flash occasional power. He has quick hands and a smooth stroke. Brown had arguably the best speed in the Cape League, getting down to first base in 4.0 seconds from the right side of the plate, and he does a good job putting the ball on the ground and trying to get on base. He very rarely strikes out. Brown is an excellent centerfielder who reads the ball off the bat very well and gets a good jump on fly balls. That ability, along with his speed, allows him to play more shallow than usual and take away some hits while still being able to go back and get deeper fly balls. Brown should at least be in the conversation for a first-round pick next June, and I think he will be a successful pro.
3. Leon Landry, Harwich/LSU. Bats L/Throws R. 5'11" 195. Baton Rouge, La.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .364 BA/2 HR/12 RBI/.850 OPS
Landry is an incredible athlete who starred in three sports in high school and gets by mostly with his superior athletic ability on the baseball field. He lost his starting job for the National Champion Tigers toward the end of this spring, but still hit .300 with 12 home runs and 47 RBIs. He had a tremendous half-season run for Harwich this summer once he arrived after the College World Series. Landry is mostly a line drive hitter who does have power potential. He has a lot of extra movement in his hands when he swings but seems to be able to make consistent contact anyway. Landry is aggressive at the plate and often swings early in the count. He is still raw at the plate but definitely has the natural ability. Landry is a very good outfielder who has the athleticism to make highlight-reel catches at any moment. He has really good speed but is an undeveloped base stealer who gets caught stealing too often. Landry is a high-ceiling talent who will be taken high in the draft next June, but he still has a lot of developing to do in his game.
2. Dan Grovatt, Harwich/Virginia. Bats L/Throws L. 6'1" 175. Tabernacle, N.J.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .288 BA/1 HR/12 RBI/.783 OPS
Grovatt is an advanced hitter and a solid all-around player who was very impressive once he arrived after the College World Series. He led the Cavaliers in batting this spring with a .356 batting average, and also hit eight home runs and had 51 RBIs. Grovatt swings hard but is also in control at the plate. He has very good plate coverage and uses the whole field, and he is a patient hitter who works the count. He has good pitch recognition and is able to stay back on breaking balls and drive them. Grovatt will hit for occasional power but he is mostly a line drive or gap hitter. Defensively, Grovatt is solid but not outstanding. His arm is above-average but not great, but it is probably good enough for him to stay in right field. He has average speed. Grovatt strikes me as somebody who will hit fifth or sixth in a Major League lineup and contribute on an everyday basis.
1. Jarrett Parker, Brewster/Virginia. Bats L/Throws L. 6'3" 190. Stafford, Va.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .188 BA/1 HR/13 RBI/.674 OPS
Parker was a major statistical disappointment on the Cape this summer, but he was practically a consensus first-round pick among scouts for next June coming into the season so this ranking is based a lot on his reputation. Parker had an excellent spring season for the Cavaliers, hitting .355 with a team-leading 16 home runs and 65 RBIs. He struggled at the plate all summer once he arrived after the College World Series. Parker's main issue on the Cape was that he was opening up his front side too soon and getting way out in front of pitches. Clearly he was just overanxious to perform. When he makes contact, Parker can really drive the ball with authority. Parker has a projectable frame and his power potential is very high if he is able to put everything together. I saw him hit a couple of absolute bombs during batting practice this summer, but his swing was very inconsistent. When he doesn't bail out, he can drive the ball to all fields. Parker is also strong defensively and has an above-average arm in the outfield. He has good speed and is a very good base stealer. Parker has the potential to be a five-tool talent, but he needs to relax at the plate so he can hit with more consistentcy. Parker is still considered a first-round pick in many circles, but it is less of a sure thing than it was before he arrived in Brewster.
Sunday: Top 30 Overall Position Players. Pitchers begin Monday.
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Third Basemen, Shortstops
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? E-Mail me at schimmeldbk@gmail.com
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Friday, August 14, 2009
Postseason Prospect Rankings: Outfielders 10-6
Outfield was an interesting position on the Cape this summer. Guys who were supposed to be can't miss looked very average, and other players who weren't supposed to be that great had big summers and entered a lot of prospect discussions. Because there are three times as many outfielders as there are players at each infield position, I decided to rank 10 instead of 5. (I realize 5 x 3 is 15 but I'm only ranking 10 anyway). Because it has taken me a long time each morning to file these rankings, I am splitting outfielders into two days, continuing to drag out this process as long as possible. Here are outfielders 10-6 from this summer, with the Top 5 outfielders coming tomorrow.
10. Mark Canha, Brewster/California. Bats R/Throws R. 6'2" 195. San Jose, Calif.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .257 BA/3 HR/11 RBI/.800 OPS
Canha looked like one of the best hitters in the league during the first couple weeks of the summer, then went through a big slump and eventually left the Cape early with an injury. Canha is the type of player who doesn't look particularly good or athletic when you just look at him standing on the field or doing anything, but when he is going well he is a really good hitter. Canha led Cal in all three Triple Crown categories with a .366 average, 12 home runs and 43 RBIs. He has a short but powerful swing and does a good job using the whole field. Canha looked like he was pressing at the plate at times which contributed to his struggles. Defensively, Canha is not very good in the outfield and may be better suited to play first base, where he has spent some time for his college team. He does have an above-average arm. Canha's draft status is going to depend on how he hits next spring. He has the potential to be a top-caliber hitter, but he has to do it more consistently.
9. Austin Wates, Y-D/Virginia Tech. Bats R/Throws R. 6'1" 174. Richmond, Va.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .312 BA/0 HR/21 RBI/.794 OPS/12 SB
Wates is a good all-around player who was absolutely locked in at the plate for several weeks during the summer, and he ended up with the highest batting average on the best team during the regular season. I'm told Wates is sneaking into the conversation about being a first-round pick, and while I don't think I would want my team to use its first pick on him, he is a solid prospect. He had a very strong season at Virginia Tech, hitting .395 with five home runs and 42 RBIs for the Hokies. Wates is mostly a singles and doubles hitter, but he often makes solid contact and seems to have a knack for finding holes and gaps. He does a good job going with pitches and driving the ball to all fields. Wates is an athletic kid with good speed, and he can cover a lot of ground in the outfield when he really goes after balls. He tends to drift on fly balls sometimes, though. I would definitely take Wates in the first few rounds next June, but the very first round might be a stretch.
8. Zach Cone, Cotuit/Georgia. Bats R/Throws R. 6'2" 204. Stone Mountain, Ga.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .243 BA/3 HR/20 RBI/.599 OPS
Cone is a high-ceiling, all-around talent for the 2011 draft class who still has some developing to do. He started to look better and better as the season progressed and he got more comfortable with the wood bat. As a part-time player for Georgia this spring, Cone hit .323 with four home runs and 18 RBIs in 45 games (20 starts). Cone is mostly a line drive hitter at this point but has shown hints of power potential. He has an athletic build that looks like it belongs on a Major League diamond. Cone swings hard and has a slightly long swing which led to a lot of strikeouts this summer. It looked like later in the summer he was doing a better job with situational hiting and using the whole field. He is a good bunter. Cone is athletic in the outfield and runs well on the bases. He has a strong arm. Cone is a player to watch for the 2011 draft. He needs to work on his approach at the plate and develop more consistent power.
7. Kevin Keyes, Cotuit/Texas. Bats R/Throws R. 6'4" 225. Austin, Texas.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .185 BA/2 HR/7 RBI/.583 OPS
Keyes arrived at the Cape after the College World Series with high expectations, but he struggled to get anything going during his half-season with Cotuit. This ranking is therefore based mostly on the reputation that preceded him. Keyes had a good year for the national runners-up, hitting .305 with nine home runs and 46 RBI. Keyes was one of the physically bigger players in the league, and he certainly has power potential. He swings hard and can drive the ball to all fields. Keyes is kind of a free swinger, and he tends to get out in front on good off-speed pitches. He is slow in the outfield and on the basepaths, and has just an average arm. Of any player on my own list, I am most dubious about Keyes, but because he is so highly-regarded by others I am keeping him up here for now. If he harnesses his power he could be a very good pro, but there are a lot of holes in his game.
6. Johnny Ruettiger, Hyannis/Arizona State. Bats L/Throws L. 6'2" 175. Joliet, Ill.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .255 BA/0 HR/6 RBI/.697 OPS
Ruettiger is a really good athlete and a contact hitter who is not going to hit for power but who will do everything else well. The movie "Rudy" is based on the life of his uncle who played football at Notre Dame in the 1970s. Ruettiger quarterbacked his high school football team to a state championship. As a freshman for College World Series participant Arizona State, Ruettiger hit .360 with one home run and 13 RBIs as a part-time starter. Even though his once-lofty batting average at the Cape dropped by the end of his summer, he is everything that you want out of a leadoff hitter. Ruettiger is patient at the plate and does a good job working the count. He is short to the ball and does a good job taking pitches to left field. He swings with mostly his hands and he does get off-balance occasionally, but he will hit for a high average over the course of a long season. Ruettiger has very good speed, and is a threat to steal a base whenever he gets on. He is a good defensive outfielder. Ruettiger is another player to watch for in the 2011 draft.
Saturday: Outfielders 5-1
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Third Basemen, Shortstops
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? E-Mail me at schimmeldbk@gmail.com
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10. Mark Canha, Brewster/California. Bats R/Throws R. 6'2" 195. San Jose, Calif.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .257 BA/3 HR/11 RBI/.800 OPS
Canha looked like one of the best hitters in the league during the first couple weeks of the summer, then went through a big slump and eventually left the Cape early with an injury. Canha is the type of player who doesn't look particularly good or athletic when you just look at him standing on the field or doing anything, but when he is going well he is a really good hitter. Canha led Cal in all three Triple Crown categories with a .366 average, 12 home runs and 43 RBIs. He has a short but powerful swing and does a good job using the whole field. Canha looked like he was pressing at the plate at times which contributed to his struggles. Defensively, Canha is not very good in the outfield and may be better suited to play first base, where he has spent some time for his college team. He does have an above-average arm. Canha's draft status is going to depend on how he hits next spring. He has the potential to be a top-caliber hitter, but he has to do it more consistently.
9. Austin Wates, Y-D/Virginia Tech. Bats R/Throws R. 6'1" 174. Richmond, Va.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .312 BA/0 HR/21 RBI/.794 OPS/12 SB
Wates is a good all-around player who was absolutely locked in at the plate for several weeks during the summer, and he ended up with the highest batting average on the best team during the regular season. I'm told Wates is sneaking into the conversation about being a first-round pick, and while I don't think I would want my team to use its first pick on him, he is a solid prospect. He had a very strong season at Virginia Tech, hitting .395 with five home runs and 42 RBIs for the Hokies. Wates is mostly a singles and doubles hitter, but he often makes solid contact and seems to have a knack for finding holes and gaps. He does a good job going with pitches and driving the ball to all fields. Wates is an athletic kid with good speed, and he can cover a lot of ground in the outfield when he really goes after balls. He tends to drift on fly balls sometimes, though. I would definitely take Wates in the first few rounds next June, but the very first round might be a stretch.
8. Zach Cone, Cotuit/Georgia. Bats R/Throws R. 6'2" 204. Stone Mountain, Ga.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .243 BA/3 HR/20 RBI/.599 OPS
Cone is a high-ceiling, all-around talent for the 2011 draft class who still has some developing to do. He started to look better and better as the season progressed and he got more comfortable with the wood bat. As a part-time player for Georgia this spring, Cone hit .323 with four home runs and 18 RBIs in 45 games (20 starts). Cone is mostly a line drive hitter at this point but has shown hints of power potential. He has an athletic build that looks like it belongs on a Major League diamond. Cone swings hard and has a slightly long swing which led to a lot of strikeouts this summer. It looked like later in the summer he was doing a better job with situational hiting and using the whole field. He is a good bunter. Cone is athletic in the outfield and runs well on the bases. He has a strong arm. Cone is a player to watch for the 2011 draft. He needs to work on his approach at the plate and develop more consistent power.
7. Kevin Keyes, Cotuit/Texas. Bats R/Throws R. 6'4" 225. Austin, Texas.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .185 BA/2 HR/7 RBI/.583 OPS
Keyes arrived at the Cape after the College World Series with high expectations, but he struggled to get anything going during his half-season with Cotuit. This ranking is therefore based mostly on the reputation that preceded him. Keyes had a good year for the national runners-up, hitting .305 with nine home runs and 46 RBI. Keyes was one of the physically bigger players in the league, and he certainly has power potential. He swings hard and can drive the ball to all fields. Keyes is kind of a free swinger, and he tends to get out in front on good off-speed pitches. He is slow in the outfield and on the basepaths, and has just an average arm. Of any player on my own list, I am most dubious about Keyes, but because he is so highly-regarded by others I am keeping him up here for now. If he harnesses his power he could be a very good pro, but there are a lot of holes in his game.
6. Johnny Ruettiger, Hyannis/Arizona State. Bats L/Throws L. 6'2" 175. Joliet, Ill.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .255 BA/0 HR/6 RBI/.697 OPS
Ruettiger is a really good athlete and a contact hitter who is not going to hit for power but who will do everything else well. The movie "Rudy" is based on the life of his uncle who played football at Notre Dame in the 1970s. Ruettiger quarterbacked his high school football team to a state championship. As a freshman for College World Series participant Arizona State, Ruettiger hit .360 with one home run and 13 RBIs as a part-time starter. Even though his once-lofty batting average at the Cape dropped by the end of his summer, he is everything that you want out of a leadoff hitter. Ruettiger is patient at the plate and does a good job working the count. He is short to the ball and does a good job taking pitches to left field. He swings with mostly his hands and he does get off-balance occasionally, but he will hit for a high average over the course of a long season. Ruettiger has very good speed, and is a threat to steal a base whenever he gets on. He is a good defensive outfielder. Ruettiger is another player to watch for in the 2011 draft.
Saturday: Outfielders 5-1
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Third Basemen, Shortstops
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? E-Mail me at schimmeldbk@gmail.com
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Thursday, August 13, 2009
Postseason Prospect Rankings: Shortstops
Shortstop was a top-heavy position on the Cape this summer, with two top-caliber prospects and then everybody else a big step below. And both of my top Cape League shortstop prospects might be better off playing a different position in pro ball.
5. Chris Wade, Harwich/Kentucky. Bats R/Throws R. 6'0" 160. Lexington, Ky.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .260 BA/0 HR/3 RBI/.647 OPS (13 games)
Wade was taken in the 11th-round of June's draft by the Marlins, and signed with Florida on July 6. Wade was solid but not outstanding while he was on the Cape, following up on a redshirt sophomore season at Kentucky during which he hit .313 with 6 home runs and 42 RBIs. Wade is a line drive hitter with a smooth right-handed stroke. He is a very athletic defensive player with really good range and the ability to make the tough play. He also has a strong arm. I only got to see Wade a couple of times before he left, but he should be a solid pro in the Marlins' system and where they drafted him seems about right.
4. Levi Michael. Harwich, UNC. Bats S/Throws R. 5'10" 170. Welcome, N.C.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .247 BA/1 HR/6 RBI/.673 OPS
The main reasons Michael is ranked ahead of the player he replaced in Harwich are his youth and potential. Wade is a better player than Michael right now, but Michael just turned 18 in February and it is important to consider that he was the youngest player on the Cape this summer when evaluating what he did. Michael hit .290 with 13 HR and 57 RBIs for the Tar Heels in the spring. He didn't show that kind of home run power with the wood bats over the summer, but still did just about everything else well. Michael has quick hands at the plate and made solid contact consistently. Michael had sort of an inside out swing from the left side of the plate and did a good job taking the ball to left field. He looked like more of a slap hitter from the left side and a gap hitter from the right side. Defensively he had good range up the middle and a strong arm for a player of his size. Michael also has good speed, getting to first base in 4.2 seconds from the left side of the plate. I get the feeling Michael is going to develop into a really good player by the time he is eligible for the draft in 2011.
3. Josh Rutledge, Y-D/Alabama. Bats R/Throws R. 6'0" 185. Cullman, Ala.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .250 BA/0 HR/11 RBI/.583 OPS
A lot of people are very high on Rutledge, and while I think he is solid I probably am not as high on him as everybody else. I saw some good things from him but I also saw some things in his play this summer I didn't like. I am giving him the benefit of the doubt on a weak list so far because of what I have heard Rutledge is supposed to be. Rutledge was named first team All-SEC this spring after he hit .305 with 5 home runs and 44 RBIs for the Crimson Tide. Rutledge has a nice line drive swing and some pop, and he can drive the ball to the opposite field. But later in the summer when I saw him he looked off-balance and uncomfortable at the plate, and he struggled to find his timing. He also took some questionable angles on balls in the field. Rutledge had a tremendous freshman season at Alabama and was also good when he played for Y-D in 2008. He took a step back in both leagues this year but is still considered a probable high draft pick in 2010.
2. Derek Dietrich, Wareham/Georgia Tech. Bats L/Throws R. 6'1" 195. Parma, Ohio.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .211 BA/3 HR/10 RBI/.677 OPS
Dietrich looked like the best Major League prospect on the Cape for the first couple weeks of the summer before the College World Series and Team USA tryout guys showed up. He showed flashes of brilliance in certain games throughout the summer, but he also had games where his weaknesses shone through and he went through a terrible slump the last few weeks of the season. Dietrich was named the National Freshman of the Year by Rivals.com in 2008, but his inconsistency at the plate and an increasing suspicion he will be unable to play shortstop professionally has caused his stock to decrease since then. Dietrich hit .311 with 10 home runs and 54 RBI for the Yellow Jackets this spring. He showed home run power in batting practice at the Cape, and I saw him hit two home runs in one game in person, but he really struggled to find his swing in games for most of the summer. Dietrich swings easy and has quick hands, but his timing was off a lot of the time and he struggled to hit good breaking pitches. When he is going well Dietrich is a great hitter, but he was just out of whack a lot of the time I saw him this summer. Dietrich has limited range at shortstop and he will likely have to play third base or the outfield in professional ball. He has a plus arm. Dietrich still could be selected in the first round of the draft next June, but it is not as sure of a bet as it once was.
1. B.A. Vollmuth, Falmouth/Southern Miss. Bats R/Throws R. 6'3" 200. Biloxi, Miss.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .230 BA/5 HR/18 RBI/.744 OPS
Vollmuth arrived late to the Cape after his school team's suprising run to the College World Series, and he slowly and improbably overtook Dietrich as the best prospect in the league who predominantly played shortstop. Vollmuth hit .237 with 8 home runs and 28 RBIs as a freshman for Southern Miss this spring. Vollmuth has very good raw power but also a quick bat and short-to-the-ball swing. He tends to step out on good breaking balls and swings and misses a lot, but with his swing one would think he will be able to hit for a higher average and with fewer strikeouts once he gets used to facing better pitching more often. Vollmuth is an athletic kid but does not look especially smooth in the field, and with his size he is probably better-suited to play third base professionally. He has a very strong arm. Vollmuth has some developing to do but he has a high ceiling and could be a very high pick in the 2011 draft.
Friday: Outfielders 10-6
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Third Basemen
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? E-Mail me at schimmeldbk@gmail.com
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5. Chris Wade, Harwich/Kentucky. Bats R/Throws R. 6'0" 160. Lexington, Ky.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .260 BA/0 HR/3 RBI/.647 OPS (13 games)
Wade was taken in the 11th-round of June's draft by the Marlins, and signed with Florida on July 6. Wade was solid but not outstanding while he was on the Cape, following up on a redshirt sophomore season at Kentucky during which he hit .313 with 6 home runs and 42 RBIs. Wade is a line drive hitter with a smooth right-handed stroke. He is a very athletic defensive player with really good range and the ability to make the tough play. He also has a strong arm. I only got to see Wade a couple of times before he left, but he should be a solid pro in the Marlins' system and where they drafted him seems about right.
4. Levi Michael. Harwich, UNC. Bats S/Throws R. 5'10" 170. Welcome, N.C.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .247 BA/1 HR/6 RBI/.673 OPS
The main reasons Michael is ranked ahead of the player he replaced in Harwich are his youth and potential. Wade is a better player than Michael right now, but Michael just turned 18 in February and it is important to consider that he was the youngest player on the Cape this summer when evaluating what he did. Michael hit .290 with 13 HR and 57 RBIs for the Tar Heels in the spring. He didn't show that kind of home run power with the wood bats over the summer, but still did just about everything else well. Michael has quick hands at the plate and made solid contact consistently. Michael had sort of an inside out swing from the left side of the plate and did a good job taking the ball to left field. He looked like more of a slap hitter from the left side and a gap hitter from the right side. Defensively he had good range up the middle and a strong arm for a player of his size. Michael also has good speed, getting to first base in 4.2 seconds from the left side of the plate. I get the feeling Michael is going to develop into a really good player by the time he is eligible for the draft in 2011.
3. Josh Rutledge, Y-D/Alabama. Bats R/Throws R. 6'0" 185. Cullman, Ala.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .250 BA/0 HR/11 RBI/.583 OPS
A lot of people are very high on Rutledge, and while I think he is solid I probably am not as high on him as everybody else. I saw some good things from him but I also saw some things in his play this summer I didn't like. I am giving him the benefit of the doubt on a weak list so far because of what I have heard Rutledge is supposed to be. Rutledge was named first team All-SEC this spring after he hit .305 with 5 home runs and 44 RBIs for the Crimson Tide. Rutledge has a nice line drive swing and some pop, and he can drive the ball to the opposite field. But later in the summer when I saw him he looked off-balance and uncomfortable at the plate, and he struggled to find his timing. He also took some questionable angles on balls in the field. Rutledge had a tremendous freshman season at Alabama and was also good when he played for Y-D in 2008. He took a step back in both leagues this year but is still considered a probable high draft pick in 2010.
2. Derek Dietrich, Wareham/Georgia Tech. Bats L/Throws R. 6'1" 195. Parma, Ohio.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .211 BA/3 HR/10 RBI/.677 OPS
Dietrich looked like the best Major League prospect on the Cape for the first couple weeks of the summer before the College World Series and Team USA tryout guys showed up. He showed flashes of brilliance in certain games throughout the summer, but he also had games where his weaknesses shone through and he went through a terrible slump the last few weeks of the season. Dietrich was named the National Freshman of the Year by Rivals.com in 2008, but his inconsistency at the plate and an increasing suspicion he will be unable to play shortstop professionally has caused his stock to decrease since then. Dietrich hit .311 with 10 home runs and 54 RBI for the Yellow Jackets this spring. He showed home run power in batting practice at the Cape, and I saw him hit two home runs in one game in person, but he really struggled to find his swing in games for most of the summer. Dietrich swings easy and has quick hands, but his timing was off a lot of the time and he struggled to hit good breaking pitches. When he is going well Dietrich is a great hitter, but he was just out of whack a lot of the time I saw him this summer. Dietrich has limited range at shortstop and he will likely have to play third base or the outfield in professional ball. He has a plus arm. Dietrich still could be selected in the first round of the draft next June, but it is not as sure of a bet as it once was.
1. B.A. Vollmuth, Falmouth/Southern Miss. Bats R/Throws R. 6'3" 200. Biloxi, Miss.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .230 BA/5 HR/18 RBI/.744 OPS
Vollmuth arrived late to the Cape after his school team's suprising run to the College World Series, and he slowly and improbably overtook Dietrich as the best prospect in the league who predominantly played shortstop. Vollmuth hit .237 with 8 home runs and 28 RBIs as a freshman for Southern Miss this spring. Vollmuth has very good raw power but also a quick bat and short-to-the-ball swing. He tends to step out on good breaking balls and swings and misses a lot, but with his swing one would think he will be able to hit for a higher average and with fewer strikeouts once he gets used to facing better pitching more often. Vollmuth is an athletic kid but does not look especially smooth in the field, and with his size he is probably better-suited to play third base professionally. He has a very strong arm. Vollmuth has some developing to do but he has a high ceiling and could be a very high pick in the 2011 draft.
Friday: Outfielders 10-6
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Third Basemen
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? E-Mail me at schimmeldbk@gmail.com
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Postseason Prospect Rankings: Third Basemen
Third base was probably the best position on the Cape this summer, with really seven or eight players who will likely be drafted very high in either 2010 or 2011. Of the five players on this list, three of them could go in the first round next year and shouldn't go lower than the first day, and the other two are definitely names to watch for in the first few rounds in 2011.
5. Jason Esposito, Falmouth/Vanderbilt. Bats R/Throws R. 6'3" 190. Bethany, Conn.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .198 BA/0 HR/8 RBI/.449 OPS
Esposito is a guy who came into the league with a lot of hype and just struggled terribly the entire summer. He never looked comfortable at the plate. Early in the season it looked like he was struggling to get used to handling the wood bat, and later in the summer it looked like he was pressing. He was coming off a solid freshman season at Vanderbilt where he hit .287 with 4 home runs, 42 RBI and 20 stolen bases. Esposito is an athletic looking kid with a mature body who just looks like he belongs on a Major League field. at the plate, Esposito has a slightly long swing and he struggled at times with pitch recognition so he was often late on the ball. But he swings hard and when he is able to see the ball well he can drive it. Defensively, he tends to sit back on ground balls and let them play him, but otherwise he moves well, has smooth hands and has good range. He has a very strong arm and decent speed on the bases. Esposito has the ability to be a very good all-around player, and he still has almost two full years until he is next eligible for the draft, but he just turned 19 during the summer and still looks very raw.
4. Tyler Hanover, Y-D/LSU. Bats R/Throws R. 5'6" 163. Kernersville, N.C.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .300 BA/2 HR/16 RBI/.767 OPS
Hanover is in many ways the opposite of Esposito. He is very undersized, which could lead to him being overlooked by many teams, but he performed very well on the Cape from the day he arrived after the College World Series. Hanover made an impact for the National Champions as a freshman this spring, hitting .321 with five home runs and 47 RBIs. Despite his strikingly small size, Hanover gets really good torque in his swing and actually has some pop in his bat. He is compact and very quick to the ball and turns well on inside fastballs, but also stays back well and uses the whole field. Hanover is also very solid defensively but with his size he will almost certainly only be able to play second base professionally. He is definitely a player to watch for in 2011.
3. Rob Segedin, Bourne/Tulane. Bats R/Throws R. 6'3" 220. Old Tappan, N.J.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .304 BA/0 HR/16 RBI/.802 OPS
Segedin was a very impressive all-around player who had perhaps the best right-handed swing in the Cape League. He made a major impact for Bourne after arriving a couple weeks into the season, and is a big reason why they are playing for the league championship today. Segedin missed most of his college season with an injury, and had just 14 at-bats in five games for the Green Wave. Segedin looks good at the plate, and he is the only player I can remember who made scouts whistle in delight about his swing on multiple occasions. He swings hard but is in control and limits his swings and misses. He has a quick bat, uses the whole field and can really drive the ball to the opposite field, to the point where he was arguably the best opposite field hitter in the league. He is a doubles hitter but not a power hitter. Segedin is solid but not outstanding defensively. He also played some outfield on the Cape and may be better suited to play out there professionally. Segedin will be selected in the first few rounds next June.
2. Jedd Gyorko, Brewster/West Virginia. Bats R/Throws R. 5'10" 195. Morgantown, W. Va.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .323 BA/5 HR/18 RBI/.878 OPS
Gyorko was one of the best hitters on the Cape this summer once he arrived after surprisingly being cut by Team USA. He doesn't really have a place to play to defensively, but he was definitely one of the five most feared hitters in the league all season. Gyorko somehow played shortstop for West Virginia this spring, and hit .421 with 8 home runs and 58 RBIs. Gyorko hits with an open stance and doesn't come all the way closed and sometimes steps even further in the bucket, but he still makes consistent contact and drives the ball with authority. He can absolutely punish balls on the inner part of the plate. Gyorko has a smooth stroke and is quick to the ball. He swings hard and has a pretty strong lower body so he gets good pop despite his lack of height. He can hit breaking pitches and he is somehow able to drive the ball to right field even though he doesn't step into the ball when he hits. Gyorko looks very shaky defensively and that will be his biggest problem in professional ball. He doesn't move well and has very limited range in the infield. Brewster used him at both second base and third base but he didn't look natural at either position. If a team wants his bat and thinks they can worry about finding a place for him to play later on, he will go very high in next year's draft.
1. Zack Cox, Cotuit/Arkansas. Bats L/Throws R. 6'0" 215. Louisville, Ky.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .344/0 HR/11 RBI/.795 OPS
Some scouts aren't as high on him as I am, but I think Zack Cox was arguably the best all-around player on the Cape this summer. He is extremely aggressive at the plate and just really fun to watch hit. Cox hit .266 with 13 home runs and 39 RBIs for an Arkansas team that went to the College World Series during his freshman year. Cox didn't show that home run power with the wood bats during the summer, but he did just about everything else. Cox has really good balance at the plate, and he is quick to the ball with his strong hands. He uses the whole field and can really drive the ball to left. Cox rarely works the count, and seems to swing at either the first or second pitch in nearly all of his at-bats. In a league in which many guys let themselves fall behind in the count, Cox made the pitcher work hard on every pitch. He had tremendous plate coverage and was able to drive balls that weren't necessarily in good locations to hit. Defensively, Cox has smooth hands and moves well in the infield. He isn't afraid to throw his body around to make plays. He has a strong arm and average speed. Cox will be draft-eligble after his sophomore season next spring, and will very likely be a first-round pick.
Thursday: Shortstops
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? E-Mail me at schimmeldbk@gmail.com
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5. Jason Esposito, Falmouth/Vanderbilt. Bats R/Throws R. 6'3" 190. Bethany, Conn.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .198 BA/0 HR/8 RBI/.449 OPS
Esposito is a guy who came into the league with a lot of hype and just struggled terribly the entire summer. He never looked comfortable at the plate. Early in the season it looked like he was struggling to get used to handling the wood bat, and later in the summer it looked like he was pressing. He was coming off a solid freshman season at Vanderbilt where he hit .287 with 4 home runs, 42 RBI and 20 stolen bases. Esposito is an athletic looking kid with a mature body who just looks like he belongs on a Major League field. at the plate, Esposito has a slightly long swing and he struggled at times with pitch recognition so he was often late on the ball. But he swings hard and when he is able to see the ball well he can drive it. Defensively, he tends to sit back on ground balls and let them play him, but otherwise he moves well, has smooth hands and has good range. He has a very strong arm and decent speed on the bases. Esposito has the ability to be a very good all-around player, and he still has almost two full years until he is next eligible for the draft, but he just turned 19 during the summer and still looks very raw.
4. Tyler Hanover, Y-D/LSU. Bats R/Throws R. 5'6" 163. Kernersville, N.C.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .300 BA/2 HR/16 RBI/.767 OPS
Hanover is in many ways the opposite of Esposito. He is very undersized, which could lead to him being overlooked by many teams, but he performed very well on the Cape from the day he arrived after the College World Series. Hanover made an impact for the National Champions as a freshman this spring, hitting .321 with five home runs and 47 RBIs. Despite his strikingly small size, Hanover gets really good torque in his swing and actually has some pop in his bat. He is compact and very quick to the ball and turns well on inside fastballs, but also stays back well and uses the whole field. Hanover is also very solid defensively but with his size he will almost certainly only be able to play second base professionally. He is definitely a player to watch for in 2011.
3. Rob Segedin, Bourne/Tulane. Bats R/Throws R. 6'3" 220. Old Tappan, N.J.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .304 BA/0 HR/16 RBI/.802 OPS
Segedin was a very impressive all-around player who had perhaps the best right-handed swing in the Cape League. He made a major impact for Bourne after arriving a couple weeks into the season, and is a big reason why they are playing for the league championship today. Segedin missed most of his college season with an injury, and had just 14 at-bats in five games for the Green Wave. Segedin looks good at the plate, and he is the only player I can remember who made scouts whistle in delight about his swing on multiple occasions. He swings hard but is in control and limits his swings and misses. He has a quick bat, uses the whole field and can really drive the ball to the opposite field, to the point where he was arguably the best opposite field hitter in the league. He is a doubles hitter but not a power hitter. Segedin is solid but not outstanding defensively. He also played some outfield on the Cape and may be better suited to play out there professionally. Segedin will be selected in the first few rounds next June.
2. Jedd Gyorko, Brewster/West Virginia. Bats R/Throws R. 5'10" 195. Morgantown, W. Va.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .323 BA/5 HR/18 RBI/.878 OPS
Gyorko was one of the best hitters on the Cape this summer once he arrived after surprisingly being cut by Team USA. He doesn't really have a place to play to defensively, but he was definitely one of the five most feared hitters in the league all season. Gyorko somehow played shortstop for West Virginia this spring, and hit .421 with 8 home runs and 58 RBIs. Gyorko hits with an open stance and doesn't come all the way closed and sometimes steps even further in the bucket, but he still makes consistent contact and drives the ball with authority. He can absolutely punish balls on the inner part of the plate. Gyorko has a smooth stroke and is quick to the ball. He swings hard and has a pretty strong lower body so he gets good pop despite his lack of height. He can hit breaking pitches and he is somehow able to drive the ball to right field even though he doesn't step into the ball when he hits. Gyorko looks very shaky defensively and that will be his biggest problem in professional ball. He doesn't move well and has very limited range in the infield. Brewster used him at both second base and third base but he didn't look natural at either position. If a team wants his bat and thinks they can worry about finding a place for him to play later on, he will go very high in next year's draft.
1. Zack Cox, Cotuit/Arkansas. Bats L/Throws R. 6'0" 215. Louisville, Ky.
2009 Cape League Regular Season Stats: .344/0 HR/11 RBI/.795 OPS
Some scouts aren't as high on him as I am, but I think Zack Cox was arguably the best all-around player on the Cape this summer. He is extremely aggressive at the plate and just really fun to watch hit. Cox hit .266 with 13 home runs and 39 RBIs for an Arkansas team that went to the College World Series during his freshman year. Cox didn't show that home run power with the wood bats during the summer, but he did just about everything else. Cox has really good balance at the plate, and he is quick to the ball with his strong hands. He uses the whole field and can really drive the ball to left. Cox rarely works the count, and seems to swing at either the first or second pitch in nearly all of his at-bats. In a league in which many guys let themselves fall behind in the count, Cox made the pitcher work hard on every pitch. He had tremendous plate coverage and was able to drive balls that weren't necessarily in good locations to hit. Defensively, Cox has smooth hands and moves well in the infield. He isn't afraid to throw his body around to make plays. He has a strong arm and average speed. Cox will be draft-eligble after his sophomore season next spring, and will very likely be a first-round pick.
Thursday: Shortstops
Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? E-Mail me at schimmeldbk@gmail.com
Want to be alerted every time I update this blog? Follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/Greg_Schimmel
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