2011 Early Look: Harwich Mariners

Harwich Mariners
Manager: Steve Englert
2010 Record: 22-21-1

On the heels of a championship season in 2008, the Harwich Mariners never quite put it all together last season, finishing just above .500 and barely squeaking into the playoffs. The stats pretty much told the story — the Mariners had some solid hitters who struggled, and the team hit just .224, ninth in the league. The pitching numbers were in the middle of the pack.

With four returning players and a deep group of sophomores, the Mariners are once again strong on paper — they’ll just be looking for a little more production.

It’ll be interesting to see if they get it. The Mariners don’t seem to have quite as many guys coming off seasons, primed to emerge as top prospects. But they have some big arms in Kevin Gausman and Lex Rutledge, plus a lot of pitchers and hitters who were solid this season. A big summer, and any number of those guys could emerge. Throw in some draft-eligible guys who might make it, and the Mariners have the makings of a team that can compete.

They also have a very good freshman class. It’s only four-deep, but Gausman, JaCoby Jones, Brian Ragira and Austin Wilson are about as good a quartet as you could find.

All in all, the Mariners look a lot like everybody else right now. And that’s not a bad spot to be in.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 4
Juniors: 3
Sophomores: 22
Freshmen: 4

Notable

As noted above, the Mariners have a couple of guys with destinations unknown. Carter Capps and Brian Goodwin are the most notable. Both could be pretty early picks, but we’ve seen in recent years that that doesn’t guarantee a player will miss out on the Cape.

Capps has been incredibly dominant this year for D-II Mt. Olive. If a team isn’t sure how he stacks up against tougher competition, maybe they could keep an eye on him on the Cape? Let’s hope, because I think he’d be a fun pitcher to have in the league.

On a similar note, I still included South Carolina’s Christian Walker on the list. He has been named to Team USA. This is the first year USA Baseball has just picked a team without trials, so I don’t know if that’s up in the air at all, or if he’s definitely going with USA. We shall see.

Lex Rutledge was one of the top freshman arms on the Cape last season, and I think he’ll be one of the top sophomores this year. It’ll be interesting to see how he’s used — he’s been both a starter and a reliever at Stamford.

Kevin Gausman will be a definite pitcher to watch. He’s one of the top freshmen in the nation, and since he’s eligible for the draft in 2012, this could be a big summer for him.

Andrew Rash hit 18 home runs this year for Virginia Tech and became just the second Tech player to earn first-team All-ACC honors. The other? Former Y-D star Austin Wates.

Stanford is sending some top-notch prospects to the Cape this year, and Harwich has two of them in Brian Ragira and Austin Wilson. Both are in the midst of very good freshman seasons.

I imagine Austin Nola is a player Harwich would love to have back. He’s a junior so he’s eligible for the draft, but I think it’s possible he still comes to Harwich. A veteran at shortstop is a nice building block for a Cape League team.

Five Players I’m Excited to See
1. Kevin Gausman
2. Carter Capps
3. Brian Goodwin
4. Lex Rutledge
5. Austin Wilson

Pitchers

Eddie Butler – RHP – 6’2 165 – Radford – Sophomore
Carter Capps – RHP – 6’4 220 – Mount Olive College – RS Sophomore
Kevin Gausman – RHP – 6’4 170 – LSU – Freshman
Grant Gordon – RHP – 6’0 175 – Missouri State – Sophomore
Blake Hauser – RHP – 6’2 175 – Virginia Commonwealth – Sophomore
*Pierce Johnson – RHP – 6’3 180 – Missouri State – Sophomore
Branden Kline – RHP – 6’3 190 – Virginia – Sophomore
Joe Mantiply – RHP – 6’4 204 – Virginia Tech – Sophomore
Chris Overman – RHP – 6’2 228 – North Carolina State – Sophomore
Tanner Perkins – LHP – 6’3 190 – Western Kentucky – Sophomore
Taylor Rogers – LHP – 6’3 170 – Kentucky – Sophomore
Lex Rutledge – LHP – 6’2 205 – Samford – Sophomore
Chris Stratton – RHP – 6’3 186 – Mississippi State – Sophomore

Eddie Butler – RHP – 6’2 165
Radford
Sophomore

Butler was a 35th-round draft pick out of high school and was tabbed as one of the top newcomers in the Big South after his freshman season. This year, Butler went 9-2 with a 4.15 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 95.1 innings.

Carter Capps – RHP – 6’4 220
Mount Olive College
RS Sophomore

After flashing a 96-mph fastball and earning top prospect honors in the Coastal Plain League last summer, Capps has delivered an absolutely dominant season for D-II Mt. Olive this year. Capps is 14-0 with a 1.37 ERA. In 111.1 innings, he has struck out 124 and walked just 16. Those numbers prompted the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association to pick Capps as its National Pitcher of the Year. The only bad news for Harwich is that Capps is eligible for the draft this year and is ranked as the nation’s 151st best prospect by Baseball America.

Kevin Gausman – RHP – 6’4 170
LSU
Freshman

Gausman was a sixth-round pick last year and when he opted for LSU, he immediately was labeled as one of the top freshmen in the country. Overall, he hasn’t disappointed. Though he went 5-6 in 14 appearances, he posted a solid 3.51 ERA and tallied a team-high 86 strikeouts in 89.2 innings pitched. Gausman really heated up late in the year and earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors twice in the month of May.

Grant Gordon – RHP – 6’0 175
Missouri State
Sophomore

Gordon made a big impression out of the bullpen as a freshman when he finished seventh in the nation with a K/9 ratio of 11.89. This year, Gordon moved into the rotation and saw his numbers go in the wrong direction. He struck out 50 in 69.2 innings and walked 41. Despite that, he still managed to post a 4.26 ERA.

Blake Hauser – RHP – 6’2 175
Virginia Commonwealth
Sophomore

A 25th-round pick out of high school, Hauser had a solid 2010 with the Rams then went to the Cal Ripken Collegiate League, where he was named the second-best prospect by Baseball America. This spring, Hauser went 3-4 with a 4.65 ERA and struck out 47 in 50.1 innings.

Pierce Johnson – RHP – 6’3 180
Missouri State
Sophomore

Johnson was a 15th-round pick out of high school in 2009 and after a rough debut for Missouri State, he came to Harwich and was quietly very impressive. Johnson went 3-1 with a 2.11 ERA and struck out 41 in 42.2 innings. This spring, Johnson had a little better luck for the Bears, finishing 6-7 with a 4.76 ERA. He struck out almost a batter an inning.

Branden Kline – RHP – 6’3 190
Virginia
Sophomore

After an impressive season as a swing guy a year ago, Kline has emerged as one of the top closers in the nation for one of the best teams in the nation. In 27 appearances, Kline has been lights out. He has a 1.85 ERA, 46 strikeouts in 34 innings and 17 saves. That saves mark is tied for third in the country. Out of high school, Kline was a sixth-round pick of the Red Sox.

Joe Mantiply – RHP – 6’4 204
Virginia Tech
Sophomore

Mantiply didn’t put up great numbers as a freshman but returned as one of the Hokies’ more experienced pitchers for 2011. He ended up starting a team-high 14 games, and he went 5-8 with a 4.36 ERA. He struck out 66 in 84.2 innings.

Chris Overman – RHP – 6’2 228
North Carolina State
Sophomore

Overman saw limited action as a freshman in 2009, but it’s been a very different story this year. Overman has been busy and he leads the team with 27 appearances. He’s also made the most of them — the righty has a 2.54 ERA, six saves and 40 strikeouts in 46 innings.

Tanner Perkins – LHP – 6’3 190
Western Kentucky
Sophomore

Perkins went right into the Hilltopper rotation as a freshman last year and took his lumps, but the experience must have paid off. This year, he earned second-team all-conference honors thanks to an impressive campaign. Perkins went 7-4 with a 2.36 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 99 innings pitched.

Taylor Rogers – LHP – 6’3 170
Kentucky
Sophomore

A lefty with a lot of potential, Rogers hasn’t quite lived up to it thus far in Lexington. As a freshman, he was in the weekend rotation all year and had a solid start before finishing with an ERA above six. This year, Rogers went 3-7 with a 5.14 ERA and 49 strikeouts.

Lex Rutledge – LHP – 6’2 205
Samford
Sophomore

Rutledge was a 26th-round pick out of high school but has been climbing the charts in his draft class ever since he posted a 1.71 ERA and posted big velocity as a freshman in 2009. He then came to Harwich and left as the Cape League’s 10th-best prospect, according to Baseball America. This season, Rutledge got an opportunity to start and continued to shine, posting a 3.71 ERA in 79 strikeouts in 63 innings.

Chris Stratton – RHP – 6’3 186
Mississippi State
Sophomore

Stratton has been a mainstay in the Mississippi State rotation since day one. Last year, he struck out almost a batter an inning and earned SEC All-Freshman honors. This year, his ERA is above five, but he has again posted big strikeout numbers. He has 74 in 74.1 innings.

Position Players

Stephen Bruno – INF – 5’7 165 – Virginia – Sophomore
Billy Burns – OF – 5’9 170 – Mercer – Junior
Mike Garza – INF – 6’1 200 – Georgetown – RS Sophomore
*Brian Goodwin – OF – 6’0 195 – Miami-Dade CC – Sophomore
Jabari Henry – OF – 6’1 195 – Florida International – Sophomore
JaCoby Jones – INF – 6’3 200 – LSU – Freshman
*Austin Nola – INF – 5’11 185 – LSU – Junior
Brian Ragira – 6’2 205 – Stanford – Freshman
Andrew Rash – OF – 5’11 193 – Virginia Tech – RS Sophomore
Darnell Sweeney – INF – 6’1 170 – Central Florida – Sophomore
Alex Swim – C – 5’11 180 – Elon – Sophomore
Luke Viot – C – 6’3 220 – Missouri State – Sophomore
Christian Walker – INF – 6’0 220 – South Carolina – Sophomore
Keith Werman – INF – 5’7 150 – Virginia – Junior
Austin Wilson – 6’4 235 – Stanford – Freshman
*John Wooten – INF – 6’4 197 – East Carolina – Sophomore

Stephen Bruno – INF – 5’7 165
Virginia
Sophomore

Bruno didn’t see a ton of action as a freshman in Charlottesville but made the most of his time and hit .388. This year, Bruno has played in only seven games, and he holds a .240 average. Bruno was a 26th-round pick in the 2009 draft.

Billy Burns – OF – 5’9 170
Mercer
Junior

Burns was a 16th-round pick out of high school but opted to attend Mercer, where he’s had a great college career. After hitting .294 as a freshman, he batted .381 last season. This year, he finished at .357 with six homers, 33 RBI, a .473 on-base percentage and 29 stolen bases.

Mike Garza – INF – 6’1 200
Georgetown
RS Sophomore

Garza transferred from Stanford and sat out last season. This year, he hit .306 with four homers, 39 RBI and 14 steals.

Brian Goodwin – OF – 6’0 195
Miami-Dade CC
Sophomore

Goodwin was one of the most watched players on the Cape last summer, when he hit .281 with 15 stolen bases for the Mariners. Originally labeled as one of the top prospects for the 2012 draft, Goodwin became eligible for the 2011 draft when he left North Carolina. He hit .382 with eight home runs for Miami Dade this spring and is ranked by Baseball America as the nation’s 44th-best prospect for the 2011 draft.

Jabari Henry – OF – 6’1 195
Florida International
Sophomore

Henry was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year a season ago after he hit .311 with 12 homers and 51 RBI. Henry’s batting average dipped to .241 this year but he still hit nine home runs with 33 RBI. Henry was a 39th-round pick out of high school in 2009.

JaCoby Jones – INF – 6’3 200
LSU
Freshman

The Mississippi player of the year out of high school and a 19th-round pick, Jones arrived on campus in Baton Rouge and didn’t disappoint. While starting every game, he hit .338 with four home runs and 32 RBI. He also added 12 stolen bases.

Austin Nola – INF – 5’11 185
LSU
Junior

Nola has been a mainstay in the LSU lineup since 2009, when he helped the Tigers win the College World Series. After hitting .221 for Harwich last summer, the slick-fielding shortstop hit .296 this year with two home runs and 42 RBI.

Brian Ragira – 6’2 205
Stanford
Freshman

A 30th-round draft pick in 2010, Ragira has had a big first season in Palo Alto and was recently named Pac 10 Freshman of the Year. Ragira is hitting .321 with four homers and a team-high 41 RBI.

Andrew Rash – OF – 5’11 193
Virginia Tech
RS Sophomore

After a redshirt year, Rash emerged as a solid performer last season when he hit .344 with six home runs. This season, he took things to another level, earning first-team all-conference honors after hitting .335 with 18 home runs, 17 doubles and 53 RBI. He was tied for eighth nationally in home runs.

Darnell Sweeney – INF – 6’1 170
Central Florida
Sophomore

A late-round pick out of high school in 2009, Sweeney made the Conference USA All-Freshman team after hitting .358 this season. He’s been solid this year, with a .279 average and 43 RBI. He has also stolen 12 bases.

Alex Swim – C – 5’11 180
Elon
Sophomore

Swim hit .310 last year and earned Southern Conference All-Freshman honors. This year, he batted .280, and though he didn’t hit a home run, he smacked 15 extra-base hits and had 33 RBI.

Luke Viot – C – 6’3 220
Missouri State
Sophomore

Viot was drafted in the 32nd round out of high school in 2009 then had a solid first season for the Bears. This year, he hit .286 with six home runs and 35 RBI.

Christian Walker – INF – 6’0 220
South Carolina
Sophomore

Walker was a Freshman All-American last year when he helped lead the Gamecocks to the national championship. He’s trying to do the same thing this year and pulling even more weight. Walker is hitting .357 with nine home runs, 57 RBI and a .561 slugging percentage. He leads the team in average, doubles, home runs, RBI and slugging, and he was a second-team All-SEC pick.

Keith Werman – INF – 5’7 150
Virginia
Junior

As a sophomore, Werman earned All-ACC honors and led the Cavaliers with a .414 batting average, one of the highest marks in school history. This year, Werman has still been a fixture in the lineup for the Cavs, but his numbers have come back to earth. He’s hitting .214

Austin Wilson – 6’4 235
Stanford
Freshman

Another talented Stanford freshman, Wilson — a 12th-round pick last year — came in with a little more hype than his teammate Ragira. He didn’t quite match Ragira’s numbers but wasn’t far off. Wilson hit .313 with four homers and 21 RBI.

John Wooten – INF – 6’4 197
East Carolina
Sophomore

Wooten hit .311 last spring then played in Harwich, where he hit .211. This year, Wooten is at .284 with 27 RBI. He’s second on the team with 15 doubles.