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2012 Early Look: Orleans Firebirds

firebird1.jpgOrleans Firebirds
Manager: Kelly Nicholson
2011 Record: 24-17-3

Orleans had some great hot streaks last year and rode one of them to a first-place finish in the East when the regular season ended. There was no streak in the playoffs, though, as the Firebirds were swept by Y-D in surprising fashion.

Despite that ending, it was another great summer in Orleans, where manager Kelly Nicholson always seems to push the right buttons. By my count, the franchise hasn’t had a losing season since 2001.

While most of the mainstays from last year’s first-place team are gone, there’s another solid crop of players coming in. The pitching staff should shape up well and the offense has its stars ready to go.

There’s no reason to think the Firebirds will break that streak this year.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 2
Juniors: 9
Sophomores: 18
Freshmen: 2

Notable

  • On paper, without accounting for roster shuffling by other teams, Orleans has the fewest freshmen of any team in the league, with just two. That doesn’t make the Firebirds the oldest team in the league, but they’re certainly not the youngest.

  • With another good summer, Trevor Gott could become the first player since the award was instituted to win two Relief Pitcher of the Year awards. Gott won that honor last year and was a closer for Kentucky this spring.

  • As long as Gott is around there may not be many saves to go around, but you can bet Pat Christensen will be there if a few chances pop up. He’s been a closer for three years with La Salle, something you don’t see very often in college baseball.

  • A handful of first-round draft picks have gone to college in recent years. Gerrit Cole probably had the most success in that group with three dominating seasons at UCLA on his way to being the top overall pick after his junior year. San Diego’s Dylan Covey went in the first round in 2010 and didn’t sign. He has not had as much success, but he’s still been good. He’s definitely a guy to watch this summer.

  • Dominic Ficociello played for Team USA last year but it looks like he’s bound for the Cape this year. One of the most highly-though of sophomore hitters in the country, Ficociello could be an anchor in the Orleans lineup.

  • Conrad Gregor is a likely candidate to join Ficociello in the middle of the order. He had a strong sophomore year, putting up the kind of numbers that signal a huge junior year ahead.

  • A few weeks ago, if Orleans was making a list of players likely to be late because of the College World Series, Stony Brook’s Brandon McNitt probably wouldn’t have been on it. But that’s the case as the upstart Seawolves are crashing the party. McNitt has had a big hand in the success — he pitched very well in the Super Regional against LSU.

  • Orleans got a great summer from Hawai’i’s Kolten Wong a few years back. Two more Hawaiians are headed to Orleans this year, and while they may not end up as MVP candidates like Wong, they’re both coming off good years.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Dylan Covey
    2. Dominic Ficociello
    3. Trevor Gott
    4. Austin Kubitza
    5. Conrad Gregor

    Pitchers

    Jarrett Arakawa – LHP – 6’0 180 – Hawai’i – Sophomore
    Pat Christensen – RHP – 6’4 200 – La Salle – Junior
    Dylan Clark – LHP – 6’5 200 – Elon – Junior
    Dylan Covey – RHP – 6’2 200 – San Diego – Sophomore
    Kyle Crockett – LHP – 6’2 170 – Virginia – Sophomore
    James Farris – RHP – 6’2 213 – Arizona – Sophomore
    *Trevor Gott – RHP – 6’0 190 – Kentucky – Sophomore
    Kyle Hunter – LHP – 5’11 180 – Dartmouth – Junior
    Chase Johnson – RHP – 6’3 190 – Cal Poly – Sophomore
    Josh King – RHP – 6’0 171 – Marshall – Sophomore
    Austin Kubitza – RHP – 6’5 202 – Rice – Sophomore
    Brandon McNitt – RHP – 5’10 170 – Stony Brook – Sophomore
    Philip Pfeifer – LHP – 6’0 195 – Vanderbilt – Freshman
    Jimmy Reed – LHP – 6’0 163 – Maryland – Junior
    Matt Troupe – RHP – 6’2 180 – Arizona – Freshman
    Trevor Williams – RHP – 6’3 228 – Arizona State – Sophomore

    Jarrett Arakawa – LHP – 6’0 180
    Hawai’i
    Sophomore

    A native of Honolulu, Arakawa had decent luck as a freshman before emerging as a standout starting pitcher this year. Arakawa finished the year with a 7-6 record and a 2.88 ERA. He struck out 70 and walked only 18 in 97 innings pitched.

    Pat Christensen – RHP – 6’4 200
    La Salle
    Junior

    Christensen has been a closer since day one at La Salle, and has excelled every step of the way. This year, he saved nine games had a 2.43 ERA an struck out 54 while walking just eight in 44 innings pitched.

    Dylan Clark – LHP – 6’5 205
    Elon
    Junior

    After posting a 9.00 ERA as a freshman, Clark became a standout in the rotation for Elon last year and continued the trend this year. He went 9-4 with a 3.76 ERA. He struck out 64 and walked 18 in 88.2 innings pitched.

    Dylan Covey – RHP – 6’2 200
    San Diego
    Sophomore

    Based purely on past draft history, Covey will be the most highly-touted player on the Cape this summer. Out of high school in 2010, Covey was selected by the Brewers in the first round, 14th overall. He didn’t sign, though, and headed to San Diego, where he’s been good but not quite as dominant as you might expect. This year, Covey went 6-3 with a 3.32 ERA. He struck out 50 but walked 43.

    Kyle Crockett – LHP – 6’2 170
    Virginia
    Sophomore

    Crockett was an outstanding reliever as a freshman last year, putting up a 1.97 ERA in 27 appearances. He just kept right on going this year, finishing the season with a 2.25 ERA in 32 appearances. He struck out 57 and walked only 12 in 60 innings of work.

    James Farris – RHP – 6’2 213
    Arizona
    Sophomore

    Farris made only two appearances out of the bullpen in 2011, but despite his lack of experience, he has emerged this year as a reliable third starter for the Omaha-bound Wildcats. Farris is 7-3 with a 4.18 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 99 innings.

    Trevor Gott – RHP – 6’0 190
    Kentucky
    Sophomore

    Gott was one of the top relievers on the Cape last summer, earning all-star honors with 12 saves and a 1.29 ERA. He also won the league’s reliever of the year award. This spring, Kentucky wisely kept him in the closer’s role, where he excelled again. Gott finished with nine saves, a 2.16 ERA and 38 strikeouts in just 25 innings pitched.

    Kyle Hunter – LHP – 5’11 180
    Dartmouth
    Junior

    Hunter had strong freshman and sophomore seasons at Dartmouth, pitching exactly 62 innings both years and posting an ERA around three to go with good strikeout numbers. His junior year was a bit of a struggle as Hunter finished with an ERA over five.

    Chase Johnson – RHP – 6’3 190
    Cal Poly
    Sophomore

    After starting his freshman season in the rotation, Johnson moved to the bullpen and has been a mainstay since. This year, he led the team with 25 appearances and had a 3.34 ERA. He struck out 31 in 35 innings.

    Josh King – RHP – 6’0 171
    Marshall
    Sophomore

    King is another guy who had an impressive season as a reliever. Making 23 appearances, he posted a team-best 2.30 ERA to go with 42 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched.

    Austin Kubitza – RHP – 6’5 202
    Rice
    Sophomore

    A seventh-round pick out of high school in 2010, Kubitza earned Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors last season when he had a 2.34 ERA and 102 strikeouts. Kubitza reprised his Friday starter role this season, finishing 6-5 with a 2.69 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 80.1 innings.

    Brandon McNitt – RHP – 5’10 170
    Stony Brook
    Sophomore

    McNitt came to Stony Brook all the way from California, and of course is now heading to Omaha. He’s had a big hand in the team’s success. The America East Rookie of the Year in 2011, McNitt earned first-team all-conference honors this year. He is 8-2 with a 2.26 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 87.2 innings.

    Philip Pfeifer – LHP – 6’0 195
    Vanderbilt
    Freshman

    Pfeifer was a 44th-round pick out of high school but honored his commitment to Vanderbilt. He pitched out of the bullpen as a freshman, putting up a 3.24 ERA in 11 appearances.

    Jimmy Reed – LHP – 6’0 163
    Maryland
    Junior

    Reed was the closer for the Terps this season and finished with eight saves and a 2.70 ERA. He struck out 52 in 60 innings. A junior, Reed was drafted this year, going in the 21st round to the Yankees.

    Matt Troupe – RHP – 6’2 180
    Arizona
    Freshman

    A 16th-round pick of the Yankees out of high school last year, Troupe has become a valuable bullpen arm for the Wildcats this year. In 22 appearances, he has a 3.90 ERA and he has struck out 39 in 32.1 innings.

    Trevor Williams – RHP – 6’3 228
    Arizona State
    Sophomore

    Williams had a tremendous sophomore season with the Sun Devils. On his way to all-conference honors, he went 12-2 with a 2.05 ERA. Though he only struck out 59 in 109.2 innings, he also only walked 13. Williams has been invited to Team USA.

    Position Players

    Kevin Brown – OF – 6’0 193 – Bryant – Junior
    Dominic Ficociello – 1B – 6’4 185 – Arkansas – Sophomore
    Jay Gonzalez – OF – 5’9 168 – Auburn – Sophomore
    *Reed Gragnani – OF – 5’11 180 – Virginia – Junior
    Conrad Gregor – INF/OF – 6’3 220 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
    Jake Hernandez – C – 6’1 195 – Southern California – Sophomore
    Pi’ikea Kitamura – INF – 6’1 195 – Hawai’i – Junior
    Cody Kulp – OF – 6’2 204 – Shippensburg – Junior
    A.J. La Bruna – SS – 5’10 165 – Duke – Sophomore
    Michael Montville – OF – 6’2 200 – Maryland – Sophomore
    J.T. Riddle – OF/SS – 6’3 185 – Kentucky – Sophomore
    Max Rossiter – C – 5’11 184 – Arizona State – Junior
    Derek Toadvine – SS/CF – 5’11 165 – Kent State – Sophomore

    Kevin Brown – OF – 6’0 193
    Bryant
    Junior

    Brown has been a standout since day one at Bryant. He was the NEC Rookie of the Year in 2010 before turning in a solid sophomore season last year. This season, Brown hit .281 with a team-best nine home runs, 16 doubles and 35 RBI.

    Dominic Ficociello – 1B – 6’4 185
    Arkansas
    Sophomore

    A 23rd-round pick out of high school, Ficociello has been mentioned as one of the top prospects in his class since he arrived at Arkansas last year, and he hasn’t disappointed. After hitting .335 with 50 RBI last year, Ficociello batted .301 this year with six home runs and 40 RBI. He spent last summer with Team USA.

    Jay Gonzalez – OF – 5’9 168
    Auburn
    Sophomore

    Gonzalez hit under .200 in limited action last year but got more of a chance to play this year and made the most of it. Gonzalez batted .308 with 13 doubles and 19 RBI. He also stole a team-high 30 bases. Out of high school in 2010, he was a 27th-round pick of the Red Sox.

    Reed Gragnani – OF – 5’11 180
    Virginia
    Junior

    Like Gonzalez, Gragnani was also a 27th-round pick of the Red Sox, getting selected in the 2009 draft. Since then, he’s been a steady performer for the Cavaliers and he hit .311 in 24 games with Orleans last summer. This spring, Gragnani batted .362 in 20 games.

    Conrad Gregor – INF/OF – 6’3 220
    Vanderbilt
    Sophomore

    Gregor wad drafted in the 40th round out of high school but headed for Nashville and promptly hit .353 as a freshman last year. There was no sophomore slump this year, as Gregor hit .328 with three home runs, 20 doubles and 35 RBI. He also had a team-best .439 on-base percentage.

    Jake Hernandez – C – 6’1 195
    Southern California
    Sophomore

    A 22nd round pick of the Tigers out of high school, Hernandez hit only .200 in limited action last year. He had more success this year, finishing with a .286 average.

    Pi’ikea Kitamura – INF – 6’1 195
    Hawai’i
    Junior

    Kitamura took over the shortstop position for Hawai’i this year and earned first-team all-WAC honors with a great season. He hit .311 with nine doubles and 29 RBI.

    Cody Kulp – OF – 6’2 204
    Shippensburg
    Junior

    Kulp has had a good career at Shippensburg, a D-II school in Pennsylvania and he’s hinted that he can compete at a higher level. Last summer, he was tabbed as the No. 2 prospect in the New York Collegiate Baseball League by Perfect Game. This spring, Kulp hit .304 with four home runs and 32 RBI.

    A.J. La Bruna – SS – 5’10 165
    Duke
    Sophomore

    La Bruna has been the starting shortstop for the Blue Devils since he arrived on campus. He hasn’t shined with the bat yet, hitting .241 last year and batting .207 this year.

    Michael Montville – OF – 6’2 200
    Maryland
    Sophomore

    Montville hit .211 in spot duty as a freshman. He saw some more action this year and finished at .234 with four home runs and 16 RBI.

    J.T. Riddle – OF/SS – 6’3 185
    Kentucky
    Sophomore

    Riddle was a 35th-round pick out of high school. After an impressive freshman season, he earned all-star honors in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League and was named by Baseball America as the circuit’s third-best prospect. This spring, Riddle hit .279 with five homers and 38 RBI.

    Max Rossiter – C – 5’11 184
    Arizona State
    Junior

    A junior college transfer, Rossiter has an immediate impact in his first season with the Sun Devils. He hit .326 with two home runs, nine doubles and 18 RBI. Rossiter was a 46th-round draft pick after his sophomore year in the juco ranks.

    Derek Toadvine – SS/CF – 5’11 165
    Kent State
    Sophomore

    Toadvine has been a mainstay in the lineup for the Omaha-bound Golden Flashes. He’s hitting .255 with 15 RBI while holding down the second base job.

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    2011 Early Look: Orleans Firebirds

    firebird1.jpgOrleans Firebirds
    Manager: Kelly Nicholson
    2010 Record: 23-19-2

    It took me a lot longer to do this Orleans early look than all the others, mostly because the Firebirds have 35 players listed on their roster. Now, it’s taking me longer still, because I don’t how how to sum it all up. It could go a lot of different ways.

    I can only imagine how the Firebirds feel.

    They aren’t in a vastly different boat than all the other teams in the league, but there does seem to be more uncertainty here than with a lot of rosters. For one thing, the Firebirds have 13 juniors, which might be as many as all the other teams combined. They also have six players who were drafted this week.

    Throw in a few players in super regionals and some Team USA questions, and it’s a wonder anyone knows who’s coming and going.

    But that’s not to say that the Firebirds can’t put something together this season. Plenty of teams juggle then deliver big summers. This team has the talent to do that.

    In Kurt Heyer and Michael Wacha, Orleans has two potentially dominant pitchers. The offense looks even better, with veterans like Steve Selsky and Jayce Boyd leading a group that’s had a lot of success this year.

    Beyond that, I really have no idea how it will all shake out for the Firebirds. But it could certainly be good.

    Roster Rundown
    Returning Players: 5
    Juniors: 13
    Sophomores: 19
    Freshmen: 3

    Notable

  • If by some chance Kurt Heyer and Michael Wacha both make it to Orleans, the Firebirds will have perhaps the two best sophomore pitchers in the country, and probably the two best in the league. Things are way up in the air for Wacha, who’s on the Team USA roster and still pitching in postseason play. Heyer may make it, but he could also get a Team USA invite.

  • Nick Mutz was a mystery for a while, but I eventually learned that he did not play for any college team this year. However, he got a pre-draft workout with the Angels, flashed a mid-90’s fastball and got drafted in the ninth round. I don’t remember any players with a story quite like that, although it seems vaguely familiar. I might just be thinking of Summer Catch. Will Jessica Biel be around?

  • Kenny Long didn’t get drafted this year but he’s been a lights-out reliever the last two seasons at Illinois State and last summer in Orleans. He should be a key to the Firebirds’ bullpen this year.

  • Among the 22 position players on the Orleans roster, there are plenty of stand-outs. The intriguing thing is the number of players who are trying to bounce back. Steve Nyisztor and Steve Selsky have produced in the past but missed big chunks of this season. A couple of other guys had struggles and will be looking for rebounds.

  • Nyisztor got a lot of attention in the Northwoods League last year, with Baseball America raving about his five-tool potential. If he’s healthy, he might be an MVP candidate this summer.

  • Nyisztor and Jake Stewart give Orleans the top two prospects from the summer leagues that are probably right behind the Cape in terms of talent. Nyisztor in the Northwoods, and Stewart in Alaska.

  • I haven’t sorted it all out quite yet, but I think Zeke DeVoss is the highest-selected 2011 draftee who’s on a Cape League roster for this summer. He went in the third round.

  • Jason Wheeler isn’t far behind. He was an eighth-rounder this year.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Kurt Heyer
    2. Michael Wacha
    3. Steve Nyisztor
    4. Jake Stewart
    5. Nick Mutz

    Pitchers

    Matt Boyd – LHP/1B – 6’3 215 – Oregon State – Sophomore
    *John Brebbia – RHP – 6’2 200 – Elon – Junior
    Pat Butler – RHP – 6’5 225 – UConn – Sophomore
    Matt Dunbar – LHP – 6’2 215 – College of Southern Nevada – Sophomore
    Tyler Gebler – RHP – 6’5 235 – Rutgers – Sophomore
    Trevor Gott – RHP – 6’0 190 – Kentucky – Freshman
    Kurt Heyer – RHP – 6’3 205 – Arizona – Sophomore
    Kyle Hunter – LHP – 5’11 180 – Dartmouth – Sophomore
    Tyler Johson – RHP – 6’1 195 – Stony Brook – Junior
    *Kenny Long – LHP – 6’1 155 – Illinois State – Junior
    Nick Mutz – RHP – 6’1 200 – Western Oklahoma – Freshman
    Michael Wacha – RHP – 6’6 200 – Texas A&M – Sophomore
    Jason Wheeler – LHP – 6’6 255 – Loyola Marymount – Junior

    Matt Boyd – LHP/1B – 6’3 215
    Oregon State
    Sophomore

    Boyd was a two-way standout last year, earning several Freshman All-America nods. He focused almost exclusively on pitching this year with great results. Working out of the pen, Boyd made 29 appearances, recorded a team-best 1.45 ERA and struck out 35 in 43.1 innings. He also saved four games.

    John Brebbia – RHP – 6’2 200
    Elon
    Junior

    Brebbia struggled in his first two years at Elon but had a pretty good campaign for Orleans last summer. Building off that, Brebbia turned everything around back at school. He made 27 appearances out of the pen and put up a team-best 1.76 ERA. He struck out 35 and walked just eight in 41 innings. Brebbia was picked in the 30th round earlier this week.

    Pat Butler – RHP – 6’5 225
    UConn
    Sophomore

    Butler wasn’t at the top of his game last year, with an ERA almost touching six as a freshman. This year, he’s been a little better, but his ERA is still 5.33 and he has walked twice as many hitters as he has struck out.

    Matt Dunbar – LHP – 6’2 215
    College of Southern Nevada
    Sophomore

    Playing for the school Bryce Harper made famous, Dunbar went 5-3 this year with a 3.62 ERA, and he struck out 66 in 49.2 innings.

    Tyler Gebler – RHP – 6’5 235
    Rutgers
    Sophomore

    Gebler burst onto the scene as a freshman last year, setting a new school record with 12 saves. This year, Rutgers moved Gebler into the starting rotation, and he went 5-5 with a 3.22 ERA. He struck out 53.

    Trevor Gott – RHP – 6’0 190
    Kentucky
    Freshman

    The Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year, Gott headed to Lexington and turned in a strong first season. Pitching in relief, Gott had a 3.62 ERA to go with 34 strikeouts in 27.1 innings.

    Kurt Heyer – RHP – 6’3 205
    Arizona
    Sophomore

    After shining as a freshman in the weekend rotation, Heyer became perhaps the top sophomore pitcher in the nation this year. In 20 starts, he went 8-5 with a 2.41 ERA and struck out 134 in 138.1 innings pitched, with just 26 walks. He was an all-conference pick and ranked fourth in the nation in strikeouts, up in the rarefied air of Trevor Bauer and Danny Hultzen.

    Kyle Hunter – LHP – 5’11 180
    Dartmouth
    Sophomore

    Hunter has had two solid seasons for Dartmouth. Last year, he led the team in ERA. This year, he went 5-3 with a 3.77 ERA and struck out 43.

    Tyler Johson – RHP – 6’1 195
    Stony Brook
    Junior

    Johnson was an all-conference pick last year as a sophomore and turned in a strong junior campaign this year. As a member of the weekend rotation, he went 9-3 with a 2.30 ERA. In 78.1 innings, he struck out 62 and walked just 17.

    Kenny Long – LHP – 6’1 155
    Illinois State
    Junior

    After struggling as a freshman, Long has been a dynamic closer for the Illinois State the last two seasons. He saved nine games last year then saved six this year, while also posting an ERA of 0.92 and striking out 45 in 39.1 innings. Last summer for Orleans, Long led the team in appearances, had a 1.71 ERA and struck out 36 in 32 innings.

    Nick Mutz – RHP – 6’1 200
    Western Oklahoma
    Freshman

    Mutz is a really interesting story. He pitched for NAIA Dakota State last year, then left and didn’t pitch anywhere this spring. But he went for a pre-draft workout with the Angels and they liked him so much, they drafted him in the ninth round. The plan for the Angels is to follow him on the Cape this summer. With a mid-90’s fastball, he should be a good player to watch.

    Michael Wacha – RHP – 6’6 200
    Texas A&M
    Sophomore

    Wacha was a Freshman All-American last year and has continued to shine this year, going 8-3 with a 2.24 ERA and 106 strikeouts. But I’m not sure we’ll see him in Orleans. His team is still alive in the NCAA tournament, and he’s on the Team USA roster.

    Jason Wheeler – LHP – 6’6 255
    Loyola Marymount
    Junior

    Wheeler is listed at 6’8 by Orleans, but the Loyola web site has him at 6’6. Either way, though, he’s a big man who’s had some big success. Last summer, he was the Northwoods League Pitcher of the Year. This spring, he went 6-4 with a 3.84 ERA. The brother of former Brewster Whitecap Ryan Wheeler, Jason was drafted earlier this week in the eighth round by the Twins.

    Position Players

    Andrew Aplin – OF – 6’0 190 – Arizona State – Sophomore
    *Jayce Boyd – INF/OF – 6’3 190 – Florida State – Sophomore
    Zeke DeVoss – OF/MIF – 5’10 175 – Miami – Sophomore
    Matt Duffy – INF – 6’2 170 – Long Beach State – Sophomore
    Rudy Flores – 1B – 6’3 215 – Florida International – Sophomore
    Anthony Gomez – INF – 6’0 190 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
    Reed Gragnani – INF – 5’11 180 – Virginia – Sophomore
    Jake Hernandez – C – 6’1 200 – USC – Freshman
    Matt Lowenstein – OF – 6’4 225 – Loyola Marymount – Sophomore
    Mike Marjama – C/3B – 6’2 205 – Long Beach State – Junior
    Nick Natale – OF – 6’2 185 – Palm Beach Atlantic – Junior
    Tony Negrin – OF – 5’7 175 – La Salle – Junior
    Steve Nyisztor – INF – 6’4 200 – Rutgers – Sophomore
    *Will Piwnica-Worms – OF – 6’3 205 – Duke – Junior
    Steve Selsky – OF – 6’1 205 – Arizona – Junior
    Tarran Senay – OF – 6’2 210 – NC State – Sophomore
    *Ronnie Shaeffer – C – 6’2 205 – UC Irvine – Junior
    Alex Sherrod – OF – 6’2 200 – USC – Junior
    Jake Stewart – OF – 6’3 210 – Stanford – Sophomore
    *Maxx Tissenbaum – INF – 6’0 200 – Stony Brook – Sophomore
    Ben Waldrip – 1B – 6’6 245 – Jacksonville State – Junior
    Brandon Williams – 1B/3B – 6’1 195 – Georgia State – Junior

    Andrew Aplin – OF – 6’0 190
    Arizona State
    Sophomore

    Aplin hit .337 as a part-timer last year. This season, he’s gotten more of a chance and has hit .285 with a homer and 19 RBI. Aplin was drafted in the 33rd round out of high school.

    Jayce Boyd – INF/OF – 6’3 190
    Florida State
    Sophomore

    A 19th-rounder out of high school, Boyd was one of the top freshman hitters in the country a year ago, batting .326 with eight homers. He then came to Orleans, where he hit .236 with two home runs and 16 RBI. This spring, Boyd kept it up, hitting .335 with six homers and 56 RBI.

    Zeke DeVoss – OF/MIF – 5’10 175
    Miami
    Sophomore

    DeVoss hit .338 this spring and stole 32 bases. A draft-eligible sophomore, his speed caught a lot of eyes, and DeVoss was picked by the Cubs in the third round earlier this week. We’ll see if he makes it to the Cape.

    Matt Duffy – INF – 6’2 170
    Long Beach State
    Sophomore

    Duffy hit .244 as a freshman after he grabbed a starting job on the infield. This year, he hit .265.

    Rudy Flores – 1B – 6’3 215
    Florida International
    Sophomore

    Flores had a huge freshman season last year, batting .357 with five homers and 23 RBI. He saw a bit of a downturn in average this year, finishing at .291, but still produced. He hit eight homers and 21 doubles and drove in 52 RBI.

    Anthony Gomez – INF – 6’0 190
    Vanderbilt
    Sophomore

    Gomez didn’t waste any time making an impression as a freshman last year. He hit .379 to lead the Commodores. This year, he’s stayed hot and is hitting .342 with 43 RBI.

    Reed Gragnani – INF – 5’11 180
    Virginia
    Sophomore

    Gragnani started only 12 games last year but made the most of his time and hit .365. In a bigger role this season, Gragnani has hit .278 with 31 RBI. He was a 27th-round pick of the Red Sox out of high school.

    Jake Hernandez – C – 6’1 200
    USC
    Freshman

    A 22nd-round pick out of high school, Hernandez had some struggles in his first season with the Trojans. He started only 12 games and hit .200.

    Matt Lowenstein – OF – 6’4 225
    Loyola Marymount
    Sophomore

    Lowenstein was the WCC Freshman of the Year a season ago after hitting .344 in his debut. This year, he led Loyola with a .349 average and a .437 OBP.

    Mike Marjama – C/3B – 6’2 205
    Long Beach State
    Junior

    A transfer from Sacramento City College, Marjama had a solid first season in Long Beach, hitting .290 with a homer and 27 RBI. He was drafted this year in the 23rd round.

    Nick Natale – OF – 6’2 185
    Palm Beach Atlantic
    RS Junior

    Natale started his career at Rice and then moved on to St. Petersburg College. In his first year at Palm Beach Atlantic, he fought through injuries to hit .281.

    Tony Negrin – OF – 5’7 175
    La Salle
    Junior

    Negrin has been a steady performer throughout his career at La Salle, and he hit .276 this season.

    Steve Nyisztor – INF – 6’4 200
    Rutgers
    Sophomore

    Nyisztor came into the 2011 season with a lot of hype after hitting .410 as a freshman and earning top prospect honors in the Northwoods League last summer. His sophomore season didn’t go like he hoped — Nyisztor played in only 12 games. I can’t find anything certain, but I’m assuming it was due to injury.

    Will Piwnica-Worms – OF – 6’3 205
    Duke
    Junior

    As a sophomore Piwnica-Worms hit .313 with six homers and 44 RBI then came to Orleans and hit .200. This spring, he hit .264 with two homers and 31 RBI.

    Steve Selsky – OF – 6’1 205
    Arizona
    Junior

    Selsky had one of the best seasons in the Pac-10 a year ago when he hit .370. After a solid summer in Orleans — he hit .273 with four home runs — Selsky missed much of this season and is a late addition to the Arizona roster. He was drafted 33rd round this year.

    Tarran Senay – OF – 6’2 210
    NC State
    Sophomore

    A 38th-round pick out of high school, Senay has been solid for NC State. He hit .264 this year with two home runs.

    Ronnie Shaeffer – C – 6’2 205
    UC Irvine
    Junior

    Shaeffer has put together a good career at UC Irvine. He hit .388 as a freshman, .318 last year and .271 this year. He played in Orleans last summer and hit .190.

    Alex Sherrod – OF – 6’2 200
    USC
    Junior

    After hitting .315 as a sophomore, Sherrod blossomed this year into one of USC’s best hitters. He finished at .318 with six home runs and 35 RBI.

    Jake Stewart – OF – 6’3 210
    Stanford
    Sophomore

    A 14th-round pick out of high school, Stewart struggled with the bat as a freshman but then earned top prospect honors in the Alaska League. This year, he hit .292 with 15 doubles and 19 RBI.

    Maxx Tissenbaum – INF – 6’0 200
    Stony Brook
    Sophomore

    Tissenbaum was third on the team last season with a .344 batting average. He continued to emerge as a top-flight player this year, hitting .343 with five home runs, 20 doubles and 43 RBI.

    Ben Waldrip – 1B – 6’6 245
    Jacksonville State
    Junior

    Waldrip hails from Medford, Mass., and started his career St. Anselm. He then went to Cypress College before transferring to Jacksonville State for this season. He made a splash for the Gamecocks, hitting .344 with 10 home runs. He was a 40th-round pick this year.

    Brandon Williams – 1B/3B – 6’1 195
    Georgia State
    Junior

    Williams had a strong junior season, putting himself into the Georgia State career record books in several categories. He finished at .342 with 36 RBI.

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    Orleans Notes

    I’ll get the traditional early looks going once the college season is a few weeks old, but for now I wanted to offer up some first impressions on the teams of 2011, while also taking a peek at the past and what their stars of 2010 are up to now. Let’s begin with Orleans . . .

    It was a nice second year for the Firebirds, who went 23-19-2 and made it to the East Division championship series. And for the first time since 1999 — when Lance Niekro took home the hardware — Orleans was home to the Cape League MVP. Hawaii’s Kolten Wong captured the honor after hitting .341.

    2010 Notes

  • Wong, a junior, has been named a first-team preseason All-American by Baseball America. BA also ranked him as the 24th-best draft prospect in the country. Hawaii opens its season on Feb. 18 against Oregon.

  • Florida’s Preston Tucker struggled in 27 games with the Firebirds, but you can expect a bounce back this spring. Tucker’s Gators are ranked No. 1 by BA and Tucker is a second-team All-American.

  • Duke two-way star Marcus Stroman had a huge summer on the mound last year, finishing with 10 saves and an ERA of 0.00. The reigning ACC Freshman of the Year, Stroman had a good showing with the bat in Duke’s fall classic.

  • Vandy’s Jason Esposito is also a second-team All-American according to BA, and he’s ranked just behind Wong in the list of top 50 prospects.

    • 2011 Notes

  • Florida State’s Jayce Boyd and Illinois State’s Kenny Long are the lone returnees currently listed on the 2011 roster. Boyd had a nice freshman year and is rated by BA as the 29th-best sophomore in the country. Long quietly had a really good year out of the bullpen last summer, finishing with a 1.13 ERA.

  • Sophomore Matt Boyd led Oregon State in ERA last season and had a solid summer in the West Coast League.

  • Stanford outfielder Jake Stewart was named the top prospect in the Alaska League last summer after hitting .270 and flashing great tools.

  • Florida International’s Rudy Flores was a third-team freshman All-American according to Ping last year after hitting .357. He was also the fifth-ranked prospect in the Valley League, where he hit over .400.

  • Steve Nyisztor was Rutgers’ top hitter last spring, finishing with a .410 average. Baseball America ranks him as the 13th-best sophomore in the country, way up there among players who will be on the Cape.

  • Anthony Gomez burst onto the scene for Vanderbilt last year, hitting a team-best .379. He was first among all SEC freshmen in hitting.

  • USC freshman catcher Jake Hernandez was a 22nd-round draft pick in 2010.

  • UCLA freshman pitcher Adam Plutko was a sixth-round pick.

    • Posted on

    New Firebirds

    Vanderbilt sophomore Jason Esposito is now listed on Orleans’ online roster, as expected. And he’s not the only addition.

    USC sophomore infielder Taylor Wrenn was on the first roster Orleans released but wasn’t listed when I was writing the preview. He’s back on there now. Wrenn was a 25th-round pick out of junior college last year and is hitting .258 this spring.

    Also on the roster is Arizona State junior Matt Newman. The outfielder/pitcher hit .305 last spring and spent the summer with Team USA. He’s hitting .264 with 18 extra-base hits this year. He hasn’t pitched at all.

    Posted on

    Early Look: Orleans

    firebird1.jpgOrleans Firebirds
    Manager: Kelly Nicholson
    2009 Record: 25-17-2

    Bourne became the story of the summer last year when it won its first league championship. How different would the stories have been if not for a Saturday night comeback? In the first game of their semifinal series, Orleans led Bourne 2-0 going into the ninth inning. The Braves promptly scored three runs in their last at-bat and went on to a sweep.

    The comeback went into the annals as another piece of Bourne magic, but it also highlighted how close Orleans was to making its own run. It marked the second straight year that Orleans suffered semifinal heartbreak. In 2008, Harwich beat Orleans in that classic 18-inning game.

    You can bet Kelly Nicholson and Co., would like to get back over the hump this season, and they’ll bring in a talented group to give it a go.

    While the Firebirds only have four returning players — and none who were Cape League stars — I’d call still call them a veteran team, and I think that’s going to be big for them. Right now, there are only four freshmen on the roster, and just one junior. All the rest are sophomores, and sophomores make the Cape League go. They’re the guys with success — and disappointment under their belt — and a Cape League summer is their first real chance to establish themselves as prospects for the next year’s draft. Scouts are watching them more than they’re watching anybody else.

    On top of that, I think this is a very good year to have a lot of sophomores.

    The college draft crop for this year is a bit thin, but from everything I read, that won’t be the case next year. In the sophomore class, there’s top-shelf talent and there’s depth. Cape League teams will benefit, and Orleans is lined up to benefit more than most.

    When I’m writing these Early Looks, I sometimes pencil in the five players I’m excited to see before I dive into research. I do it based on what I already know. I did that with Orleans — then changed four of them. It’s not that those four are struggling — they’re not. It’s just that the Firebirds have a lot of guys who will generate a lot of buzz. From polished bats like Preston Tucker, Steve Selsky and Kolten Wong to big arms like Tyler Anderson, Mitchell Lambson and Alex Panteliodis, the Firebirds have quite a few guys with talent and the college production to match. So far, they haven’t been hit too hard by Team USA, either.

    The caveats are always the same, of course. You never know what’s going to happen, who’s going to show up, who’s going to struggle. But I do know this: right now, on April 25, I’m liking what I see.

    Roster Rundown
    Returning Players: 4
    Juniors: 1
    Sophomores: 23
    Freshmen: 4

    Notable

  • We’ll start with the remarkable story of Josh Poytress. A highly-touted lefty from Fresno State, Poytress arrived in Orleans last summer and, before he ever pitched, started dealing with swelling in his arm. It was eventually identified as a life-threatening blood clot, and Poytress went to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for treatment and surgery. Obviously, he missed the rest of the summer season, but the surgery saved his career and he’s back pitching for Fresno State this spring. He’s expected back in Orleans this summer, and here’s hoping this trip is a lot better. You can read about Poytress’ story on the Beth Isreal web site here.

  • The Cape League hasn’t had many legitimate two-way players in recent years. Most guys spend the summer focusing on one thing. If Nick Ramirez doesn’t go with Team USA, it’ll be interesting to see what he does. He’s got a big arm out of the bullpen, but he’s also the most powerful hitter in the Titans’ lineup. Either way, he’ll be a fun player to watch.

  • On the subject of two-way players, I assumed Duke’s Marcus Stroman was more of a shortstop than a pitcher since he stands only 5’9. But from what I’ve read, scouts like him more as a pitcher. He made his first start for Duke this weekend and struck out 10 in a complete game. So yeah, a pitcher.

  • I keep seeing Ryan Carpenter’s name pop up when I’m looking at prospects stuff, but he hasn’t lived up to his potential quite yet. A tall lefty with a big arm, you can see why scouts are drawn to him. Maybe this summer will be the time when he puts it all together. That wouldn’t surprise me.

  • Tommy Kahnle was one of those anonymous relievers for Orleans last year, with good but not earth-shattering numbers. I should have been paying more attention. Kahnle was the Division II national tournament’s Most Outstanding Player as a freshman at Lynn University. He’s a big strikeout guy and he could be the next small-school pitcher to make a big Cape League splash.

  • I don’t think Oregon’s Tyler Anderson will wow anybody with his velocity, but he’s got the potential to be one of the best pitchers in the league. He’s been outstanding this spring, good enough that he’s earned an invite to Team USA.

  • Go ahead and put Preston Tucker down as my Home Run Derby pick. Too early? Absolutely, but I’ll stick with it. Tucker hit 15 homers as a freshman at Florida and he’s on pace for similar numbers this year. He’s way up there on the list of top incoming hitters, and probably right at the top when you’re talking about power. Definitely a player to watch.

  • Steve Selsky did not have great numbers for Orleans last summer, but this spring, he has become one of the top players in the Pac 10. If he continues it in the summer, he’ll make the Firebirds very happy.

  • The Firebirds have two locals on the roster. Jack Leathersich hails from Beverly, and he was the top prospect in the Valley League last year. Elon’s John Brebbia will be even closer to home; he’s originally from Chatham.

  • I don’t think every Cape League team has an Arizona State Sun Devil, but it kind of seems that way. The Sun Devils have a large and talented crop of sophomores, so the Cape is a natural destination for many of them. Orleans will welcome Mitchell Lambson, Drew Maggi, and Riccio Torrez, all of whom are having great seasons.

  • In the interest of full disclosure, I’d like to say that I tend to have man-crushes on small, fast center fielders. Kolten Wong, you’re on my list. He was the WAC Freshman of the Year last season and played for Team USA.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Preston Tucker
    2. Kolten Wong
    3. Nick Ramirez
    4. Tyler Anderson
    5. Steve Selsky

    Pitchers

    Tyler Anderson – LHP – 6’3 210 – Oregon – Sophomore
    John Brebbia – RHP – 6’1 185 – Elon – Sophomore
    Pat Butler – RHP – 6’5 200 – Connecticut – Freshman
    Ryan Carpenter – LHP – 6’5 228 – Gonzaga – Sophomore
    Will Clinard – RHP – 6’4 228 – Vanderbilt – RS Freshman
    Andrew Kittredge – RHP – 6’1 202 – Washington – Sophomore
    *Tommy Kahnle – RHP – 6’0 225 – Lynn – Sophomore
    Mitchell Lambson – LHP – 6’1 200 – Arizona State – Sophomore
    Jack Leathersich – LHP – 6’0 205 – UMass Lowell – Sophomore
    Burny Mitchem – RHP – 6’6 260 – Dayton – RS Sophomore
    Alex Panteliodis – LHP – 6’2 230 – Florida – Sophomore
    Josh Poytress – LHP – 6’1 190 – Fresno State – Sophomore
    Nick Ramirez – LHP/1B – 6’3 225 – Cal State Fullerton – Sophomore
    Kyle Simon – RHP – 6’5 205 – Arizona – Sophomore
    Matt Sisto – RHP – 6’5 230 – Hawaii – Sophomore
    Marcus Stroman – RHP/SS – 5’9 180 – Duke – Freshman

    Tyler Anderson – LHP – 6’3 210
    Oregon
    Sophomore

    Anderson was one of the best arms in George Horton’s first recruiting class at Oregon, which came to campus last season. Anderson got hit pretty hard as a freshman, but this season, he’s living up to the initial promise. In 10 appearances as the Ducks’ Friday starter, Anderson is 6-3 with a 2.64 ERA. In 61.1 innings, he has 65 strikeouts and 20 walks. He’s emerging as one of the best pitchers in the Pac 10, which is saying something when you look at the arms at UCLA and Arizona State. Anderson is starting to get some national attention too, and he has recently been invited to Team USA.

    John Brebbia – RHP – 6’1 185
    Elon
    Sophomore

    Brebbia hails from Chatham, but he’ll be spending most of his time at Eldredge Park this summer in a Firebirds uniform. Brebbia is pitching out of the bullpen as a sophomore for Elon. In 17 games, he has an 8.39 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 24.2 innings.

    Pat Butler – RHP – 6’5 200
    Connecticut
    Freshman

    Butler is also from a Chatham, but it’s Chatham, N.J. As a freshman with the Huskies this spring, Butler has a 6.75 ERA in six appearances (five starts). Connecticut has sent quite a few young, long-on-potential pitchers to the Cape in recent years, and Butler seems to fit that bill. He was picked in the 41st round out of high school.

    Ryan Carpenter – LHP – 6’5 228
    Gonzaga
    Sophomore

    Carpenter has plenty of potential. He was rated as the second-best prospect in the Alaska League last summer, and Aaron Fitt liked him as a breakout star this season. The numbers aren’t there yet, though. Carpenter has 35 strikeouts in 31 innings, but he’s also got a 7.20 ERA, and opponents are hitting .295 off him. Still, he’s a player scouts will be watching closely. He was picked in the 21st round out of high school.

    Will Clinard – RHP – 6’4 228
    Vanderbilt
    RS Freshman

    Clinard redshirted last season then had a strong summer in the NECBL. He’ll be back in New England this summer with a strong foundation to build on. So far this season, he has a 3.13 ERA while pitching mostly out of the bullpen. He has 24 strikeouts in 31.2 innings. Clinard was a 37th-round pick out of high school.

    Andrew Kittredge – RHP – 6’1 202
    Washington
    Sophomore

    Kittredge pitched mostly out of the bullpen as a freshman last year and was a workhorse, striking out 64 in 71 innings. He followed that campaign with a big summer for the NECBL’s Newport Gulls, earning all-league honors with a 2.43 ERA, 41 strikeouts and just three walks. Kittredge has pitched mostly as a starter this spring, posting a 5.97 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 18 walks.

    Tommy Kahnle – RHP – 6’0 225
    Lynn
    Sophomore

    Kahnle made the trek from his native New York to Boca Raton, Fla., and D-II Lynn University. He promptly became one of his team’s most explosive arms. Pitching as a starter and a closer last year, he had an ERA of 4.54 but he struck out 87 in 79.1 innings. He was the closer at the end of the season and he saved Lynn’s victory in the Division II national championship game. He was named the tournament’s most outstanding player. Kahnle played with Orleans last summer and had a 2.41 ERA in 15 relief appearances. This spring, he’s starting and he has a 4.57 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 63 innings.

    Mitchell Lambson – LHP – 6’1 200
    Arizona State
    Sophomore

    Lambson had a record-breaking freshman season in Tempe. Pitching out of the bullpen, he set a new ASU freshman record for strikeouts with 99 in 83.2 innings. Opponents hit .199 against him and he allowed only 58 hits in those 83.2 innings. This year, Lambson has picked up where he left off. In 23 appearances, he has a 2.70 ERA with 55 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 43.1 innings. Jordan Swagerty has become ASU’s closer, but Lambson is just as big a bullpen weapon.

    Jack Leathersich – LHP – 6’0 205
    UMass Lowell
    Sophomore

    Leathersich is a native of Beverly, Mass, and he’s having a pretty good sophomore season for UMass Lowell. He’s made eight starts, and he has a 4.59 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 49 innings of work. Last summer, Leathersich was dominant in the Valley League with 64 strikeouts in 37 innings as a reliever. PG Crosschecker tabbed him as the Valley League’s top prospect.

    Burny Mitchem – RHP – 6’6 260
    Dayton
    RS Sophomore

    Mitchem might be one of the biggest guys on the Cape this summer. This season for the Flyers, Mitchem is 4-6 with a 5.52 ERA. He’s given up a lot of hits, but he has also struck out 64 and walked only 14 in 60.1 innings.

    Alex Panteliodis – LHP – 6’2 230
    Florida
    Sophomore

    Panteliodis was one of several talented arms in Florida’s big recruiting class a year ago. This season, he has established himself as the best. Pitching in the Friday starter role, Panteliodis is 6-2 with a 3.18 ERA. He has 45 strikeouts and 10 walks.

    Josh Poytress – LHP – 6’1 190
    Fresno State
    Sophomore

    As mentioned above, Poytress had a life-threatening blood clot in Orleans last summer, but it was resolved with surgery, and Poytress has made a quick recovery. A 16th-round pick out of high school, Poytress is 5-3 this year for the Bulldogs with a 4.47 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 58.1 innings.

    Nick Ramirez – LHP/1B – 6’3 225
    Cal State Fullerton
    Sophomore

    Ramirez was a Freshman All-American last year when he hit .287 with 10 homers and put up a 2.61 ERA as a reliever. This season, Ramirez has continued his emergence as one of the best two-way players in the country. On the mound, he’s got a 3.91 ERA, but he’s really shined at the plate. He’s hitting .371 with eight homers, 18 doubles and a team-best 43 RBI. Ramirez has been invited to Team USA.

    Kyle Simon – RHP – 6’5 205
    Arizona
    Sophomore

    Simon doesn’t have the strikeout numbers of most of his future Orleans teammates, but he’s still having a strong sophomore season. He’s 6-3 with a 3.79 ERA for the Wildcats. In 71.1 innings, he has 36 strikeouts.

    Matt Sisto – RHP – 6’5 230
    Hawaii
    Sophomore

    Hawaii always sends a pitcher or two to the Cape, and Sisto is the representative this year. After a strong freshman season, Sisto has had some struggles this year. He’s 3-4 with a 7.38 ERA.

    Marcus Stroman – RHP/SS – 5’9 180
    Duke
    Freshman

    Stroman was a highly-touted two-way talent in high school, and he got drafted in the 18th round by the Nationals. Stroman had a firm commitment to Duke, though, and he stuck with it. Playing both ways for the Blue Devils, Stroman is starting to make a splash. He’s hitting .252 but he’s pitched well out of the bullpen and he was outstanding Friday (April 23) in the first start of his career. He tossed a complete-game, five-hitter with 10 strikeouts.

    Position Players

    *Matt Koch – C – 6’0 210 – Loyola Marymount – RS Sophomore
    Ronnie Shaeffer – C – 6’2 205 – UC Irvine – Sophomore
    Jayce Boyd – INF- 6’2 185 – Florida State – Freshman
    Drew Maggi – SS – 6’0 180 – Arizona State – Sophomore
    Shon Roe – SS – 6’2 200 – Loyola Marymount – Sophomore
    *Riccio Torrez – INF – 6’0 195 – Arizona State – Sophomore
    Preston Tucker – 1B – 6’0 215 – Florida – Sophomore
    Joe Loftus – OF – 6’4 210 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
    Nick Cox – OF – 6’0 185 – Columbia – Junior
    Will Piwnica-Worms – OF – 6’3 195 – Duke – Sophomore
    *Steve Selsky – OF – 6’1 205 – Arizona – Sophomore
    Kolten Wong – OF – 5’9 190 – Hawaii – Sophomore

    Matt Koch – C – 6’0 210
    Loyola Marymount
    RS Sophomore

    Koch suffered an injury before the start of last season and took a medical redshirt. The injury didn’t keep him out of summer ball and he made it to Orleans, where he hit .191 while starting 32 games behind the plate. This season, Koch is hitting .263 with a team-best 10 home runs and 21 extra- base hits.

    Ronnie Shaeffer – C – 6’2 205
    UC Irvine
    Sophomore

    Shaeffer was a Freshman All-American last season after leading the Anteaters with a .388 batting average. He’s picking up where he left off this season, emerging as one of the top catchers on the West Coast. He’s hitting .350 with three homers and 21 RBI. Last summer, Shaeffer was an all-league pick in the West Coast League.

    Jayce Boyd – INF- 6’2 185
    Florida State
    Freshman

    A 19th-round pick out of high school, Boyd has made an immediate impact in Tallahassee. As a starter at first base and a middle-of-the-order bat, Boyd is hitting .324 with four homers, 10 doubles and 22 RBI.

    Drew Maggi – SS – 6’0 180
    Arizona State
    Sophomore

    Maggi grabbed the starting shortstop job midway through last season and never gave it up as he helped spark ASU’s run to the College World Series. He hit .309, stole 21 bases and scored 63 runs, a school freshman record. Maggi has been a big part of ASU’s huge success this year. Batting leadoff, he’s hitting .385 with a .483 on-base percentage and 23 steals.

    Shon Roe – SS – 6’2 200
    Loyola Marymount
    Sophomore

    Roe hit .259 as a freshman but has taken things up a notch this season. He’s hitting .283 with 10 extra-base hits and 19 RBI.

    Riccio Torrez – INF – 6’0 195
    Arizona State
    Sophomore

    Like Maggi, Torrez is a big part of a sophomore class that’s helped ASU become one of the top teams in the country. Torrez hit .280 as a freshman, and he’s hitting .346 this year with six home runs and 14 doubles. Torrez was a 32nd-round pick out of high school. He was a late arrival to Orleans last year but he made a big impression, hitting .346 with two home runs in 17 games.

    Preston Tucker – 1B – 6’0 215
    Florida
    Sophomore

    Tucker served notice last April that he was a player to watch when he set a school record with 11 RBI in a game against Central Florida. He continued to emerge as one of the best freshmen in the country and ended up leading the Gators in the Triple Crown categories. He hit .364, drove in a school-record 85 and crushed 15 homers. Tucker shared SEC Freshman of the Year honors with LSU’s Matty Ott. This season, Tucker is having another outstanding campaign. He’s hitting .345 with seven homers and 31 RBI.

    Joe Loftus – OF – 6’4 210
    Vanderbilt
    Sophomore

    After hitting .263 in his freshman season with the Commodores, Loftus headed to Harwich, where he hit under .200 in the kind of summer a lot of freshman struggle through on the Cape. Loftus will make the move to Orleans this summer, and he’s having a pretty strong spring. He’s hitting .268 with five homers. Loftus is a Minnesota native and he was a late-round pick of the Twins out of high school.

    Nick Cox – OF – 6’0 185
    Columbia
    Junior

    Cox was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2008 when he hit .355 with 35 steals. He hit .290 last year with 19 steals, but he has only played in 13 games this season because of injuries. Cox hit .293 in the Alaska League last summer.

    Will Piwnica-Worms – OF – 6’3 195
    Duke
    Sophomore

    Piwnica-Worms had a solid freshman season, and he’s been solid again as a sophomore. While starting every game, he’s hitting .307 with three homers, 10 doubles and 30 RBI. He played in the Northwoods League last summer.

    Steve Selsky – OF – 6’1 205
    Arizona
    Sophomore

    Selsky had a decent freshman season and a decent summer with Orleans last year. This year? A little better than decent. Selsky is hitting .421 with six home runs, 23 extra-base hits, 39 RBI and 10 stolen bases. He leads the Wildcats in all those categories and is a shoo-in to be a first-team all-conference pick.

    Kolten Wong – OF – 5’9 190
    Hawaii
    Sophomore

    Wong is a Hawaii native but that didn’t stop scouts from noticing him in high school. In the 2008 draft, he was a 16th-round pick, but he stuck with his commitment to Hawaii, and it’s paying off. Last year, he was picked as a Freshman All-American by several publications and the WAC Freshman of the Year before making Team USA over the summer. This season, Wong is hitting .357 with three homers, 15 extra-base hits, 25 RBI and 10 steals. He has struck out just 10 times in 154 at-bats.