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2012 Early Look: Falmouth Commodores

falmouthlogo.gifFalmouth Commodores
Manager: Jeff Trundy
2011 Record: 19-25

The Commodores had a losing record last season but were a beneficiary of the league’s new playoff system. Like the year before, when Cotuit was under .500 but caught fire in the playoffs, Falmouth was the last team in from the West then caught lightning in a bottle and made the Cape League finals. Unlike Cotuit, Falmouth didn’t win the title, but it was still a season to remember.

I’m sure Jeff Trundy and company wouldn’t mind catching fire in the playoffs again, but they’d probably rather stay hot all the way along. They may end up with the kind of team that can do that.

Falmouth’s roster strikes me as very similar to the group Hyannis brought to the Cape last year — lots of sophomores, not a super amount of prospect hype, but good track records all around. The Harbor Hawks were one of the best teams of the last few years, finishing with a 29-15 record. Whether the blueprint matches up exactly or not, that would be a pretty good result for the Commodores.

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

Notable

  • Gonzaga’s Marco Gonzales is certainly the top player to watch, but I’ll be interested to see what we’re watching him do. He’s a two-way standout, with an average above .300 and an ERA under two. In the past, most two-way players have focused on one thing while on the Cape. Whatever Gonzales, does, he’ll probably be doing it well.

  • For the second time in three years, Falmouth will welcome the Big 12 batting champion to town. Two years ago, it was Kansas State’s Nick Martini. This year, it’s another Jared King, who also plays for K-State. King played in Falmouth last year. He hit .379 this spring.

  • Falmouth has had an Oregon State connection for a number of years, and four Beavers will be making the long trek to Falmouth this year. Jake Rodriguez returns after an all-star campaign in Falmouth last year, while three newcomers will also be in the fold. Two of them — JAce Fry and Ben Wetzler — were among the top prospects in the West Coast League last summer.

  • Wichita State has also been a Falmouth favorite, and this year, the Shockers send Cale Elam, a standout reliever. He has 43 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched this year after putting up similar numbers last season.

  • There are just five freshmen on the Falmouth roster at this point, but they look like a pretty good group. Fry leads Oregon State in ERa and was a ninth-round pick out of high school. Pitchers John Curtiss, Johnny Magliozzi and Daniel Gossett have all had strong debuts, while Casey Turgeon has been a regular in Florida’s lineup.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Marco Gonzales
    2. Jace Fry
    3. Jared King
    4. Jake Rodriguez
    5. Cale Elam

    Pitchers

    Matthew Campbell – RHP – 5’11 185 – Clemson – Sophomore
    John Curtiss – RHP – 6’4 200 – Texas – Freshman
    Cale Elam – RHP – 6’2 197 – Wichita State – Sophomore
    Jace Fry – LHP – 6’1 195 – Oregon State – Freshman
    Marco Gonzales – LHP/1B – 6’1 185 – Gonzaga – Sophomore
    Daniel Gossett – RHP – 6’0 160 – Clemson – Freshman
    Johnny Magliozzi – RHP – 5’10 195 – Florida – Freshman
    Trey Masek – RHP – 6’0 185 – Texas Tech – Sophomore
    Kevin Pohle – RHP – 6’3 180 – Clemson – Sophomore
    Nathan Thornhill – RHP – 6’1 178 – Texas – Sophomore
    Ben Wetzler – LHP – 6’1 200 – Oregon State – Sophomore

    Matthew Campbell – RHP – 5’11 185
    Clemson
    Sophomore

    Campbell has had two very similar seasons as a reliever for the Tigers, and that’s a good thing because both have been good. Campbell posted a 3.09 ERA in 2011. This year, he has a 2.49 ERA, two saves and 29 strikeouts in 29.1 innings pitched. Campbell has allowed one home run in his Clemson career.

    John Curtiss – RHP – 6’4 200
    Texas
    Freshman

    Curtiss was a 30th round pick out of high school and has been a key contributor for the Longhorns. Curtiss is second on the team with 27 appearances — 24 out of the bullpen — and he’s 2-2 with a 3.28 ERA.

    Cale Elam – RHP – 6’2 197
    Wichita State
    Sophomore

    Elam was a standout reliever for the Shockers last year, making 28 appearances and posting an ERA under two. He then pitched in the Jayhawk League last summer and was tabbed as the third-best prospect by Baseball America. This spring, Elam has done more of what he does best, shining as Wichita State’s closer. He has nine saves, a 2.09 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 43 innings.

    Jace Fry – LHP – 6’1 195
    Oregon State
    Freshman

    Fry was a ninth-round pick out of high school and less than a year later, he’s already got quite a track record. Fry pitched in the West Coast League last year and was named the league’s top prospect by both Baseball America and Perfect Game. This spring, Fry has been a regular starter for the Beavers and leads the team with a 2.47 ERA.

    Marco Gonzales – LHP/1B – 6’1 185
    Gonzaga
    Sophomore

    Gonzales was the West Coast Conference Co-Player of the Year and Co-Freshman of the Year last season. For an encore, he’s become one of the premier two-way players in the country this season. On the mound, Gonzales is 7-2 with a stellar 1.72 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 84.2 innings. At the plate, he’s hitting .321 with two home runs in 23 RBI.

    Daniel Gossett – RHP – 6’0 160
    Clemson
    Freshman

    Gossett was among the best high-school players in the south last year and was drafted by the Red Sox in the 16th round. He stuck with his commitment to Clemson, came in with a good amount of hype and hasn’t really disappointed. Though his ERA is over four, Gossett has a 6-3 record with 73 strikeouts in 63.1 innings.

    Johnny Magliozzi – RHP – 5’10 195
    Florida
    Freshman

    A native of East Milton, Mass., Magliozzi was drafted in the 35th round last year but headed to Florida. Despite being a freshman on one of the more experienced and talented teams in the country, Magliozzi has made an impact. In 15 appearances, Magliozzi is 4-3 with a 4.86 ERA.

    Trey Masek – RHP – 6’0 185
    Texas Tech
    Sophomore

    Masek was a Big 12 All-Freshman team pick last year and then had a solid summer with Hyannis on the Cape. This year, Masek is 2-4 with a 3.40 ERA.

    Kevin Pohle – RHP – 6’3 180
    Clemson
    Sophomore

    Pohle was standout as a freshman in 2011, posting a 1.93 ERA in a swing role for the Tigers. He has pitched mostly as a starter this season and is 6-3 with a 3.25 ERA.

    Nathan Thornhill – RHP – 6’1 178
    Texas
    Sophomore

    Thornhill was outstanding as a reliever for the Longhorns last year, striking out a batter an inning and posting a 1.89 ERA. This year, Thornhill has taken on a different role, pitching as both a starter and a reliever. He’s 4-5 with a 4.10 ERA.

    Ben Wetzler – LHP – 6’1 200
    Oregon State
    Sophomore

    Like his teammate Fry, Wetzler had a strong summer in the West Coast League last year, finishing as Baseball America’s fourth-best prospect in the league. He, too, has been in the Beavers’ rotation this year and is 6-2 with a 3.30 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 87.1 innings.

    Position Players

    Austin Anderson – INF – 6’0 190 – Ole Miss – Sophomore
    Coty Blanchard – INF – 6’1 185 – Jacksonville State – Sophomore
    Ka’iana Eldridge – INF – 6’0 180 – Kansas – Sophomore
    Brad Fieger – 3B/1B – 6’1 193 – Miami – Sophomore
    Michael Gerber – OF – 6’1 185 – Creighton – Sophomore
    Aaron Jones – C – 6’1 195 – Oregon – Sophomore
    Kavin Keyes – INF/RHP – 5’11 185 – Oregon State – Sophomore
    *Jared King – OF – 5’11 200 – Kansas State – Sophomore
    Jonathan McGibbon – 1B/OF – 6’1 210 – Clemson – Sophomore
    Michael O’Neill – OF – 6’0 185 – Michigan – Sophomore
    *Jake Rodriguez – C/3B/2B – 5’9 195 – Oregon State – Sophomore
    Casey Turgeon – INF – 5’9 165 – Florida – Freshman

    Austin Anderson – INF – 6’0 190
    Ole Miss
    Sophomore

    Anderson hit .235 as a freshman, while getting a decent amount of playing time. He’s seen a similar amount of action this year and has upped his average to .261.

    Coty Blanchard – INF – 6’1 185
    Jacksonville State
    Sophomore

    Jacksonville State has sent a couple of standouts to the Cape in recent years, and Blanchard became the next in line after hitting .335 and earning Freshman All-American honors last year. This year hasn’t been as kind to Blanchard, though. He’s hitting .230 with a home run and 13 RBI.

    Ka’iana Eldridge – INF – 6’0 180
    Kansas
    Sophomore

    A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Eldridge came to Kansas and hit .268 as a freshman. Last summer, he returned home to play in the Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League and batted .327. This spring has been more of a struggle for Eldridge. He’s hitting just .186.

    Brad Fieger – 3B/1B – 6’1 193
    Miami
    Sophomore

    Fieger flashed his potential as a freshman when he crashed the Miami starting lineup and hit .280. This year, he’s taken a leap and become one of the top hitters on the team. He’s batting .294 with three home runs and 32 RBI.

    Michael Gerber – OF – 6’1 185
    Creighton
    Sophomore

    Gerber was drafted in the 40th round out of thigh school and then played well as a freshman at Creighton, hitting .280 in 50 games. This year, Gerber has hit .232 but has shown some pop with four homers and 10 doubles.

    Aaron Jones – C – 6’1 195
    Oregon
    Sophomore

    Jones was a 38th-round pick by the Red Sox in the 2010 draft. At Oregon, he hit .270 as a freshman and has taken a step forward this year. He’s hitting .287 with six home runs, 12 doubles and 37 RBI.

    Kavin Keyes – INF/RHP – 5’11 185
    Oregon State
    Sophomore

    After graduating high school early, Keyes hit .302 as a freshman last year on his way to earning all-Pac 10 honors. After hitting .288 in Alaska last summer, Keyes has hit a few more rough patches this year. He’s hitting .239.

    Jared King – OF – 5’11 200
    Kansas State
    Sophomore

    King hit .307 as a freshman last year and earned a host of accolades. He came back to earth a little bit in Falmouth, finishing with a .202 average, but he was back on track in a big way this spring. King won the Big 12 batting title with a .379 average. He also hit seven home runs and 15 doubles while driving in 45 runs.

    Jonathan McGibbon – 1B/OF – 6’1 210
    Clemson
    Sophomore

    As a freshman last year, McGibbon wasn’t a regular starter but he made an impact whenever he got a chance, hitting .339 with a home run. This year, McGibbon has become a regular. He’s hitting .227 with three home runs.

    Michael O’Neill – OF – 6’0 185
    Michigan
    Sophomore

    The nephew of former Major Leaguer Paul O’Neill, Michael is making his own name for himself in Ann Arbor. After hitting .307 as a freshman, O’Neill is batting .327 this year with six home runs and 31 RBI.

    Jake Rodriguez – C/3B/2B – 5’9 195
    Oregon State
    Sophomore

    An 11th round pick out of high school, Rodriguez had a good freshman season in Corvallis and followed it up with an all-star campaign for Falmouth last summer. He’s been good again this spring, hitting .293 with two homers and 28 RBI.

    Casey Turgeon – INF – 5’9 165
    Florida
    Freshman

    Turgeon was a Florida high school star, and he got drafted in the 22nd round last year. He has jumped immediately into Florida’s vaunted lineup, starting all but two of the team’s games and hitting .260 with three home runs and 22 RBI.

    Posted on

    2011 Early Look: Falmouth Commodores

    falmouthlogo.gifFalmouth Commodores
    Manager: Jeff Trundy
    2010 Record: 21-22-1

    I don’t often start these previews with a focus on one particular area. So much can change that it’s usually fruitless to make predictions about pitching or hitting success. But I’m feeling dangerous today, and Falmouth’s pitching staff makes the risk look a lot smaller.

    It wasn’t too long ago that Falmouth had the most dominant pitching staff in the league, with future first-round picks Aaron Crow, Kyle Gibson and Christian Friedrich leading the way. I don’t know if this staff can come close to that one, but among all the teams I’ve looked at so far for 2011, the Commodores have the best-looking staff.

    It even starts with another lefty named Christian — Christian Jones from Oregon, who was a Cape League All-Star last year and is one of my very early favorites for Cape League Pitcher of the Year in 2011. Fellow sophomores Ty Blach, Tyler Duffey, Sean Hagan and Andrew Heaney had solid springs, while a freshmen Kent Emanuel, Marco Gonzales and John Simms look like future stars.

    That’s a pretty good starting point for Falmouth. Plenty of Cape League teams are looking for college relievers to become solid Cape League starters. At the very least, Falmouth has a leg up on that.

    The offense looks pretty good, as well, with Jeremy Baltz, Barrett Barnes and Ross Heffley leading the way. Heffley, in particular, will be an interesting player to watch. He’s a junior and he’s a bit undersized, but he also hit .419 and was a first-team All-American this season.

    How will the summer develop? It’s hard to say, as always. Who would have thought Falmouth would finish a game under .500 last year and still finish in second place in the West? You can insert whatever cliche you want here. They all apply. At this point, though, I think you can count on Falmouth doing some pitching.

    Roster Rundown
    Returning Players: 3
    Seniors: 1
    Juniors: 1
    Sophomores: 15
    Freshmen: 10

    Notable

  • I mentioned Christian Jones as a potential pitcher of the year, and he’s got a couple of things going for him. One, he’s very good. Two, he’s been to the Cape before. And three, his Oregon team didn’t make the NCAA tournament, meaning Jones should be ready to go from day one.

  • Andrew Aizenstadt is the rare senior on a Cape League roster. He’s had a nice career at Babson, and I’m guessing he’ll be trying to catch someone’s eye this summer.

  • In addition to its production, one of the big things that stands out about the Falmouth pitching staff is the number of left-handers. The Commodores have six of them, and they’ve all been very good this spring.

  • North Carolina has had some great pitchers over the years, and Kent Emanuel seems to fit the mold. A big freshman lefty, he’s been very impressive this spring for a very good team.

  • It’ll be interesting to see what Falmouth does with Georgia Tech freshman DeAndre Smelter. He’s a two-way talent whose future may be dictated by his 95-mph fastball. But I imagine he’d be pretty valuable at the plate and on the field too.

  • Gonzaga’s Marco Gonzalez is another two-way star, and he’s had more success thus far than Smelter. Gonzales was the Co-Freshman and Co-Player of the Year in the West Coast Conference, sharing both honors with San Diego’s Kris Bryant.

  • You’ll definitely want to keep an eye on Rice freshman pitcher John Simms. He’s been used in a swing role by the Owls but could be poised to be a top Cape League starter this summer.

  • Jeremy Baltz and Barrett Barnes were two of the top freshmen in the nation last year. Neither quite duplicated the numbers this year, but I would still expect big things.

  • I mentioned Heffley above. Coming off a huge junior season, he’s definitely a player to watch. Two years ago, a junior with Cape League experience — Kyle Roller — was the league MVP. The way Heffley hit this season, I wouldn’t put a similar leap past him.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Christian Jones
    2. Ross Heffley
    3. Kent Emanuel
    4. Marco Gonzales
    5. John Simms

    Pitchers

    Andrew Aizenstadt – RHP – 6’5 185 – Babson – Senior
    Ty Blach – LHP – 6’1 200 – Creighton – Sophomore
    Tyler Duffey – RHP – 6’3 210 – Rice – Sophomore
    Adam Duke – RHP – 6’1 185 – Oregon State – Freshman
    Josh Easley – RHP – 6’3 172 – North Carolina State – Sophomore
    Kent Emanuel – LHP – 6’4 205 – North Carolina – Freshman
    Marco Gonzales – LHP/OF/1B – Gonzaga – Freshman
    Sean Hagan – LHP – 6’6 225 – St. John’s – Sophomore
    Andrew Heaney – LHP – 6’2 174 – Oklahoma State – Sophomore
    *Christian Jones – LHP – 6’2 205 – Oregon – Sophomore
    Taylor Sandefur – RHP – 6’2 245 – Western Carolina – Sophomore
    John Simms – RHP – 6’3 210 – Rice – Freshman
    DeAndre Smelter – RHP/OF – 6’3 225 – Georgia Tech – Freshman
    Andrew Smith – RHP – 6’2 185 – North Carolina – Freshman
    Nathan Thornhill – RHP – 6’1 178 – Texas – Freshman

    Andrew Aizenstadt – RHP – 6’5 185
    Babson
    Senior

    Aizenstadt comes to Falmouth from Division III Babson, where he’s been very good. This season, Aizenstadt went 4-2 with a 2.56 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 56.1 innings.

    Ty Blach – LHP – 6’1 200
    Creighton
    Sophomore

    Blach led Creighton in ERA as a freshman, and he’s taken things to an even higher level as a sophomore. Blach is 10-2 with a 2.72 ERA. In 96 innings, he has struck out 93 and walked only 28.

    Tyler Duffey – RHP – 6’3 210
    Rice
    Sophomore

    Duffey has been a workhorse in his first two years with the Owls, and he’s had a lot of success along the way. After pitching in 26 games as a freshman, Duffey has made 29 appearances this year. He’s got an 8-1 record, a 2.50 ERA and an eye-popping 72 strikeouts in only 57.1 innings pitched.

    Adam Duke – RHP – 6’1 185
    Oregon State
    Freshman

    The top player in Utah, Duke was a 16th-round pick in last year’s draft. He’s missed much of his freshman season in Corvallis with injury and has made just four appearances.

    Josh Easley – RHP – 6’3 172
    North Carolina State
    Sophomore

    Easley went 10-2 as a freshman at Weatherford College before transferring to NC State. He’s posted an ERA over six in his first season with the Wolfpack, but he has also struck out 53 in 44.1 innings.

    Kent Emanuel – LHP – 6’4 205
    North Carolina
    Freshman

    Emanuel was a 19th-round pick out of high school and has looked like a future star in his first season with the Tar Heels. As a regular in the weekend rotation, he’s gone 7-1 with a 2.62 ERA. In 89.1 innings, he has struck out 79. All in all, those are some of the best numbers by any freshman pitchers in the country. A few days ago, he shut out Maine in an NCAA Regional game.

    Marco Gonzales – LHP/OF/1B – 6’1 185
    Gonzaga
    Freshman

    Gonzales was a 29th-round pick out of high school and has become an immediate star at Gonzaga. After shining both at the plate and on the mound in his freshman year, Gonzales was named WCC Co-Freshman of the Year and Co-Player of the Year. He was at his best on the mound, where he went 11-2 with a 2.57 ERA and 90 strikeouts. At the dish, he hit .291 with 14 RBI.

    Sean Hagan – LHP – 6’6 225
    St. John’s
    Sophomore

    Hagan has been a starter and a reliever for the Red Storm this spring, and he’s been pretty good in both roles. Hagan is 7-2 with a 4.05 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 66 innings of work. Hagan had similar numbers as a freshman, with 53 strikeouts and a 4.85 ERA.

    Andrew Heaney – LHP – 6’2 174
    Oklahoma State
    Sophomore

    Heaney was a 24th-round pick out of high school then led Oklahoma State in wins as a freshman last year. This season, he went 7-4 with a 4.03 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched. Heaney was on Falmouth’s roster last year but didn’t make it to the Cape.

    Christian Jones – LHP – 6’2 205
    Oregon
    Sophomore

    After a solid freshman campaign for the Ducks, Jones came to Falmouth last summer and had a very good season, posting a 2.36 ERA and earning a spot in the All-Star Game. He’ll be back this summer as one of the top returning pitchers in the league. This spring, Jones went 7-2 with a 3.24 ERA. In 77.2 innings, he struck out 73.

    Taylor Sandefur – RHP – 6’2 245
    Western Carolina
    Sophomore

    Sandefur has had some struggles at Western Carolina — he finished with an ERA above eight this year — but he is firmly on scouts’ radar thanks to his performance last summer. Pitching in the Valley League, Sandefur went 7-0 with a 2.26 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 60 innings, numbers that earned him the league’s Pitcher of the Year award. He was also named the Valley’s second-best prospect by Baseball America.

    John Simms – RHP – 6’3 210
    Rice
    Freshman

    Simms was one of the top high-school prospects in Texas a year ago but was considered a tough sign and went in the 39th round. He came in to Rice with plenty of hype and he has made good on it. Pitching as both a starter and reliever, Simms has gone 3-2 with a 3.32 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 62.1 innings of work.

    DeAndre Smelter – RHP/OF – 6’3 225
    Georgia Tech
    Freshman

    Smelter was a standout in multiple sports in high school, and he was considered one of the most athletic draft prospects in the nation a year ago. He ended up going in the 14th round but stuck with his commitment to Georgia Tech. A two-way player, Smelter has hit only .222 this season but he’s been outstanding as a reliever. In 15 innings pitched, he hasn’t allowed an earned run.

    Andrew Smith – RHP – 6’2 185
    North Carolina
    Freshman

    Smith hasn’t been in the rotation like his freshman teammate Emanuel but he’s made a big impact out of the bullpen. In 22 appearances, he’s posted a 2.92 ERA and has struck out better than a batter an inning. Smith was a 40th-rounder out of high school.

    Nathan Thornhill – RHP – 6’1 178
    Texas
    Freshman

    Thornhill has made a big impact as a freshman reliever for the Longhorns this year. In 19 appearances, he’s posted a 1.69 ERA. HE has struck out 30 and walked only 5 in 32 innings of work. Opponents have hit .197 against him.

    Position Players

    Jeremy Baltz – OF – 6’3 205 – St. John’s – Sophomore
    *Barrett Barnes – OF – 6’1 195 – Texas Tech – Sophomore
    Chase Butler – 3B – 5’10 202 – Georgia Tech – Freshman
    Eric Garcia – SS/RHP – 5’11 175 – Missouri – Sophomore
    Ross Heffley – INF – 5’8 175 – Western Carolina – Junior
    Spencer Kieboom – C – 6’0 210 – Clemson – Sophomore
    Jack Marder – UTIL – 6’0 185 – Oregon – Sophomore
    Jake Rodriguez – C/INF – 5’8 190 – Oregon State – Freshman
    Shane Rowland – C – 5’10 180 – Miami – Freshman
    *Kyle Von Tungeln – OF – 6’0 175 – Texas Christian – Sophomore
    Max White – OF/INF – 6’1 203 – Oklahoma – Sophomore
    Jantzen Witte – 3B/SS – 6’1 195 – Texas Christian – RS Sophomore

    Jeremy Baltz – OF – 6’3 205
    St. John’s
    Freshman

    Baltz was perhaps the top freshman in the nation a year ago when he hit .396 with 24 home runs. Like a lot of college hitters, he slowed down a bit this year, but has still turned in a productive campaign. He’s hitting .311 with six homers and a team-best 58 RBI. He also has a .443 on-base percentage.

    Barrett Barnes – OF – 6’1 195
    Texas Tech
    Sophomore

    Barnes was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year last season when he hit .341 with 14 homers. He then played for Falmouth and finished with a .223 batting average. This spring, Barnes saw his average fall to .290 but he still hit 10 home runs and 15 doubles.

    Chase Butler – 3B – 5’10 202
    Georgia Tech
    Freshman

    Butler was a three-sport star in high school. He hasn’t had the chance to play a lot in his freshman season with the Yellow Jackets, and has hit .207 in 30 games.

    Eric Garcia – SS/RHP – 5’11 175
    Missouri
    Sophomore

    Garcia had a solid freshman campaign for the Tigers last season, and it was more of the same this year. Garcia hit .264 with two homers and 25 RBI.

    Ross Heffley – INF – 5’8 175
    Western Carolina
    Junior

    Heffley might be a familiar name to Cape League fans — he played in 34 games for Orleans in 2009. This year, he’ll be returning to the Cape as one of the top hitters in the country. Heffley was recently named a first-team All-American after hitting .419 with 11 home runs, 18 doubles and 65 RBI for the Catamounts. He ranked seventh in the nation in batting average.

    Spencer Kieboom – C – 6’0 210
    Clemson
    Sophomore

    Kieboom hit .263 in limited duty last year but has pushed himself into a regular role this season. Kieboom is hitting .287 with 28 RBI.

    Jack Marder – UTIL – 6’0 185
    Oregon
    Sophomore

    A 30th-round pick out of high school, Marder hit .249 as a freshman last year. This season, he struggled a bit more, finishing with a .209 average, though he remained a mainstay in the lineup.

    Jake Rodriguez – C/INF – 5’8 190
    Oregon State
    Freshman

    Rodriguez was an 11th-round pick out of high school. He was injured for part of his freshman season, but has come back to hit .270 with a home run.

    Shane Rowland – C – 5’10 180
    Miami
    Freshman

    Rowland was a top catching prospect coming out of high school and got picked in the 36th round. He’s been a regular for the Hurricanes this year but has struggled with the bat, hitting .179 in 47 games.

    Kyle Von Tungeln – OF – 6’0 175
    Texas Christian
    Sophomore

    Von Tungeln hit .236 as a freshman then was a solid contributor for the Commodores last summer. This spring, he’s hit .274.

    Max White – OF/INF – 6’1 203
    Oklahoma
    Sophomore

    White was a Freshman All-American last year when he cranked 15 home runs and hit .293. He was pretty steady this year, too, finishing with a .292 average and three home runs while getting limited to only 36 starts.

    Jantzen Witte – 3B/SS – 6’1 195
    RS Sophomore
    Texas Christian

    After hitting .374 last year, Witte has continued to emerge this season as one of TCU’s top players. He’s hitting .325 with four homers, 44 RBI and a team-high 20 doubles.

    Posted on

    Future Commodores Take Big 12 Honors

    Kansas State’s Nick Martini was named the Big 12 Co-Player of the Year with Missouri’s Aaron Senne. Texas Tech’s Barrett Barnes was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Both Martini and Barnes are ticketed for Falmouth this summer.

    Martini finished with a league-best .415 batting average. Barnes hit .336 with 12 home runs, 19 doubles and 50 RBI.

    Posted on

    Early Look: Falmouth

    falmouthlogo.gifFalmouth Commodores
    Manager: Jeff Trundy
    2009 Record: 17-24-2

    Falmouth has had as many great players as any team in the league the last few years, from Conor Gillaspie and Aaron Crow in 2007, to A.J. Pollock in 2008 and Todd Cunningham in 2009. In fact, a Commodore has won the last three batting titles.

    This year, Falmouth has a roster full of players whose college seasons indicate they can be the next great Commodore. As a franchise, Falmouth will just be looking for a different result.

    Despite all the individual success, the Commodores didn’t win a Cape League title in the last few years and they haven’t won one since 1980. Even in ’07, when Gillaspie was the top hitter and the pitching staff featured five players who would end up being drafted in the first two rounds, the Commodores couldn’t get over the hump. They lost to a once-in-a-decade Y-D team in the championship.

    Last year, the Commodores suffered their first losing season since 2003. The offense was among the strongest in the league, and the pitching staff was in the middle of the pack. But the team never got hot, and the result was a summer without a playoff appearance.

    To get back, the Commodores are bringing in a relatively young team, but one that appears to have a pretty high ceiling.

    There are no juniors on the roster for now. That will probably change along with some other things — the roster lacks a catcher — but the nucleus of the team as it’s constituted now is young and talented. The pitching staff features Matt Purke, who will be the most hyped freshman pitcher on the Cape in quite a while if he doesn’t go with Team USA. There are four other freshman who look like potential stars, along with a strong group of sophomores. Kyle Winkler, Taylor Wall and Mark Pope all had Cape League success last summer and are poised for more of it after solid college seasons.

    As with every team I’ve written about so far, Falmouth’s offense looks very good. I don’t know if that means we’ll see more offensive talent than usual, but whatever the case may be, the Commodores should be able to keep pace. B.A. Vollmuth is probably the league’s top returning prospect among position players, while Matt Skole, K.C. Serna, Kevin Medrano and Nick Martini look like anchors of a potent attack. Barrett Barnes is also there, and he’s one of the top freshman hitters in the country.

    It’s enough to make me think the Commodores will be in the mix. If the stars are bright again, all the better.

    Roster Rundown
    Returning Players: 8
    Juniors: 0
    Sophomores: 17
    Freshmen: 8

    Notable

  • Matt Purke: you’ve probably heard of him. Last year, he was the 14th overall pick in the Major League draft but he went unsigned and headed to TCU. He’s been among the best freshman pitchers in the country just as you’d expect. He has been invited to Team USA, but he’s a guy who will be eligible for the draft as a sophomore, so a summer of Cape scouting could be a nice draw for him.

  • Sticking with TCU, Kaleb Merck and Kyle Winkler will also be coming to the Falmouth, though Winkler is another USA invitee. Merck is an undersized flamethrower while Winkler is a polished pitcher through and through. Both should be very good.

  • Charlie Lowell was one of two highly-touted Wichita State freshmen to come to Falmouth last year. With the other, Jordan Cooper, eligible for the draft as a sophomore, Lowell is currently slated to fly solo this year.

  • The Commodores have a ton of left-handed pitching and by the looks of it, a ton of good left-handed pitching. Andrew Heaney, Brian Johnson, Christian Jones and Purke are all freshmen with success under their belts. Lowell, Taylor Wall and Nick Maronde are sophomores who have also been good.

  • Georgia’s Cecil Tanner has walked almost twice as many as he struck out this season, but scouts will be watching him. In the college preseason, I saw lots of mentions of Tanner as one of the top arms in his class. He just needs to figure it out.

  • I saw Florida’s Brian Johnson pitch on ESPNU and college baseball analyst Kyle Peterson was raving about him. He’s a lefty with a full arsenal.

  • I wrote last week that Nick Martini could win Falmouth a fourth straight batting title. He certainly could, but he’s not the only one. Missouri State’s Kevin Medrano has proven himself every step of the way and is hitting .417 this year.

  • B.A. Vollmuth has a legitimate shot to be the top prospect in the league. He hasn’t been invited to Team USA either, so we could get a full summer out of him.

  • Texas Tech’s Barrett Barnes was not on any top-freshman lists I saw in the preseason, but he’d be way up on a redo. Barnes is one of the top hitters in the Big 12.

  • Georgia Tech’s Matt Skole has some pop. In two seasons, he has 33 home runs. He’s also hitting .358 this year.

  • Falmouth has had a lot of success with players from Jacksonville State in Ben Tootle two years ago and Todd Cunningham last year. Outfielder Kyle Bluestein follows in their footsteps. His numbers are not spectacular this year, but they were last year.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Matt Purke
    2. B.A. Vollmuth
    3. Nick Martini
    4. Matt Skole
    5. Barrett Barnes

    Pitchers

    Eric Anderson – RHP – 6’4 210 – Missouri – Freshman
    Steven Gruver – LHP – 6’1 200 – Tennessee – Sophomore
    Andrew Heaney – LHP – 6’2 164 – Oklahoma State – Freshman
    Brian Johnson – LHP – 6’3 225 – Florida – Freshman
    Christian Jones – LHP – 6’2 195 – Oregon – Freshman
    *Charlie Lowell – LHP – 6’4 234 – Wichita State – Sophomore
    Nick Maronde – LHP – 6’3 210 – Florida – Sophomore
    Kaleb Merck – RHP – 6’0 200 – Texas Christian – Sophomore
    *Mark Pope – RHP – 6’2 203 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    Matt Purke – LHP – 6’4 180 – Texas Christian – Freshman
    Matt Summers – RHP/OF – 6’1 205 – UC-Irvine – Sophomore
    *Cecil Tanner – RHP – 6’6 223 – Georgia – Sophomore
    *Taylor Wall – LHP – 6’2 180 – Rice – Sophomore
    Scott Weismann – RHP – 6’0 190 – Clemson – Sophomore
    *Kyle Winkler – RHP – 5’11 190 – Texas Christian – Sophomore

    * – returning player
    (Stats as of May 17)

    Eric Anderson – RHP – 6’4 210
    Missouri
    Freshman

    Anderson fits the mold of former Missouri and Falmouth pitcher Kyle Gibson: a tall righty with a lot of potential. If Anderson does what Gibson does in Falmouth — become one of the best in the league — the Commodores will be very happy. Anderson was a 28th-round pick out of high school. He has made nine starts this year and is 1-4 with a 5.74 ERA. He has 31 strikeouts in 42.1 innings.

    Steven Gruver – LHP – 6’1 200
    Tennessee
    Sophomore

    Gruver had an up-and-down freshman season but delivered a very strong summer in the Northwoods League. He went 7-1 with a 2.23 ERA for the La Crosse Loggers. This spring, Gruver has been a regular starter for the Vols with mixed results. He’s 4-4 with a 6.62 ERA.

    Andrew Heaney – LHP – 6’2 164
    Oklahoma State
    Freshman

    A smooth left-hander with an easy delivery, Heaney was a favorite among scouts and was drafted in the 24th round. His Baseball America scouting report calls him unsignable, and he did indeed stick with his commitment to Oklahoma State. In his first season in Stillwater, he’s gone 5-2 with a 5.22 ERA. In 60.1 innings, he has struck out 50 and walked 23.

    Brian Johnson – LHP – 6’3 225
    Florida
    Freshman

    A 27th-round pick out of high school and a top-100 recruit, Johnson wasted no time jumping into Florida’s weekend rotation. He’s been there from the beginning and has made a good first impression. He’s currently 5-2 with a 3.53 ERA. He has 41 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 58.2 innings.

    Christian Jones – LHP – 6’2 195
    Oregon
    Freshman

    Jones was the centerpiece of Oregon’s latest recruiting class, and Baseball America called him one of the top incoming freshman pitchers in the nation. Jones has pitched out of the bullpen for the Ducks and has done well so far. In 15 appearances, he’s got a 3.24 ERA to go with 11 strikeouts in 16.2 innings. Jones wasn’t drafted last year but was ranked among the nation’s top 200 prospects.

    Charlie Lowell – LHP – 6’4 234
    Wichita State
    Sophomore

    A big lefty who was a 27th-round pick out of high school, Lowell had a strong first season with the Shockers. He had some struggles in his first season with Falmouth, making six appearances with an ERA over six. This spring, he got off to a solid start before being sidelined with forearm tightness. He has yet to return, but he is expected back for the postseason.

    Nick Maronde – LHP – 6’3 210
    Florida
    Sophomore

    Maronde was one of the most highly-touted members of a talented recruiting class that arrived in Gainesville for the 2009 season. A 43rd-round pick out of high school, Maronde pitched well as a freshman, checking in with a 4.40 ERA. This season, Maronde has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen. In 19 appearances, he’s got a 5.92 ERA. Though he’s walked almost a batter an inning, he does have 32 strikeouts in 24.1 innings.

    Kaleb Merck – RHP – 6’0 200
    Texas Christian
    Sophomore

    Merck had a decent freshman season in Fort Worth but he has blossomed this season. Pitching as a reliever, Merck leads the Horned Frogs with a 1.17 ERA in 17 appearances. He has struck out 17 and walked only four in 23 innings. His fastball velocity has apparently gone way up since he moved to the bullpen.

    Mark Pope – RHP – 6’2 203
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    Pope was a 17th-round pick out of high school but honored his commitment to Georgia Tech and made an early splash. He became the team’s closer as a freshman and pitched well. For Falmouth over the summer, he pitched in a swing role and had a 2.10 ERA. This year, Pope has moved into the weekend rotation with impressive results. He’s 7-1 with a 4.13 ERA. In 65.1 innings, he has struck out 62 and walked only eight.

    Matt Purke – LHP – 6’4 180
    Texas Christian
    Freshman

    Like UCLA’s Gerrit Cole last year, Purke made headlines when he didn’t sign after getting picked in the first round. While Cole was one of the last picks in the first round in 2008, Purke went 14th to the Rangers in ’09 but still opted for TCU. He has lived up to every bit of the hype in his freshman year. He’s currently 10-0 with a 3.62 ERA. In 77 innings, he has 94 strikeouts and 22 walks.

    Matt Summers – RHP/OF – 6’1 205
    UC-Irvine
    Sophomore

    Summers has been a two-way player since day one for the Anteaters. He didn’t have a lot of success doing it last year, but the numbers are better this year, at least on offense. Summers is hitting .320 in spot duty. On the mound, he’s 2-2 but his ERA is over nine.

    Cecil Tanner – RHP – 6’6 223
    Georgia
    Sophomore

    Tanner’s potential has been touted for some time but he has yet to fully live up to it. He pitched well for Falmouth last summer, posting a 3.28 ERA in 17 appearances. This spring, he’s tied for the Georgia lead in appearances but the results have been inconsistent. He has struck out 23 in 24.2 innings but he has also walked 43, which has a lot to do with the 11.68 ERA.

    Taylor Wall – LHP – 6’2 180
    Rice
    Sophomore

    Whether in Houston or Falmouth, Wall has been pretty steady in his college career. A 40th-round pick out of high school, Wall delivered a strong freshman season and a good summer on the Cape, where he posted a 2.62 ERA. He’s taken on a bigger role this year as Rice’s Friday starter and has pitched fairly well. He’s got a 4.44 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 73 innings.

    Scott Weismann – RHP – 6’0 190
    Clemson
    Sophomore

    Weismann was an 18th-round pick out of high school then led Clemson in ERA while pitching out of the bullpen last year. A native of Boxborough, Mass., Weismann was on the Falmouth roster this time last year but didn’t end up on the Cape. This spring, Weismann has moved into the rotation and is 5-2 with a 5.17 ERA.

    Kyle Winkler – RHP – 5’11 190
    Texas Christian
    Sophomore

    Winkler doesn’t have the classic pitcher’s build but he was a high-school standout who got plenty of attention from scouts. He was solid as a freshman then got an invite to Team USA. He ended up in Falmouth and finished the summer with a 3.62 ERA. This year, he’s been just as much an ace as TCU teammates Purke and Steven Maxwell. Winkler is 8-1 with a 3.52 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 84.1 innings.

    Position Players

    Barrett Barnes – SS/2B/OF – 5’11 195 – Texas Tech – Freshman
    Kevin Medrano – 2B – 6’0 150 – Missouri State – Sophomore
    K.C. Serna – SS – 6’0 185 – Oregon – Sophomore
    *Matt Skole – 1B/3B – 6’4 228 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    *Jason Stolz – INF – 6’2 195 – Clemson – Sophomore
    *B.A. Vollmuth – SS – 6’4 200 – Southern Mississippi – Sophomore
    Kyle Bluestein – OF – 6’3 200 – Jacksonville State – Sophomore
    Nick Martini – OF – 5’11 193 – Kansas State – Sophomore
    Zach Taylor – OF – 6’3 220 – Georgia – Freshman
    Kyle Von Tungeln – OF – 6’0 180 – Texas Christian – Freshman

    * – returning player

    Barrett Barnes – SS/2B/OF – 5’11 195
    Texas Tech
    Freshman

    Those position listings mean Barnes can play pretty much anywhere. If his freshman season is any indication, he’ll do well wherever he is. To say he’s doing well now would be an understatement. Barnes hit two home runs and drove in six runs in his collegiate debut and he hasn’t slowed down. He’s hitting .344 with 12 home runs, 15 doubles, 48 RBI and 11 stolen bases and should be getting serious consideration for Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors. Also, it seems he’s playing mostly first base this spring, so add it to the list.

    Kevin Medrano – 2B – 6’0 150
    Missouri State
    Sophomore

    Medrano earned Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year honors when he hit .329 with 40 RBI last year. The numbers have gotten even better since then. Medrano hit .363 in the Southern California League last year and is hitting .417 this spring, to go with three homers, 15 doubles and 15 steals.

    K.C. Serna – SS – 6’0 185
    Oregon
    Sophomore

    A key piece of George Horton’s first recruiting class at Oregon, Serna has been a mainstay since he walked on campus. He has already started close to 100 games for the Ducks and he’s starting to hit his stride at the plate. After batting .228 as a freshman, he went to the Northwoods League and hit .314 while setting a Mankato team record with 25 stolen bases. This year, Serna is hitting .321 with 12 steals.

    Matt Skole – 1B/3B – 6’4 228
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    Skole showed a lot of pop in his freshman season and finished with a .302 batting average and 17 home runs. His summer in Falmouth was a struggle, though, as he hit .181 with one homer. This spring, Skole picked up where he left off for Tech — and then some. He’s hitting .358 with 16 home runs, 13 doubles and 54 RBI.

    Jason Stolz – INF – 6’2 195
    Clemson
    Sophomore

    Stolz started 42 games as a freshman and hit .315 then played in five games with Falmouth over the summer. He has slumped this spring and is hitting .182.

    B.A. Vollmuth – SS – 6’4 200
    Southern Mississippi
    Sophomore

    When Vollmuth became a starter for the golden Eagles midway through last season, he began a meteoric rise that hasn’t yet hit its peak. Vollmuth was a key part of his team’s run to the College World Series, and once he arrived on the Cape, he became one of the most talked-about players in the league. He hit .230 for Falmouth but almost half his hits went for extra-bases and he was named the 20th best prospect in the league by Baseball America. This spring, Vollmuth has put it all together and is hitting .380 with 12 home runs, 17 doubles and 57 RBI.

    Kyle Bluestein – OF – 6’3 200
    Jacksonville State
    Sophomore

    Bluestein put up eye-popping numbers as a freshman, hitting .393 with nine homers and 21 doubles. He has come back to Earth this year with a .271 average and seven home runs, but clearly the potential is there.

    Nick Martini – OF – 5’11 193
    Kansas State
    Sophomore

    After a solid freshman campaign, Martini has blossomed this year into the Big 12’s best hitter. He’s currently batting .429 with two home runs, 16 doubles and 51 RBI. His on-base percentage is .515 and he has stolen 18 bases in 22 attempts. Martini was named the third-best prospect in the MINK League by Baseball America.

    Zach Taylor – OF – 6’3 220
    Georgia
    Freshman

    Taylor hails from Statesboro, Ga., and he’s gotten plenty of chances to make a splash at the state school. He has seen action in 41 games and has started 20. He’s hitting .238 with a home run and five doubles.

    Kyle Von Tungeln – OF – 6’0 180
    Texas Christian
    Freshman

    Von Tungeln is a speedy center fielder who was considered an impact recruit for the Horned Frogs after a strong high-school career. He has struggled a bit in his first season with TCU, hitting .220 in 36 games. He does have 12 RBI and is 3-for-4 in stolen base attempts.