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2012 Early Look: Cotuit Kettleers

cotlogo.jpgCotuit Kettleers
Manager: Mike Roberts
2012 Record: 16-25-3

Last year wasn’t just the first losing season for Cotuit in three years, it was also the first time in three years that the Kettleers didn’t make the Cape Cod Baseball League championship series.

That’s not an indictment of last year’s team. It’s more of a testament to just how remarkable it was for Cotuit to have so much success for three years in a row. In any summer league, that’s hard to do.

And that’s why it’s easy to envision more success for the Kettleers this summer. They may only end up with one returning player, but they’ve got plenty of talent coming in and a proven winner at the helm in Mike Roberts.

They may just start a new streak.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 2
Juniors: 1
Sophomores: 17
Freshmen: 5

Notable

  • I’ve made note of him before, but Raph Rhymes is quite a story. He flirted with a .500 batting average this year for LSU — after he had to leave the school two years ago because there wasn’t room on the roster. Rhymes is a junior and is likely to get drafted, so his Cape status may be up in the air. I’ve heard him mentioned as a fifth to sixth round kind of guy, so it’s still possible that he’ll make his way to Cotuit.

  • If Dylan Covey pitches in Orleans as expected, Tyler Beede won’t be the highest draft pick playing on the Cape. But he’ll be close. Covey was the 14th overall pick in 2010, while Beede was drafted 21st overall in 2011. Beede has had some ups and downs with Vanderbilt this spring, but I would expect a break out this summer.

  • Kevin Ziomek and Bobby Wahl are the only returning players on the roster, but Wahl has been invited to Team USA, so Ziomek may be the only one. Wahl had a tremendous summer last year and has followed it up with an awesome spring. Ziomek had somewhat high ERA’s with Cotuit last year and Vandy this spring, but he has posted great strikeout numbers. He’s another guy who could have a coming-out party this summer.

  • Wahl was Cotuit’s closer last year. He moved into the rotation this spring, and that coupled with the Team USA invite, means he may not be the closer again for the Kettleers. It looks like they’ve got a ready-made replacement though. Notre Dame’s Dan Slania was one of the top closers in the nation this spring.

  • It’s not secret that Cotuit manager Mike Roberts likes his teams to run, and he’s got a good stable of horses coming in again. Tony Kemp and Jacob May look like the top speedsters.

  • Cotuit has two freshmen catchers on the roster who will probably garner a lot of attention. Hunter Lockwood was a 17th-round pick out of high school last year, while Aramis Garcia was drafted in the 20th round.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Tyler Beede
    2. Raph Rhymes
    3. Bobby Wahl
    4. Dan Slania
    5. Tony Kemp

    Pitchers

    Tyler Beede – RHP – 6’4 205 – Vanderbilt – Freshman
    Joe Broussard – RHP – 6’0 200 – LSU – Sophomore
    Kyle Finnegan – RHP – 6’2 175 – Texas State – Sophomore
    Mike Ford – RHP/1B – 6’0 210 – Princeton – Sophomore
    Cameron Griffin – LHP – 6’1 205 – Stetson – Sophomore
    Dusty Isaacs – RHP – 6’1 190 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    Jordan Ramsey – RHP – 6’4 195 – UNC Wilmington – Freshman
    Dan Slania – RHP – 6’5 265 – Notre Dame – Sophomore
    Jordan Smith – RHP – 6’1 210 – Western Carolina – Sophomore
    *Bobby Wahl – RHP – 6’3 200 – Ole Miss – Sophomore
    *Kevin Ziomek – LHP – 6’3 200 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore

    Tyler Beede – RHP – 6’4 205
    Vanderbilt
    Freshman

    A native of Auburn, Mass., Beede is the latest in a line of top-flight pitchers who went to college despite getting drafted in the first round. He was picked 21st by the Blue Jays but didn’t sign and headed to Vanderbilt. His first season hasn’t been everything the hype machine expected, but he’s still shown flashes while going 1-4 with a 4.29 ERA.

    Joe Broussard – RHP – 6’0 200
    LSU
    Sophomore

    Broussard had an ERA over five as a freshman reliever last year, but has made himself into a reliable arm this spring. Broussard has made 11 appearances out of the bullpen and six starts. He’s 4-1 with a 3.43 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 39.1 innings of work.

    Kyle Finnegan – RHP – 6’2 175
    Texas State
    Sophomore

    Finnegan pitched only briefly as a freshman with Texas State but he emerged as a reliable starter with solid numbers this year. Finnegan finished with a 5-6 record, a 3.28 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 93.1 innings.

    Mike Ford – RHP/1B – 6’0 210
    Princeton
    Sophomore

    Ford was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2011 after shining as both a pitcher and a first baseman. It was more of the same this year, as Ford hit .272 with 31 RBI and went 4-4 with a 3.60 ERA on the mound.

    Cameron Griffin – LHP – 6’1 205
    Stetson
    Sophomore

    Griffin has been busy in his two years at Stetson, making 30 appearances last year and 35 this year. He posted a 4.88 ERA this season while striking out better than a batter an inning.

    Dusty Isaacs – RHP – 6’1 190
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    Isaacs was a standout reliever last year, posting a 2.72 ERA and striking out more than a batter an inning in 25 appearances. This year has been more of a struggle. Isaacs has an ERA over seven.

    Jordan Ramsey – RHP – 6’4 195
    UNC Wilmington
    Freshman

    Ramsey was a 28th-round pick out of high school and has been a solid starter in his debut season with the Colonial Athletic Association champion Seahawks. Ramsey is 4-3 with a 4.36 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 66 innings.

    Dan Slania – RHP – 6’5 265
    Notre Dame
    Sophomore

    Slania had a strong debut as Notre Dame’s top setup man last year. This year, he became the team’s primary closer and was outstanding. He finished with 13 saves, a 2.03 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 31 innings of action. Slania was named second-team all-Big East.

    Jordan Smith – RHP – 6’1 210
    Western Carolina
    Sophomore

    Smith has been a starter every step of the way for the Catamounts. After struggling a bit last year, he became the team’s top start this year, going 4-5 with a 3.48 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 95.2 innings pitcher.

    Bobby Wahl – RHP – 6’3 200
    Ole Miss
    Sophomore

    Wahl is on Team USA’s roster so he may not make it back to the Cape, but if he does, he’ll be among the league’s top returning pitchers. After excelling as a closer for Cotuit last year, Wahl moved into the Rebels’ starting rotation and has gone 6-3 with a 2.26 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 87.2 innings.

    Kevin Ziomek – LHP – 6’3 200
    Vanderbilt
    Sophomore

    Another Massachusetts native who’s at Vanderbilt, Ziomek will return to Cotuit for a second season. He had a 4.36 ERA for the Kettleers in six games last summer. This spring, Ziomek has gone 5-6 with a 4.97 ERA while striking out 75 in 76 innings.

    Position Players

    Cael Brockmeyer – C – 6’5 230 – CSU Bakersfield – Sophomore
    Aramis Garcia – C – 6’2 200 – Florida International – Freshman
    Tony Kemp – OF – 5’6 165 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
    Tim Kiene – INF – 6’4 240 – Maryland – Sophomore
    Hunter Lockwood – C – 5’11 195 – Oklahoma – Freshman
    Jacob May – OF – 5’10 180 – Coastal Carolina – Sophomore
    Adam Nelubowich – OF – 6’2 190 – Washington State – Sophomore
    Raph Rhymes – OF – 5’11 176 – LSU – Junior
    James Roberts – INF – 6’2 205 – USC – Sophomore
    Jacob Valdez – INF – 5’9 185 – San Jose State – Sophomore

    Cael Brockmeyer – C – 6’5 230
    CSU Bakersfield
    Sophomore

    Brockmeyer didn’t have a great freshman season at Bakersfield but went to Alaska for the summer and earned all-star honors. This spring, he hit .285 with a team-best six home runs and 31 RBI.

    Aramis Garcia – C – 6’2 200
    Florida International
    Freshman

    An athletic catcher, Garcia was a 20th-round pick in last year’s draft, but opted to head to FIU, where he had a strong freshman season. Garcia hit .271 while popping six home runs and driving in 29.

    Tony Kemp – OF – 5’6 165
    Vanderbilt
    Sophomore

    Kemp was the SEC Freshman of the Year after hitting .329 and stealing 17 bases last season. He then hit .292 in the Northwoods League to cap off his debut season. This spring, Kemp has hit .271 with 19 extra-base hits, 30 RBI and 17 steals.

    Tim Kiene – INF – 6’4 240
    Maryland
    Sophomore

    Kiene hit .279 as a freshman for the Terps. That dipped to .241 this year, but Kiene flashed some pop with six home runs and seven doubles. Kiene, a Connecticut native, was a 30th round pick out of high school.

    Hunter Lockwood – C – 5’11 195
    Oklahoma
    Freshman

    Lockwood was drafted in the 17th round out of high school in Texas but stuck with his plans to attend Oklahoma and has had a strong freshman season with the Sooners. While he’s hitting only .250, his 11 home runs lead the team. He’s also second on the squad with 39 RBI.

    Jacob May – OF – 5’10 180\
    Coastal Carolina
    Sophomore

    May had a solid freshman season then did well in the Northwoods, hitting .296 and making Baseball America’s top league prospects list at No. 26. This spring, he’s been a dynamic player for the Chants, hitting .289 with 25 stolen bases.

    Adam Nelubowich – OF – 6’2 190
    Washington State
    Sophomore

    A native of Alberta, Canada, Nelubowich was drafted in the 14th round out of high school back in 2009. Now a redshirt sophomore, Nelubowich hit .254 this spring with four homers and 36 RBI.

    Raph Rhymes – OF – 5’11 176
    LSU
    Junior

    Rhymes has had an incredible year for LSU, one of the best years by a college hitter in many a moon. Rhymes finished the year with a .469 batting average and flirted with .500 for a lot of the year. He was recently named the SEC Player of the Year.

    James Roberts – INF – 6’2 205
    USC
    Sophomore

    Roberts was a late-round draft pick in 2010 and has had two pretty good seasons in L.A. After hitting .279 last year, he batted .289 with 24 RBI this season.

    Jacob Valdez – INF – 5’9 185
    San Jose State
    Sophomore

    Valdez had a strong freshman season for the Spartans in 2011, hitting .307 with 10 doubles. This year, he hit .246 with a homer and 12 RBI.

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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.

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    First Look at Team USA

    USA Baseball has posted its first roster update of the season. It includes seven players who are on Cape League rosters, including San Diego slugger Kris Bryant, NC State freshman ace Carlos Rodon and Ole Miss star Bobby Wahl.

    The list:

    Kris Bryant – San Diego – Chatham
    Austin Cousino – Kentucky – Hyannis
    Carlos Rodon – NC State – Harwich
    Ryne Stanek – Arkansas – Bourne
    Trea Turner – NC State – Y-D
    Bobby Wahl – Ole Miss – Cotuit
    Trevor Williams – Arizona State – Orleans

    It’s nice to see that, so far, no one team is getting hit harder than another. I would really like to see Rodon, though. He was a 16th-round draft pick last year and is lighting up this spring, posting an 8-0 record and 108 strikeouts.

    Team USA will continue to update its roster in the next few weeks so we’ll keep an eye on it.

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    2012 Early Look: Bourne Braves

    TeamLogo_Bourne2003.jpgBourne Braves
    Manager: Harvey Shapiro
    2011 Record: 22-20-2

    With its run of championships, the Yarmouth Dennis Red Sox were the team of the last decade, but if you’re looking at just the past few years, I don’t know if anybody’s been as successful as the Bourne Braves. The Braves won just nine games in 2006, but since then, they’ve posted winning records every year, and they won a championship in 2009.

    Last year, though they weren’t at the very top of the division, they were two games over .500 and were a playoff threat. They also had the MVP — Travis Jankowski — for the second time in three years.

    With Doran Park looking better and better every year, the Braves are turning into one of the league’s top franchises, and with the roster they’re fielding this year, there’s no reason to think they won’t take another step forward.

    In a cursory evaluation of all the rosters when they came out, I thought Bourne had the most talent. When you bring back the pitcher of the year and probably the top freshman on the Cape last year, you’ve got a pretty good head start. We’ll see how it all shakes out. Things could change, but with Harvey Shapiro at the helm, the Braves have proven they can win in a variety of ways. I wouldn’t bet against them.

    Roster Rundown
    Returning Players: 4
    Juniors: 2
    Sophomores: 20
    Freshmen: 6

    Notable

  • Last year was kind of a weird year for pitchers on the Cape, a year in which nobody seemed to be the total package. But regardless of the landscape, Ryan Eades stood out. He allowed three earned runs in seven starts for an ERA of 0.84. If he does make it back to the Cape as expected, he’ll be the first returning Pitcher of the Year since Terry Doyle in 2007.

  • Eades and North Carolina’s Colin Moran would make a heck of a returning nucleus. Moran was the ACC Freshman of the Year and had a solid summer with Bourne. There’s been no sophomore slump either. He’s hitting .389 this year.

  • Moran’s teammate Tommy Coyle, another returnee, hasn’t put up the best numbers this spring, but he has also started every game, a hint at what he brings to the table. He was great for Bourne last summer, and I could see him coming up big again this year.

  • Ryne Stanek had just a cameo with Bourne last year, pitching in three games and then spending some time with Team USA. Stanek was a third-round pick out of high school and has been great for Arkansas this spring. The Braves would love to see more of him this summer.
  • Louisville’s Jeffrey Thompson will be back in New England after earning New England Collegiate Baseball League Top Prospect honors last summer. That’s five years in a row that the NECBL top prospect has been on a Cape roster the next year. They haven’t always made it to the Cape, but they’ve always been on a roster. Thompson struck out 68 in 50 innings last summer, so Bourne is certainly hoping he makes it.

  • The Bourne pitching staff might make a pretty good basketball team if the whole baseball thing doesn’t work out. The Braves have three pitchers who are 6’4, three who are 6’6, one who’s 6’7 and one who’s 6’8.

  • Sometimes, Cape pitching staffs are populated by guys who did a lot of relief work in the spring. Bourne has its share of those guys, but also has five starters who have put together very good seasons. That could be another leg up for the Braves.

  • If you haven’t heard the story of future Bourne outfielder Kevin Jordan and his Wake Forest coach, Tom Walter, go ahead and read this. Jordan needed a kidney transplant last year, and his coach was the donor.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Colin Moran
    2. Ryan Eades
    3. Ryne Stanek
    4. Jeffrey Thompson
    5. Chris Harvey

    Pitchers

    Hawtin Buchanan – RHP – 6’8 245 – Ole Miss – Freshman
    Dan Child – RHP – 6’4 225 – Oregon State – Sophomore
    *Ryan Eades – RHP – 6’2 189 – LSU – Sophomore
    Chad Green – RHP – 6’4 210 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Jon Keller – RHP – 6’6 225 – Nebraska – Sophomore
    Tyler King – LHP – 6’0 190 – Nebraska – Sophomore
    Jaron Long – RHP – 6’0 180 – Ohio State – Sophomore
    Brandon Moore – RHP – 6’3 228 – Arkansas – Sophomore
    Javier Reynoso – LHP – 5’11 190 – Coastal Carolina – Freshman
    Tyler Skulina – RHP – 6’6 225 – Kent State – Sophomore
    *Ryne Stanek – RHP – 6’4 180 – Arkansas – Sophomore
    Shane Taylor – RHP – 6’1 185 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    Jeffrey Thompson – RHP – 6’6 240 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Brian Ward – LHP – 6’3 185 – Connecticut – Sophomore
    Patrick Young – RHP – 6’7 208 – Villanova – Sophomore

    Hawtin Buchanan – RHP – 6’8 245
    Ole Miss
    Freshman

    A towering presence on the mound, Buchanan was a 19th-round draft pick out of high school. At Ole Miss, he’s pitched very well out of the bullpen as a freshman, posting a 3.06 ERA and 29 strikeouts against only eight walks in 17.2 innings.

    Dan Child – RHP – 6’4 225
    Oregon State
    Sophomore

    Child was a late-round pick out of high school and saw only limited action with the Beavers in 2011. But after earning all-star honors as a reliever in the Northwoods League last summer, Child has become an ace in Corvallis this spring. Pitching as a starter, he’s 5-3 with a 2.55 ERA. He has struck out 75 in 91.2 innings.

    Ryan Eades – RHP – 6’2 189
    LSU
    Sophomore

    A 19th-round pick out of high school in 2010, Eades didn’t have great overall numbers as a freshman with the Tigers, but he pitched well near the end of last season. Then came the summer, when Eades carried that momentum into a huge season with the Braves. Eades went 3-0 with a 0.84 ERA and earned Cape Cod League pitcher of the year honors. This spring, Eades has been solid again. He’s 5-2 with a 3.75 ERA.

    Chad Green – RHP – 6’4 210
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    Green has been a standout reliever for two seasons running with the Cardinals. He had a 1.93 ERA in 21 appearances last year, and he has a 2.41 ERA in 20 games this year. He has struck out 37 in 37.1 innings.

    Jon Keller – RHP – 6’6 225
    Nebraska
    Sophomore

    Keller was an 11th round pick out of high school and jumped into Nebraska’s weekend rotation immediately last year. He ended up going 3-6 with a 3.62 ERA. This year has been more of a struggle. Keller is 4-1 but had an ERA of 5.37.

    Tyler King – LHP – 6’0 190
    Nebraska
    Sophomore

    Kind was a standout reliever for the Huskers last season, but like his teammate Keller, he’s had his struggles this season. He currently has a 5.40 ERA. Still, King had been a key part of the bullpen and leads the team in appearances.

    Jaron Long – RHP – 6’0 180
    Ohio State
    Sophomore

    The son of New York Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long, Jaron Long is making his mark on the mound rather than at the plate. Long is 6-2 and he leads the Buckeyes with a 2.29 ERA. Though he has struck out only 61 in 98.1 innings, he’s also walked just 12.

    Brandon Moore – RHP – 6’3 228
    Arkansas
    Sophomore

    Moore pitched as both a starter and a reliever last season, and had success regardless of what he was doing. He finished the year with a 3.45 ERA. This year, with the focus almost solely on the bullpen, Moore has been even better. He’s got a 2.61 ERA to go with 29 strikeouts and just four walks in 58.2 innings.

    Javier Reynoso – LHP – 5’11 190
    Coastal Carolina
    Freshman

    A 39th-round pick out of high school last year, Reynoso has put together a solid freshman season for the Chanticleers. He’s 2-2 with a 3.96 ERA.

    Tyler Skulina – RHP – 6’6 225
    Kent State
    Sophomore

    An Ohio high-school star, Skulina started his career at Virginia before transferring back to his home state. After sitting out last year, Skulina is 8-2 this season with a 4.14 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 76 innings pitched. Out of high school, Skulina was drafted in the 46th round.

    Ryne Stanek – RHP – 6’4 180
    Arkansas
    Sophomore

    Stanek was a third-round pick in the 2010 draft so he came to Arkansas with considerable hype. He was solid as a freshman, then spent time with Bourne and with Team USA last summer. This spring, Stanek has become the ace the Razorbacks hoped they were getting. He’s 6-3 with a 2.99 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 69.1 innings.

    Shane Taylor – RHP – 6’1 185
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    Taylor pitched well out of the bullpen as a freshman and has been even better with a year under his belt. Taylor ranks third on the team in appearances with 24 and is 5-0 with a 3.09 ERA. He has struck out 31 in 35 innings.

    Jeffrey Thompson – RHP – 6’6 240
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    Thompson pitched mostly out of the bullpen as a freshman last year but then turned a lot of heads in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, where he took home the top pro prospect award after striking out 68 in 50 innings pitched. Thompson has been impressive again this spring, going 9-2 for UofL with a 3.64 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 71.2 innings.

    Brian Ward – LHP – 6’3 185
    Connecticut
    Sophomore

    Ward saw a ton of action as a freshman last year and put up good numbers, finishing with an ERA just over three. This year has been a bit of struggle, with Ward sitting at 3-4 with a 5.96 ERA.

    Patrick Young – RHP – 6’7 208
    Villanova
    Sophomore

    Another towering presence for the Braves, Young has been the leader of Nova’s rotation this season. He’s 6-4 right now with a 4.25 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 78 innings.

    Position Players

    Will Allen – C – 6’3 218 – Ole Miss – Sophomore
    *Tommy Coyle – INF – 5’9 170 – North Carolina – Junior
    Josh Dezse – 1B/RHP – 6’5 220 – Ohio State – Sophomore
    Trent Gilbert – INF – 6’1 175 – Arizona – Freshman
    Chris Harvey – C – 6’5 215 – Vanderbilt – Freshman
    Kevin Jordan – OF – 6’1 191 – Wake Forest – Freshman
    Chase McDonald – 1B – 6’4 255 – East Carolina – Sophomore
    *Colin Moran – 3B – 6’3 180 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    Aaron Payne – INF – 5’11 175 – Oregon – Sophomore
    Jordan Patterson – OF/LHP – 6’4 206 – South Alabama – Sophomore
    Dario Pizzano – OF – 5’11 200 – Columbia – Junior
    Jack Reinheimer – SS – 6’0 170 – East Carolina – Sophomore
    Mason Robbins – OF/LHP – 6’1 200 – Southern Mississippi – Freshman

    Will Allen – C – 6’3 218
    Ole Miss
    Sophomore

    After getting some time as a freshman and hitting .227, Allen has become one of the top players for the Rebels this spring. He ranks fourth on the team with a .329 batting average, and he’s also totaled 13 extra-base hits.

    Tommy Coyle – INF – 5’9 170
    North Carolina
    Junior

    Coyle is a veteran presence for the Tar Heels, and he has a strong track record, which includes a stop on Cape Cod. Coyle played for Bourne last year and was one of the team’s top hitters, finishing with a .315 average and eight extra-base hits. This spring, Coyle has slumped a bit and is hitting .245, but he has still started every game for the Heels and has shown some pop with 14 extra-base hits.

    Josh Dezse – 1B/RHP – 6’5 220
    Ohio State
    Sophomore

    Desze burst onto the scene in Columbus last year, leading the team in hitting and saving six games on the mound. He has continued to shine this spring. He’s hitting .319 with five home runs and 31 RBI. On the mound, Dezse has saved seven games and has put up a 3.16 ERA.

    Trent Gilbert – INF – 6’1 175
    Arizona
    Freshman

    Gilbert was drafted in the 40th round out of high school but stuck with his commitment to Arizona and has made an immediate impact for the Wildcats. Gilbert has started 48 of the team’s 49 games and is hitting .271.

    Chris Harvey – C – 6’5 215
    Vanderbilt
    Freshman

    Harvey followed in the footsteps of a handful of top prospects in recent years when he graduated high school early and started his college career. It’s been a bit of a struggle so far, with Harvey hitting only .229. Seven of his 16 hits have gone for extra-bases.

    Kevin Jordan – OF – 6’1 191
    Wake Forest
    Freshman

    Jordan was a 19th-round pick out of high school but missed all of last season after a kidney transplant. Back in action this year, Jordan is hitting .233 with a homer and 14 RBI.

    Chase McDonald – 1B – 6’4 255
    East Carolina
    Sophomore

    McDonald was one of the top freshman in Conference USA last year when he hit .314 with four home runs. McDonald is hitting .236 this year with three home runs.

    Colin Moran – 3B – 6’3 180
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    Moran was the ACC Freshman of the Year in 2011 and followed up his big debut with a good summer in Bourne. He hit .289 with a home run. This spring, it’s been more of the same for Moran, who continues to cement his status as one of the nation’s top sophomores. Moran is currently hitting .389 with three home runs and 34 RBI.

    Jordan Patterson – OF/LHP – 6’4 206
    South Alabama
    Sophomore

    Patterson is a two-way player for the Jaguars but does most of his damage at the plate, where he’s one of the top hitters in the Sun Belt Conference. Patterson is batting .313 with seven home runs, 14 doubles and a team-best 39 RBI. On the mound, Patterson has made six appearances, with an ERA of 3.60.

    Aaron Payne – INF – 5’11 175
    Oregon
    Sophomore

    Payne struggled in limited action last year, but he’s gotten a chance this year and has seized it. While starting every game for the Ducks, Payne has hit .289 with 10 extra-base hits.

    Dario Pizzano – OF – 5’11 200
    Columbia
    Junior

    Pizzano burst onto the scene for Columbia as a freshman, earning Ivy League Co-Freshman of the Year honors. He hasn’t slipped at all since then. Pizzano batted .359 with nine home runs as a sophomore. This year, he’s hitting .360 with four home runs and 36 RBI.

    Jack Reinheimer – SS – 6’0 170
    East Carolina
    Sophomore

    Like his teammate McDonald, Reinheimer had a strong freshman season with the Pirates and he’s been a key contributor again this year. Reinheimer is hitting .287 with two homers and 21 RBI.

    Mason Robbins – OF/LHP – 6’1 200
    Southern Mississippi
    Freshman

    Robbins was drafted in the 20th round out of high school this year, and has so far been the most successful member of Southern Mississippi’s vaunted recruiting class. Robbins ranks third on the team with a .328 average, and he ranks second on the team in RBI with 36. He has hit three home runs to go with 10 doubles.

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    Friday Notes: New Additions

    There will be many, many roster additions in the coming weeks, but I don’t know how many will be as big as a couple that stand out on the Cape League’s latest updated roster list.

    The three that caught my eye the most are Austin Wilson in Harwich, Jared King in Falmouth and Dominic Ficociello in Orleans.

    Wilson played for Harwich last year, and though he didn’t have a great summer statistically (.204 AVG, 1 HR), he was still one of the top prospects in the league. Perfect Game had him ranked No. 3 overall. Wilson wasn’t on early Harwich rosters but is there now. He’s hitting .308 with eight home runs for Stanford this spring.

    Another guy who wasn’t on an early roster but is set to return is King, a standout at Kansas State. He also had his struggles on the Cape last summer in Falmouth, but he has been one of the top hitters in the Big 12 this spring. He’s hitting .376 with five home runs, 12 doubles and 40 RBI.

    Ficociello was a 23rd-round pick out of high school and had a huge freshman season at Arkansas last year. He then played with Team USA. Now, Ficociello has popped up on the Orleans roster. He’s hitting .323 with four home runs and 32 RBI.

    A good read on former Harwich closer Blake Hauser, who’s having a terrific season as VCU’s closer. Hauser had never been a closer before the Mariners tried him there last summer. He has continued in that role this spring and has been brilliant, striking out 54 in 28.1 innings.

    I posted a note about LSU’s Raph Rhymes a while ago. The junior, who’s ticketed for Cotuit, was hitting almost .500 at the time. You’d think, more than a month later, that he would not be hitting close to .500 anymore. You’d be right — because he is not hitting an even .500. His average has gone up. It’s pretty ridiculous. Rhymes has been one of the great stories in college baseball this year.

    Baseball America’s Jim Callis has come out with his first mock draft of the year. He has former Cape Leaguer Mark Appel going No. 1 overall to the Astros. The first round includes 10 total Cape Leaguers, and the first six college players off the board all played on the Cape.

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    2012 Early Look: Wareham Gatemen

    gatemen_logo_opt.jpgWareham Gatemen
    Manager: Cooper Farris
    2011 Record: 23-21

    Growing up, I remember hearing that the Wareham Gatemen were kind of the New York Yankees of the Cape Cod Baseball League. They always seemed to bring in some of the best players and they always seemed to be successful.

    That’s why I was surprised to learn today that last year marked Wareham’s first winning season since 2006. For whatever reason, things just hadn’t come together from 2007-2010. Team USA had a big impact some years, and others, the Gatemen just couldn’t quite find it. (It also could have been a Right Field Fog curse since 2006 was the year before RFF got its start).

    Whatever the cause, the Gatemen broke out last summer with a solid campaign that included a run to the West division semifinals.

    With eight players expected back from that team, Wareham should have the nucleus of a veteran team that can stay on track. Konner Wade leads the returning pitchers, while Daniel Palka paces the hitters. Both were all-stars last summer. Throw in some starting pitching with a lot of upside and a handful of other power threats, and the Gatemen have the makings of a contender.

    Roster Rundown
    Returning Players: 8
    Sophomores: 19
    Freshmen: Six

    Notable

  • I haven’t made a detailed trip through all the rosters yet, but I can’t imagine anybody will have more than the eight returning players on the Wareham roster. That could be a big advantage for the Gatemen, especially since quite a few of the players had big summers last year.

  • Konner Wade is at the top of the list of returnees, but he could be playing a different role. Wade was perhaps the league’s best closer last year, finishing in a tie for the league lead in saves, but he’s been a starter for Arizona this spring. It’ll be interesting to see how he’s used this summer.

  • Daniel Palka has been remarkably consistent at every stop in his college career. He hit .297 as a freshman at Georgia Tech, .327 with Wareham last summer and is hitting .301 with 11 home runs this year. I would expect him to pick up exactly where he left off with the Gatemen this summer.

  • Several of the other returning players will be trying to rebound from tough first summers in Wareham. Mott Hyde and Ty Ross both hit under .200 with the Gatemen but are in the midst of strong springs.

  • Lots of intriguing arms on the roster, and quite a few pitchers will be trying to prove themselves. Kurt McCune was the ace of the LSU staff as a freshman but has had some struggles this year. Matthew Grimes was a fourth-round pick out of high school but has missed part of this spring with injury. And Michael Cederoth has a big arm but has walked a ton in his first season at San Diego State.

  • One of the cool stories for Wareham this summer will be the team’s local flavor. Two players hail from Middleboro, Mass., while Franklin Pierce catcher Matthew Walsh is from Plymouth. Walsh could be especially fun to watch. He was a four-time All-Stater at Plymouth North and grew up watching Wareham games. He was also the Northeast 10 Rookie of the Year this spring.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Daniel Palka
    2. Konner Wade
    3. Michael Cederoth
    4. Matthew Grimes
    5. Tyler Horan

    Pitchers

    *Barret Astin – RHP – 6-1 185 – Arkansas – Sophomore
    Michael Cederoth – RHP – 6-6 205 – San Diego State – Freshman
    *Matthew Grimes – RHP – 6-5 208 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    Will Kendall – LHP – 6-3 205 – Auburn – Sophomore
    Brad Kuntz – LHP – 6-2 195 – Baylor – Sophomore
    Kurt McCune – RHP – 6-4 180 – LSU – Sophomore
    Sean Newcomb – LHP 6-5 220 – Hartford – Freshman
    *Dillon Newman – RHP – 6-2 185 – Baylor – Sophomore
    Nicholas Rumbelow – RHP – 6-0 190 – LSU – Sophomore
    Jared Ruxer – RHP- 6-2 185 – Louisville – Freshman
    Adam Schemenauer – LHP – 6-9 230 – Louisville – Freshman
    Colby Suggs – RHP – 6-0 225 – Arkansas – Sophomore
    Brando Tessar – RHP – 6-3 198 – Oregon – Sophomore
    *Konner Wade – RHP – 6-3 180 – Arizona – Sophomore

    Barret Astin – RHP – 6-1 185
    Arkansas
    Sophomore

    Astin earned Freshman All-American honors while pitching out of the Arkansas bullpen last season and then delivered a solid summer on Cape Cod with the Gatemen. Astin went 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA for Wareham. This spring, it’s been more of the same for Astin, who has saved nine games and is among the SEC leaders in ERA with a 1.80 mark. He has also struck out 51 in 45 innings.

    Michael Cederoth – RHP – 6-6 205
    San Diego State
    Freshman

    Cederoth was a 42nd-round draft pick out of high school last year and vaulted into the San Diego State rotation immediately this season. He’s has some ups and downs so far. Cederoth currently has an ERA of 4.58. He has struck out 56 in 59 innings, but the biggest problem has been his 45 walks. He’s still a power arm, though, with a fastball that can reach the mid-90’s.

    Matthew Grimes – RHP – 6-5 208
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    Grimes, a fourth-round pick of the White Sox, was one of the top unsigned picks from the 2010 draft, and he had a pretty good freshman season with the Yellow Jackets, finishing with a 4.15 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 73.2 innings. Grimes was off to a good start this season, going 3-2 in five starts with a 3.38 ERA but an injury has sidelined him recently.

    Will Kendall – LHP – 6-3 205
    Auburn
    Sophomore

    Kendall was off to a fantastic start this season, posting a 4-0 record and a 1.88 ERA, but he has since suffered a season-ending injury. He is still listed on the Wareham roster, but I’m not sure of his status for the summer.

    Brad Kuntz – LHP – 6-2 195
    Baylor
    Sophomore

    Kuntz has been a solid pitcher out of the bullpen in each of his first two seasons in Waco. This year, he’s made the second-most appearances on the team and has put up a 4.46 ERA to go with about a strikeout an inning.

    Kurt McCune – RHP – 6-4 180
    LSU
    Sophomore

    McCune burst onto the scene for the Tigers last spring, grabbing a weekend rotation spot and earning Freshman All-America honors by posting a 7-3 record and a 3.38 ERA. The going has been a little tougher for McCune this spring. He’s 2-4 with a 4.21 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 36.1 innings.

    Sean Newcomb – LHP 6-5 220
    Hartford
    Freshman

    A native of Middleboro, Mass., Newcomb has measurables that jump out, and he’s been pretty good in his first year with Hartford. Newcomb is 2-4 so far with a 4.17 ERA. He has struck out 45 in 45.1 innings of work and has walked 38.

    Dillon Newman – RHP – 6-2 185
    Baylor
    Sophomore

    Like his teammate Kuntz, Newman has been a key part of the Baylor bullpen for two years running, and he’s been particularly good this season. Newman has a 2.54 ERA with 31 strikeouts and just six walks in 28.1 innings pitched.

    Nicholas Rumbelow – RHP – 6-0 190
    LSU
    Sophomore

    Rumbelow pitched well in limited innings as a freshman then was named the sixth-best prospect in the Prospect League last summer. This spring, Rumbelow has been outstanding out of the bullpen for the Tigers, putting a 3.48 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 20.2 innings.

    Jared Ruxer – RHP- 6-2 185
    Louisville
    Freshman

    A 29th-round pick out of high school, Ruxer follows in the footsteps of Cardinal teammate and former Wareham standout Justin Amlung. Just a freshman, Ruxer has been great as a member of the weekend rotation, posting a 6-1 record and a 2.47 ERA. Ruxer was a 29th-round pick out of high school.

    Adam Schemenauer – LHP – 6-9 230
    Louisville
    Freshman

    A towering presence, Schemenauer was a 12th-round pick out of high school but opted to attend Louisville. He has not pitched this season.

    Colby Suggs – RHP – 6-0 225
    Arkansas
    Sophomore

    Suggs was impressive in limited work last spring then came through with a big summer in the Coastal Plain League. This year, Suggs has been just as good as his teammate Astin, recording a 0.99 ERA in 24 relief appearances. He has 29 strikeouts in 27.1 innings pitched.

    Brando Tessar – RHP – 6-3 198
    Oregon
    Sophomore

    A 25th-round pick out of high school, Tessar had a solid freshman season in Eugene and then earned all-star honors in the Northwoods League last summer. This spring, Tessar has gone 4-1 with a 3.58 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 50.1 innings.

    Konner Wade – RHP – 6-3 180
    Arizona
    Sophomore

    Wade returns to Wareham after a breakout summer last season, and it looks like he’ll be coming off a breakout spring. Wade tied for the Cape League lead in saves with 12 last summer. This spring, he moved to the rotation for Arizona and has done well. He’s 6-1 with a 4.29 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched.

    Position Players

    Dustin DeMuth – SS – 6-3 – 198 – Indiana – Sophomore
    *Johnny Field – OF – 5-10 195 – Arizona – Sophomore
    Tyler Horan – 3B – 6’1 225 – Virginia Tech – RS Sophomore
    *Mott Hyde – SS – 5’11 185 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    Ty McFarland – 3B – 6-3 190 – James Madison – Sophomore
    *Daniel Palka – 1B – 6-3 220 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    *Ty Ross – C – 6-3 215 – LSU- Sophomore
    Kyle Schwarber – OF – 6-0 230 – Indiana – Freshman
    Cody Smith – OF – 5-10 180 – San Diego State – Sophomore
    Brett Thomas – OF – 6-1 195 – Oregon – Sophomore
    Matthew Walsh – C – 5-10 210 – Franklin Pierce – Freshman

    Dustin DeMuth – SS – 6-3 – 198
    Indiana
    Sophomore

    Wareham has had a few strong players from Indiana over the years, and DeMuth is the latest. He earned Freshman All-America honors when he hit .360 last year. This season hasn’t been quite as good. DeMuth is hitting .261 with 13 RBI.

    Johnny Field – OF – 5-10 195
    Arizona
    Sophomore

    After a strong freshman season at Arizona, Field made the trek to Wareham last summer and became one of the Gatemen’s top hitters, finishing with a .261 average and 10 extra-base hits. Back at Arizona this year, Field has taken a leap forward. He’s batting .364 with 18 extra-base hits.

    Tyler Horan – 3B – 6’1 225
    Virginia Tech
    RS Sophomore

    Like his future Wareham teammate Sean Newcomb, Horan hails from Middleboro, Mass., so he’ll be playing close to home this summer, and he’ll have quite a track record to show off as he returns to New England. A former star at Boston College High, Horan redshirted his first year at Virginia Tech but has hit the ground running since. After hitting .396 in a reserve role last year, Horan is batting .293 this season with 13 home runs and 38 RBI.

    Mott Hyde – SS – 5’11 185
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    Hyde started from day one for Tech last season and hit .275 with 47 RBI. He struggled on the Cape, hitting .151 for the Gatemen, but he’s returned to his freshman year form back with the Yellow Jackets this spring. Hyde is hitting .272 with five home runs and 24 RBI.

    Ty McFarland – 3B – 6-3 190
    James Madison
    Sophomore

    McFarland hit .278 as a freshman before putting together a strong summer in the Valley League last year. This season, McFarland is hitting .338 with six doubles.

    Daniel Palka – 1B – 6-3 220
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    Palka had an outstanding freshman season in 2011, hitting .297 with 12 home runs and 52 RBI. With Wareham, he picked up right where he left off, hitting a team-best .327 and earning all-league honors. There’s been more consistency this spring, with Palka hitting .301 and blasting a team-high 11 home runs. Palka was a 19th-round draft pick out of high school in 2010.

    Ty Ross – C – 6-3 215
    LSU
    Sophomore

    Ross became LSU’s starting catcher as a freshman and was one of the top young players in the SEC last season. He hit .168 over the summer for Wareham, but has been strong again this spring. He’s hitting .302, good for third on the team, and he’s also third on the team in RBI with 31. Ross was a 46th-round draft pick out of high school.

    Kyle Schwarber – OF – 6-0 230
    Indiana
    Freshman

    Schwarber will join his teammate DeMuth in Wareham this summer, and it looks like he’ll be coming off a big debut. Schwarber is hitting .298 in his first year with the Hoosiers, and he’s tied for the team lead with eight home runs.

    Cody Smith – OF – 5-10 180
    San Diego State
    Sophomore

    Smith became one of San Diego State’s best hitters last year as a freshman, batting .311 with 17 extra-base hits. His average has dipped this year, but he’s still been a solid hitter for the Aztecs. He’s at .268 with six doubles and 18 RBI.

    Brett Thomas – OF – 6-1 195
    Oregon
    Sophomore

    After hitting .291 as a freshman, Thomas has become one of the Ducks’ top offensive threats in his sophomore season. He’s currently hitting .309 with a team-best 17 extra-base hits.

    Matthew Walsh – C – 5-10 210
    Franklin Pierce
    Freshman

    A native of Plymouth, Walsh will be living a dream this summer when he plays for the Gatemen, whom he grew up watching. Walsh will be coming in off an outstanding freshman season at Franklin Pierce. He hit .339 with two home runs and 37 RBI and was named the Northeast 10 Conference Rookie of the Year.