Early Look: Falmouth

Falmouth 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.