Early Look: Hyannis

Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Manager: Chad Gassman
2009 Record: 16-26-1

New name, new identity?

We’ll see about that second part. The first part is definitely true. The Hyannis Mets are now the Harbor Hawks. The change comes a year after Major League Baseball instituted merchandising restrictions for copyrighted names. Chatham and Orleans changed their names last year. Hyannis followed suit this year.

On the field, there’s actually a little more stability. Chad Gassman was the third manager in three years when he took over last year, but he’s back at the helm this season.

As for that new identity, the Harbor Hawks are bringing in the kind of group that could help establish it. In recent years, Hyannis has been in the middle of the pack or a little further back. The franchise hasn’t had a winning season since 2003. They were right in the mix in 2007 and 2008 but missed the playoffs. Last year, they never got in gear and finished 16-26-1.

For every Cape League team, the potential is always there to completely turn things around from one year to the next. The first group of Harbor Hawks might have more potential than most: I think this is the most talented roster the team has had since 2007.

It starts with some legitimate top-level prospects: Danny Hultzen and Jackie Bradley Jr. Both were on the roster last year, but only Bradley made it. He showed flashes of brilliance and was one of the top freshman prospects in the league. Hultzen, who just won ACC Pitcher of the Year honors, has a chance to be the top pitcher in the league.

Thankfully for Hyannis, the talent doesn’t stop there. Oklahoma teammates Garrett Buechele and Cam Seitzer are among the top players in the Big 12 this spring. Johnny Ruettiger had a nice summer last year and has been productive for Arizona State. Joey Rickard has had a great freshman season at Arizona.

The bad news is that all the aforementioned standouts other than Hultzen are position players. The pitching staff could have the league’s premier ace in Hultzen, but a lot of guys will have to take things to another level, based on their college numbers.

But maybe some guys who have struggled will forge a new identity, too. If they do, they’ll be helping their team do the same thing.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 5
Juniors: 2
Sophomores: 20
Freshmen: 8

Notable

The Harbor Hawks have three players with Major League bloodlines. Garrett Buechele is the son of Steve Buechele; Cam Seitzer’s father is Kevin Seitzer; and Tyler Thompson is the son of Robby Thompson. If all the fathers come for a visit, the crowd would have a pretty awesome infield.

Danny Hultzen was one of those helium guys before the 2008 draft, a player who burst onto radar screens with a jump in velocity and a big senior season. At Virginia, he’s done nothing to fall off the radar. He’s become one of the to pitchers in the country. If you get a chance to see any Virginia postseason games on TV in the coming weeks, it’s a treat to watch Hultzen.

You could have lost track of Jackie Bradley Jr last summer because he didn’t get off to the best of starts. But he ended up hitting .380 with eight extra-base hits in the final 18 games of the season. The way he’s playing this spring, Bradley should be avoid the bad start this year.

As redshirt sophomore, Garrett Buechele will be eligible for the draft this year. I hope he makes it to the Cape, though, because it seems like he’s a guy who could really emerge with a big summer.

It’ll be interesting to see how Hyannis uses Clemson’s Will Lamb. He’s a 6’5 pitcher and first baseman who stole 26 bases in the Coastal Plain League last summer. Whatever he does, scouts will be watching. Lamb was the top prospect in the CPL last year, according to Baseball America.

Is Winthrop’s Matteo D’Angelo the first native of Italy to play on the Cape? I think he might be.

While the pitching staff is a little short on starters with impressive numbers, the Harbor Hawks figure to have some options out of the bullpen. Virginia’s Tyler Wilson is one of the top set-up guys in the nation and he has a solid Cape League track record. South Carolina freshman Matt Price has seven saves with 57 strikeouts in 38 innings.

Five Players I’m Excited to See
1. Danny Hultzen
2. Jackie Bradley Jr.
3. Garrett Buechele
4. Cam Seitzer
5. Johnny Ruettiger

Pitchers

Joey Bourgeois – RHP – 6’2 224 – LSU – Sophomore
*Kevin Brandt – LHP/1B – 6’1 195 – East Carolina – Sophomore
Matteo D’Angelo – RHP – 6’2 198 – Winthrop – Junior
Matt Dermody – LHP – 6’4 190 – Iowa – Freshman
Trent Howard – LHP – 6’2 192 – Central Michigan – Sophomore
Danny Hultzen – LHP – 6’2 190 – Virginia – Sophomore
Will Lamb – LHP/1B – 6’5 185 – Clemson – Sophomore
*Jimmy Messer -RHP – 6’1 195 – North Carolina – Sophomore
Tyler Mizenko – RHP – 6’2 195 – Winthrop – Sophomore
Matt Price – RHP – 6’1 215 – South Carolina – Sophomore
Tyler Ray – RHP – 6’1 180 – Troy – Sophomore
Steven Rodriguez – LHP – 6’3 230 – Florida – Sophomore
Cody Stiles – RHP – 6’2 177 – North Carolina – Freshman
Drew Verhagen – RHP – 6’6 215 – Oklahoma – Freshman
*Tyler Wilson – RHP – 6’2 190 – Virginia – Junior

* – returning player
(Stats as of May 27)

Joey Bourgeois – RHP – 6’2 224
LSU
Sophomore

Bourgeois started his career at LSU-Eunice, a junior-college program. After going 12-2 and striking out 98 in 87 innings, Bourgeois got drafted in the 39th round then took his power arm to Baton Rouge. This season, he’s 4-1 with a 6.52 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 58 innings.

Kevin Brandt – LHP/1B – 6’1 195
East Carolina
Sophomore

Brandt pitched out of the bullpen at the beginning of last season but eventually worked his way into a starting role and ended up with solid numbers. He pitched as a starter and a reliever again for Hyannis last summer and went 1-2 with a 3.92 ERA. With a little more time in the rotation this year, Brandt has gone 3-7 with a 5.28 ERA. He has struck out 68 in 75 innings.

Matteo D’Angelo – RHP – 6’2 198
Winthrop
Junior

A native of Italy, D’Angelo blossomed after a decent freshman year and became a second-team all-conference pick last season. This year, he’s been a fixture in the rotation and is 7-5 with a 4.18 ERA. He has 71 strikeouts in 88.3 innings.

Matt Dermody – LHP – 6’5 200
Iowa
Freshman

Dermody made Iowa high-school history last year when he struck out every batter he faced in a six-inning perfect game. He got drafted by the Pirates in the 26th round but opted to stick with Iowa. He has struggled a bit this spring, with an 8.90 ERA in nine appearances.

Trent Howard – LHP – 6’2 192
Central Michigan
Sophomore

Howard had a strong debut with the Chippewas last season and followed it up with a fantastic summer. He led the Coastal Plain League in ERA at 1.01 and struck out 64 in 53.1 innings. Howard has continued the progression this spring. Pitching mostly in relief, he has gone 4-3 with a 3.52 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 53.2 innings.

Danny Hultzen – LHP – 6’2 190
Virginia
Sophomore

Hultzen came to Virginia as one of the most hyped freshmen in the nation, and he has lived up to every bit of it at every turn. Last season, Hultzen was the No. 1 starter and starting first baseman on a team that made it to the College World Series. He went 9-1 with a 2.17 ERA and hit .327. He’s been atop the rotation again this year and he’s been a big reason why the Cavaliers are one of the top teams in the nation. Focusing more on pitching, Hultzen is 8-1 with a 2.08 ERA. In 86.2 innings, he has struck out 106 and walked only 20. He was recently named ACC Pitcher of the Year.

Will Lamb – LHP/1B – 6’5 185
Clemson
Sophomore

A two-way player, Lamb had a 2.45 ERA in 15 appearances and hit .236 as a freshman. The numbers weren’t much more eye-popping in the Coastal Plain League, but Lamb still turned a lot of heads. After striking out 32 in 30.1 innings and stealing 26 bases, Lamb was named the league’s top prospect by Baseball America. Lamb hasn’t put everything together yet but has a lot of potential. His ERA is 5.31 this spring but he’s hitting a solid .296.

Jimmy Messer -RHP – 6’1 195
North Carolina
Sophomore

Messer was a 44th-round pick out of high school. After a decent freshman season, he came to Hyannis last summer and had an 8.27 ERA in 10 appearances. He has put up better numbers this spring with a 3.86 ERA in 17 appearances.

Tyler Mizenko – RHP – 6’2 195
Winthrop
Sophomore

Mizenko grabbed the closer job as a freshman and ended up setting a school record for single-season saves with 14. He hasn’t matched that this year but the surrounding numbers have been just as good: Mizenko has a 3.79 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 40.1 innings.

Matt Price – RHP – 6’1 215
South Carolina
Sophomore

Price hasn’t just made an impact for the Gamecocks as a freshman; he’s become a dominant force out of the bullpen. The righty has saved seven games this spring and has a 2.84 ERA. In 38 innings, he has struck out 57 and walked only 15. He was recently tabbed as a second-team all-conference pick.

Tyler Ray – RHP – 6’1 180
Troy
Sophomore

Ray went 7-3 with a 4.60 ERA and earned Sun Belt Freshman of the Year honors last season. This spring, he’s 8-3 with a 5.09 ERA. In 81.1 innings, he had struck out 50 and walked 19.

Steven Rodriguez – LHP – 6’3 230
Florida
Sophomore

Rodriguez was a 48th round pick last year and has become a valuable bullpen arm for the Gators this spring. In 17 appearances, Rodriguez has a 2.22 ERA. He has struck out 24 and walked only four in 24.1 innings of work.

Cody Stiles – RHP – 6’2 177
North Carolina
Freshman

Stiles was picked in the 39th round of last year’s draft but honored his commitment to North Carolina. He’s made seven appearances in his freshman season, with a 4.50 ERA.

Drew Verhagen – RHP – 6’6 215
Oklahoma
Freshman

Standing 6’6, Verhagen certainly has a projectable body, but he’s had limited chances to make an impression this spring. He has pitched in six games. He has a 3.38 ERA and he has struck out 13 in 13.1 innings.

Tyler Wilson – RHP – 6’2 190
Virginia
Junior

Wilson emerged as a standout reliever as a sophomore and he’s been just as good this season. In a team-high 27 appearances, Wilson is 7-3 with a 3.11 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 55 innings. Wilson pitched for Hyannis last year and had a 1.60 ERA with 28 strikeouts and just five walks.

Position Players

Dane Phillips – C – 6’2 195 – Oklahoma State – Freshman
Dan Sheppard – C – 6’0 180 – Iowa – Freshman
Michael Zunino – C – 6’1 210 – Florida – Freshman
Garrett Buechele – 3B – 6’0 200 – Oklahoma – RS Sophomore
Casey McElroy – SS/2B – 5’8 178 – Auburn – Sophomore
Zach Osborne – SS – 5’7 165 – Tennessee – Sophomore
A.J. Pettersen – SS – 5’9 160 – Minnesota – RS Sophomore
Cam Seitzer – 1B/3B – 6’5 205 – Oklahoma – Sophomore
Cody Stubbs – 1B/3B – 6’3 220 – Tennessee – Freshman
Matt Williams – SS – 6’0 165 – Liberty – Sophomore
*Jackie Bradley Jr. – OF – 5’11 180 – South Carolina – Sophomore
Jeff Lusardi – OF – 5’10 180 – Missouri – Sophomore
Joey Rickard – OF – 6’1 175 – Arizona – Freshman
*Johnny Ruettiger – OF – 6’2 190 – Arizona State – Sophomore
Tyler Thompson – OF – 6’1 185 – Florida – Sophomore

* – returning player

Dane Phillips – C – 6’2 195
Oklahoma State
Freshman

Phillips hit almost .700 in his senior year of high school and got the attention of major programs like LSU, Texas and North Carolina. He committed to Oklahoma State and stuck with it after getting drafted in the 49th round. He has had a strong freshman season in Stillwater. Playing mostly at designated hitter, Phillips is batting .337 with three home runs, 14 doubles and 34 RBI.

Dan Sheppard – C – 6’0 180
Iowa
Freshman

Sheppard was a 30th round pick out of high school but honored his commitment to Iowa. He has seen action in 26 games this spring and is hitting .257 with one extra-base hit. Perfect Game ranked Sheppard as the top catching prospect in Illinois last year.

Michael Zunino – C – 6’1 210
Florida
Freshman

One of three top-flight catching prospects on the Florida roster, Zunino has earned a lot of playing time and has made the most of it. With starts in 45 games, Zunino is hitting .273 with eight home runs, six doubles and 35 RBI. Out of high school, he was drafted in the 30th round last year. He was ranked 163 on Baseball America’s top 200 draft prospects.

Garrett Buechele – 3B – 6’0 200
Oklahoma
RS Sophomore

After redshirting in 2008, Buechele earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors last year when he hit .353. He’s been even better this year and has emerged as one of the top players in the Big 12. The son of ex-Major Leaguer Steve Buechele, Garrett is hitting .384 with 13 home runs, 15 doubles and a team-high 59 RBI.

Casey McElroy – SS/2B – 5’8 178
Auburn
Sophomore

Last year, McElroy started at shortstop from day one for the Tigers and finished with a solid .286 average. He was the only infielder to start every game. This season, McElroy is hitting .330 with six home runs, nine doubles and 37 RBI.

Zach Osborne – SS – 5’7 165
Tennessee
Sophomore

Osborne made 54 starts last year, batted .281 and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. A former Little League World Series MVP, Osborne is hitting .286 this year with five home runs, nine doubles and 25 RBI.

A.J. Pettersen – SS – 5’9 160
Minnesota
RS Sophomore

Pettersen earned second-team all-conference honors last year after hitting .353. This season, he’s hitting .290 with two home runs, 12 doubles and 31 RBI. He’s been a key player for a team that won the Big 10 regular-season title.

Cam Seitzer – 1B/3B – 6’5 205
Oklahoma
Sophomore

Like Buechele, Seitzer is the son of a former Major Leaguer (Kevin Seitzer), and he too is tearing it up for the Sooners. A true sophomore with a lot of potential, Seitzer is hitting .328 with a team-best 14 home runs and 51 RBI.

Cody Stubbs – 1B/3B – 6’3 220
Tennessee
Freshman

Stubbs was the Red Sox’ 29th-round pick out of high school last year. In Knoxville, he’s seen action in 46 games and is hitting .241 with three home runs. He was one of the top prospects in North Carolina coming out of high school.

Matt Williams – SS – 6’0 165
Liberty
Sophomore

Liberty has emerged as one of the top teams in the Big South this season, and Williams is a big reason why. After a solid freshman season and a .277 campaign in the Coastal Plain League, Williams has turned into a star this year. He’s hitting .367 with three home runs, 21 doubles and 28 RBI. He has also stolen eight bases.

Jackie Bradley Jr. – OF – 5’11 180
South Carolina
Sophomore

Bradley earned Freshman All-America honors from several publications last year and came to the Cape as one of the top prospects in his class. He struggled early but really picked things up late and ended up hitting .275 with 10 extra-base hits. A player with five-tool potential, Bradley was picked as the league’s 18th-best prospect by Baseball America. He was the fourth-best in his class. This spring, Bradley has been very good for the Gamecocks. He’s hitting .368 with nine home runs, nine doubles and 43 RBI.

Jeff Lusardi – OF – 5’10 180
Missouri
RS Freshman

Lusardi started his career at Arizona State and redshirted. He transferred to Missouri and is sitting out this season, per the NCAA’s new baseball transfer rules. Lusardi is a Missouri native.

Joey Rickard – OF – 6’1 175
Arizona
Freshman

Rickard teamed with fifth-round pick Jeff Malm to help lead Bishop Gorman High School to four consecutive Nevada state championships. A 38th-round pick, Rickard has continued his success at Arizona. He’s hitting .324 with eight home runs, eight doubles and 48 RBI. The RBI total is second on the team, and Rickard has also stolen 13 bases.

Johnny Ruettiger – OF – 6’2 190
Arizona State
Sophomore

Ruettiger pushed for playing time more and more last season and ended up playing a big role for the Sun Devils in the College World Series. On the Cape, Ruettiger turned heads quickly and made the all-star team. He finished the summer hitting .255. This year, Ruettiger is hitting .375 with four home runs, six triples, five doubles and 31 RBI.

Tyler Thompson – OF – 6’1 185
Florida
Sophomore

Thompson hit .235 in a limited role as a freshman but has gotten more chances this year and done a lot with them. In 44 games, Thompson is hitting .276 with two home runs, three doubles and two triples. He also has six stolen bases. Thompson is the son of former San Francisco Giant Robby Thompson.