December 20, 2012
Perfect Game Presents
Scouting the Cape Cod League's Top 100 Prospects
by Allan Simpson
On December 5, 2012, Baseball Prospectus and Perfect Game announced a partnership to help promote and cover the game at both the amateur and professional levels. As a result of this partnership, Baseball Prospectus subscribers will now get the opportunity to read some of the great premium content being published by Perfect Game for its members. Today, courtesy of Perfect Game, we bring you this special report on Cape Cod League prospects by Allan Simpson.
A juiced baseball that led to a dramatic increase in home runs was the No. 1 storyline in summer-college baseball in 2012, and nowhere was the surge more impactful than in the Cape Cod League, the nation’s showcase summer circuit.
A total of 382 home runs were hit in the Cape during the regular season, more than the two previous seasons combined. In 2011, just 159 home runs were hit by Cape players; in 2010, 158.
Harwich broke the existing Cape single-season record of 59 (set in 1981 by Orleans during the league’s aluminum-bat era) by clubbing 64. With eight homers in his first 15 games, Mariners outfielder Phil Ervin (Samford) eclipsed the season-long total of the home-run leader in both of the last two seasons.
Every team in the league saw a dramatic increase in home-run production with the exception of Chatham, which led the Cape with 24 in 2011. The Anglers still managed to top that total with 26, but that figure was the lowest in the league this summer.
League champion Wareham improved from six home runs in 2011 to 51 this season, and slugged 15 more in seven playoff games. Appropriately, the Gatemen won the Cape League title in dramatic fashion by homering twice in the ninth inning to overcome a 5-2 deficit, only to launch two more home runs in the 10th inning of an improbable 8-6 win over Yarmouth-Dennis in the third and deciding game of the championship series.
No game may have symbolized the Cape’s wacky, home-run filled season more than the final one, with the two teams combing for eight homers. Wareham outfielder Kyle Schwarber (Indiana) earned playoff MVP honors by launching two dramatic homers—the first leading off the ninth inning, the second a game-winning, two-run blast an inning later.
Another Gatemen outfielder, Tyler Horan (Virginia Tech), tied the league’s wood-bat record of 16 home runs and smacked two more long balls in the post-season, including a second homer to complement Schwarber’s shot in the fateful 10th inning of the title clincher.
Wareham won the championship, despite posting a sub-.500 record (21-23) in the regular season. The Gatemen simply got hot at the right time, winning six of seven playoffs contests, with an unprecedented barrage of home runs turning the tide.
The opposite fate befell the Cotuit Kettleers, who dominated the Cape Cod League during the regular season with a 30-14 record, only to lose in the opening round of the league’s eight-team playoff. For their part in the league’s assault on offense, the Kettleers produced the top three hitters in the Cape in outfielders Pat Biondi (.388), Daniel Aldrich (.350) and Tony Kemp (.343).
Harwich, the defending league champion, was the scourge of the Cape Cod League for much of the 2012 season, and ended up placing more players (15) than any other club on the accompanying list of the league’s top 100 prospects, including four players in the top 15 that contributed significantly to the team’s record home-run total. Like Cotuit, though, the Mariners bowed out of the playoffs in quick fashion.
Against the backdrop of one of the most-exciting, yet most-bizarre offensive seasons in the Cape’s long history was, ironically, one of the most-dominating pitching performances the league has ever witnessed. Hyannis lefthander Sean Manaea was practically immune from all the bluster going on around him as he posted a 5-1, 1.22 record, while walking just seven and striking out a league-high 85 in 52 innings. Perhaps most amazing, opponents batted just .119 off him—far and away the best mark in the league.
Manaea’s performance was so dominating that he not only zoomed to the top of the Cape League’s list of top prospects for 2012, but may have become the early favorite to be the first player drafted in 2013.
FAST FACTS
Year League Established: 1885.
States Represented in League: Massachusetts.
No. of Teams in League: 10 (10 in 2011).
Regular-Season Champion (best overall record): EAST—Harwich Mariners (27-16-1); WEST—Cotuit Kettleers (30-14).
Post-Season Champion: Wareham Gatemen.
Teams, PG CrossChecker Summer 50/Final Ranking: No. 5 Cotuit Kettleers; No. 8 Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox; No. 10 Harwich Mariners; No. 12 Wareham Gatemen; No. 22 Orleans Firebirds.
No. 1 Prospect, 2011 (per PG CrossChecker): Deven Marrero, ss, Cotuit Kettleers (Arizona State; Red Sox/1st round, 24th pick).
First 2011 Player Selected, 2012 Draft: Mike Zunino, c, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (Florida; Mariners/1st round, 3rd pick).
Most Valuable Player: Phil Ervin, of, Harwich Mariners.
Outstanding Pitcher: Sean Manaea, lhp, Hyannis Harbor Hawks.
Top Prospect (as selected by league): Sean Manaea, lhp, Hyannis Harbor Hawks.
BATTING LEADERS (League games only)
Batting Average: Pat Biondi, of, Cotuit Kettleers (.388).
Slugging Percentage: Tyler Horan, of, Wareham Gatemen (.717).
On-Base Average: Tony Kemp, 2b/of, Cotuit Kettleers (.489).
Home Runs: Tyler Horan, of, Wareham Gatemen (16).
RBIs: Colin Moran, 3b, Bourne Braves (42).
Stolen Bases: Tony Kemp, 2b/of, Cotuit Kettleers (18).
PITCHING LEADERS (League games only)
Wins: Ryan Connelly, rhp, Cotuit Kettleers (8).
ERA: Aaron Blair, rhp, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (1.17).
Saves: Dan Slania, rhp, Cotuit Kettleers (10).
Opponent Batting Average: Sean Manaea, lhp, Hyannis Harbor Hawks (.119).
Strikeouts: Sean Manaea, lhp, Hyannis Harbor Hawks (85).
BEST TOOLS
Best Athlete: 1. Austin Wilson, of, Harwich Mariners; 2. Aaron Judge, of, Brewster Whitecaps; 3. Jacoby Jones, of/2b, Harwich Mariners; 4. Jacob May, of/2b, Cotuit Kettleers; 5. Dale Carey, of, Chatham Anglers.
Best Hitter: 1. Colin Moran, 3b, Bourne Braves; 2. Conrad Gregor, 1b, Orleans Firebirds; 3. D.J. Peterson, 3b, Hyannis Harbor Hawks; 4. Phil Ervin, of, Harwich Mariners; 5. Eric Jagielo, 3b, Harwich Mariners.
Best Power: 1. Austin Wilson, of, Harwich Mariners; 2. Daniel Aldrich, of, Cotuit Kettleers; 3. Aaron Judge, of, Brewster Whitecaps; 4. Tyler Horan, of, Wareham Gatemen; 5. Brian Ragira, 1b, Harwich Mariners.
Fastest Base Runner: 1. Jacob May, of/2b, Cotuit Kettleers; 2. Michael O’Neill, of, Falmouth Commodores; 3.Tony Kemp, of/2b, Cotuit Kettleers; 4. Dominic Jose, of, Hyannis Harbor Hawks; 5. Jacoby Jones, of/2b, Harwich Mariners.
Best Defensive Player: CATCHER—Tyler Ross, Wareham Gatemen. INFIELDER—Chad Pinder, 3b, Chatham Anglers. OUTFIELDER—Pat Biondi, Cotuit Kettleers.
Best Arm: CATCHER—Aramis Garcia, Cotuit Kettleers. INFIELDER—Jacoby Jones, Harwich Mariners.OUTFIELDER—Austin Wilson, Harwich Mariners.
Best Velocity: 1. Nick Burdi, rhp, Chatham Anglers; 2. Sean Manaea, lhp, Hyannis Harbor Hawks; 3. A.J. Vanegas, rhp, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox; 4. Colby Suggs, rhp, Wareham Gatemen; 5. Chase Johnson, rhp, Orleans Firebirds.
Best Breaking Ball/Off-Speed Pitch: SLIDER—1. Sean Manaea, lhp, Hyannis Harbor Hawks; 2. Trey Masek, rhp, Falmouth Commodores; 3. Dan Slania, rhp, Cotuit Kettleers. CURVEBALL—1. Jeff Hoffman, rhp, Hyannis Harbor Hawks; 2. Nick Rumbelow, rhp, Wareham Gatemen; 3. Tom Windle, lhp, Brewster Whitecaps.CHANGEUP—1. Marco Gonzalez, lhp, Falmouth Commodores; 2. Kevin Ziomek, lhp, Cotuit Kettleers. 3. Aaron Nola, rhp, Harwich Mariners.
Best Command: 1. Marco Gonzales, lhp, Falmouth Commodores; 2. Sean Manaea, lhp, Hyannis Harbor Hawks;3. Kevin Ziomek, lhp, Cotuit Kettleers; 4. Aaron Nola, Harwich Mariners; 5. Sam Moll, lhp, Falmouth Commodores.
TOP 100 PROSPECTS
1. SEAN MANAEA, lhp, Hyannis Harbor Hawks (Indiana State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: For a player who went undrafted out of an Indiana high school in 2010 and was recruited by only one Division I college (Indiana State), Manaea has made a meteoric rise up draft boards over the last two-plus years to a point that he ranks as an early favorite to be the first player selected in 2013. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound lefthander hasn’t overly distinguished himself in two years at Indiana State, going a collective 10-8, 3.77 with 85 walks and 197 strikeouts in 188 innings, but he has been a scourge in summer-league competition. He was ranked the No. 1 prospect in the Prospect League following his freshman year of college, and earned a similar designation this summer in the more-challenging Cape Cod League. Manaea was a slam-dunk choice as the Cape’s best talent after assembling one of the most-dominating seasons by a pitcher in league history. His 5-1, 1.22 record in nine appearances (8 starts) was noteworthy because it was achieved while pitching for a team that started out 0-9 and brought up the rear in the league for the duration, but the numbers that truly speak to his degree of dominance were a walk-strikeout ratio of 7-85 (in 52 innings), and an improbable .119 opponent batting average—all achieved against the backdrop of a huge surge in offense this summer throughout the Cape Cod League. Manaea started off by going winless in his first four appearances (3 starts) for Hyannis, but simply took off from that point, winning his final five starts, covering 34 innings, while allowing just one earned run and one walk while striking out 66. He didn’t walk a batter all of July. Manaea made it look ridiculously easy against some of the nation’s elite college hitters while focusing mainly on two pitches—a fastball at 93-96 mph that peaked at 98 in a one-inning stint at the all-star game, and a hard slider. His ability to locate his fastball with precision, regardless of the velocity, and the late, explosive life he generated on the pitch coming from a deceiving, lower three-quarters arm angle set him apart from any pitcher. His fastballs literally disappeared as they reached the plate. His slider, while not quite as advanced, had excellent late cutting action into righthanded hitters and was a lethal down-and-away weapon against lefthanders. Given the dominance of his two primary pitches, he only spotted his changeup, which also had good downward movement with a split-finger grip, and generally had a 12-14 mph differential from his fastball. If anything, Manaea showed improvement on the summer in his ability to finish off hitters, generally by getting strike-three on pitches both in and out of the strike zone. He got a lot of his strikeouts with pitches several inches off the black that unsuspecting hitters couldn’t resist flailing away at. With a clean, easy delivery—a pretense to his throwing even harder—there’s still room for projection in Manaea’s long, lean frame, but it will be exceedingly difficult for him to improve on his stunning performance from this summer.
2. AUSTIN WILSON, of, Harwich Mariners (Stanford/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Wilson was the most-athletic player in the Cape Cod League the last two summers. No one possessed his array of raw tools or approached his considerable upside, and scouts say that all that stands between Wilson and an all-star career in the major leagues is his ability to make more consistent contact. Wilson was a 12th-round pick in the 2010 draft out of a Los Angeles high school, though was viewed as a sure-fire first-round talent. His stock fell only because of his near iron-clad commitment to attending Stanford. He has more than held his own with the bat in two college seasons—hitting .311-5-30 as a freshman for the Cardinal, .284-10-54 as a sophomore—though a poor 7-56 walk-to-strikeout ratio as a freshman was a significant red flag. His undisciplined approach at the plate caught up with him immediately last summer in the Cape against the superior pitching he faced. He was a little overwhelmed and tentative in his approach initially, and started out by hitting in the 9-hole for the Mariners as he typically struggled against some of the better fastballs thrown in the upper half of the strike zone while waving at breaking balls in the lower half, and even in the dirt. When he realized he could play with the best college players in the country, his approach to hitting changed, his confidence grew and things started to click. By the end of the 2011 season, he was routinely hitting in the 4-hole for the eventual league champions. His unimpressive .204-1-13 numbers, along with a 6-27 walk-to-strikeout ratio, were more a reflection of his poor start than his encouraging finish. This summer, he was much more confident in his approach to hitting from the outset and slammed five homers in his first nine games, though still struck out 33 times in 77 at-bats while hitting .312-6-20 overall. His promising season was cut short in mid-July when he hit the first-base bag awkwardly and pulled an oblique muscle. While Wilson’s tools were relatively the same from 2011 to 2012, his capacity to use them improved noticeably. He continued to display enormous power potential to all fields with his big athletic frame and superior bat speed. While making better contact and generally improving his approach to hitting, he was able to get his hands extended while shortening his swing to unlock his enormous offensive upside. Wilson also covered ground in right field more efficiently while showcasing possibly the best outfield arm in the league. His speed remains his weakest tool, but it’s still regarded as a significant asset—especially for a player his size—and he became a more-efficient base runner this summer. Wilson is on a short list of players who could be drafted first overall in 2013, but everything will hinge on making more consistent contact.
3. AARON JUDGE, of, Brewster Whitecaps (Fresno State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Judge oozes athleticism in his impressive 6-foot-7, 250-pound frame, and routinely draws comparisons to Blake Griffin, one of the most-gifted athletes in the NBA. A three-sport star at a California high school, with Division I offers in football and basketball, Judge was actually more hotly-pursued by scouts in the 2010 draft as a pitching prospect. His massive raw power potential has since become his calling card, but his ability to transform it into useable game power may hold the key to his draft hopes in 2013. He routinely put on an impressive show in batting practice last summer in the Alaska League and hit balls over light towers in the Home-Run Derby, but failed to go deep even once on the season while still being selected that league’s top pro prospect. He hit only four homers (.308-4-27 overall) as a sophomore at Fresno State, with two coming in one game off Stanford’s hard-throwing righthander Mark Appel, the eighth pick in this year’s draft. Judge also won the TD Ameritrade college Home-Run Derby in early July in Omaha, held in conjunction with the College World Series, and promptly launched a 500-foot blast for Brewster in his second at-bat of the Cape Cod League season. But his power was again sporadic from that point on for the Whitecaps as he hit a modest .270-5-16 overall, even with a juiced-up baseball in play this summer in the Cape. Judge’s approach at the plate has notoriously been geared to driving balls the other way, and he may need to adjust his swing mechanics in order to pull balls more consistently to fully tap into his raw power. Though he gets good extension with his long limbs, he also can get tied up on quality pitches on the inner third of the plate. Judge can often be his own worst enemy when it comes to exploiting his obvious power potential as he is prone to looking for a perfect pitch he can crush, and simply lacks aggressiveness on offerings that are on the fringes of the strike zone. He rarely got a break from umpires on close pitches this summer while racking up 33 strikeouts in 100 at-bats for the Whitecaps, while drawing 16 walks. In the spring at Fresno State, he managed to coax 48 walks vs. 42 strikeouts, but scouts say there can often be a fine line between Judge’s patience at the plate and his lack of aggressiveness. As a former pitcher of some note, Judge has prolific arm strength, with excellent carry on his throws. His arm is ideally suited for right field, though he actually spent most of the summer at Brewster patrolling center, where his athleticism and surprising speed for a player his size were prominently on display, enabling him to cover plenty of ground, even as he struggled at times in some of the finer aspects of center-field play. Given all the obvious strengths in his game, Judge profiles as a near-certain first-round pick next June, but how high in the first round he lands will almost certainly be determined by how his power frequency develops.
4. COLIN MORAN, 3b, Bourne Braves (North Carolina/JR in 2013
SCOUTING PROFILE: The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Moran comes by his talent honestly as he is the nephew of B.J. Surhoff, a three-year star at North Carolina, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1985 draft and a career .282 hitter over 19 big-league seasons. Moran has done nothing but hit himself in his two seasons at Carolina—stroking the ball at a .335-9-71 clip as a freshman, and .365-3-35 in an injury-plagued sophomore season. His reputation as a top hitting prospect already firmly established, Moran did nothing this summer in his second go-around at Bourne but enhance that standing by hitting .314-6-42 and leading the Cape Cod League in RBIs. He displayed the most advanced hitting skills and quickest hands of any player on the Cape, especially with wood, and balls routinely jumped off his bat. With an emphasis on driving balls back up the middle, he had consistent quality at-bats and little trouble making hard contact against any kind of pitching. His power at his current stage of physical development is mostly to the gaps, but he should have little trouble turning on balls consistently as he gets stronger. Compared to his 2011 season at Bourne, Moran showed improvement on both sides of the ball this summer, especially in the field. There were concerns a year ago that he lacked the quick-twitch actions to remain at third base in the long run and may end up across the diamond at first, but those concerns seemed to be alleviated this summer. He moved better around the bag, made all the plays expected of a third baseman, had a solid arm and committed just five errors, though scouts say his approach to defense was a little too casual at times. In a moment of anger during the spring at North Carolina, Moran broke two bones in his hand, causing him to miss several weeks of action and sapping his power upon his return, and he left the Cape in the midst of Bourne’s playoff run when he was hit on the same hand by a pitch. Though Moran’s professional upside is perceived as lower than some of the more-athletic college players ranked ahead of him on some 2013 draft boards, he is viewed as one of the safest picks overall and could edge his way closer to the No. 1 selection with a dominant junior season.
5. PHIL ERVIN, of, Harwich Mariners (Samford/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Ervin earned Cape Cod League MVP honors, essentially by capitalizing on a red-hot start as he homered twice in his first game and went deep eight times in his first 15 contests. Over the course of the summer, he hit .323-11-31 (17 BB/29 SO). Though he isn’t overly physical at 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, Ervin generates excellent bat speed with his lightning-quick hands and flashes raw power to all fields. More than just a power threat, Ervin has a solid all-around approach to hitting with good bat control and a patient approach, and stays inside the ball well while emphasizing going the other way. His summer on the Cape compared favorably to his sophomore season at Samford, where he batted .327-10-52 (23 BB/39 SO), and Ervin might have fared better had he not been hit in the hand with a pitch, only to successfully rehab it and get hit in the same hand again with a pitch at the league all-star game. While Ervin’s offensive outburst drew plenty of attention from scouts, his play in center field for the Mariners also stood out. He reacted well to balls off the bat and consistently took good routes to the gaps while also showing off a better-than-average arm. While nursing the second of his hand injuries and still unable to swing a bat in the regular-season finale, Ervin took the mound for Harwich—as he has done on occasion at Samford—and flashed a 90-93 mph fastball with a plus breaking ball. With his ability to play in lock-step with the best college talent in the country and the 2013 draft lurking, Ervin may have made more money for himself this summer than any position player on the Cape.
6. KEVIN ZIOMEK, lhp, Cotuit Kettleers (Vanderbilt/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: A Massachusetts prep product, Ziomek might have been drafted in the first round in 2010 had he not been so intent on pursuing a college career at Vanderbilt. Teams simply backed off, and he slid to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 13th round. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound lefthander lived up to his promise as a college freshman, going 3-0, 1.59 with 16 walks and 47 strikeouts in 45 innings, mostly in a set-up role, but struggled that summer as a starter on the Cape, going 2-3, 4.36 as his mechanics were inconsistent, his fastball velocity often languished at 89-91 mph and he had trouble repeating his stuff. His performance lagged even more as a sophomore at Vanderbilt as he lacked consistency with both his stuff and command, and went 5-6, 5.22 with 39 walks, 79 hits allowed and 79 strikeouts in 79 innings. With something to prove this summer in a return engagement to the Cape, Ziomek pitched again like he was in high school with a solid-average major-league fastball, breaking ball and changeup, all thrown with the same arm action. His changeup, in particular, was outstanding as it made his 91-93 mph fastball look even faster, while he was able to freeze hitters with his breaking ball. With all three pitches working in unison, he was as dominant as any pitcher on the Cape with the possible exception of Hyannis lefthander Sean Manaea (No. 1 above). He went 3-0, 1.27 with six walks and 36 strikeouts in 28 innings, before unexpectedly shutting it down for the summer after five starts.
7. JACOBY JONES, 2b/of, Harwich Mariners (Louisiana State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Jones has hardly distinguished himself at the plate in two seasons on the Cape, hitting .234-0-5 in 47 at-bats for Harwich in 2011 before leaving early after jamming his shoulder on a slide into third, and .253-5-18 this summer with 10 walks and 55 strikeouts (second in the league) in a return to the Mariners. Those numbers simply masked one of the very best natural talents in the league as scouts say the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Jones has all the athleticism and raw potential to be a five-tool player. Though he has holes in his swing and a decided hit-and-miss approach to hitting, Jones has considerable bat speed from the right side and won the Home-Run Derby that was held in conjunction with this summer’s Cape League all-star game. He could be a significant run producer if he ever stops putting so much pressure on himself and develops a more patient approach, and also irons out the kinks in his swing that are evident in anything but a batting-practice environment. No less impressive are Jones’ speed, arm strength and deft actions in the field at a variety of positions. He spent most of the 2012 season for Harwich at second base, where he displayed excellent range, but also excelled running down balls in center field when moved temporarily there as a stand-in for injured regular Phil Ervin. Primarily a shortstop as an elite-level high-school talent, Jones also saw time at that position this summer and while his range, actions and arm strength fit the mould of an everyday shortstop prospect and he made several highlight plays, he botched his share of routine ones as he never settled in and established a comfort level there that is evident at second. Given all his strengths, Jones has as much upside as almost any player in the league, but is considered farther away than most from achieving it. He just needs to continue to mature and learn to go about his business in the same determined manner as a number of his high-profile teammates.
8. NICK BURDI, rhp, Chatham Anglers (Louisville/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: After his fastball topped out at 97 mph in the summer prior to his senior year at an Illinois high school, there were indications then that the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Burdi might top out at 100 mph, or more, in the spring leading up to the 2011 draft. It never happened as he missed about a month of his senior season due to illness and a back injury, causing him to fall to the Minnesota Twins in the 24th round and all but assuring that he would fulfill his college commitment to Louisville. But if Burdi didn’t reach triple digits in high school, he reached that magic number this summer in the Cape Cod League—most specifically in a one-inning relief stint July 13 against Harwich’s potent lineup when he threw 17 pitches, all fastballs, and 10 registered an even 100. Five others were clocked at 99, and the remaining two at a mere 98. Not surprisingly, he struck out the side, overmatching Phil Ervin, Eric Jagielo and Brian Ragira, three of the Mariners top sluggers. To be sure, it was the signature outing of the summer for Burdi and stamped him as one of the Cape’s elite arms, even as he made just seven relief appearances in all, totaling eight innings and otherwise went an unimpressive 0-0, 5.54 overall with a save, while walking one and striking out 13. Burdi made only one more appearance for Chatham after his stunning relief outing against Harwich as he stepped in a hole in an off-field incident, injured a knee and was promptly shut down for the summer. As a freshman at Louisville, Burdi didn’t overly distinguish himself in going 1-2, 5.56 in 13 appearances (3 starts), with 10 walks and 14 strikeouts in 23 innings. He continued to struggle with his command after joining Chatham, but worked on refining his mechanics in bullpen sessions for the Anglers and suddenly everything clicked. It’s unclear what role Burdi will be used in going forward as his slider, clocked as high as 88 mph, is a second dominant offering, and he also has an acceptable changeup as a third pitch needed to start, though did not use it on the summer while pitching only in relief. Burdi still has work to do in refining a maximum-effort delivery and his ability to do so over the next two seasons at Louisville may determine whether he is best suited to start or close.
9. A.J. VANEGAS, rhp, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (Stanford/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: As an unsigned seventh-round draft pick in 2010, Vanegas entered Stanford with much the same fanfare as righthander Mark Appel a year before him. Vanegas was equally polished and mature as a senior at a California high school—and even turned down a reported $2 million bonus from the San Diego Padres—and yet hasn’t come close to measuring up to Appel’s accomplishments in his first two seasons at Stanford, or even as his teammate last summer at Yarmouth-Dennis and again this summer in a return to the Red Sox. While Appel was being picked with the eighth pick overall in this year’s draft after a dominating junior season for Stanford, Vanegas was compiling a 4-0, 2.62 record with five saves (65 IP, 37 BB/53 SO) as a sophomore for the Cardinal, and a 1-0, 3.97 record with a save in 10 relief appearances on the summer for Y-D before departing early with a minor back injury. Based on his modest performance to date, along with his inconsistent command, it may be a stretch to think that the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Vanegas could begin to duplicate Appel’s feat by becoming one of the top 10 picks in the 2013 draft, but Vanegas’ raw stuff definitely turned a corner this summer. Not only did the velocity on his fastball spike from 91-92 mph a year ago on the Cape to 97-98, while his slider was tighter and had better cutting action, but his body matured and he developed a much more confident demeanor and superior work ethic. If he can carry over all he learned this summer to his junior year at Stanford, Vanegas might even be in position to challenge his more-celebrated college teammate over who will be the higher draft after Appel unexpectedly rejected an offer from the Pittsburgh Pirates to turn pro in favor of returning for his senior year.
10. CHAD PINDER, 3b/ss, Chatham Anglers (Virginia Tech/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Former Long Beach State star Evan Longoria played for Chatham in 2005 on his way to becoming the third overall pick in the draft a year later, but Pinder was equally solid in all phases of the game while playing the same position for the Anglers seven years later and may have even been the better, more-athletic player of the two at a comparable stage of development. He hit .278-4-25 for the Anglers with a clean, line-drive stroke and consistently drove balls hard to the opposite field, but departed after just 79 at-bats because of a sports hernia that required surgery. He has significant untapped power potential in his wiry strong 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. A natural third baseman, Pinder made his share of highlight plays at the hot corner during the course of the season and committed just two errors. He stood out, in particular, at the annual workout day for select Cape players at Boston’s Fenway Park, displaying extremely easy defensive actions, including solid lateral movement, soft hands and a strong, accurate arm. As a sophomore at Virginia Tech, Pinder hit .325-7-37 with six stolen bases in 11 attempts. He’s an above-average runner who simply hasn’t maximized yet his ability to run.
11. DAN SLANIA, rhp, Cotuit Kettleers (Notre Dame/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Cape all-star closer, went 2-0, 1.52 with league-best 10 SV (30 IP, 4 BB/39 SO); intimidating size at 6-5/265, but surprisingly athletic, very light on his feet; has explosive arm, good feel for pitching, overmatches hitters with 92-95 mph fastballs most days, topped out at 96 at all-star game; threw too many curves in spring at Notre Dame, at expense of FB, and yet went 3-0, 2.03 with 13 SV (31 IP, 12 BB/37 SO); resorted to a SL in low-80s as primary breaking ball on summer, while working in plus CH; with three-pitch mix, has stuff to start, but too valuable in end-of-game role.
12. CONRAD GREGOR, 1b, Orleans Firebirds (Vanderbilt/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Has one of the purest lefthanded strokes in the college game, along with a very polished approach to hitting and uncanny strike-zone discipline for a player his age; rarely chases anything out of the zone, notably 3-2 pitches just off the black; easily led Cape with 38 walks while hitting .329-8-21; had mostly a gap-to-gap approach until summer (hit .328-3-25, 20 2B, 41 BB/41 SO in spring at Vanderbilt), but raw power starting to develop in 6-3/220 frame; ex-outfielder and DH, has settled in at 1B, quickly turning into quality defender; lacks raw speed, but has instincts to steal, take extra base.
13. ERIC JAGIELO, 3b, Harwich Mariners (Notre Dame/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Mariners were most-explosive offensive team in league, and scouts say 6-2/215 Jagielo has most upside of any hitter on roster, including Austin Wilson, Phil Ervin and Jacoby Jones (all ranked ahead of him on this list); can swing bat to all fields for power/average from left side, has significant run-producing ability, hit .310-13-43 as SO at Notre Dame, .291-13-29 (20 BB/51 SO) on summer; remainder of tools average, at best; with exemplary work ethic, grinder approach, could evolve into serviceable 3B with plus arm; reminds area scouts of Mike Olt, ex-Connecticut 3B now with Rangers.
14. TOM WINDLE, lhp, Brewster Whitecaps (Minnesota/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Regressed from 6-1, 1.52 record (41 IP, 11 BB/35 SO) as a FR at Minnesota to 3-5, 3.27 (41 IP, 17 BB/37 SO) as a SO; worked mostly in relief in spring, effectiveness limited by shoulder tendinitis; healthy again at Brewster, he responded by going 3-2, 2.35 (38 IP, 7 BB/47 SO) in 7 starts; angular 6-4/195 LHP with downhill trajectory on delivery that produces hard sinking action on 90-93 mph fastball; threw three pitches for strikes, including CU that he emphasized as breaking ball rather than SL, improving CH as third pitch; has poise/mound presence, but needs work fielding position/holding runners.
15. JEFF HOFFMAN, rhp, Hyannis Harbor Hawks (East Carolina/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Hyannis brought up rear in Cape, despite two dominant starters in LHP Sean Manaea (No. 1 above) and the projectable 6-4/180 Hoffman, who blossomed into a potential first-round talent for 2014 draft; passed over in 2011 after clocking 86-87 as SR at a New York HS, Hoffman’s velocity was a steady 92-95 on summer, peaking at 96 at Cape all-star game, also mixed in hard 12-6 CU with excellent depth, though CH still needs work; limited to only six starts for Hawks (2-1, 2.40, 30 IP, 10 BB/30 SO) after making 19 appearances (10 starts) in spring at ECU (3-2, 3.67, 74 IP, 21 BB/65 SO).
16. AARON NOLA, rhp, Harwich Mariners (Louisiana State/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: High-profile Louisiana prep talent fell to 22nd round of 2011 draft as he made it clear he would follow in footsteps of brother Austin, 4-year starter at SS for LSU; had excellent FR season, going 7-4, 3.61 with just seven walks, 89 SO in 90 IP; pre-arranged that would make only 3 starts on summer for Harwich, and was dominant in going 2-0, 0.82 (11 IP, 2 BB/15 SO), third start rained out; pounds zone with 90-94 FB, breaking ball with SL action, solid CH; uncanny command with ability to move ball in/out at will; very mature makeup, soft spoken off-field, but a bulldog approach on mound.
17. DOMINIC JOSE, of, Hyannis Harbor Hawks (Stanford/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: High expectations as 15th-round pick in 2011 draft, athletic son of ex-big leaguer Felix Jose; played sparingly as FR (.375-1-11 in 40 ABs) in star-studded Stanford OF, so was rusty at plate/timing off when joined Hyannis, soon started to figure it out with revamped spread-out stance and hit acceptable .272-6-12 (16 BB/43 SO), stole 12 of 14 bases; possesses all the tools, except raw strength, which may limit him to LF in future though played exemplary CF on summer; has significant juice from both sides of plate (more raw power from left side), 6.5 speed in 60, just lacks consistency.
18. D.J. PETERSON, 3b, Hyannis Harbor Hawks (New Mexico/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Was recruited to play this summer in the Cape, and elected to honor that commitment, if only briefly, before leaving to play with Team USA; hit just .185-1-2 in 27 at-bats for Hawks and performance not indicative of superior ability/advanced approach at plate, though was just getting untracked when departed; batted a resounding .419-17-78 (33 BB/29 SO) as a SO at New Mexico with a smooth, easy, disciplined swing that adapts easily to wood and enables him to generate easy raw power; has adequate actions and a playable arm at third, but glove/footwork still need refining.
19. JASON MONDA, of, Brewster Whitecaps (Washington State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: 6-4/195 Monda was a revelation a year ago on Cape, hitting .333-1-16 with 13 stolen bases, but struggled to perform to expectations in 2012—first in spring at WSU (.275-1-18, 6 SB), then on summer in return to Whitecaps (.240-2-9, 5 BB/25 SO, 5 SB)—though nagging injuries a factor; scouts still intrigued with lively/athletic frame, 5-tool potential; has a fluid, buggy-whip swing, makes hard contact to all fields, just needs to stay inside ball better; power should evolve as he matures physically, learns to get consistent extension/elevates ball; can play all three OF positions with plus speed/arm strength.
20. TREVOR WILLIAMS, rhp, Orleans Firebirds (Arizona State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Sandwiched a brief appearance on the Cape (0-0, 2.25 in two starts) between an impressive SO season as a starter at Arizona State (12-2, 2.05, 110 IP, 13 BB/59) and undistinguished summer appearance in relief for Team USA (1.80 ERA, 10 IP, 5 BB/5 SO); big/powerful (6-3/220) RHP with 4-pitch mix, FB mostly at 92-94, can reach 96 when needs it, but doesn’t have a true strikeout pitch; success stems mainly from ability to locate pitches low in zone, inducing ground-ball outs; SL is solid second pitch but not firm enough; without dominant stuff, may be no better than reliever at next level.
21. MARCO GONZALES, lhp/1b, Falmouth Commodores (Gonzaga/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: One of several elite-level college players to make brief stopover in Cape before joining USA Baseball’s college-national team; established 2-way player, made more favorable impression as pitcher in spring at Gonzaga (8-2, 1.55, 93 IP, 23 BB/92 SO), on summer at Falmouth (1-0, 2.70, 10 IP, 0 BB/13 SO); doesn’t throw hard for elite-level prospect with FB at 88-90, touching 92, but pitch has good tailing action; success stems mostly from very polished, stylish approach, poised/unflappable demeanor on mound, deceptive delivery, impeccable command; dominant pitch is swing-and-miss circle CH.
22. AARON BROWN, lhp/of, Chatham Anglers (Pepperdine/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Legit 2-way talent, gained more acclaim as position player through FR year at Pepperdine, but stood out more on mound in limited action this summer; went 2-0, 1.69 in 8 appearances (2 starts) for Anglers, and came on strong at end with solid 3-pitch mix, including hard SL, FB that peaked at 95; scouts now see more upside on mound, though tools/skills as everyday talent still more evident; has excellent range/arm in CF, above-average speed and considerable raw power, though legit power/hitting skills rarely evident other than in BP; hit just .169-1-7 (6 BB/35 SO in 65 at-bats) on summer.
23. MICHAEL O’NEILL, of, Falmouth Commodores (Michigan/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Michigan teammate Pat Biondi won Cape batting title, but 6-1/185 O’Neill earned more acclaim from scouts, even as his .262 average paled next to Biondi’s .388 figure, not to mention infrequent contact (52 SOs in 164 ABs); opened eyes at scout workout at Fenway Park with fastest time in 60 (6.36 seconds), finished second in league with 16 SBs; has solid overall package/athleticism, flashes good bat skills/raw power, RF arm strength, can handle CF in a pinch, but streaky player/tools come and go; like uncle Paul, ex-big leaguer, can be very tough on self, needs to let game come to him more naturally.
24. COLBY SUGGS, rhp, Wareham Gatemen (Arkansas/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Stood out among power closers in league with heavy fastball at 93-95 mph, topping at 97; used that pitch almost exclusively in assembling 3-0, 1.80 record with 4 SV (27 IP, 9 BB/44 SO) on season overall, including pair of wins/saves in playoffs as Gatemen won league title; limited projection in stocky/durable 6-0/225 frame, but has loose/live arm, easy delivery as most of bulk contained in powerful lower half; also has slurve-like CU to complement explosive FB, but rarely uses, will need to improve command/consistency of pitch as he progresses.
25. JACOB MAY, of/2b, Cotuit Kettleers (Coastal Carolina/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Grandson of former big-league slugger Lee May, who hit 354 career homers; at 5-10/180, Jacob doesn't have that kind of power, but was one of league’s fastest, most-athletic players with his 6.4 speed; looks as graceful as a deer running across a pasture at full gait, but needs better instincts to improve his base-running skills, routes/jumps in CF, though spent much of summer in LF at Cotuit in deference to Pat Biondi, another speedster, in middle; has also been tried extensively at 2B; a switch-hitter, has good bat speed, line-drive skills from both sides of plate; hit .306-2-18 with 27 SB as college SO.
26. KARSTEN WHITSON, rhp, Orleans Firebirds (Florida/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Turned down $2 million bonus as ninth overall pick in 2010 draft out of Florida high school; solid as freshman for Gators, but struggled to perform to expectations as a sophomore, going 4-0, 3.51 (33 IP, 18 BB/20) as he battled a balky shoulder; threw mostly bullpens, made only two relief appearances (spanning three innings) on summer for Firebirds, before leaving for home with continued tenderness; has front-line stuff when healthy with 94-98 mph FB, excellent SL, ball comes out of hand extremely easy; will need to perform to high level, be injury-free in 2013 to return to first round.
27. MICHAEL WAGNER, rhp, Chatham Anglers (San Diego/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: 6-4/185 Wagner saved 19 games (second among D-I closers) as a sophomore at USD, but started for Toreros in post-season, again on summer for Anglers with an eye on becoming a starter in 2013; successful in both roles (5-2, 2.58, 59 IP, 20 BB/53 SO at USD, 2-2, 2.17, 34 IP, 14 BB/38 SO in Cape), but fits starter profile with four pitch-mix, lack of killer instinct to close; 91-93 FB that peaked at 95 and excellent SL from two different slots were go-to pitches, but also effectively worked in CU and CH; has a quick arm, repeats his delivery well, possibility of more velocity as he matures.
28. TREY MASEK, rhp, Falmouth Commodores (Texas Tech/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Masek gets penalized in the scouting industry because of his under-sized 6-0/185 frame and flatter trajectory on his pitches, but takes a back seat to almost no one with his electric stuff; he routinely worked at 92-93 mph, while touching 95 on the summer at Falmouth, and had a feel for two quality off-speed pitches in one of best sliders on Cape and solid CH; can pound bottom of strike zone when on his game, but command wavers; went 2-4, 3.40 with 20 BB/46 SO in 53 IP while used mainly in relief in spring at Texas Tech, while going 3-3, 3.18 (40 IP, 15 BB/47 SO) as starter on summer.
29. MIKE MAYERS, rhp, Bourne Braves (Mississippi/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Mayers has an athletic, well-proportioned 6-3/220 frame, and cemented himself as a probable 2-3 rounder in 2013 by going 6-3, 3.50 (93 IP, 30 BB/71 SO) as a SO at Ole Miss on the strength of a 4-pitch mix that includes command of an 89-93 mph fastball with excellent late movement; he didn’t win a game in six starts during summer for Bourne before leaving early with a tired arm, but posted a fine 7-42 BB-to-SO ratio in 28 innings, while emphasizing all four pitches in his repertoire late after relying mostly on a FB/SL combo early; his CH was especially effective against lefthanded hitters.
30. JARED KING, of, Falmouth Commodores (Kansas State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: King is powerfully-built in his compact 5-11/220 frame, and has plenty of pop from both sides of plate—especially to pull side; he’s hardly a one-dimensional player as he has surprising athleticism, and his ability to run and throw, and hit for average are all viable tools; he hit a Big 12-best .377-7-47 (31 BB/29 SO) with 16 SB as a SO at Kansas State, and was leading the Cape in batting during the summer before straining a ligament in his elbow, which caused him to tail off at the plate (.308-3-7 in 108 ABs) and leave early; he held his own in CF for the Commodores, but profiles more as a LF.
31. TYLER ROSS, c, Wareham Gatemen (Louisiana State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Ross is strong/durable in his 6-3/220 frame, and has improved by leaps and bounds on both sides of ball in two years at LSU, two summers for Wareham; has always been more advanced defensively with his superior catch-and-throw skills, and excelled at shutting down running games on Cape with a 50-plus percent throw-out rate; his bat still lacks consistency, but he hit .223-1-20 as an all-SEC freshman in 2011, and improved to .292-3-41 (22 BB/23 SO) as a SO; showed the same progression on Cape, especially in post-season with 3 HRs/10 RBIs in 7 G for champion Gatemen.
32. AARON BLAIR, rhp, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (Marshall/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Hyannis lefty Sean Manaea had a season for the ages on the Cape in 2012, and yet finished second to Blair in ERA (1.22 vs 1.17) and had one fewer regular-season wins (5 vs. 6); Blair then added two playoff wins to finish at 8-0 overall, along with 60 strikeouts in 50 innings, while allowing 32 hits and 21 walks (compared to 2-8, 3.98 as a SO at Marshall); though he is 6-5/220, Blair is more about feel/finesse than power as his sinking FB ranged from 89-93 mph; he thrived with solid command of the three pitches in his repertoire, including a CU and CH, and attacked the zone with a competitive zeal.
33. ARAMIS GARCIA, c, Cotuit Kettleers (Florida International/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Arkansas’ James McCann was the primary catcher for Cotuit in 2010 and instrumental in leading the Kettleers to a Cape title, mainly on the strength of his superior defensive skills; the 6-2, 200-pound Garcia is cut from the same mould as McCann, who became a second-rounder in the 2011 draft, and yet has a stronger arm with throws that are consistently on the bag; with his superior catch-and-throw skills, he played invaluable role as Cotuit posted league’s best regular-season record; he hit .250-3-14, and could emerge as a first-rounder in 2014 if his bat comes on and he begins tapping his raw power.
34. A.J. REED, lhp/1b, Harwich Mariners (Kentucky/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: With his 2-way skills, Reed was invaluable as a FR at Kentucky in leading that school to the best season in school history; he went 5-3, 2.52 on the mound in 16 appearances (5 starts), while hitting .304-4-43; he had difficulty dividing his time on the Cape, especially at the plate (.176-0-2), but was Harwich’s most-effective arm down the stretch and went 3-0, 2.21 in 7 starts (37 IP, 7 BB/38 SO); though not overpowering with an 87-90 FB, he is a rare young southpaw who throws strikes with his off-speed stuff; he is still a force at the plate with his impressive bat speed/raw power in his big 6-2/240 frame.
35. COREY LITTRELL, lhp, Harwich Mariners (Kentucky/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: The 6-3/195 Littrell has a polished delivery for a young pitcher, and was one of the best FR arms in college in the spring at Kentucky, going 8-2, 2.66 in 15 starts (91 IP, 23 BB/80 SO); by comparison, he struggled in 7 starts on the Cape at 1-2, 5.06, though his 11 BB/45 SO ratio in 32 IP was a better indicator of the way he pitched; he flashed impressive velocity from the left side with a fastball up to 94, though was more consistently 88-92 while battling a tired arm from a heavy spring workload, but his command never wavered; SL is his best secondary pitch, though his CU and CH are also effective.
36. TYLER HORAN, of, Wareham Gatemen (Virginia Tech/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: The 6-1/225 Horan hasn’t stood out at Virginia Tech and went undrafted as a red-shirt SO, but has been a revelation in summer ball; he led the New England Collegiate League in homers/RBIs in 2011, and outdid himself this summer on the Cape, tying league record for homers in wood-bat era (16, set in 1988); Horan has exceptionally-strong wrists/forearms, and almost every long ball he hit was a blast, yet he covered all areas of hitting zone and stayed back well on off-speed stuff; he runs well for a player his size (6.8 in 60) and plays with all-out style; he profiles defensively in LF.
37. BRANDON WOODRUFF, rhp, Harwich Mariners (Mississippi State/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Woodruff was pegged as a pitcher to watch from the moment he turned down the Rangers as a fifth-round draft pick in 2011 out of a Mississippi high school; he felt his way along as a part-time starter as a FR at Mississippi State, going 1-2, 2.38 (34 IP, 17 BB/37 SO), and began the Cape season in relief before moving to the rotation down the stretch, going 4-2, 3.38 overall (32 IP, 9 BB/30 SO); at a powerful 6-2/220 with a nearly flawless arm action/delivery, Woodruff can bring it and his FB routinely topped at 95 on summer; has the stuff to be a front-line starter with a SL/CH to accompany his fastball.
38. ANDREW KNAPP, c, Chatham Anglers (California/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Knapp was viewed as mostly an offensive-minded catcher prior to his summer on the Cape—in large part because he was used as mostly a DH in two years at Cal, and a year ago in winning the Northwoods League batting title at an even .400. He has solid hitting skills from both sides of the plate, along with a discerning eye, and hit .293-8-29 with 13 doubles on the summer for the Anglers; Knapp got a rare opportunity to catch on a regular basis on summer, and showed a quick exchange, release and arm strength, along with a good IQ/instincts for catching; improved footwork will come with experience.
39. MASON ROBBINS, of/lhp, Bourne Braves (Southern Mississippi/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Robbins showcased natural/advanced hitting skills for a player coming off his freshman year of college, and hit .332-3-37 for Bourne—a modest uptick from his .316-7-19 debut at Mississippi State; should add power as he beefs up his 6-2/190 frame, but also needs to curb his propensity to strike out by developing better plate discipline (combined 13 BB/80 SO on spring/summer); Robbins is farther along as a hitter than fielder, and profiles a corner position, though takes adequate routes to balls; he also has impressive arm strength and made nine pitching appearances (5 starts) on summer.
40. ALEX BLANDINO, ss/3b, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (Stanford/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Y-D closed to within one fateful inning of a Cape league title with a lineup dominated by freshmen; the 6-0/190 Blandino not only was the most-impressive all-around player of the lot while holding down SS for the Red Sox, but one of the more-impressive middle infielders in league overall; he had solid actions at short, plenty of arm strength for the left side and made routine plays, but may become an offensive 2B because of lack of flash/quickness, or possibly even a 3B if his gap power continues to evolve; he hit .312-2-24 for Y-D after breaking in at Stanford with .294-8-40 numbers.
41. TREVOR GOTT, rhp, Orleans Firebirds (Kentucky/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: 6-1/190 Gott led Cape with 12 SV in 2011, was primed to duplicate feat this summer with 4 SV in first 6 appearances for Firebirds, was unscored on in 7 IP, fanned side vs. Bourne on 9 pitches in second outing, but had telling bat outing June 29, charged with 11-10 loss while giving up 2 R, 2 H, 2 BB in two-thirds of an inning, and was promptly shut down for summer with tender shoulder; has very quick/deceptive arm, challenges hitters/misses bats with sinking/running 92-94 FB almost exclusively, needs to throw breaking ball that flashes hard snap for strikes more consistently to emerge as dominant closer.
42. NICK RUMBELOW, rhp, Wareham Gatemen (Louisiana State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Part of key end-of-game, shutdown trio for champion Wareham that went 9-1 overall, fanned 134 in 83 IP; 6-1/190 Rumbelow went 1-0, 3.51 in 17 regular-season appearances (26 IP, 12 BB/43 SO), typically used in 7th-8th IP role, occasionally closed for Gatemen; used in similar role in two years for LSU, went 0-0, 3.65 (25 IP, 14 BB/34 SO) last spring; has two power pitches, typically works off 94-95 FB, but tendency to overthrow pitch with questionable delivery/arm action, leading to control lapses; can freeze hitters with nasty 12-6 CU; has yet to develop a CH, so destined for set-up/closer role.
43. DYLAN COVEY, rhp, Orleans Firebirds (San Diego/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Along with Karsten Whitson (No. 26), one of two unsigned first-rounders from 2010 draft on Firebirds staff that didn’t perform consistently to lofty expectations, either in spring or summer; 6-2/195 Covey went 6-3, 3.32 (81 IP, 43 BB/56 SO) as starter for USD, lacked command/stamina as starter for Orleans, and stuff much more effective out of pen with FB at 94-96, plus CU; went 3-1, 3.86 in 13 appearances (26 IP, 11 BB/16 SO) for Firebirds, before left early with sore elbow; will need to clean up delivery issues, get himself in better shape if he has any hope of returning to first round in 2013.
44. HAWTIN BUCHANAN, rhp, Bourne Braves (Mississippi/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Key piece of best Mississippi prep class in history in 2011, went unsigned as 19th-rounder; intimidating size at 6-8/250, gets good downhill plane on 91-94 FB that will touch 96; initially projected to be front-line starter, but worked only in set-up role as FR at Ole Miss (1-0, 3.98, 20 IP, 8 BB/31 SO), as part-time closer on summer for Braves while going 1-2, 3.78 with 3 SV; struggled with command (17 IP, 17 BB/23 SO), though limited hitters to .143 average; still needs lot of work streamlining mechanics, and may struggle in meantime with significant command issues of FB, breaking stuff.
45. SAM MOLL, lhp, Brewster Whitecaps (Memphis/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: 5-11/180 lefty lacks physical presence, but has electric stuff, ball explodes out of his hand; earned Cape all-star honors with 1-2, 2.76 record, eye-popping 2 BB/43 SO ratio in 33 innings; made huge strides on summer with control/command of FB low in zone after going 5-5, 3.34 with 42 BB/59 SO in 94 IP as SO at Memphis, when FB often elevated in zone, flattened out; entered college with below-average FB, but now 94-95 with tailing/cutting action, also has tight CU as go-to pitch, gets good arm-speed on fading CH as third pitch; has very poised, competitive demeanor on mound.
46. ADAM ENGEL, of, Chatham Anglers (Louisville/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Built like a linebacker in his powerful 6-1/215 frame, Engel was more talented as a football player out of an Ohio high school, and continues to play baseball with an aggressive style; has top-of-the-scale speed (6.6 in 60) that plays well in all phases of his game, and stole 37 bases in 39 attempts in spring at Louisville, while hitting .308-1-18 (16 BB/27 SO); batted .229-1-14 (19 BB/43 SO) on summer for Anglers, and was 15-of-18 in steals; has good first-step quickness, tracks balls exceptionally well in CF with plus arm; streaky hitter, not afraid to strike out, just needs repetitions at plate for power to evolve.
47. MATT BOYD, lhp, Orleans Firebirds (Oregon State/SR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Legit 2-way player when enrolled at OSU, Boyd morphed into primarily a lefty specialist in 2011 with funky/deceptive delivery and 89-91 FB; has since reinvented himself as a power pitcher, capable of working effectively with FB up to 96 in any relief role, at 90-92 as a starter with ability to throw strikes with 4-pitch mix; worked solely in relief in spring (4-0, 3.41, 3 SV), was drafted in 13th round by Boston, went unsigned; dominant on summer, initially as reliever, went 2-0, 1.23 in 12 appearances/4 starts (34 IP, 9 BB/50 SO), pitched a gem in Cape playoff opener, returns to OSU as starter.
48. JEFF THOMPSON, rhp, Bourne Braves (Louisville/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Thompson went undrafted in 2010 out of Indiana HS, but was very much on radar of every big-league club; continues to tease scouts with strapping, athletic 6-6/260 frame, but stuff/command inconsistent in spring as starter at Louisville (9-4, 4.00, 79 IP, 38 BB/73 SO), again on summer in same role with Bourne (2-3, 4.11, 35 IP, 11 BB/33 SO), though picked up pace at end; FB peaked at 94, though more customarily in 90-92 range, even dipped to high-80s, but pitch jumped on hitters, no matter the velo; SL/CH are solid pitches when on game, but vulnerable to inconsistent command.
49. ADAM McCREERY, lhp, Cotuit Kettleers (Arizona State/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: 6-8 lefty has a high ceiling with projectable body/quality arm, is a potential first-rounder in 2014, but not a sure thing as has long way to go in his development; slated to be No. 3 starter in spring as FR at ASU after being taken by Twins in 14th round in 2011, but shelved by early-season injury, made only 5 appearances (2 starts) in going 2-0, 1.32; plagued by inconsistency on summer in going 1-1, 5.46 (30 IP, 12 BB/37 SO) in 10 appearances (7 starts); was dominant when got behind ball, had command of 93-94 FB, average SL, but often struggled when got on side of ball and had difficulty locating stuff.
50. KYLE FINNEGAN, rhp, Cotuit Kettleers (Texas State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Few Cape pitchers threw harder or had more-electric stuff than Finnegan, who spent much of his summer at Cotuit learning finer points of pitching, rather than just trying to throw every pitch as hard as he could; was inconsistent generally for Kettleers in going 2-3, 6.56 (36 IP, 18 BB/44 SO) vs. 5-6, 3.28 (93 IP, 26 BB/75 SO) as Texas State SO, but made strides by end of summer in getting better differential between 94-96 FB and vastly-improved CH, also in refining power SL and CU; is still physically immature at 6-1/165, but strength gains remain as fills out frame, could still throw harder.
51. DANIEL ALDRICH, of, Cotuit Kettleers (SIGNED/Yankees)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Enjoyed rags-to-riches summer; undrafted in June after modest SO season at College of Charleston (.287-11-46, 32 BB/55 SO vs. .347-22-63 as FR), was cut as temp player at Orleans after hitting .235-1-6 (1 BB/11 SO) in 10-game cameo; picked up by Cotuit, went on rampage by hitting .350-10-26 in 27 G, and all 10 homers were titanic blasts; ended up signing as free agent with Yankees for $150,000; raw lefthanded power is most-obvious tool and ideal fit for short porch in Yankee Stadium, but has holes in uppercut swing, prone to strikeouts; better defensive skills/arm strength than given credit for.
52. BRETT AUSTIN, c, Harwich Mariners (North Carolina State/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Supplemental first-round pick of Padres in 2011 draft out of North Carolina high school, but concerns arose almost immediately that may not even be ready to play in Cape during erratic FR year at N.C. State as struggled with basic catching skills; showed vast improvement on summer with catching/receiving, ability to handle a pitching staff and actually became one of better defenders on Cape by end of summer; bat skills have never been an issue as he makes hard contact from both sides of plate with gap power, has good eye; hit .284-0-37 in spring at State, .276-3-13 on summer.
53. AUSTIN KUBITZA, rhp, Orleans Firebirds (Rice/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Instant stardom predicted for 6-5/205 Kubitza from moment he turned down Pirates as 7th-rounder in 2010; responded as FR at Rice by going 6-5, 2.34 (100 IP, 24 BB/102 SO), and ranked No. 1 prospect last summer in Cal Collegiate League with FB at 95, hard SL; was a different pitcher in 2012, first at Rice (6-5, 2.69, 80 IP, 38 BB/73 SO), when command wavered, and on summer in Cape (1-3, 5.06, 27 IP, 12 BB/17 SO), when command often disappeared and became more thrower than pitcher; raw stuff remained constant, but never really recovered when gave up 4 HR/1 IP vs. Harwich in late June.
54. BEN LIVELY, rhp, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (Central Florida/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: 6-4/205 Lively has shown flashes of living up to expectations set as a 26th-rounder in 2010 out of a Florida high school; was dominant as SO at UCF, when FB peaked at 94 and he went 9-2, 3.00 (81 IP, 45 BB/84 SO), but lost momentum on summer with generally lethargic effort in 6 starts for Y-D (0-2, 4.15, 30 IP, 10 BB/43 SO); lacked consistent command/velocity of moving FB in 87-92 range, breaking ball was a cross between average CU/SL coming from a low slot, also threw CH too hard; still hope that Lively can pick up pace with sharper stuff/location in 2013, and emerge as high-round pick.
55. KYLE SCHWARBER, of, Wareham Gatemen (Indiana/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Schwarber hit 2 homers in 7 Cape playoff games, yet earned playoff MVP honors by launching both in dramatic fashion in fifth and deciding game of final series—the first to help Wareham rally from 5-2 deficit in ninth to tie game 5-5, the second an inning later to lead Gatemen to improbable 8-6 win; ironically, he had struck out 3 times and dropped fly ball in LF earlier in game; has quick bat/legit power, hit .343-8-38 during regular season with league-high 59 hits; was mostly a catcher as FR at Indiana (.340-8-47), but runs 60 in 6.8-6.9 seconds, athletic enough to play OF on summer, served as back-up C.
56. AUSTIN VOTH, rhp, Brewster Whitecaps (Washington/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Voth’s prospect status came into focus a year ago in Cape, when he came off a non-descript FR season at Washington (2-5, 5.19) and dominated in both league all-star game and playoffs with FB up to 94; worked mostly in relief then, but destined to be a starter with his strong/athletic frame, and moved to rotation this summer at Brewster, where he went 1-3, 4.29 (36 IP, 20 BB/52 SO); his FB was a steady 91-92, even after a heavy workload in spring (7-1, 4.14, 67 IP, 22 BB/62 SO), working both as starter/reliever, and his SL continued to evolve into breaking pitch of choice, with solid CH as a third pitch.
57. DALE CAREY, of, Chatham Anglers (Miami, Fla./JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: With highly-athletic frame/superior raw tools, 6-3/180 Carey has basic package to emerge as first-rounder in 2013, but skills in most areas still a ways off, even as he was most-improved player on Chatham roster this summer; flashed raw power, learned to trust hands more, went to opposite field more consistently, eventually settled in as Anglers leadoff man, but hit .240-1-11 (19 BB/49 SO) as still struggles to grasp finer points of hitting; his raw talent most apparent in field with superior arm strength, ability to track balls/make highlight catches; speed also excels, but lacks instincts on bases.
58. TONY KEMP, 2b/of, Cotuit Kettleers (Vanderbilt/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Sparkplug player in under-sized 5-7/160 frame, played key role in leading Cotuit to best record on Cape; very athletic with superior speed, led league in triples (5) and stolen bases (18), while hitting .343-3-29; has excellent hand action at plate, hits steady dose of line drives, but takes too many pitches, needs to put ball on ground more consistently and develop better base-running instincts to take better advantage of speed; played all 3 OF positions for Kettleers, had good range/jumps, but lacked arm strength and saw increased playing time at second base, tools profile at that position in long run.
59. BRIAN RAGIRA, 1b/3b, Harwich Mariners (Stanford/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Offensive-oriented player who contributed to Harwich’s Cape single-season record home-run total by going deep nine times; made a conscious effort to increase HR output on summer after .350-5-50 SO season at Stanford, and average dipped to .231, fanned 37 times in process, but has excellent plan at plate, superior bat speed with power to all fields, disciplined 2-strike approach, can hammer mistakes; split summer on infield corners, definitely has arm strength and hands to play third, but lack of range/mobility around bag makes him a better fit at first in long haul; gets high marks for makeup.
60. JOHN SIMMS, rhp, Falmouth Commodores (Rice/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Like high-profile Rice teammate Austin Kubitza (No. 53 on list), 6-3/210 Simms struggled with command issues on Cape and his performance slipped appreciably compared to a dominant 2011 performance at Falmouth, when he pitched with confidence and had a 0.00 ERA, 8 SV and 6-29 BB-SO ratio in 19 innings; in contrast, he went 1-3, 4.05 with 3 SV (27 IP, 12 BB/31 SO) in his encore, while starting season as a closer before moving to rotation; his raw stuff was essentially the same as 2011, with a low/mid-90s FB, quality SL/CH suited for starting role, but projects more as closer with fearless approach.
61. KONNER WADE, rhp, Wareham Gatemen (Arizona/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Compared to dominant 2011 season when he led Cape with 12 SV in first real crack at closer job, 6-2/185 Wade was mere shadow this summer in relief for Gatemen; was obviously tired, physically/mentally, after tossing 127 IP in spring while leading Arizona to College World Series title with 10-3, 4.17 record; still reported to Cape, made only 8 relief appearances for Wareham with late arrival/selective use, went 0-1, 4.97 with 1 SV in 13 IP; flashed quality 3-pitch mix with FB at 89-94, plus breaking ball, change; profiles as a ground-ball machine with ability to vary velocity/movement on pitches.
62. SPENCER NAVIN, c, Brewster Whitecaps (Vanderbilt/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Navin shared catching job with two others at Brewster, but readily evident that his catch-and-throw skills, and ability to call a game were among best in league; has excellent arm strength/quick release, and very proficient at back-picking unsuspecting runners at first; took over regular duties behind plate for Vanderbilt as SO and hit .298-3-27 (30 BB/44 SO); has decent feel for hitting, but still has work to do at plate; hit .233-3-9 (5 BB/16 SO) on summer for Whitecaps with 2 of 3 homers on summer coming in one game; if his offense blossoms in spring, he could shoot up draft boards.
63. DANIEL PALKA, 1b/lhp, Wareham Gatemen (Georgia Tech/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Palka was one of biggest beneficiaries of Cape’s unintended switch to livelier ball in 2012 as home-run output jumped from 1 in 2011 to 13; all were legit shots, yet his stock as a power-hitting prospect may ironically have slipped a notch as the tradeoff was more infrequent contact, mainly on off-speed pitches; overall, he hit .272-11-35 (19 BB/46 SO) on summer, and added two more homers in post-season after .303-12-47 season as G-Tech SO; scouts unclear if he’s better fit in right field, where he doesn’t move that well but his arm is an obvious asset, or at first base, where he lacks mobility around bag.
64. ADAM NELUBOWICH, 3b, Cotuit Kettleers (Washington State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Nelubowich, Mariners 14th-rounder in 2009 out of Alberta HS, is one of those players who thrives in summer ball, but struggles to put best foot forward in college; played sparingly as red-shirt FR at WSU in 2011, but led West Coast League in homers/RBIs in breakout summer; also came on strong in Cape, both at plate (.288-4-20, league-high 14 2B) and in field, after disappointing college season (.254-4-36); has good raw power/bat speed with pure LH swing, but greatest improvement on summer came defensively with impressive lateral range, ability to come in on balls, strong/accurate arm.
65. L.J. MAZZILLI, 2b, Wareham Gatemen (Connecticut/SR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Mazzilli, son of ex-big leaguer Lee Mazzilli, hit .339-9-38 with team-best 19 2B last spring at UConn, was primed to sign with Twins in June as ninth-rounder, but balked at offer and returned to Cape for third summer; hamstring tweak curtailed action initially, did not hit as expected (.275-1-7) in 40 at-bats at end of regular season, but caught fire in playoffs (.435-2-12 in 5 G) that fueled Bourne upset of top-seeded Cotuit; offensive-minded 2B, flashes power to all fields, also has solid feet, hands, arm strength in field, but committed 20 errors at position in spring, five more on Cape in limited stay.
66. C.K. IRBY, rhp/of, Harwich Mariners (Samford/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Irby played impact two-way role as SO at Samford, hitting .340-5-48 as a 1B/OF, while going 5-2, 2.06 and saving 10 games on mound, primarily in a closer role; he continued to go both ways on summer for Harwich, but concentrated efforts on pitching as his greater upside at that position; went 2-4, 3.52 with 2 SV in 16 relief appearances (27 IP, 13 BB/41 SO), attacked hitters with solid two-pitch mix; primary weapon is hard/downer 12-6 CU with biting action, which is a dynamic pitch when he commands it; also has boring 90-95 FB, but lacks third pitch, so geared to bullpen role at pro level.
67. BEN WETZLER, lhp, Falmouth Commodores (Oregon State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: After 16 starts/102 innings as a SO at Oregon State, Wetzler was out of gas and clearly not his sharpest in three starts for Falmouth, before finally shutting it down for summer; in 15 IP, he went 1-1, 2.35 (8 BB/17 SO) and rarely showed electric FB that was a steady 90-93, peaked at 96, or the impressive spike CU with depth, that shot him up prospect lists a summer ago in the West Coast League and he was known for in spring at OSU; his CU was still effective coming from a deceptive high three-quarters slot when he kept it down in zone and got hitters to chase, but had trouble repeating it.
68. COTY BLANCHARD, 3b, Falmouth Commodores (Jacksonville State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Scouts will need to preach patience when evaluating 6-2/200 Blanchard as he has never devoted sufficient time at Jacksonville State to baseball while starring as school’s quarterback; has made baseball a priority going forward, and combination of power/speed evident, even as he hit .257-0-15 (19 BB/33 SO) on summer for Falmouth, and .230-1-13 (22 BB/33 SO) in spring; played all over infield in college, but spent most of summer in LF, adapted easily to new position with superior athleticism; just needs time to refine swing mechanics, but already has ideal swing path through zone, up middle of field.
69. ALEX GONZALEZ, rhp, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (Oral Roberts/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: It took two inspired playoff starts for 6-2/190 Gonzalez to finally perform like the pitcher who entered college with expectations that were set from being an unsigned 11th-rounder of Orioles in 2010 out of Florida high school; he went 6-3, 2.30 (86 IP, 24 BB/66) in a solid SO year at Oral Roberts, but never got untracked during the regular season for Y-D while going 3-2, 5.28 and allowing 40 hits in 29 IP (9 BB/25); was old self in post-season, going 1-0, 1.42 (13 IP/7 H/3 BB/19 SO) with FB back up to 93, quality SL, much-improved CH; mixed pitches well with superior command to both sides of plate.
70. BRANDON TRINKWON, ss/2b, Hyannis Harbor Hawks (UC Santa Barbara/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Little was expected of 6-2/190 Trinkwon when he came to Cape as a temporary player, only to emerge as one of better everyday players on Hyannis roster and best overall shortstops in league; came off solid SO season with bat as a relative unknown at Long Beach State (.347-2-32, 40 BB/24 SO), and proved his worth by hitting .301-6-33 (13 BB/26 SO) with a short, compact, lefthanded swing in the Cape against a faster brand of pitching, while showing sound plate discipline; he had easy, gliding actions in field and masked arm strength that may be better suited for 2B by getting rid of balls quickly.
71. DREW DOSCH, 3b, Falmouth Commodores (Youngstown State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Dosch came to Falmouth as a temp player, but it was evident immediately that he was a keeper with his advanced approach to hitting and one of the purest lefthanded swings on Cape; he stayed inside pitches extremely well, barreled balls consistently and had a sound gap-to-gap/two-strike approach while flashing occasional/evolving power; stepped into 4-hole immediately for Commodores, and hit .326-8-30 (11 BB/37) after hitting .353-8-42 (23 BB/21 SO) in spring at Youngstown State; has chance to stick at 3B with sure hands, though lacks range/arm strength, may end up at 1B.
72. SAM TRAVIS, 1b/3b, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (Indiana/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Hit in 3-hole all season for Y-D and was most productive bat on league’s best hitting team; batted .326-8-30 (11 BB/37 SO) for Red Sox after solid freshman campaign at Indiana (.353-8-42 (23 BB/21 SO); has quality LH swing in 6-0/205 frame with serious juice to gaps; spent most of summer at 3B, but lacks optimum range to stay at position, runs adequately for possible shift to OF corner, also has soft hands for possible future at 1B.
73. CHAD GREEN, rhp, Bourne Braves (Louisville/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Blue Jays 37th-rounder out of Illinois HS in 2010; passed over in 2012 draft as age-eligible SO after two season as reliever at Louisville, but made significant strides as all-star starting pitcher on summer for Bourne; went 4-0, 2.79 (42 IP, 12 BB/47 SO) in 7 starts for Braves vs. near-identical 5-0, 2.70 record (47 IP, 23 BB/42 SO) in 22 appearances (6 starts) in spring; gets good downhill plane on pitches with angular 6-4/190 frame, especially on 90-93 FB; biggest reason for turnaround on summer came with improved secondary stuff, command; twin brother Chase is SS at Southern Illinois.
74. SCOTT FRAZIER, rhp, Chatham Anglers (Pepperdine/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: The 6-7/235 Frazier has size/stuff to be a front-line starter, but never quite lived up to expectations in college/summer ball after being a fifth-round pick of Phillies in 2010 draft out of California HS; limited to 18 IP as FR at Pepperdine by injury, went 7-5, 3.93 (103 IP, 31 BB/69 SO) as Saturday starter for Waves as SO, but Cape season ended after only three starts with dead arm from heavy spring workload; went 1-1, 4.97 (13 IP, 4 BB/10 SO) for Anglers with FB that was 94-96 and produced ground-ball outs with sinking action, but never cut it loose with trademark high-80s SL.
75. J.T. RIDDLE, 2b/ss, Orleans Firebirds (Kentucky/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Struggled in all phases of game for Orleans—especially at plate (.232-2-15, 7 BB/28 SO), in field (11 errors)—but athleticism, all tools readily evident in lively 6-3/175 frame, just needs time to develop consistency; flashes thunder in bat with good bat speed/line-drive pop, should add power to LH swing with maturity; versatile defender, capable of playing multiple positions, debate continues whether he’ll end up at 2B, SS or CF, but appears to profile best as MIF with smooth actions, range/arm strength, though victim of yips at times; has plus speed, but not a base stealer (1-of-2 on summer).
76. DYLAN DAVIS, of/rhp, Brewster Whitecaps (Oregon State/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Intriguing 2-way talent with power bat/arm, but hasn’t refined skills/developed consistency as either player or pitcher; hit only .226-1-4 (1 BB/12 SO) on season for Whitecaps, but won Cape’s Fenway Park version of Home-Run Derby by going deep seven times, continued to take impressive daily BP sessions but rarely used as hitter over second half as pitching emphasized; also had limited success on mound with 0-2, 7.04 record (15 IP, 18 BB/15 SO) in 9 appearances (3 starts); in need of mechanical adjustments to incorporate lower half, used only low/mid-90s FB, has no reliable secondary pitches.
77. DAVID WHITEHEAD, rhp, Harwich Mariners (Elon/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Top winner/most-reliable starter on Harwich staff; went 5-2, 2.81 (42 IP, 8 BB/28 SO) on summer, a solid upgrade from 5-3, 4.44 record (77 IP, 36 BB/38 SO) in spring season at Elon; has powerful 6-5/245 build, goes aggressively after hitters with easy arm action, velocity that can reach 95, but more of a ground-ball machine vs. strikeout pitcher as commands hard/heavy fastball low in zone, induces hitters to consistently pound ball into dirt; also has SL/CH, but profiles as mid-reliever without plus secondary pitch.
78. MOTT HYDE, ss/2b, Wareham Gatemen (Georgia Tech/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Delivered some big homers on summer, none bigger than dramatic, game-tying, two-run shot in ninth inning of deciding game of league championship series eventually won by Wareham; much-improved player in all phases in second season for Gatemen; was overmatched at times in 2011, but had a more-disciplined plan this season, went on to hit .281-6-26 (17 BB/46) while adding two more homers in post-season; profiles as offensive 2B, saw increasing time at that position vs. SS as season wore on, and impressed with exceptionally-quick hands, arm strength, excelled at turning double play.
79. MITCHELL GARVER, c, Hyannis Harbor Hawks (New Mexico/SR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Garver went undrafted as a JR out of New Mexico, but it wasn’t for a lack of talent as he hit .377-10-57 (25 BB/28 SO) for the Lobos, while showing improved arm strength/blocking skills behind plate; may have priced himself out of first few rounds, but appeared to position himself as one of top college senior drafts in 2013 with impressive showing for Hyannis; has good eye/plate recognition, continued to be a force at plate by hitting .298-4-28 (12 BB/31 SO), but excelled in all phases defensively, especially with solid leadership skills; is athletic, versatile enough to play in the outfield, on occasion.
80. CHASE JOHNSON, rhp, Orleans Firebirds (Cal Poly/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Projectable 6-3/185 RHP, had expectations of becoming No. 1 starter as SO at Cal Poly after developing quality 3-pitch mix last summer in West Coast League, but moved to closer instead; largely abandoned emerging SL in role, put emphasis almost entirely on FB and velocity spiked to 95-96, peaked at 98, though pitch often straight with over-the-top delivery; went 3-4, 3.34 with 8 SV (35 IP, 13 BB/31 SO) in spring, 2-1, 3.98 with 1 SV (20 IP, 7 BB/23 SO) on summer; hitters sat on fastball as SL lacked action/depth initially, but eventually became acceptable secondary pitch.
81. STEVE WILKERSON, ss, Hyannis Harbor Hawks (Clemson/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING REPORT: College career has been slow to evolve, considering he was a 15th-rounder out of high school and is a very good athlete at a premium position; played sparingly as a FR at Clemson, committed 18 errors while hitting .295-1-31 (22 BB/39 SO) as a SO, and hoped to solidify himself as everyday SS on Cape, but left after 26 at-bats to get a balky knee scoped that gave him trouble moving laterally but didn’t inhibit running in a straight line, and he actually stole four bases in his brief time on Cape; healthy, he has excellent hands/arm strength in field, can run, has chance to swing bat from both sides.
82. JORDAN RAMSEY, rhp, Cotuit Kettleers (UNC Wilmington/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING REPORT: Athletic 6-4/180 RHP was Royals 28th-rounder out of North Carolina high school in 2011, went 4-3, 4.36 (66 IP, 23 BB/54 SO) in 14 starts as FR at UNC-W in spring, was not overmatched on Cape despite lack of experience, went 2-0, 4.36 (31 IP, 7 BB/19 SO) in 11 appearances (3 starts) for Cotuit; has quality arm action with 88-92 FB, but may never reach mid-90s though already locates pitch consistently well at knees; may need to refine arm slot in order to improve quality/command of secondary pitches.
83. PAT BIONDI, of, Cotuit Kettleers (Michigan/SR in 2013)
SCOUTING REPORT: For a player who went wire-to-wire in winning Cape League batting title at .388, Biondi was curiously passed over in 2012 draft; received feelers around 10th round, but rejected all overtures as he was bent on redeeming himself for mediocre 2011 season on Cape, along with a modest JR season at Michigan (.306-2-17), though stole 32 bases; at 5-9/165 pounds, Biondi is small, high-energy player who gets most of his ability with constant hustle/raw speed; pesky lefthanded hitter, Biondi excels at putting ball on ground, using his 6.6 wheels to reach base, stretch hits for extra bases; has plus range in CF.
84. JARED RUXER, rhp, Wareham Gatemen (Louisville/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING REPORT: Wareham won Cape League title on strength of inspired playoff run, explosive offense and dynamic late-game pitching; the 6-3/185 Ruxer, drafted in 2011 (29th round, Indians) out of an Indiana HS, was most-projectable arm in team’s rotation, though went 1-4, 2.95, allowed 67 base runners (52 H/15 BB) in 37 IP as he elevated pitches/caught too much of plate, Gatemen also struggled to score for him; 8-3, 3.38 record (77 IP, 15 BB/32 SO) as FR at Louisville more indicative of pitching acumen; lacks dominant strikeout pitch, but has quality arm, gets good action on 90-92 mph FB, also has solid SL/CH.
85. JAKE HERNANDEZ, c, Orleans Firebirds (Southern California/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING REPORT: Hernandez has impressive 6-2/200 frame, intense/aggressive approach, two obvious tools in raw power/arm strength that led Tigers to draft him in 22nd round in 2010, but game never truly started to come together until this summer on Cape; hit .260-5-18 for Firebirds, improvement reflected in earning league’s 10th-man award for performance above/beyond expectations; most obvious strides came in development of power potential as failed to go deep even once in first two years at USC, while hitting combined .252-0-21 as part-time catcher/DH; still needs to develop better receiving/blocking skills.
86. EVAN MITCHELL, rhp, Harwich Mariners (Mississippi State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Best arm with most-explosive stuff on Harwich staff; can eat up wood bats with electric FB in mid-90s, occasional sharp CU down in zone, but plagued by major control/command issues; became such a roll of dice on summer for Mariners that meaningful pitching opportunities were tough to come by and worked in just 9 IP, spread over 12 relief appearances; went 0-0, 5.79 with 13 BB/14 SO; cracked Mississippi State rotation as a FR (6-2, 4.62, 49 IP/49 SO), but workload curtailed as SO (2-1, 3.52, 38 IP, 28 BB/43 SO) when control issues became more acute.
87. WAYNE TAYLOR, c, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (Stanford/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING REPORT: Established himself as projectable lefthanded-hitting catcher with significant raw power potential when drafted in 14th round in 2011 out of Texas HS, but got just 35 ABs, hit .152-0-1 as FR at Stanford; needed to shake off rust initially on summer at Y-D, wound up hitting acceptable .292-2-13 (8 BB/29 SO), but may need to refine/tone down aggressive swing as he advances; has durable/athletic catcher’s frame at 6-1/190 with solid-average arm strength, improved receiving/blocking skills; possesses aptitude/intelligence, along with makeup/work ethic, to improve in all areas of game.
88. DAVID GARNER, rhp, Hyannis Harbor Hawks (Michigan State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Garner may not win over scouts on first impressions with his 5-11/180 frame, but few pitchers on Cape worked with grittier determination or had more electric stuff with his free/easy whip-like arm; was used as both starter/reliever by Harbor Hawks, and went a combined 2-4, 3.12 with 12 BB/41 SO in 43 IP—numbers in keeping with his SO year at Michigan State (6-3, 3.28, 74 IP, 31 IP/75 SO); despite smaller frame, Garner works aggressively with 93-95 FB with good run/occasional sink, though dominant out-pitch is sharp/biting 79-81 SL; has good arm action on CH, but pitch at developmental stage.
89. COLE STURGEON, of/lhp, Wareham Gatemen (Louisville/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Excelled in variety of roles on Cape, earned rightful honor as utility player on league all-star team; hit .297-5-15 as leadoff man for Gatemen, flashed power from left side, utilized 6.7 speed to get on base/runs bases, topped league with 38 runs; spent most of spring in LF at Louisville (.321-1-45, 23 BB/14 SO, 8-of-8 SB), summer in CF for Gatemen, and adapted easily to middle of field with good angles/routes to balls; arm strength may be most obvious tool as also pitches, went 2-0, 1.69 (11 IP, 4 BB/11 SO), has sneaky-quick FB, been clocked up to 92 in closer role, but more thrower than pitcher.
90. CHRIS ANDERSON, rhp, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (Jacksonville/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Minnesota prep product, drafted by Cubs in 35th round in 2010; profiles as a quality 2013 follow with powerful 6-4/220 frame, raw arm strength, chance for three average major-league pitches, quality arm action/delivery, aggressive mindset, advanced sense of pitchability; posted satisfactory, but unspectacular 5-4, 4.48 record (88 IP, 40 BB/69 SO) as SO at Jacksonville, got off to strong start on Cape with 91-94 FB, quality CU, but heavy spring workload soon began to take toll as got tired, left pitches up in zone, ended up going disappointing 0-2, 6.34 (33 IP/43 H/12 BB/42 SO).
91. TIM KIENE, 1b, Cotuit Kettleers (Maryland/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Kiene has significant raw power in his 6-5/240 frame, but rarely tapped into it this summer as he was hampered all season by a sore tendon in the back of his hand; he hit just .271-1-12 (4 BB/17 SO) vs. a more-representative .326 with 10 homers a summer ago in the New England Collegiate League; his big LH swing is geared to power, but he still needs to be more selective and get the ball in the air more consistently; even as his power numbers were disappointing, he was still the primary starter at first base for Cotuit in a revolving door at the position, and showed improved actions/footwork around the bag.
92. JONATHAN HOLDER, rhp, Wareham Gatemen (Mississippi State/SO in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Signed out of HS by Mississippi State as primarily a hitter, but 6-3/245 Holder went a long way towards changing the perception of him as a FR for the Bulldogs with a dominant performance on mound; in 24 relief appearances, he went 2-1, 0.32 with 9 SV (28 IP, 5 BB/30 SO); was also used as a hitter initially by Wareham when team was shy of position players to begin summer, but soon settled into a short role for Gatemen, mainly in seventh inning, and earned 5 wins in season/playoffs with 1.99 ERA (23 IP, 11 BB/33 SO); earned most of his strikeouts with power CU, but FB also at 90-92.
93. JOE BROUSSARD, rhp, Cotuit Kettleers (Louisiana State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Broussard went 4-1, 3.73 (41 IP, 12 BB/45 SO) in spring as a SO at LSU, but found meaningful innings/starts tough to come by on a prospect-rich Tigers staff; may be in line to grab spot in 2013 rotation vacated by RHP Kevin Gausman (fourth overall pick in 2012 draft), based on strong showing in Cape; made only eight appearances (3 starts) for Cotuit before leaving early with a tender arm, but went 1-0, 1.83 (20 IP, 10 BB/23 SO) with solid 3-pitch mix that included a consistent 93-94 mph FB, legit CU, but difference-maker may be much-improved CH.
94. LOUIE LECHICH, of/lhp, Chatham Anglers (San Diego/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Both Lechich and Chatham teammate Aaron Brown (No. 22 on list) earned significant attention during summer as 2-way players, but most scouts came to realization that 6-3/205 Lechich is better suited for everyday role; has intriguing power potential through combination of natural strength, raw bat speed, leverage in long/lanky frame, but didn’t go deep even once in 66 regular-season ABs for Anglers before homering twice in two playoff games; runs well for size, has a plus arm in CF; went 1-2, 4.55 in 9 appearances (6 starts) on mound with FB at 88-92, but secondary stuff below average.
95. ZANE EVANS, rhp/c, Harwich Mariners (Georgia Tech/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Higher profile to date as everyday player, but realization setting in that greater upside may be on mound; caught sparingly on Cape because of hernia that made it difficult to squat, hit only .128-1-4 (4 BB/21 SO), so emphasized role at back end of bullpen while at Harwich, went 1-0, 4.66 with 4 SV before shut it down when hernia lingered; impressed with low-90s FB, but best offering is nasty SL that is legit swing/miss pitch when located low in zone; hit .295-4-51 at plate, went 0-1, 3.68 with 7 SV as SO at G-Tech, durable 6-3/210 frame suited for either role, but 2013 season will resolve future role.
96. RYON HEALY, 1b, Brewster Whitecaps (Oregon/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: The 6-5/210 Healy was a disappointment in all phases of game at Cotuit in his first go-around on Cape in 2011, but had a solid SO season with bat at Oregon, hitting .312-4-42, and that performance carried over to this summer in a move to Brewster; hit in 3-hole all season for Whitecaps, and responded by stroking ball at .310-4-20 clip; flashed legit power to all fields, especially as balls jumped off his bat at full extension; should be a future middle-of-the-order run producer as he fills out his frame, gets stronger; ongoing arm issues plagued him at 3B on summer, necessitating a likely permanent move to 1B.
97. JAMES ROBERTS, ss, Cotuit Kettleers (Southern California/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Roberts started every game at SS for USC in 2011 as a promising freshman, but came to Cape with his reputation as a prospect on thin ice, both at plate, in field, after a disappointing SO season for Trojans; committed 21 errors in field while in process of losing regular SS job, but re-established himself on Cape with better glove work/positioning, more rhythm on throws, especially from hole; also hit soft .289-0-24 (8 BB, 5 XBH) at USC in spring, but stung ball more routinely/hit consistently in clutch on summer for Cotuit while batting .306-1-25.
98. EDDIE CAMPBELL, lhp, Harwich Mariners (Virginia Tech/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: With his slight 6-0/190 frame and lack of overpowering stuff, Campbell is the type of pitcher who must perform well at competitive level to warrant becoming a more-viable draft pick than out of high school, when he was a 44th-rounder of the Reds; he improved significantly in eight starts on summer for Harwich, going 3-2, 4.50 (21 IP, 9 BB/19 SO), vs. 4-0, 6.37 (35 IP, 26 BB/40 SO) during spring at Virginia Tech, working mostly in relief; Campbell has advanced knowledge of pitching, with his best offering a dominant 12-6 CU, though his 89-90 FB is a solid complement.
99. JAKE McCASLAND, rhp, Brewster Whitecaps (New Mexico/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: At 6-2/220, McCasland has the classic frame of a power pitcher and his FB acts part as clocked in past up to 97; but he continues his quest for consistent command/stuff, while also identifying a firm role; as a FR starter at New Mexico, he went 2-5, 6.34; as a SO set-up man, he went 0-1, 6.43 (21 IP, 9 BB/19 BB); his performance improved marginally on summer on Cape in a variety of relief roles to 0-0, 4.77 (17 IP, 3 BB/12 SO), but most encouraging sign was a flagging FB velocity that crept from low-90s to mid-90s, though he still has work to do refining his secondary stuff.
100. JAKE RODRIGUEZ, c, Falmouth Commodores (Oregon State/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: Dating back to his days as high-school SS, to being installed at 2B as an Oregon State freshman, to being used mostly as a catcher in 2012, both in college and summer ball, Rodriguez has long been known for his versatility, ability to adapt to any role on field; has compact 5-8/180 frame to profile as catcher, also makings of solid catch/throw skills, savvy approach/leadership skills; bat is best tool, takes quality ABs, has solid plate discipline with line-drive swing/occasional pop, homered to dead center in first AB of Cape summer, went on to hit .273-4-17, after acceptable .290-2-28 spring season.
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11 comments have been left for this article. 
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Great info. When the record says "League games only", what does that mean? Do they play local teams, or are there bardnstorming games? Not trying to be mean, just uninformed and curious.