Covering the Cape Cod Baseball League
The college baseball prediction parade is off and running, and the Cape League’s historic 2012 season is clearly on the minds of many a prognosticator. Baseball America released its Preseason All-America Teams today. Of the 45 players selected for the three teams, 34 of them have played in the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Among the headliners are first-teamers Colin Moran, Phil Ervin, Austin Wilson and Sean Manaea.
Year in and year out, Vanderbilt routinely sends more players to the Cape Cod Baseball League than any program in the country. If Baseball America’s recruiting class rankings (subscriber) pan out, then the Commodores will be sending some very good players over the bridges in the coming years.
The Commodores will welcome in five players who were ranked in Baseball America’s top 500 for the 2012 draft, and a total of seven players who were drafted. Right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler, who was ranked 50th and went in the 15th round, heads the class and will likely enter the spring as the country’s top recruit. A Vanderbilt player had the same distinction last year as pitcher Tyler Beede was rated No. 1 (Beede was on Cotuit’s roster but did not pitch in the summer).
The list of standouts also includes Cambridge, Mass., outfielder Rhett Wiseman, who was selected in the 25th round by the Cubs.
Among other teams on the list, Cape League mainstays UCLA, North Carolina, Stanford, LSU and Florida also make the cut. UCLA’s class is ranked second and is headlined by pitcher Hunter Virant, who was rated 53rd in draft rankings.
I mentioned last week that Mark Appel could become the first Cape League alum to go No. 1 overall in the MLB draft since 2006. A week into the college season, there’s another CCBL alum who’s getting some early buzz.
According to Baseball America, San Francisco’s Kyle Zimmer, who pitched for Cotuit last summer, was as impressive as any pitcher in the country last week. His fastball topped out at 99.
Zimmer went 2-5 for the Kettleers last year, with a 3.38 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 48 innings. He was named the No. 8 prospect in the league by Baseball America, but it’s looking like that may have just been the beginning for him.
Baseball America has released an early top 50 (subscription) for the 2012 draft. Cape Leaguers Mark Appel, Deven Marrero and Mike Zunino head the list, which includes a total of 16 players who have been on the Cape.
Among the other notables are Chris Beck (sixth), Victor Roache (12th) and Travis Jankowski (25th).
Jankowski is a true Cape League success story — temp one year to MVP the next — so it’s great to see him getting so much buzz.
Jessica at High Heels on the Field talks with Stanford sophomore Mark Appel, who’s slated for Y-D this summer.
Stanford Pitcher Mark Appel Success And Being A Possible First Rounder
Great piece from Gordon Edes about Andrew Miller’s quest to get his career back on track. The story goes into great detail about the legendary fog game in Chatham, when Miller struck out 12 in four innings before the game was called.
Andy Seiler at MLB Bonus Baby is doing some great work leading up to the 2010 draft, which begins Monday, June 7 at 7 p.m. He just put up the first round and supplemental first round of his latest mock draft. Of course, it’s dotted with former Cape Leaguers.
Seiler has 2009 Outstanding Pitcher Chris Sale going fourth overall to the Indians. Other projected first-rounders include Zack Cox (8), Yasmani Grandal (10), Anthony Ranaudo (12), Alex Wimmers (13), Brett Eibner (16), Gary Brown (25), Sammy Solis (29), Kyle Blair (31) and Matt Harvey (32).
The supplemental first round features Jesse Hahn, Micah Gibbs, Jarrett Parker, Brandon Workman, Todd Cunningham, Chad Bettis and Austin Wates.
BA’s weekend preview last week included a Q&A with Auburn slugger Hunter Morris (Falmouth ’10). You can read it here, but I thought I’d share the most interesting Cape League nugget:
You have played for Team USA and also in the Cape Cod League. How do you compare the experiences?
After my freshman year, playing for Team USA, it was awesome. We were the only USA team that had ever gone undefeated—it was just an awesome summer. But in the Cape last summer, that was probably the most fun I’ve had in a long time. You go out and face a Friday guy every time you step on the field. For me as a hitter, I felt like facing that kind of competition would really prepare me for this season. You face some really good competition with Team USA, but then you also face some teams that are not quite up to that caliber. I was a lot better for it, to be able to do that day in and day out for a full summer. It’s just an awesome place to play.
This is a little old, but if you haven’t seen David Rawnsley’s list of the nation’s top freshmen, it’s definitely worth a read.
I looked back at the same feature from last year, and almost all the players on that list are bound for the Cape this summer. So, in addition to the 2010 Cape Leaguers that are featured, it’s a nice preview for 2011 as well.