Posted on

2012 Early Look: Hyannis Harbor Hawks

HyannisHawks_150.gifHyannis Harbor Hawks
Manager: Chad Gassman
2011 Record: 29-15

The summer of 2011 is one people around the Hyannis organization will remember for a long time. From the moment the season began, their Harbor Hawks looked like the team to beat and they lived up to the potential throughout the regular season, winning the West division title, posting the best record in the league and clinching a playoff berth for the first time in six years.

Ultimately the season ended earlier than Hyannis hoped with a first-round playoff loss to Falmouth, but the season was still a special one.

And the Harbor Hawks also created a blueprint. They built their team differently than a lot of other squads, shying away from traditional powerhouse players and focusing on veterans who would be around for a whole summer. Chatham manager John Schiffner was quoted after the season as saying he’d like the Anglers to follow the same path.

The 2012 Harbor Hawks may be on that path too. While there are two talented players on the Team USA roster, only one other player is on a team that’s still alive in the NCAA Tournament. And, much like last year, a lot of the players will be arriving from schools that aren’t exactly hotbeds — Indiana State, Young Harris, Troy, Presbyterian.

It all adds up to a solid looking club. We’ll see if the blueprint leads to another special season in Hyannis.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 0
Juniors: 2
Sophomores: 18
Freshmen: 6

Notable

  • Every year, the Cape League has about half a dozen sons of former Major League Baseball players. I don’t remember any sons of NBA players, but that’s what UConn freshman pitcher Carson Cross is. His dad, Jeff, played one season with the Clippers. Not surprisingly, Carson stands 6-foot-5.

  • I can’t imaging Indiana State has had many Cape Leaguers over the years, but Sean Manaea will represent the Sycamores well. The 6’5 lefty struck out 115 this year after shining in the Prospect League last summer. He’s definitely a player to watch as he tries to prove himself against tough competition this summer.

  • Manaea is one of several guys from smaller schools who will be looking to make a big splash this summer. Adam Moore was star for D-II Young Harris while Brad Zebedis has had a great career at Presbyterian.

  • Team USA has had a big impact on the Harbor Hawks, with top hitters D.J. Peterson and Austin Cousino on the roster. Not sure of their status for the summer. Peterson was perhaps the top sophomore hitter in the country.

  • Apart from Manaea, none of the pitchers on the roster put up overwhelming numbers, but a lot of them had very solid seasons. That’s a pretty good formula, because it’s not hard for pitchers to take a leap on the Cape.

  • The Harbor Hawks don’t have any returning players, but Auburn’s Zach Alvord was on the Cape last summer in Bourne.

  • Is there a rule that Hyannis has to have a player who goes by his first and middle name, with one of those names being Brett? Last year, it was Adam Brett Walker. This year, Brett Michael Doran. Parents, include Brett in your child’s name, and he’ll play for Hyannis someday.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. D.J. Peterson
    2. Austin Cousino
    3. Sean Manaea
    4. Adam Moore
    5. Brad Zebedis

    Pitchers

    Tyler Barnette – RHP – 6-3 200 – UNC Charlotte – Sophomore
    Sahil Bloom – RHP – 6-2 210 – Stanford – Junior
    Carson Cross – RHP – 6-5 210 – UConn – RS Freshman
    David Garner – RHP – 6-0 180 – Michigan State – Sophomore
    Jimmy Hodgskin – LHP – 6-3 210 – Troy – Sophomore
    Jeff Hoffman – RHP – 6-4 175 – East Carolina – Freshman
    Sasha Kuebel – LHP – 6-0 196 – Iowa – Freshman
    Sean Manaea – LHP – 6-5 215 – Indiana State – Sophomore
    Matt Maurer – LHP – 6-3 220 – Pepperdine – Sophomore
    Peter Miller – RHP – 6-1 190 – Florida State – Sophomore
    Adam Moore – RHP/UTIL – 6-3 180 – Young Harris – Sophomore
    David Paiz – RHP/UTIL – 6’3 195 – Texas Tech – Sophomore

    Tyler Barnette – RHP – 6-3 200
    UNC Charlotte
    Sophomore

    Barnette was a ninth-round pick out of high school and justified the hype with a tremendous freshman season in 2011. He had a 2.29 ERA and earned several Freshman All-America nods. This year wasn’t quite as good. Barnette finished 3-3 with a 4.20 ERA. He struck out 33 but walked 29.

    Sahil Bloom – RHP – 6-2 210
    Stanford
    Junior

    Bloom is a native of Weston, Mass., and he’ll return to New England for summer ball after pitching well in the NECBL last year. This spring, Bloom has been a solid reliever for the Cardinal, posting a 3.04 ERA in 20 appearances.

    Carson Cross – RHP – 6-5 210
    UConn
    RS Freshman

    After redshirting in 2011, Cross became a standout bullpen arm for the Huskies this year. He finished with a 1.21 ERA in 18 appearances, and he struck out 28 in 37.1 innings.

    David Garner – RHP – 6-0 180
    Michigan State
    Sophomore

    Baseball America named Garner the second-best prospect in the Great Lakes Collegiate League last summer, and he was as good as advertised this year. Garner made 20 appearances with 11 starts and finished 6-3 with a 3.28 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 74 innings.

    Jimmy Hodgskin – LHP – 6-3 210
    Troy
    Sophomore

    A 43rd-round pick out of high school, but was projected to go a lot higher than that and ended up as one of the most touted recruits in Troy baseball history. He was a solid starter as a freshman but had his struggles this year. He finished with an ERA over seven.

    Jeff Hoffman – RHP – 6-4 175
    East Carolina
    Freshman

    Hoffman was a high-school star in upstate New York and made a solid impression in his first year with the Pirates. Pitching both as a starter and a reliever, Hoffman went 3-2 with a 3.67 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 73.2 innings.

    Sasha Kuebel – LHP – 6-0 196
    Iowa
    Freshman

    Kuebel was a 31st round pick of Oakland last year but headed to Iowa and immediately became a standout weekend starter. On his way to Big 10 All-Freshman honors, Kuebel didn’t strike out many but went 6-0 with a 2.67 ERA.

    Sean Manaea – LHP – 6-5 215
    Indiana State
    Sophomore

    Manaea led the Sycamores in strikeouts as a freshman and turned plenty of heads in the Prospect League last summer. Perfect Game tabbed him as the league’s top prospect and Baseball America has him second. This spring, there was no sophomore slump for Manaea. His 115 K’s ranked in the top 15 nationally, and he struck out better than a batter an inning while posting an ERA of 3.34.

    Matt Maurer – LHP – 6-3 220
    Pepperdine
    Sophomore

    Maurer led Pepperdine in strikeouts as a freshman. Those numbers were down this year and he walked almost as many as he struck out but still finished with solid overall numbers. He went 6-1 with a 3.56 ERA.

    Peter Miller – RHP – 6-1 190
    Florida State
    Sophomore

    Miller had good numbers in limited action as a freshman then was named the No. 7 prospect in the Florida Collegiate League by Baseball America last summer. This spring, he’s been a valuable arm for the Seminoles. In 13 appearances — 10 starts — he has a 3.98 ERA.

    Adam Moore – RHP/UTIL – 6-3 180
    Young Harris
    Sophomore

    Moore was a two-way star for D-II Young Harris, which is coached by former Hyannis manager Rick Robinson. On the mound, Moore went 5-2 with a 3.47 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 62.1 innings. At the plate, he had an even bigger impact, hitting .360 with nine home runs, 17 doubles and 32 RBI.

    David Paiz – RHP/UTIL – 6’3 195
    Texas Tech
    Sophomore

    Paiz was a Big 12 All-Freshman pick after putting up solid numbers at the plate and on the mound this year. Not sure if there was an injury, but it looks like he was limited this year. He made 11 appearances with a 3.18 ERA and hit .229 in 35 at-bats.

    Position Players

    Zach Alvord – SS – 6-0 185 – Auburn – Sophomore
    Bobby Andrews – OF 6-0 195 – Auburn – Sophomore
    Blake Austin – C – 6-0 230 – Auburn – Sophomore
    Austin Cousino – OF – 5-10 175 – Kentucky – Freshman
    Brett Michael Doran – SS/2B – 6-0 200 – Stanford – Sophomore
    Ben Fultz – OF – 5-9 190 – East Carolina – Sophomore
    Dominic Jose – OF – 6-3 195 – Stanford – Freshman
    D.J. Peterson – 1B/3B – 6-1 195 – New Mexico – Sophomore
    Jeff Schalk – 1B/OF – 6-3 215 – UAB – Freshman
    Daniel Torres – C – 6-0 185 – Saint Leo – Sophomore
    Brandon Trinkwon – IF – 6’1 160 – UC Santa Barbara – Sophomore
    Steve Wilkerson – IF – 6’1 185 – Clemson – Sophomore
    Brad Zebedis – 1B/C – 6-0 215 – Presbyterian – Sophomore
    Zac Zellers – OF – 6’0 185 – Kentucky – Junior

    Zach Alvord – SS – 6-0 185
    Auburn
    Sophomore

    An 18th round pick out of high school, Alvord struggled with the bat as a freshman in 2011 but had some decent success in a 22-game stint with Bourne last summer. Alvord proceeded to have a solid spring with the Tigers, hitting .258 with six home runs. He ranked second on the team with 35 RBI.

    Bobby Andrews – OF – 6-0 195
    Auburn
    Sophomore

    Andrews didn’t see a ton of action as a freshman but shined when he had the chances, finishing with a .396 batting average. He became more of a regular this year and hit .252.

    Blake Austin – C – 6-0 230
    Auburn
    Sophomore

    Another Auburn sophomore, Austin also saw limited action as a freshman, but he had a good spring as a sophomore. He finished with a .296 batting average, three home runs and 21 RBI.

    Austin Cousino – OF – 5-10 175
    Kentucky
    Freshman

    Cousino is on the Team USA roster so he may not make it to Hyannis, but if he does, he’ll be coming in as one of the top freshmen in the nation. After a decorated high school career, Cousino lived up to the expectations this spring in Lexington. He hit a team-best .319 with nine home runs, 20 doubles and 41 RBI. He added 15 steals.

    Brett Michael Doran – SS/2B – 6-0 200
    Stanford
    Sophomore

    Doran showed some good flashes as a freshman then joined his Stanford teammate and future Hyannis teammate Sahil Bloom in the NECBL, where he hit .315. This year, he’s hitting .246 with nine RBI.

    Ben Fultz – OF – 5-9 190
    East Carolina
    Sophomore

    Fultz was a Conference USA All-Freshman pick after hitting .303 last year with four home runs and 26 RBI. He hit a sophomore slump this year, finishing with a .193 average and one home run.

    Dominic Jose – OF – 6-3 195
    Stanford
    Freshman

    Jose hasn’t seen a ton of action for Stanford this spring, but he’s done nothing but hit when he’s gotten the chance. He actually leads the team with a .385 average in 19 games. Jose was a 15th-round draft pick out of high school.

    D.J. Peterson – 1B/3B – 6-1 195
    New Mexico
    Sophomore

    Like Cousino, Peterson is on the Team USA roster so he may not make it to the Cape, but he too is someone the Harbor Hawks would love to have. He was one of the top players in the nation this season, hitting .419 with 17 home runs, 28 doubles and 78 RBI. He ranked fifth nationally in batting average, was tied for 10th in home runs and ranked second in RBI.

    Jeff Schalk – 1B/OF – 6-3 215
    UAB
    Freshman

    A 46th-round pick out of high school, Schalk headed to UAB and had a solid freshman season. He hit .279 with three home runs and 24 RBI.

    Daniel Torres – C – 6-0 185Saint Leo
    Sophomore

    Torres didn’t have a great freshman season with the bat but broke through this year with a strong sophomore season. He hit .284 with two home runs and 28 RBI.

    Brandon Trinkwon – IF – 6’1 160
    UC Santa Barbara
    Sophomore

    Trinkwon didn’t put up any standout numbers as a freshman but he delivered a breakout sophomore season this year. He finished with a .347 batting average to go with two home runs, 17 doubles and 32 RBI.

    Steve Wilkerson – IF – 6’1 185
    Clemson
    Sophomore

    Another guy who didn’t have a great freshman season, Wilkerson emerged this year as one of Clemson’s top offensive threats. He ended up with a ..295 average, one home run, 13 doubles and 31 RBI. He also stole 10 bases.

    Brad Zebedis – 1B/C – 6-0 215
    Presbyterian
    Sophomore

    Zebedis was a freshman star last year, leading the Big South in batting average with a .425 mark. He also led the league in hits, home runs, total bases and slugging percentage. This season, Zebedis battled an injury early on but still hit .270 with six home runs.

    Zac Zellers – OF – 6’0 185
    Kentucky
    Junior

    Zellers was a junior-college All-American in 2011. At Kentucky this year, he picked up where he left off, hitting .311 with five home runs and 19 RBI.

    Posted on

    2011 Early Look: Hyannis Harbor Hawks

    HyannisHawks_150.gifHyannis Harbor Hawks
    Manager: Chad Gassman
    2010 Record: 14-30

    The commentators on Monday Night Baseball this week were having an interesting discussion about organizational philosophies — how some teams have a very clear philosophy and others don’t. The implication was that the teams with a strong philosophy tend to be more consistently successful.

    To some extent, Cape League franchises can have philosophies. It’s a lot harder to stick with them when things change so much from year to year, but teams certainly have tendencies.

    If there’s a philosophy for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks this season, it’s to build around older players — and good hitters.

    Hyannis, which had the worst record in the league last year, is currently slated to have a roster without a single freshmen or junior. It’s all about the sophomores. The Harbor Hawks are also a little light on weekend rotation pitchers but seem to have a good stable of bats.

    We’ll see where the philosophy takes them, but on paper, I like this team. Players like Corey Roberts and Brad Schreiber should be very capable Cape League starters, while Dylan Floro is a potential star. The bats look solid enough to make up for any pitching deficiencies, too. Adam Brett Walker might be the most toolsy player on the Cape this summer, and he has the production to match, with a .417 batting average. Richy Pedroza and Joey Rickard are also raking, and the Harbor Hawks should have ton of speed with Jamodrick McGruder and Eric Stamets.

    If it works out like the Harbor Hawks hope, maybe it’s a philosophy they can go back to.

    Roster Rundown
    Returning Players: 0
    Sophomores: 26
    Freshmen: 0

    Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Adam Brett Walker
    2. Richy Pedroza
    3. Joey Rickard
    4. Dan Gulbransen
    5. Dylan Floro

    Notable

  • We’ll start with Adam Brett Walker, who comes by way of Jacksonville University in Florida. He’s 6’5, 225, he’s the likely Atlantic Sun Player of the Year and he has produced like few other sophomores in the country. He has plenty of prospect hype, too, but it seems primed to grow to new levels on the Cape. The one concern for Walker is strikeouts, so it’ll be interesting to see if he can keep them down with wood bats and tough pitching. Regardless, the guy can mash the ball.

  • Walker’s teammate at Jacksonville, Dan Gulbransen, might be in the running for A-Sun honors, too. He’s hitting .370 with five home runs and 15 doubles.

  • Cal State Fullerton shortstop Richy Pedroza is a fan favorite in the making. He’s listed at either 5’5 or 5’6 depending on where you look, but he’s done nothing but hit in his time with the Titans.

  • Sticking with the hitters for another moment, Arizona’s Joey Rickard has been one of the Pac 10’s best hitters this spring. He was over .400 for a while and still checks in at .390. Rickard, Gulbransen and Walker would be one heck of an outfield for Hyannis.

  • I mentioned the speed above, and Hyannis definitely has it. Jamodrick McGruder has 28 steals this year and Eric Stamets has 24. Throw in Pedroza’s eight and you’ve got a speedy top of the order however you shake it out.

  • Brad Schreiber and Corey Roberts have had the most success as starters this season. Dylan Floro has pitched out of the bullpen for Fullerton but I would think he could start as well, based on his workload. Other than those guys, Hyannis will need some pitchers to step up.

    • Pitchers

    Kolt Browder – RHP – 5’11 200 – Baylor – Sophomore
    Dietrich Enns – LHP – 6’1 195 – Central Michigan – Sophomore
    Scott Firth – RHP – 6’0 170 – Clemson – Sophomore
    Dylan Floro – RHP – 6’2 180 – Cal State Fullerton – Sophomore
    Ryan Gibson – LHP – 6’4 230 – Oklahoma – Sophomore
    Tyler Hale – RHP – 5’9 173 – Arizona – Sophomore
    Dean McArdle – RHP – 5’10 175 – Stanford – Sophomore
    Jon Moscot – RHP – 6’4 195 – Pepperdine – Sophomore
    Corey Roberts – RHP – 6’0 210 – UNC Charlotte – Sophomore
    Eric Ruth – RHP – 6’0 185 – Winthrop – Sophomore
    Brad Schrieber – RHP – 6’4 235 – Purdue – Sophomore
    Andrew Strenge – RHP – 6’1 195 – Cincinnati – Sophomore

    Kolt Browder – RHP – 5’11 200
    Baylor
    Sophomore

    Browder walked on at Baylor as a shortstop but quickly moved to the bullpen, where he’s become a pretty solid performer. Last year, he had a 4.88 ERA in 20 appearances. After being named the 10th best prospect in the Texas Collegiate League by Baseball America, Browder has pitched in 12 games this year and has a 3.48 ERA.

    Dietrich Enns – LHP – 6’1 195
    Central Michigan
    Sophomore

    Enns burst onto the scene last season as a key bullpen arm for the Chippewas, earning MAC Freshman of the Year honors after posting a 2.12 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 59.1 innings. Enns has grabbed the closer’s spot this year and has delivered similar success. He has five saves, a 2.62 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 34.1 innings.

    Scott Firth – RHP – 6’0 170
    Clemson
    Sophomore

    Firth was a 35th-round pick out of high school and delivered a solid freshman season with the Tigers last year. Pitching mostly out of the bullpen, he had a 3.58 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 32.2 innings. This season, Firth has made 12 appearances — half of them starts — and has posted a 4-1 record and a 3.40 ERA.

    Dylan Floro – RHP – 6’2 180
    Cal State Fullerton
    Sophomore

    A 20th-round pick out of high school, Floro has been a steady workhorse since arriving on campus in Fullerton. Last year, he earned Freshman All-American honors while pitching 91 innings, most of them out of the bullpen. He ended up with a 3.26 ERA and he walked just 11 in those 91 innings. This year, Floro has again been busy. In 22 appearances, 18 in relief, he has a 2.92 ERA with 37 strikeouts and 13 walks. Before the season, Baseball America ranked Floro as the nation’s 14th-best sophomore.

    Ryan Gibson – LHP – 6’4 230
    Oklahoma
    Sophomore

    Gibson had a solid first year in Norman, striking out almost a batter an inning while posting a 3.75 ERA as a member of the starting rotation. This season, Gibson has only made five appearances and has a 7.27 ERA.

    Tyler Hale – RHP – 5’9 173
    Arizona
    Sophomore

    Hale joined standouts Kurt Heyer and Kyle Simon in the Wildcats’ weekend rotation this year but hasn’t had quite as much success as his teammates. In 10 starts, Hale is 3-4 with a 5.26 ERA. HE has struck out 39 in 51.1 innings but has also walked 28.

    Dean McArdle – RHP – 5’10 175
    Stanford
    Sophomore

    McArdle posted a 5.25 ERA last year but still managed to work his way into the weekend rotation by the end of the year. He’s stayed there this season, and he’s gone 7-2 with a 4.20 ERA.

    Jon Moscot – RHP – 6’4 195
    Pepperdine
    Sophomore

    Moscot transferred in from Cuesta College this season and has had a solid first campaign with the Waves. A regular starter, Moscot is 1-1 with a 4.74 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 49.1 innings.

    Corey Roberts – RHP – 6’0 210
    UNC Charlotte
    Sophomore

    Roberts delivered a Freshman All-American season last year and has been just as good this season for the A-10 leading 49ers. Roberts is 7-2 with a 2.42 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 74.1 innings.

    Eric Ruth – RHP – 6’0 185
    Winthrop
    Sophomore

    Ruth saw a lot of action as a freshman, finishing second on the team in appearances with 28. This year, he’s tied for the team lead with 21 appearances so far, and he currently boasts a 5-1 record with a 4.10 ERA. In 41.2 innings, he has 35 strikeouts and only 12 walks.

    Brad Schrieber – RHP – 6’4 235
    Purdue
    Sophomore

    Schrieber pitched out of the bullpen in his first season with the Boilers and had a 3.70 ERA in 17 appearances. This year, he’s become a reliable starter, posting a 4-0 record and a 3.80 ERA. He’s struck out a team-best 50 in 47.1 innings and had walked just 16. Last summer, Schreiber played in the Northwoods League and was voted the league’s 11th-best prospect by Baseball America.

    Andrew Strenge – RHP – 6’1 195
    Cincinnati
    Sophomore

    Strenge delivered an impressive freshman season last year, posting a 1.93 ERA out of the bullpen and setting a new Big East record for lowest ERA in conference play. He also led the league in conference opponents’ batting, runs allowed and walks allowed. Strenge has moved into the rotation this year without quite as much success — he’s 3-5 with a 4.73 ERA.

    Position Players

    Austin Elkins – SS – 5’11 185 – Dallas Baptist – Sophomore
    Cole Frenzel – INF – 6’2 208 – Arizona – Sophomore
    John Frost – 3B/1B – 6’1 190 – UAB – Sophomore
    Dan Gulbransen – OF – 5’11 205 – Jacksonville – Sophomore
    Drew Harrison – 1B – 6’4 250 – Oklahoma – Sophomore
    Duncan McAlpine – C/RHP – 5’10 200 – Dallas Baptist – Sophomore
    Jamodrick McGruder – SS/2B – 5’8 165 – Texas Tech – Sophomore
    Richy Pedroza – SS – 5’6 140 – Cal State Fullerton – Sophomore
    Kevin Plawecki – C – 6’2 205 – Purdue – Sophomore
    Joey Rickard – OF – 6’1 175 – Arizona – Sophomore
    Eric Stamets – SS – 6’0 185 – Evansville – Sophomore
    Cal Towey – OF – 6’1 200 – Baylor – Sophomore
    Zach Vincej – SS/2B – 6’0 170 – Pepperdine – Sophomore
    Adam Brett Walker – RF/1B – 6’4 225 – Jacksonville – Sophomore

    Austin Elkins – SS – 5’11 185
    Dallas Baptist
    Sophomore

    Elkins had a huge freshman year with Dallas Baptist, hitting .341 with eight homers and 15 doubles. He’s cooled down this year and is currently hitting .244. He does have 10 extra-base hits and 27 RBI.

    Cole Frenzel – INF – 6’2 208
    Arizona
    Sophomore

    A late-round pick out of high school, Frenzel missed part of his freshman year with injury but came back to hit .286. This year, Frenzel hasn’t been slowed down by anything. The first baseman is second on the team with a .379 batting average and he has 14 doubles to go with three home runs. His 40 RBI rank second on the team, and his on-base percentage is at an amazing .491, 24th-best in the country.

    John Frost – 3B/1B – 6’1 190
    UAB
    Sophomore

    Frost hit .338 last year and was a member of the Conference USA all-freshman team. His average has dipped to .211 this year, but he still leads the team with 33 RBI.

    Dan Gulbransen – OF – 5’11 205
    Jacksonville
    Sophomore

    Gulbransen was the Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year last season when he hit .391 with a .498 on-base percentage. After a solid summer in the Great Lakes League, he has picked up where he left off this season. Gulbransen is hitting .370 with five home runs, 15 doubles, 40 RBI and a .472 on-base percentage.

    Drew Harrison – 1B – 6’4 250
    Oklahoma
    Sophomore

    Harrison hit .243 as a freshman last season, but flashed some power with three homers and five doubles out of his 17 hits. This year, Harrison hasn’t had as many opportunities and is hitting .217 in 15 games.

    Duncan McAlpine – C/RHP – 5’10 200
    Dallas Baptist
    Sophomore

    Like his teammate Elkins, McAlpine had a big freshman season, hitting .296 with 13 homers. He too has seen a bit of a dip in production this year, but he’s still hitting .278 with seven homers and 38 RBI.

    Jamodrick McGruder – SS/2B – 5’8 165
    Texas Tech
    Sophomore

    McGruder stuffed the stat sheet as a freshman, hitting .322 and stealing 27 bases. Those numbers earned him several Freshman All-America nods. As a sophomore, McGruder’s average is down to .293, but he’s still running wild. He leads the team with four triples and ranks second in the Big 12 with 28 stolen bases.

    Richy Pedroza – SS – 5’6 140
    Cal State Fullerton
    Sophomore

    Despite getting stuck behind star Christian Colon at shortstop, Pedroza found his way into the Fullerton lineup as a freshman and made his presence felt, hitting .331 while grabbing the starting job at third. This year, Pedroza is back at shortstop and has been one of the team’s top hitters. He’s currently at .342 with a .396 on-base percentage. He also has eight steals.

    Kevin Plawecki – C – 6’2 205
    Purdue
    Sophomore

    Plawecki has been a star from day one in West Lafayette, leading the team in hitting last year and setting a new school freshman record with 53 RBI. After an impressive summer in the Prospect League, where he was named the third-best prospect, Plawecki is once again leading Purdue in hitting with a .366 average. He has also walked 17 times and struck out only nine times.

    Joey Rickard – OF – 6’1 175
    Arizona
    Sophomore

    Rickard had a solid freshman season for the Wildcats hitting .307 with eight home runs. As a sophomore, he’s been a little better than solid. For much of the season, Rickard has been one of the nation’s best hitters. He’s cooled off a little bit lately, but he’s still batting .390 with four home runs, 10 doubles and 31 RBI. He’s also stolen 12 bases.

    Eric Stamets – SS – 6’0 185
    Evansville
    Sophomore

    Stamets was the MVC Freshman of the Year last season and then earned an All-Star nod in the Valley League. He’s been pretty good this year, too, with a .298 average, 12 doubles and 24 steals.

    Cal Towey – OF – 6’1 200
    Baylor
    Sophomore

    After a redshirt season in 2009, Towey made a solid debut last season for the Bears, hitting .314 with three homers and 20 RBI. This season, Towey is batting .261 with four homers and 13 RBI.

    Zach Vincej – SS/2B – 6’0 170
    Pepperdine
    Sophomore

    Vincej was tabbed as a member of the West Coast Conference all-freshman team after hitting .292 last season. He spent the summer in the Alaska League, where he hit .247. This year, it’s been more of a struggle, with Vincej hitting .207. He has still started every game, though, and has played a solid shortstop.

    Adam Brett Walker – RF/1B – 6’5 225
    Jacksonville
    Sophomore

    Last but certainly not least, Walker checks in with one of the best seasons among 2011 Cape Leaguers — and really, one of the best seasons in the country. Like his teammate Gulbransen, Walker was a Freshman All-American last year and then he went to the Great Lakes League, where he earned top prospect honors. This year, he has lived up to all the hype — and then some. Walker is hitting .417 with 10 homers, 19 doubles, 64 RBI and 11 stolen bases. His batting average ranks second in the nation among sophomore hitters.

    Posted on

    Early Look: Hyannis

    HyannisHawks_150.gifHyannis Harbor Hawks
    Manager: Chad Gassman
    2009 Record: 16-26-1

    New name, new identity?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Notable

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Pitchers

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

    * – returning player
    (Stats as of May 27)

    Joey Bourgeois – RHP – 6’2 224
    LSU
    Sophomore

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

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

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

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

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

    Matt Dermody – LHP – 6’5 200
    Iowa
    Freshman

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

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

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

    Danny Hultzen – LHP – 6’2 190
    Virginia
    Sophomore

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

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

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

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

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

    Tyler Mizenko – RHP – 6’2 195
    Winthrop
    Sophomore

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

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

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

    Tyler Ray – RHP – 6’1 180
    Troy
    Sophomore

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

    Steven Rodriguez – LHP – 6’3 230
    Florida
    Sophomore

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

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

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

    Drew Verhagen – RHP – 6’6 215
    Oklahoma
    Freshman

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

    Tyler Wilson – RHP – 6’2 190
    Virginia
    Junior

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

    Position Players

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

    * – returning player

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

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

    Dan Sheppard – C – 6’0 180
    Iowa
    Freshman

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

    Michael Zunino – C – 6’1 210
    Florida
    Freshman

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

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

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

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

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

    Zach Osborne – SS – 5’7 165
    Tennessee
    Sophomore

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Matt Williams – SS – 6’0 165
    Liberty
    Sophomore

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

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

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

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

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

    Joey Rickard – OF – 6’1 175
    Arizona
    Freshman

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

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

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

    Tyler Thompson – OF – 6’1 185
    Florida
    Sophomore

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