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Melley Shines Ahead of CCBL Return

bobby melleyCape Cod native Bobby Melley got a brief chance to live a dream last summer when he played in five games for the hometown Hyannis Harbor Hawks. He didn’t get a hit in any of those appearances, but when he returns to Hyannis this summer, it’s a safe bet he’ll get one or two.

Melley, a 6-3, 210-pound first baseman, has had a breakout sophomore season at UConn. He leads the Huskies and the American Athletic Conference with a .378 batting average. He also leads the league in on-base percentage with a .490 mark. He’s hit three home runs and has driven in 32 runs.

Melley is in his second year as a starter for the Huskies. He hit .283 as a freshman. In between a three-game stint and two games in the playoffs with Hyannis, Melley spent most of the summer with the Plymouth Pilgrims of the NECBL.

He’s due back in Hyannis this summer, ready to really live the dream.

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Big Spring for Murray

michael murrayFlorida Gulf Coast sophomore Michael Murray pitched in the Northwoods League last summer, and when I saw his numbers this spring, I assumed I’d find him on last summer’s leader-boards and top prospect lists.

Nope.

Murray had some good outings for the Willmar Stingers but finished the Northwoods season with a 6.35 ERA. He wasn’t on Baseball America’s Top 25 Northwoods prospects, nor Perfect Game’s Top 60.

But if the coming summer is anything like his spring so far, Murray will not be invisible on Cape League lists. The sophomore righty, who’s slated to play for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox this summer, ranks sixth in the nation in ERA.

He’s 6-0 for the Eagles with a 0.50 ERA. He’s recorded one complete game and has allowed just three earned runs all season. Opponents are hitting .193 against him and he’s struck out 53 while walking only six in 53.2 innings.

He’s also shined when the lights have been brightest. Facing nationally-ranked Florida at the end of February, Murray went 7.1 strong innings, allowing just an unearned run, in a 2-1 FGCU win over the Gators.

Murray went the distance in his most recent start, allowing two runs in a complete-game win over Stetson.

A unanimous Atlantic Sun All-Freshman pick last year, Murray has already taken home two A-Sun Pitcher of the Week honors this year.

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Krook living up to the hype

matt krookAlmost every year, a highly-drafted high school pitcher spurns pro ball and immediately becomes a star on campus. From Gerrit Cole to Tyler Beede, it’s a pretty serious list.

Matt Krook appears to be next in line.

The Oregon freshman, who’s on the Orleans roster for 2014, was a supplemental first-round pick of the Marlins. He didn’t sign after a failed physical led to a significant reduction in his signing bonus.

He was the second-highest pick who didn’t sign, behind only Phil Bickford, who went 10th overall and is now at Cal State Fullerton (Bickford is not currently on a CCBL roster for 2014). While Bickford has been good in his own right in his freshman season, Krook’s numbers have been even a little better.

The lefty from San Mateo, Calif., ranks eighth in the nation in strikeouts with 49. That’s exactly one behind Carlos Rodon, the man who may be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft. Krook, who’s been the Saturday starter for the Ducks, has a 2.00 ERA to lead the team’s starters and opponents are hitting just .160 against him.

Clearly, Krook has little trouble adjusting from the high school ranks, which is no big surprise. Krook pitched a few innings in the Far West League last year, a collegiate summer league that allows college-bound players to compete, and was named the top prospect by Perfect Game.