Category: Prospects

Baseball America has weighed on the Cape League’s prospect scene with its annual ranking of the league’s top 30 prospects (subscription required).

Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero ranks No. 1, just as he did in Perfect Game’s rankings but beyond that, the two lists differ quite a bit. Mark Appel, No. 2 on PG’s list, didn’t meet the innings requirement to be on the BA list. Austin Wilson, No. 3 according to PG, is ranked 25th by BA.

I won’t post the whole BA list since it is subscriber content, but here’s the top 10:

1. Deven Marrero
2. Chris Beck
3. Ryne Stanek
4. Brian Johnson
5. John Simms
6. Victor Roache
7. Colin Moran
8. Kyle Zimmer
9. Ryan Eades
10. Travis Jankowski

Interesting to see Chris Beck ranked so high. I was impressed when I saw him but he was overlooked in league awards. If this ranking is any indication, he won’t be overlooked when it comes to the draft.

Also of note from the BA story, one MLB scouting director said “it’s probably the most raw power I’ve seen in the Cape in a long time.” He singled out Roache, Wilson and Adam Brett Walker as having the biggest bats.

Perfect Game today released its list of the top 100 prospects from the 2011 Cape Cod Baseball League season.

Not a big surprise at the top, where Arizona State’s Deven Marrero checks in at No. 1. Marrero didn’t have a huge impact this year for Cotuit, arriving late after Team USA and leaving because of an injury after 12 games. But it wasn’t just a cameo for Marrero on the Cape — he was a key to Cotuit’s title run in 2010, hitting .417 in the playoffs.

Y-D’s Mark Appel (Stanford) ranks second after flashing the best arm on the Cape. He was also limited on the Cape because of a Team USA stint, but if Team USA had played a typical full-summer schedule, he never would have made it to the Cape at all. His playoff performance in Orleans obviously stands out.

At No. 3, PG went with Harwich outfielder Austin Wilson, a rising sophomore at Stanford. Wilson didn’t put up great numbers but showed plenty of potential all summer before heating up in the playoffs. The third spot is a pretty high ranking for a freshman, and it’s a sign of how highly-regarded Wilson is. He may the top prospect in his class.

The fourth-ranked prospect is another one whose summer was shortened. LSU’s Kevin Gausman made two starts for Harwich before heading off to Team USA. He went 12 innings in those games and struck out eight. Gausman is just a rising sophomore but he’ll be eligible for the 2012 draft.

Cape League Pitcher of the Year Ryan Eades rounds out the top five. Another rising sophomore from LSU, Eades finished with a 0.84 in seven games with Bourne.

The league’s top prospect winner, Victor Roache, ranks sixth on the Perfect Game list. Batting champ Steve Piscotty is seventh and MVP Travis Jankowski ranks 20th.

Several of the Cape’s dominant relievers ranked pretty high, with Cotuit’s Bobby Wahl leading the way at 17. Blake Hauser is 18th, Carter Capps 19th, J.T. Chargois 21st and John Simms 22nd.