2011 Early Look: Y-D Red Sox

Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
Manager: Scott Pickler
2010 Record: 27-17

The Y-D Red Sox seem to be updating things this off-season, with a fancy new web site that looks great and a tweaked logo.

On the field, they don’t need many updates — they’ll be looking for more of the same.

The Red Sox were the most successful franchise of the last decade and they started the new decade by picking up where they left off. Y-D put together the league’s best record last season and made the championship series before losing to Cotuit.

With manager Scott Pickler still at the helm and a host of talented players on the roster, the Red Sox are poised for more big things in 2011.

Just like last year, the Red Sox only have two returning players. But on paper, their roster looks more talented than last year’s, particularly on the mound. Mark Appel, Kyle Hansen and Brian Johnson could very well be top-five pitchers in the league when all is said and done. There’s strength in the bullpen too, with closer D.J. Baxendale returning and Joe Rogers coming in.

At the plate, it starts with Kenny Diekroeger, the guy I’d pick as the preseason top prospect in the league. The Stanford sophomore has been impressive every step of the way since opting to attend college after getting drafted in the second round in 2009.

There isn’t quite as much hype around some of the other Y-D bats, but Diekroeger’s teammate Stephen Piscotty should be very good, along with Florida catcher Mike Zunino, who’s been one of the best players on one of the best teams in the country this season.

All in all, the Red Sox look like they’ve given themselves a good chance to contend, just as they’ve done almost every year. With a proven track record of seizing that chance, the Red Sox should be in the mix again.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 2
Sophomores: 19
Freshmen: 6

Five Players I’m Excited to See
1. Kenny Diekroeger
2. Mark Appel
3. Brian Johnson
4. Kyle Hansen
5. Mike Zunino

Notable

Y-D has had a Stanford connection for a long time, and it could really pay some dividends this season. Sophomores Mark Appel and Kenny Diekroeger are two of the top prospects in the nation for the 2012 draft, and Stephen Piscotty is up there, as well. A.J. Vanegas is a highly-thought of freshman. If all four of those players make it to the Cape, they’ll be quite a group.

Diekroeger and Appel spent last summer close to the Cape, playing for the Newport Gulls in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. They were the top two prospects in the league according to Baseball America. Teammates again this summer, they could easily pull off the same feat.

Sticking with the Stanford boys for a moment, Piscotty was listed on the league’s roster release as a 3B/LF/1B/RHP. The Y-D web site wisely just decided to go with Utility. Either way, Piscotty can do it all.

D.J. Baxendale was quietly one of the best closers in the Cape League last year. It’ll be interesting to see what role he plays this summer, because he’s started and relieved for Arkansas. Whatever he does, he seems poised to make a leap to even bigger things this year.

Kyle Hansen is following in the footsteps of brother Craig Hansen, who played for St. John’s and on the Cape. Where Craig was standout reliever, Kyle has been a starter all the way and he’s been great in his first two seasons with the Red Storm. He’s also 6’8, so you won’t be able to miss him.

I’ll be interested to see if Brian Johnson goes both ways on the Cape. He’s a standout on the mound and at the plate for Florida, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him focus on one thing for the summer. That’s the way it usually goes for top utility guys.

Matt Watson is slated to return to Y-D after a solid first season on the Cape last summer. The Boston College sophomore has struggled this spring but he was the league’s top New England prospect a year ago.

Mike Zunino was overshadowed a bit last spring by teammates like Austin Maddox and Nolan Fontana, but he’s having a huge sophomore season for Florida. He could emerge as one of the top catching prospects in his class.

Pitchers
Mark Appel – RHP – 6-5 190 – Stanford – Sophomore
*D.J Baxendale – RHP – 6’2 190 – Arkansas – Sophomore
Matt Carasiti- RHP – 6’3 200 – St. John’s – Sophomore
Joey DeNato – LHP/OF – 5’10 165 – Indiana – Freshman
Daniel Gibson – LHP – 6’3 215 – Florida – Freshman
Alex Gonzalez – RHP – 6’2 200 – Oral Roberts – Freshman
Kyle Hansen – RHP – 6’7 191 – St. John’s – Sophomore
Brian Johnson – LHP – 6’4 227 – Florida – Sophomore
Joe Rogers – LHP – 6’1 205 – Central Florida – Sophomore
Andrew Thurman – RHP – 6’3 200 – UC Irvine – Freshman
A.J. Vanegas – RHP – 6’3 205 – Stanford – Freshman
Cory Williams – LHP – 6’1 200 – Vanderbilt – RS Sophomore

Mark Appel – RHP – 6-5 190
Stanford
Sophomore

With a mid-90’s fastball and a big frame, Appel was highly-regarded coming out of high school. He was drafted in the 15th round but might have gone higher if not for a solid commitment to Stanford. He has remained firmly on the radar for scouts with the Cardinal, and he made a big splash last summer when he was named the second-best prospect in the New England Collegiate Baseball League by Baseball America. I’ve seen him rated among the top five prospects for the 2012 draft. So far this season, he’s 2-4 with a 2.86 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 50.1 innings.

D.J Baxendale – RHP – 6’2 190
Arkansas
Sophomore

Baxendale was a mainstay at the back end of the Y-D bullpen last season and recorded nine saves, good for second in the league. He was named the team’s pitcher of the year. Back at Arkansas, Baxendale has been both relieving and starting, but he’s been very good either way. The sophomore leads the team with a 1.62 ERA. He also has a 5-1 record and 40 strikeouts in 39 innings.

Matt Carasiti- RHP – 6’3 200
St. John’s
Sophomore

Carasiti was the Connecticut Player of the Year and a 36th-round pick in high school. After a so-so freshman campaign with the Red Storm, Carasiti has emerged as the team’s top bullpen arm this season. He currently has a 2.70 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 20 innings. He also hasn’t allowed an extra-base hit. Last summer, Carasiti played in the NECBL and ranked as the sixth-best prospect, according to BA.

Joey DeNato – LHP/OF – 5’10 165
Indiana
Freshman

The Indiana program has a bit of a pipeline to the San Diego area, and it’s paying dividends again with DeNato. In his first year in Bloomington, DeNato has posted a 3.10 ERA and has struck out 23 in 29 innings. Also listed as an outfielder, DeNato has seen just two at-bats so it appears he’s focusing on pitching at this point.

Daniel Gibson – LHP – 6’3 215
Florida
Freshman

Gibson was a 26th-round pick out of high school, but for the moment, he’s kind of waiting his turn on a stacked Gator pitching staff. So far, Gibson has appeared in eight games out of the bullpen. He has a 1-0 record and a 5.40 ERA.

Alex Gonzalez – RHP – 6’2 200
Oral Roberts
Freshman

Gonzalez was an 11th-round pick out of high school last year and he’s showing why as a freshman at ORU. Gonzalez has been the team’s best pitcher and one of the best in the Summit League. So far, he’s 3-4 with a 2.75 ERA. In 59 innings, he has struck out 47.

Kyle Hansen – RHP – 6’8 215
St. John’s
Sophomore

A 40th-round pick out of high school, Hansen burst onto the scene as a freshman last year when he went 8-3 with a 3.71 ERA and 85 strikeouts. He didn’t play summer ball but has picked up right where he left off this season. So far, he’s 5-3 with a 2.82 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 54.1 innings. Before the season, he was ranked by Perfect Game as the 44th-best prospect for the 2012 draft. He’s the brother of former Cape Leaguer and Major Leaguer Craig Hansen.

Brian Johnson – LHP – 6’4 227
Florida
Sophomore

A consensus Freshman All-American last year, Johnson has continued to cement his status as one of the top players — and maybe the top utility player — in his class this season. On the mound, Johnson is 5-1 with a 2.42 ERA and a team-best 43 strikeouts in 52 innings. At the plate, he’s hitting .315 as a full-time starter. Perfect Game tabbed Johnson as the nation’s 15th best prospect for 2012 in preseason rankings.

Joe Rogers – LHP – 6’1 205
Central Florida
Sophomore

Rogers was installed as UCF’s closer right off the bat as a freshman last season and didn’t disappoint, saving eight games and earning Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America honors. This year, Rogers is delivering more of the same. He’s saved six games already and has a 3.04 ERA. He’s also flashed great control, with 20 strikeouts and just three walks in 24.2 innings.

Andrew Thurman – RHP – 6’3 200
UC Irvine
Freshman

Thurman came to Irvine after an impressive high-school career and he’s made a pretty good splash with the Anteaters. In 11 appearances — six starts — he’s posted a 3.86 ERA. He has struck out 29 in 39.2 innings.

A.J. Vanegas – RHP – 6’3 205
Stanford
Freshman

Vanegas was one of the top pitchers in the California high-school ranks last year and was drafted in the seventh round. He stuck with Stanford, though, and was tabbed by BA as the fifth-best freshman in the country coming into the season. He has pitched mostly in relief, thus far and has done well, posting a 3.28 ERA to go with 17 strikeouts in 24 innings.

Cory Williams – LHP – 6’1 200
Vanderbilt
RS Sophomore

Williams redshirted his freshman year at Vandy and was pitching well in his first action last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He’s back this year and has chipped in a lot for the top-ranked Commodores. In 15 relief appearances, Williams has struck out 24 — better than a batter an inning. He’s got a 4.63 ERA.

Position Players
Kenny Diekroeger – SS – 6’2 195 – Stanford – Sophomore
Connor Harrell – OF – 6’3 215 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
Chase Jensen – SS – 6’3 190 – Houston – Sophomore
Cody Keefer – OF – 6’1 190 – UCLA – Sophomore
Jacob Lamb – 3B – 6’3 210 – Washington – Sophomore
Michael O’Neill – OF – 6’1 180 – Michigan – Freshman
Bennett Pickar – C – 6-2 205 – Oral Roberts – Sophomore
Stephen Piscotty – UTIL – 6’3 205 – Stanford – Sophomore
Matthew Reynolds – SS – 6’1 200 – Arkansas – Sophomore
Jordan Smith – 3B/OF – 6’4 225 – St. Cloud State – Sophomore
Chris Taylor – SS/3B – 6’1 180 – Virginia – Sophomore
*Matthew Watson – C – 6’0 200 – Boston College – Sophomore
Michael Zunino – C – 6’1 218 – Florida – Sophomore

Kenny Diekroeger – SS – 6’2 195
Stanford
Sophomore

Diekroeger was drafted by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2009 draft. When he opted for Stanford instead, he became the second-highest drafted player that year to attend a four-year college. He’s done nothing to disappoint since then. After earning Pac 10 Freshman of the Year honors last year, he played for the Newport Gulls in the NECBL and was tabbed by BA as the league’s top prospect. BA also ranked him as the nation’s second-best sophomore heading into the season. This year, he’s hitting a team-best .355 with a homer and 15 RBI.

Connor Harrell – OF – 6’3 215
Vanderbilt
Sophomore

Harrell worked his way into a starting job as a freshman last season and ended up hitting .300. He’s still a key part of the lineup this year and he’s hitting .241 with a homer and 12 RBI.

Chase Jensen – SS – 6’3 190
Houston
Sophomore

Jensen spent last season at Weatherford College in the juco ranks and earned all-conference honors. He transferred to Houston this season and is fast becoming one of the top hitters in Conference USA. He’s currently at .329 with three homers, seven doubles and a league-best 37 RBI.

Cody Keefer – OF – 6’1 190
UCLA
Sophomore

Keefer was a 33rd-round pick out of high school and delivered a solid first season with the Bruins last year, hitting .318. After a solid summer in the West Coast Collegiate League, Keefer is hitting .269 this year with five doubles.

Jacob Lamb – 3B – 6’3 210
Washington
Sophomore

The top player in Washington as a high-school senior, Lamb stayed home and turned in an impressive freshman season last year. He finished with a .347 average, four home runs and 12 doubles. This year, Lamb has been very good again, posting a team-best .333 average. He’s also got two homers, seven doubles and 16 RBI.

Michael O’Neill – OF – 6’1 180
Michigan
Freshman

O’Neill was one of the top players in Ohio last year and was drafted in the 42nd round. He’s now in the midst of a very good freshman season with the Wolverines. So far, he’s hitting .299 to go with four doubles, two triples and a home run. He leads the team with 18 RBI.

Bennett Pickar – C – 6-2 205
Oral Roberts
Sophomore

Pickar has joined his battery-mate Gonzalez as a late addition to the Y-D roster. Pickar hit .286 as a freshman but has struggled thus far this season. He’s currently hitting .145.

Matthew Reynolds – SS – 6’1 200
Arkansas
Sophomore

Reynolds opened his freshman season as the team’s starting shortstop but struggled with the bat and lost the job. After delivering a solid summer in the Northwoods League, Reynolds is back in a full-time role and hitting .262. He also has nine extra-base hits.

Stephen Piscotty – UTIL – 6’3 205
Stanford
Sophomore

Like his teammates Appel and Diekroeger, Piscotty followed up a solid freshman campaign by catching scouts’ eyes over the summer. He headed north to Alaska and was picked by BA as the league’s third-best prospect. While Piscotty is listed as a hitter and a pitcher, he hasn’t pitched at all this season. But he’s contributing plenty with the bat, hitting .346 with a homer and 16 RBI.

Jordan Smith – 3B/OF – 6’4 225
St. Cloud State
Sophomore

Smith had a record-breaking freshman season with D-II St. Cloud State, hitting .457. He followed that debut with a huge summer in the Northwoods League, where he hit .374 with five homers and 56 RBI. BA rated him as the 15th-best prospect in the league. As a sophomore, Smith hasn’t cooled down much. He’s currently hitting .371 with five home runs and 25 RBI.

Chris Taylor – SS/3B – 6’1 180
Virginia
Sophomore

Taylor didn’t see a ton of action last year but made the most of his time and hit .305. This year, he’s been a mainstay in the Cavaliers’ lineup and is hitting .294 with 11 extra-base hits. His 26 RBI ranks third on the team.

Matthew Watson – C – 6’0 200
Boston College
Sophomore

A native of Portland, Maine, Watson had a solid freshman season at BC and a good summer on the Cape. Playing for Y-D, Watson hit .239 with four home runs and took home New England Top Prospect honors. So far this season, Watson has struggled at the dish, holding a .207 average.

Michael Zunino – C – 6’1 218
Florida
Sophomore

Part of Florida’s vaunted recruiting class that came in last year, Zunino was solid last year but didn’t have the kind of enormous season that some of his freshman teammates put together. This year, he’s doing it. Zunino was scorching at the beginning of the year and is still holding steady with a .339 average. He also has six homers, eight doubles and is tied for the team lead with 27 RBI.