Hyannis 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
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.