Early Look: Cotuit

COTUIT KETTLEERS
Manager: Mike Roberts
2008 Record: 24-18

When the first 2009 rosters started popping up, Cotuit’s emerged in my eyes as the most intriguing.

I’m still intrigued, for a number of reasons.

We can start with the bad news. The Kettleers’ 30-player roster has some big stars but six of the biggest are draft-eligible and projected to go very early. That means we may not see Chris Dwyer, Mike Nesseth and Drew Storen lighting up radar guns, or Robbie Shields and Tyler Townsend slugging home runs. In addition, three more players have been invited to Team USA, including UCLA freshman pitcher Gerrit Cole, a first-round pick last year.

So the intrigue with those guys now revolves around the comings and goings.

But the intrigue with the rest of the roster is rooted in some emerging talent. That’s the biggest thing I took from all the bio writing for Cotuit’s players: a lot of guys with star power and hype and track records might not make it to the Cape; but the rest might turn into stars this summer.

Go down the list of position players, and I think you’ll see that most of them fit that mold. Cameron Rupp, Kevin Keyes and Cory Vaughn were top prospects in other summer leagues last year and are coming off big college seasons. Kevin Patterson was one of the league’s stars last year and will be looking to prove himself after a so-so sophomore year. Cody Stanley, Chris Bisson, Brock Holt, Rico Noel and Jeff Rowland have had fantastic springs. Zach Cone and Zack Cox are highly-touted freshmen ready for breakout summers. The pitching staff fits the same profile, with players like Chad Bell, Seth Blair, Brandon Cumpton, Justin Grimm, Max Russell and Daniel Tillman poised for big things.

That means the summer should be an exciting time for a lot of Cotuit’s players, and that has to be a good thing.

As far as what the talent can do, I think Cotuit stacks up pretty favorably to West rivals Bourne, Wareham and Falmouth. The Kettleers pitching staff could take a big hit from the draft, with Dwyer, Nesseth, Storen and Bell all eligible. Depth could be an issue, but Blair was a standout last summer, and Russell and Tillman had tremendous seasons at D-II Florida Southern. And we can’t forget about Chance Ruffin, who’s one of the best pitchers in the country.

The lineup is probably in better shape, even if Rice’s Rick Hague ends up with Team USA. There’s power, with Vaughn, Keyes, Rupp and Patterson, and there’s serious speed potential, with four legit leadoff hitters on the roster.

All in all, I like this team. They may not have the depth of talent that Bourne and Falmouth appear to be bringing in, but I really am intrigued by all the up-and-coming talent. It should make for a fun year in Cotuit.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 4
Juniors: 4
Sophomores: 20
Freshmen: 6

Notable

• Among the draft-eligible pitchers, keep an eye on Clemson’s Chris Dwyer. If I’m placing bets on who doesn’t sign, I’m probably taking him. He’s a draft-eligible freshman (based on age), but his first-year ups and downs at Clemson underscore his development level. From what I gather, he could still go in the second or third round. If he’s planning on heading back to Clemson and proving himself further, the Cape would be a good place to start.
• The other draft-eligible pitchers are Nebraska’s Mike Nesseth, Stanford’s Drew Storen and Walters State’s Chad Bell.
• All those guys have big arms, for sure, but the biggest on Cotuit’s roster probably belongs to Gerrit Cole, the Yankees’ first-round pick last year who has a mid to upper-90s fastball. This spring, Cole led all NCAA freshmen in strikeouts with 104. I think it’s pretty likely that he goes with Team USA, but if not, he would be the highest-drafted player out of high school to play on the Cape since 2003, when John Mayberry, Jr., hit .370 for Y-D.
• Cotuit’s roster features two big freshman prospects from Vanderbilt in Sonny Gray and Navery Moore. Both were all-everything in high school, but only Gray has had sustained success in Nashville so far. He’s been invited to Team USA, but Moore hasn’t. It’ll be very interesting to see what Moore can do. He was considered the best pitcher in his high school class before Tommy John Surgery. This summer will be big for him.
• I haven’t looked closely at this, but off the top of my head, I think Seth Blair could be the league’s best returning pitcher. He had a 1.72 ERA last year, third in the league. It’s probably between him and Brandon Workman.
• The list of position players includes a pair of juniors who would be huge additions if they don’t sign right away. Robbie Shields played for Cotuit last year, and his story is well-known. Tyler Townsend is right there with Middle Tennessee’s Bryce Brentz — who’s on Harwich’s roster — for the best season among 2009 Cape Leaguers.
• Florida Southern sent Shields to Cotuit last year, and this year, it’s a pair of pitchers — Daniel Tillman and Max Russell. Both have put up great numbers this season.
• The Kettleers have some Major League bloodlines. Chance Ruffin is the son of former pitcher Bruce Ruffin, while Cory Vaughn is the son of Greg Vaughn.
• In Cameron Rupp and Cody Stanley, Cotuit has two catchers who have delivered great production. It’s not a stretch to envision both of them having big summers.
• Cotuit’s outfield is going to be really, really athletic. Kevin Keyes, Zach Cone and Cory Vaughn get that “toolsy” label, while Jeff Rowland is a great leadoff hitter for Georgia Tech. Add in Coastal Carolina leadoff man Rico Noel, who can play infield or outfield, and it’s even more impressive.
• Speaking of Noel, he should be the odds-on favorite to win the stolen base title. He’s been successful on 46 of 49 this year, and might be the first prototypical speedster on the Cape since Manny Burriss, who stole 37 bases in 2005. Blake Tekotte in 2007 kind of fits the mold, but last year, it was Tim Wheeler, a corner outfielder, who led the league.

Five Players I’m Excited to See
1. Gerrit Cole
2. Cory Vaughn
3. Tyler Townsend
4. Chris Dwyer
5. Kevin Keyes

Pitchers

Chad Bell – LHP – 6’2 180 – Walters State CC – Sophomore
*Seth Blair – RHP – 6’2 190 – Arizona State – Sophomore
Jake Buchanan – RHP – 6’0 205 – North Carolina State – Sophomore
Gerrit Cole – RHP – 6’3 195 – UCLA – Freshman
Brandon Cumpton – RHP – 6’1 190 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
Chris Dwyer – LHP – 6’2 200 – Clemson – Freshman
Matt Grace – LHP – 6’4 205 – UCLA – Sophomore
Sonny Gray – RHP – 5’10 180 – Vanderbilt – Freshman
Justin Grimm – RHP – 6’4 195 – Georgia – Sophomore
Navery Moore – RHP – 6’3 205 – Vanderbilt – Freshman
Mike Nesseth – RHP – 6’5 213 – Nebraska – Junior
Ryan Rodebaugh – RHP – 6’0 165 – Kennesaw State – Sophomore
Chance Ruffin – RHP – 6’0 190 – Texas – Sophomore
Max Russell – LHP – 6’2 190 – Florida Southern – Sophomore
*Drew Storen – LHP – 6’2 175 – Stanford – Sophomore
Daniel Tillman – RHP – 6’1 186 – Florida Southern – Sophomore

Chad Bell – LHP – 6’2 180
Walters State CC
Sophomore

After originally committing to Memphis, Bell headed to Walters State for his freshman year with an eye on the 2008 draft. But after getting picked in the 25th round pick out of high school, he dropped to the 37th round last year. He opted to stay at Walters, where he’s had another fantastic season. He’s posted a 2.08 ERA, with 78 strikeouts in 65 innings and five complete games. He is committed to Tennessee, but he’ll be weighing his options after the draft. Bell was on Harwich’s roster this time last year, but didn’t make it to the Cape.

Seth Blair – RHP – 6’2 190
Arizona State
Sophomore

Blair was one of the most impressive pitchers on the Cape last summer, going 4-1 with a 1.72 ERA for the Kettleers. He has followed that up with a very good sophomore season in Tempe. As ASU’s third starter, he is 6-2 with a 3.42 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 71 innings.

Jake Buchanan – RHP – 6’0 205
North Carolina State
Sophomore

After a solid freshman season, Buchanan saw his ERA ballon up over six this season. He still had good strikeout numbers, with 72 in 74.1 innings.

Gerrit Cole – RHP – 6’3 195
UCLA
Freshman

Cole made national headlines last year when he turned down first-round money from the New York Yankees to go to UCLA, becoming the highest pick to enroll in college since 2002, when first-rounder John Mayberry, Jr., went to Stanford. Obviously, Cole brought a lot of hype with him to the UCLA campus and he has done a pretty good job living up to it. Despite a 4-8 record, he’s got a 3.49 ERA with 104 strikeouts and 38 walks in 85 innings. Not surprisingly, he has been invited to Team USA.

Brandon Cumpton – RHP – 6’1 190
Georgia Tech
Sophomore

Cumpton had a decent summer for Cotuit last year, posting a 4.43 ERA while pitching as a starter and a reliever. As one of Tech’s weekend starters this year, Cumpton has gone 4-2 with a 4.83 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 59.2 innings.

Chris Dwyer – LHP – 6’2 200
Clemson
Freshman

Dwyer is the rare draft-eligible freshman. He’s in that position because of an extra year in elementary school and another at a prep school. He’s considered to be a second-round talent, but since he’s just a freshman, there may be some signability concerns. This spring, Dwyer had some strong starts but ended up with a 5.30 ERA. He struck out 75 in 73 innings.

Matt Grace – LHP – 6’4 205
UCLA
Sophomore

Grace put up good numbers in a relief role his freshman year and he has done the same this year. He’s got a 4.54 ERA with 33 strikeouts and only 10 walks in 39.2 innings.

Sonny Gray – RHP – 5’10 180
Vanderbilt
Freshman

Boasting a mid-90s fastball and a sharp curveball, Gray was one of the top high school pitchers in the nation a year ago, but his size, a spring injury and a strong commitment to Vanderbilt pushed him to the 27th round of the draft. He opted to honor his commitment to Vandy, where he has surged to a strong finish. For the season, he’s got a 5.14 ERA, but he’s turned in three solid starts since sliding into the rotation.

Justin Grimm – RHP – 6’4 195
Georgia
Sophomore

Grimm didn’t have a great freshman season but he has posted the best ERA — 4.19 — among Georgia’s weekend starters this year. A 13th-round pick out of high school in 2007, Grimm has struck out 67 in 73 innings.

Navery Moore – RHP – 6’3 205
Vanderbilt
Freshman

Before Tommy John surgery in 2007, Moore was considered one of the top pitchers in his class. Though he made it back for last season, his senior year, he ended up slipping to the 26th round of the draft. Like Gray, he stuck with his commitment to Vanderbilt. He has thus far seen limited action, with a 7.20 ERA in three appearances.

Mike Nesseth – RHP – 6’5 213
Nebraska
Junior

Ranked as the second-best prospect in the Northwoods League a year ago, Nesseth was looking for a big junior year after two solid seasons in Lincoln. He didn’t quite have it though, finishing with a 5.01 ERA. He did, however, strike out 73 in 64.2 innings. Nesseth will probably go in the first 10 rounds in June, so we’ll have to wait and see on his summer destination.

Ryan Rodebaugh – RHP – 6’0 165
Kennesaw State
Sophomore

On a pitching staff with two big-time prospects — Kyle Heckathorn and Chad Jenkins — Rodebaugh has shown some good things, too. Pitching in a swing role, he’s got a 4.10 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 48.1 innings of work.

Chance Ruffin – RHP – 6’0 190
Texas
Sophomore

The son of former Major Leaguer Bruce Ruffin, Chance was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year last season and one of the best freshman pitchers in the nation. He finished his first year with an ERA of 1.96. This season, his ERA isn’t quite as low, but he’s still one of the best in the nation. Heading into regional play, Ruffin is 9-2 with a 2.96 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 100.1 innings.

Max Russell – LHP – 6’2 190
Florida Southern
Sophomore

Cotuit got a great start from D-II Florida Southern’s Robbie Shields last year, before an injury cut short his season. Shields is still projected as a high pick, and Russell will try to follow in his footsteps. He has put up fantastic numbers this year, going 10-2 with a 3.80 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 104.1 innings.

Drew Storen – LHP – 6’2 175
Stanford
Sophomore

A late-round pick because of signability, Storen had a great first season at Stanford and he added to his resume in Cotuit last summer, when he recorded five saves while posting a 2.76 ERA. This spring, he’s recorded seven saves with 66 strikeouts and just eight walks in 42.2 innings. A draft-eligible sophomore, Storen’s big arm could land him in the top two or three rounds.

Daniel Tillman – RHP – 6’1 186
Florida Southern
Sophomore

Tillman will join Russell in Cotuit, and he’s coming off a great season in his own right. While serving as Florida Southern’s closer, he has posted 12 saves to go with a 3.15 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 54.1 innings.

Position Players
Cameron Rupp – C – 6’2 235 – Texas – Sophomore
Cody Stanley – C – 5’10 200 – UNC Wilmington – Sophomore
Chris Bisson – INF – 5’11 185 – Kentucky – Sophomore
Zack Cox – INF/RHP – 6’0 215 – Arkansas – Freshman
Rick Hague – INF – 6’2 185 – Rice – Sophomore
Brock Holt – INF – 5’9 170 – Rice – Junior
Rico Noel – INF/OF – 5’9 165 – Coastal Carolina – Sophomore
*Kevin Patterson – 1B – 6’4 220 – Auburn – Sophomore
*Robbie Shields – INF – 6’1 195 – Florida Southern – Junior
Tyler Townsend – 1B – 6’3 215 – Florida International – Junior
Zach Cone – OF – 6’2 204 – Georgia – Freshman
Kevin Keyes – OF – 6’4 225 – Texas – Sophomore
Jeff Rowland – OF – 5’10 185 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
Cory Vaughn – OF – 6’3 225 – San Diego State – Sophomore

Cameron Rupp – C – 6’2 235
Texas
Sophomore

A late-round pick out of high school in 2007, Rupp immediately grabbed the starting catcher’s job at Texas and delivered a .309 batting average and four home runs, numbers that earned him several Freshman All-America honors. He spent the summer in the California Collegiate League, and was named the league’s third-best prospect. This season, Rupp has hit .269 with seven home runs.

Cody Stanley – C – 5’10 200
UNC Wilmington
Sophomore

After hitting .286 as a freshman, Stanley turned in a big summer in the NECBL and was tabbed by Baseball America as the league’s 10th-best prospect. He has continued his upward rise this spring with a .332 average, 12 home runs and 56 RBI. He led the team with 31 extra-base hits.

Chris Bisson – INF – 5’11 185
Kentucky
Sophomore

A middle-infielder who hails from Canada, Bisson really came on this season. In a starting role, he led the Wildcats with a .362 average and 52 RBI. He also had 14 extra-base hits and 13 steals.

Zack Cox – INF/RHP – 6’0 215
Arkansas
Freshman

Cox was rated as the 72nd best prospect in last year’s draft by Baseball America, but when he dropped to the 20th round, he decided to honor his commitment to Arkansas. Though he has a fastball that reaches the low 90s, it seems his future may be as a hitter. For now, he’s doing both. In his freshman year, he hit .266 with nine home runs. In 18 innings on the mound, he posted a 3.50 ERA with 15 strikeouts and only three walks.

Rick Hague – INF – 6’2 185
Rice
Sophomore

Hague was on Wareham’s roster last summer, but an injury kept him home and kept us from seeing one of the best young shortstops in college baseball. This year, Hague has hit .320 with nine home runs and 51 RBI. He has been invited to Team USA.

Brock Holt – INF – 5’9 170
Rice
Junior

A junior-college transfer, Holt has been a key part of Rice’s success this season. After grabbing the starting second base gig and the leadoff spot in the lineup, Holt has hit .344 with 10 home runs and 38 RBI. He’s also got 10 steals.

Rico Noel – INF/OF – 5’9 165
Coastal Carolina
Sophomore

Noel is one of several leadoff hitters on the Cotuit roster this year, but he might have the edge over the rest. This spring, he has stolen 46 bases in 49 attempts. He’s also got a .424 on-base percentage to go with a .317 batting average and seven home runs.

Kevin Patterson – 1B – 6’4 220
Auburn
Sophomore

Patterson had a steady summer for Cotuit last year and was probably the top-performing freshman in the league. He ended up hitting .296 with four home runs and a team-best 27 RBI. He also won the league’s Daniel J. Silva Sportsmanship Award. This spring at Auburn, Patterson had kind of a down a year, hitting .231 with six home runs.

Robbie Shields – INF – 6’1 195
Florida Southern
Junior

Shields was the talk of the league last year when he got off to a .349/2 HR start in 12 games. An injury derailed the rest of his season, but he still made an impression and entered the spring as a potential first or second-rounder. After hitting .345 with five home runs this spring, he’s being mentioned as a third or fourth-round talent by Baseball America.

Tyler Townsend – 1B – 6’3 215
Florida International
Junior

Recently named a first-team All-American by Louisville Slugger, Townsend had a remarkable junior season at FIU. He ended up hitting .434 with 24 home runs and 77 RBI. He finished 13th in the nation in batting average and fifth in home runs. As a junior, he’s draft-eligible this year and is sure to be rising up draft boards as we speak.

Zach Cone – OF – 6’2 204
Georgia
Freshman

Cone was the third-highest pick to attend college from last year’s draft, behind Gerrit Cole and Cone’s Georgia teammate, Chase Davidson, who’s on the Y-D roster. In a tough-to-crack Georgia lineup, Cone has gotten only 17 starts this spring. He has hit .308 with two home runs.

Kevin Keyes – OF – 6’4 225
Texas
Sophomore

A big-time prospect with a lot of tools, Keyes went in the 26th round out of high school in 2007, but honored his commitment to Texas, where he is putting together a solid career. He hit .339 as a freshman, tore up the California Collegiate League en route to top prospect honors last summer, and is hitting .293 with four home runs this year.

Jeff Rowland – OF – 5’10 185
Georgia Tech
Sophomore

Rowland had a great first season in Atlanta and hasn’t missed a beat this season. He’s hitting .348 with eight home runs and 35 RBI. He has also stolen a team-best 18 bases. Last summer, he was rated the fourth-best prospect in the Cal Ripken Senior League.

Cory Vaughn – OF – 6’3 225
San Diego State
Sophomore

The son of former Major League slugger Greg Vaughn, Cory has done some slugging of his own this season. He’s hit .329 with 10 home runs and 51 RBI for the Aztecs. He has also stolen 15 bases, tops on the team. Vaughn played in the Northwoods League last summer and impressed scouts with his enormous potential. He was tabbed by Baseball America as the league’s top prospect.

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