Early Look: Hyannis

HYANNIS METS
Manager: Chad Gassman
2008 Record: 22-22

For the third year in a row, it’ll be a bit of a new era in Hyannis. Former pitching coach Chad Gassman is taking over as manager for Rick Robinson, who spent just a year at the helm.

But for all the turnover in that spot, the Hyannis roster has had a consistent look over those years, and it won’t be changing this year. While some other franchises continually end up with the highest of the highly-touted freshman and the certain-to-be-team-USA-invites sophomores, Hyannis seems to operate on a slightly different plane. There’s talent, of course. Every team has talent. And there are prospects, like Ben Paulsen and Chris Dominguez last year. But in general, I always get the feeling that there isn’t quite as much hype for a lot of the guys that end up in Mets uniforms, not as many guys who have were draft picks out of high school or Freshman All-Americans.

And that’s not really a bad thing. The Mets have finished right around .500 the last two years, just outside the playoffs. They’d like to take a leap forward, of course, but when you put together solid teams year after year, eventually, you’ll turn solid into something bigger.

Is this the year? I have no idea, but I do think the Mets have once again created a solid squad.

The pitching staff is a little light on weekend starters, but if 2008 ERA leader Austin Hudson does indeed come back for a third year on the Cape, the Mets will have an anchor at the top. Casey Harman has had a great year as a starter for Clemson, so he should be good, too. And the back end? Well, that should be more than fine. The Mets have five pitchers who have had big seasons as their teams’ closers.

If the Mets are really going to take a big step, I think it’s the offense that can deliver it. Cody Hawn had a fantastic season at Tennessee and, with a big summer, could emerge as one of the best hitters in the country. Catcher Dan Burkhart was the Big 10 Player of the Year at Ohio State. Those two guys, alone, have the potential to make a huge splash this summer, but they’re not the only ones. The Mets have seven players who hit over .330 for their teams this spring, and a lot of them mixed in some power.

So there’s definitely potential, and unlike some teams, there probably won’t be a ton of ifs when the season begins. A few players could still get Team USA invites, but there aren’t a ton of players whose teams appear to be Omaha contenders.

That means the Mets are likely to be steady again. I guess the more things change in Hyannis, the more they stay the same.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 3
Juniors: 3
Sophomores: 18
Freshmen: 9

Notable

• Out of character thought it may be, the Mets did have Danny Hultzen, a very, very highly-touted freshman, on their initial roster. But Hultzen got a Team USA invite and he is not on the latest roster. That’s a big loss for the Mets and for the league, because Hultzen is probably the best freshman pitcher in the country.
• A year after having saves leader Russell Brewer on the roster, the Mets have lined up themselves up to have the saves leader again. They’ve got plenty of options, at least. As I mentioned above, five players were closers this year. Oklahoma’s Ryan Duke was the most prolific of the bunch, with 15 saves and a 2.78 ERA.
• Austin Hudson has already had himself a heck of a Cape League career, and he’s apparently thinking of coming back for more. I don’t think it would be a bad thing for him. His career ERA at Central Florida is 7.15. On the Cape, it’s 2.70.
• In addition to Hultzen, Thomas Girdwood is also a Team USA invitee, though he is still on the roster.
• It should be fun to watch Boston College pitcher Kevin Moran, who hails from Yarmouthport.
• Colin Bates had a lot of success as a starter for Hyannis last year, but he’s been North Carolina’s closer this year. I’m wondering what role he plays this summer. Since North Carolina is a likely Omaha contender, Bates could be late, in which case he probably wouldn’t be the closer out of the gate.
• The Mets have some catchers who can hit. Even if you take out Eddie Rohan, who has played mostly DH this spring, you’re left with Dan Burkhart and Kenny Swab, both of whom hit over .330 this year.
• Among players across the league who haven’t been invited to Team USA, Cody Hawn will enter the summer as one of the top two or three hitters, based on production. From what I’ve read on Hawn, he was a potential high pick out of high school before an injury, so he has been on the radar for a while as a legitimate hitter.
• The Mets have four outfielders on the roster, all of whom are coming off really good seasons.
• One of those guys is East Carolina’s Trent Whitehead. Last year, Hyannis had pretty good success with another East Carolina outfielder named Trent. That’s Trent Ashcraft, who was an all-star.

Five Players I’m Excited to See
1. Cody Hawn
2. Dan Burkhart
3. Casey Harman
4. Ryan Duke
5. Trent Whitehead

Pitchers

*Colin Bates – RHP – 6’1 185 – RS Sophomore – North Carolina
Kevin Brandt – LHP – 6’2 195 – Freshman – East Carolina
Ryan Duke – RHP – 5’11 175 – Sophomore – Oklahoma
Dallas Gallant – RHP – 6’3 185 – Sophomore – Sam Houston
Thomas Girdwood – RHP – 6’2 215 – Sophomore – Elon
Chris Haney – RHP/C – 5’11 185 – Sophomore – Dallas Baptist
Casey Harman – LHP – 6’2 200 – Sophomore – Clemson
*Austin Hudson – RHP – 6’5 195 – Junior – Central Florida
Cole Johnson – RHP – 6’3 200 – Sophomore – Notre Dame
Eric Maust – RHP – 6’2 190 – Junior – Notre Dame
Jimmy Messer – RHP – 6’1 195 – Freshman – North Carolina
Kevin Moran – RHP – 6’4 205 – Sophomore – Boston College
Dave Peterson – RHP – 6’4 200 – Freshman – College of Charleston
Seth Rosin – RHP – 6’6 250 – Freshman – Minnesota
*Will Weidig – RHP – 6’1 210 – Junior – Brown
Tyler Wilson – RHP – 6’2 185 – Sophomore – Virginia

Colin Bates – RHP – 6’1 185
Sophomore
North Carolina

A Freshman All-American last year, Bates has moved into the closer’s role for the Tar Heels this season and has done very well himself. As UNC starts regional play, he’s got six saves, a 3.02 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 53.2 innings. Bates took a medical redshirt in 2007. After his strong freshman campaign last year, he made seven starts for Hyannis, posting a 2.85 ERA.

Kevin Brandt – LHP – 6’2 195
Freshman
East Carolina

Pitching mostly out of the bullpen, Brandt has had a great first season in Greenville. He’s got an 8-1 record, a 3.42 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 68.1 innings.

Ryan Duke – RHP – 5’11 175
Sophomore
Oklahoma

After pitching fairly well in the rotation as a freshman, Duke moved into the closer’s spot this year and has emerged as one of the best in the country. He finished the regular season with 15 saves, good for seventh in the nation. He’s also got good peripheral numbers, with 39 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 32.1 innings, along with a 2.78 ERA.

Dallas Gallant – RHP – 6’3 185
Sophomore
Sam Houston

Pitching in a swing role for the regional-bound Bearkats, Gallant is second on the team in strikeouts with 64 in 69 innings, but he’s also carrying an ERA of 6.52. Gallant had the same good strikeout numbers last year, but finished with a little better ERA.

Thomas Girdwood – RHP – 6’2 215
Sophomore
Elon

As one of the top closers in the country, Girdwood has helped lead Elon to the an NCAA tournament regional. The righty has recorded 17 saves to go with a 4.01 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 24.2 innings. Girdwood has been invited to Team USA, so you know he’s got a power arm.

Chris Haney – RHP/C – 5’11 185
Sophomore
Dallas Baptist

Haney is another closer coming off a pretty good season. He finished with seven saves, a 4.64 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 42.2 innings. Haney follows in the footsteps of Dallas Baptist’s Victor Black, who came to Bourne last year and is now projected as an early pick in the draft.

Casey Harman – LHP – 6’2 200
Sophomore
Clemson

Harman has emerged as Clemson’s most consistent starting pitcher this season. He enters the regionals with a 7-3 record and a 3.86 ERA. In 74.2 innings, he has struck out 77 and walked only 12. Harman is a New England kid, hailing from South Burlington, Vermont, the same hometown as Clemson coach Jack Leggett. Harman pitched for Vermont in the NECBL last year and was picked by Baseball America as the league’s fourth-best prospect.

Austin Hudson – RHP – 6’5 195
Junior
Central Florida

Hudson is about as veteran a Cape League pitcher as you’ll ever see, and he’s had a lot of success, too. He pitched for Hyannis after his freshman year and finished with a 3.59 ERA. Last year, he quietly led the league in ERA, finishing at 1.50 in seven starts. PG Crosschecker wrote in January that Hudson looked like a second-to-fifth round talent for this year’s draft. The fact that he finished the season at UCF with a 10.98 ERA might impact that perception, and it could be why he just showed up on the Hyannis roster.

Cole Johnson – RHP – 6’3 200
Sophomore
Notre Dame

Johnson was Notre Dame’s best starter this season, finishing with a 7-3 record and a 4.47 ERA. He struck out 64 in 94.2 innings of work. Johnson was initially an invited walk-on at Notre Dame but he has had success all the way along. Last summer, he had a 2.87 ERA in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League.

Eric Maust – RHP – 6’2 190
Junior
Notre Dame

In addition to being a member of Notre Dame’s weekend rotation, Maust is the punter for Charlie Weis and the Irish football team. This spring, Maust went 6-3 with a 4.94 ERA.

Jimmy Messer – RHP – 6’1 195
Freshman
North Carolina

Messer was a 44th-round pick out of high school last year. Since arriving in Chapel Hill, he has made nine appearances — five starts — and has posted a 6.35 ERA. Control appears to be an issue, with Messer striking out 19 but walking 15.

Kevin Moran – RHP – 6’4 205
Sophomore
Boston College

Moran is a native of Yarmouthport, so he’ll be living the dream of every young Cape League fan when he suits up for Hyannis this summer. He has certainly earned the chance. After a so-so freshman season, Moran has posted a 2.84 ERA this season, second-best on the team. He has pitched almost exclusively out of the bullpen, delivering 36 strikeouts in 50.2 innings.

Dave Peterson – RHP – 6’4 200
Freshman
College of Charleston

A tall and lanky freshman, Peterson was drafted in the 40th round out of high school. He earned a starting gig right out of the gate at Charleston, where he finished his freshman season with a 7-3 record and a 5.73 ERA. He struck out 47 and walked only 15 in 77 innings.

Seth Rosin – RHP – 6’6 250
Freshman
Minnesota

A 28th-round pick out of high school, Rosin grabbed a spot in the weekend rotation and has turned in a pretty solid season for the Gophers. With the Gophers heading to a regional, Rosin has a 7-1 record, a 4.08 ERA and 58 strikeouts against 14 walks in 70.2 innings.

Will Weidig – RHP – 6’1 210
Junior
Brown

Weidig pitched for Hyannis last summer and did well, finishing with a 3.41 ERA while pitching mostly in relief. This spring, Weidig made eight starts for Brown, finishing with a 2-5 record and an 8.55 ERA.

Tyler Wilson – RHP – 6’2 185
Sophomore
Virginia

Wilson only pitched 15 innings as a freshman in Charlottesville but played in the Great Lakes League last summer and was named the league’s top prospect. This spring, Wilson has lived up to the hype, posting a 2.96 ERA while pitching in a relief role. Wilson has struck out 52 and walked only 19 in 54.2 innings.

Position Players

Dan Burkhart – C – 5’11 210 – Sophomore – Ohio State
Eddie Rohan – C/OF – 6’1 195 – Sophomore – Winthrop
Kenny Swab – C – 6’2 218 – Sophomore – Young Harris
Nick Crawford – 2B/SS – 5’9 150 – Sophomore – UAB
Dustin Harrington – SS – 5’10 187 – Sophomore – East Carolina
Cody Hawn – 1B/3B – 6’0 185 – Sophomore – Tennessee
Shane Kroker – 3B/SS – 6’4 194 – Freshman – Wake Forest
Cam Seitzer – 1B/3B – 6’5 205 – Freshman – Oklahoma
Elliot Soto – SS – 5’9 155 – Sophomore – Creighton
Jamal Austin – OF – 5’8 170 – Freshman – UAB
Jackie Bradley, Jr. – OF – 5’10 178 – Freshman – South Carolina
Casey Johnson – OF – 5’11 195 – Sophomore – Oklahoma
Johnny Ruettiger – OF – 6’2 190 – Freshman – Arizona State
Trent Whitehead – OF – 5’11 180 – Sophomore – East Carolina

Dan Burkhart – C – 5’11 210
Sophomore
Ohio State

Burkhart was part of a young nucleus that took its lumps last year. He has led the way this year as the Buckeyes grabbed a regional berth. Burkhart was named the Big 10 Player of the Year after hitting .362 with 10 home runs and 60 RBI. Burkhart also has a reputation as a leader behind the plate who handles pitchers very well.

Eddie Rohan – C/OF – 6’1 195
Sophomore
Winthrop

Listed as a catcher/outfielder/first baseman, it looks like Rohan played mostly DH this season. Wherever he was, he was hitting. He finished the year with a .348 average, 14 home runs, 53 RBI and 32 extra-base hits. Last year, Rohan tied the Winthrop freshman home run record, which was held by Daniel Carte, the 2004 Cape League MVP

Kenny Swab – C – 6’2 218
Sophomore
Young Harris

Swab has committed to play for Virginia next year, and he’s coming off a big season for Young Harris, a junior college team coached by former Hyannis manager Rick Robinson. Swab hit .342 this year with eight home runs and 59 RBI.

Nick Crawford – 2B/SS – 5’9 150
Sophomore
UAB

Crawford was a member of the C-USA all-freshman team a year ago and he followed it up with a solid sophomore season. He finished with a .292 average, one home run, 35 RBI and 15 steals.

Dustin Harrington – SS – 5’10 187
Sophomore
East Carolina

In a lineup that can flat-out mash, Harrington has been a key cog this season. After a strong freshman year, he’s hitting .323 this year with 12 home runs, 43 RBI and 27 extra-base hits.

Cody Hawn – 1B/3B – 6’0 185
Sophomore
Tennessee

After getting picked in the 23rd round out of high school in 2007, Hawn headed for Walters State CC, where he hit over .400. Drafted again in the 41st round last year, Hawn decided to enroll at Tennessee instead of signing or staying at Walters. Based on the stats, it was probably the right decision. Hawn hit .364 this season with 22 home runs and 81 RBI, in the process becoming one of the best players in the SEC.

Shane Kroker – 3B/SS – 6’4 194
Freshman
Wake Forest

A highly-touted recruit, Koker delivered a solid first season in Winston-Salem. He finished up with a .261 batting average, two home runs and 21 RBI.

Cam Seitzer – 1B/3B – 6’5 205
Freshman
Oklahoma

In a stacked lineup, Seitzer has had to fight for playing time this season. But even though he’s gotten only 25 starts, he has made an impression. He’s hitting .307 with four home runs and 21 RBI. Seitzer is the son of former Major Leaguer and former Cape Leaguer Kevin Seitzer.

Elliot Soto – SS – 5’9 155
Sophomore
Creighton

Creighton’s starting shortstop, Soto delivered a very strong sophomore season. He hit .322, second-best on the team, and drove in 26. He also stole 13 bases and committed just nine errors.

Jamal Austin – OF – 5’8 170
Freshman
UAB

A two-sport standout in high school, Austin was a 50th-round pick in last year’s draft. At UAB, he put together a good freshman season, hitting .297 with 10 extra-base hits and 20 steals.

Jackie Bradley, Jr. – OF – 5’10 178
Freshman
South Carolina

Bradley has had a fantastic freshman season at South Carolina. With the Gamecocks off to a regional, Bradley is their second-best hitter, carrying a .338 average, nine home runs and 41 RBI. Those numbers earned him an SEC all-freshman nod.

Casey Johnson – OF – 5’11 195
Sophomore
Oklahoma

A regular since day one, Johnson was second on the team in batting average as a freshman and he has delivered another solid season this year. He’s hitting .325 with seven home runs and 44 RBI.

Johnny Ruettiger – OF – 6’2 190
Freshman
Arizona State

A 35th-round pick out of high school, Ruettiger has only started 20 games for the Sun Devils, but he has certainly taken advantage of his opportunities. He’s hitting .338 with a home run, 10 RBI and eight steals. Ruettiger is the nephew of Dan “Rudy” Ruettiger, whose football career at Notre Dame was made famous by the movie “Rudy.”

Trent Whitehead – OF – 5’11 180
Sophomore
East Carolina

Whitehead hit .273 as a freshman, but he has taken a huge leap forward this season and has turned into one of the Pirates’ best hitters. He’s currently hitting .380 with six home runs, 42 RBI, and 30 extra-base hits.

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