Baseball season doesn’t hit the Division I ranks until Feb. 19, but bats are already pinging for Division II and junior-college teams.
And for a pair of 2015 Cape Leaguers, it’s already been a good start.
Former Hyannis Harbor Hawks Devin Smeltzer is 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA for JUCO powerhouse San Jacinto while Chatham Angler Brandon Miller dazzled in 6.2 shutout innings for D-II Millersville University in its season opener.
Smeltzer arrived in Hyannis last summer from Florida Gulf Coast and announced his presence on the Cape League scene with a no-hitter against Harwich June 20. It was the first single-pitcher no-hitter in the league since 2010, and it validated what scouts knew but hadn’t necessarily seen in the rising sophomore’s collegiate career to that point. Smeltzer had an ERA over six for FGCU, but the potential was there.
Smeltzer had a few ups and downs on the Cape the rest of the way, finishing with a 3.48 ERA, but his summer was good enough to land him on several league top prospect lists.
He also left the Cape with a new destination. Smeltzer transferred from FGCU to San Jacinto. He has committed to attend Texas Tech next year, but as a junior-college player, he will be eligible for the 2016 draft.
This spring, Smeltzer is part of a San Jacinto team that looks to be raising a bar that was already quite high. The preeminent power in junior college baseball has an alumni list that includes Roger Clemens and Andy Pettite.
Smeltzer is 1-0 for the Gators in two starts. He has struck out 13 and walked three in 9.1 innings of work. Friday, he out-dueled LSU commit Kyle Weatherly and his powerhouse Grayson CC team.
As for Miller, Baseball America tabbed him as the 10th-best prospect in the small college ranks (D-II, D-III, NAIA). Folks in Chatham would agree, after Miller quietly delivered a terrific season in the Angler bullpen. Miller had a 1.50 ERA and struck out 27 while walking just a single batter the entire summer. Also from the remarkable stat department, the Anglers were 13-0 in games in which Miller pitched.
Miller started the opening game for Millersville Thursday and struck out nine in 6.2 scoreless innings as the team beat Winston-Salem State. Baseball America has a scouting report from the win.