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Summer Collegiate  | Rankings  | 8/31/2021

Cape Cod Wrap Up: Top Tools

Photo: Brock Wilken (Kathryn Balogh)
Cape Cod Notebook: No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 | No. 5

Rankings assembled by Geoff Pontes & Vinnie Cervino



After a frenzied six weeks of baseball on the Cape Cod peninsula we wind down our coverage with one last article before releasing our rankings. With 30+ games and all CCBL affiliates observed a minimum of four times, we feel we have a fairly good feel for the league as a whole. Today we’ll focus on the singular standout tools and then wrap things up with our first and second teams for the summer. A new wrinkle to the circuit this summer was the addition of pre-MLB draft talent, as the MLB Draft date was moved back five weeks. Due to this, I felt it was important to state that we are excluding all 2021 draftees from these superlatives. 
 
Best Hit Tool: Christian Knapczyk, SS, Louisville | Bourne Braves (2023) 
 
Why: This was a difficult choice, as there were a quartet of players deserving of consideration. Why Knapczyk? Because he showed the most consistent bat-to-ball skills, approach, and bat control. He rarely swings through anything, possesses above-average bat speed and twitch that allow him to barrel velocity, and he can adjust to pitch height and location as well as any player I saw this summer. 
 
Also Considered: Tres Gonzalez, OF, Georgia Tech-Wareham Gatemen (2022), Pres Cavenaugh, OF, UNC-Greensboro-Harwich Mariners (2022), Clark Elliot, OF, Michigan-Hyannis Harborhawks (2022) 
 
Best Power Tool: Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison | Orleans Firebirds (2022) 
 
Why: This was a neck-and-neck race between DeLauter, Armstrong, Rushing, and Wilken. If you asked me who will hit the most home runs in the big leagues I’d say Wilken. If you ask me who had the best example of actualized game power it was DeLauter. He hit the ball as hard as anyone and did it with greater frequency. He showed pole-to-pole power and he doesn’t sell out for it. 
 
Also Considered: Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest-Harwich Mariners (2023), Kris Armstrong, 1B, Florida-Falmouth Commodores, Dalton Rushing, 1B/C, Louisville-Bourne Braves, Caden Grice, 1B, Clemson-Chatham Anglers (2023), Nolan McLean, 3B, Oklahoma State-Chatham Anglers (2022)
 
Best Run: Dominic Johnson, OF, Kansas State | Hyannis Harborhawks (2022) 
 
Why: He’s one of the faster players I’ve seen on a baseball field, and it’s not just straight line speed either. It’s functionable on the basepaths and in the field. He ran 4.00, 4.08, 4.12 from the right-handed batter’s box in my first look, and ran 4.05, 4.09, 4.11 in my second look. He also stole at will in the CCBL this summer and flashed a ton of speed in the outfield. 
 
Also Considered: Jim Jarvis, SS, Alabama-Wareham (2022), Joe Lampe, 2B, Arizona State-Bourne (2022), Pres Cavenaugh, OF, UNC-Greensboro-Harwich (2022) 
 
Best Outfield Arm: Colby Thomas, OF, Mercer | Bourne (2022) 
 
Why: It’s an absolute hand cannon. Thomas keeps runners honest at any base in the infield and can hit home plate on a line. It’s an easy 70 outfield arm. He gets it back into the infield in a hurry as well.
 
Also Considered: Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison-Orleans (2022), Cayden Wallace, OF, Arkansas-Bourne (2022) 
 
Best Infield Arm: Zach Neto, SS, Campbell | Brewster (2022) 
 
Why: This was stiff competition as there were plenty of options across the league. The infield talent has never been as deep as it was this season and with that came some strong infield arms, particularly at shortstop. Of course that’s not surprising. Among that group, Neto’s arm stuck out the most. While he wasn’t always the most accurate, his sheer strength, quick release and ability to find his center of gravity were pretty remarkable. 
 
Also Considered: Ryan Ritter, SS, Kentucky-Cotuit (2022), Trey Faltine, SS, Texas-Brewster (2022), Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest-Harwich (2023) 
 
Best Infield Defender: Jordan Sprinkle, SS, UCSB | Orleans (2022)
 
Why: When evaluating infield defense the first thing I try and focus on is the ability to play the position, whatever the position might be, with a sense of smoothness and cool. How do his actions move, are they forced, is he explosive yet controlled and his motions forward, back, or side-to-side. Next I look at how aggressive the defender is; does he look to sit back on the ball or does he charge. Is he able to make plays on the run, off-balance and sped-up. How is his internal clock? Does he have feel for the timing of the game and a general high level of awareness of each moment. Finally the hands and the ability to field the ball cleanly. No part more important than the other. All this to say Sprinkle checks every box. In a league full of above-average to plus defenders at the six, Sprinkle was a cut above. His motions and mechanisms are smooth, strong hands, good internal clock and awareness, and some flare to his glove work. There was an overall level of awareness that was omnipresent when he was in the dirt. 
 
Also Considered: Ryan Ritter, SS, Kentucky-Cotuit (2022), Trey Faltine, SS, Texas-Brewster (2022), Zach Neto, SS, Campbell-Brewster (2022), Eric Brown, SS, Coastal Carolina-Cotuit (2022), Josh Rivera, SS, Florida-Chatham (2022), Tanner Schobel, SS, Virginia Tech-Bourne (2022) 
 
Best Outfield Defender: Joe Lampe, OF, Arizona | Bourne (2022) 
 
Why: This was arguably one of the easier superlatives to award, as no defender in my looks consistently impacted the game like Lampe. With a combination of twitch, double-plus speed and awareness, Lampe made several strong plays in the field that saved Bourne runs across several looks. 
 
Also Considered: Caeden Trenkle, OF, Oklahoma State-Chatham (2022), Chris Newell, OF, Virginia-Harwich (2022), Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison-Orleans (2022)
 
Breakout Prospect: Eric Brown, SS, Coastal Carolina | Cotuit (2022) 
 
Why: This easily could have gone to DeLauter and you would not be wrong. However, with DeLauter earning the best power superlative I decided to go with Brown. He is a quick-twitch athlete with a muscular lower half and a bag of above-average or better tools. The conversations around Brown start with “Will that setup work?” It’s unusual as he sets up at the plate with his hands high above his head with a big leg kick and a lot of moving parts. That said, it works. Across seven looks this season Brown barreled at least two balls a game and this was consistent. Fastballs in the zone had no chance but he was adept at hitting off-speed. In the field he’s an athletic, quick-twitch defender that will lay the body out to make the play. Primarily second base as he yielded shortstop duties to Kentucky’s Ryan Ritter. There’s some question about the arm but it’s more quirky decisions to throw or not throw. There’s definitely arm strength. 
 
Best Fastball: Eric Adler, RHP, Wake Forest | Bourne (2022)
 
Why: You can probably argue that Adler’s fastball was the single most dominant pitch in the Cape Cod League this summer. Sitting 94-98 mph with average raw spin rates in the 2450 to 2550 range with excellent backspin and ride, generating on average >20 inches of induced vertical break. Not only is it plus metrically, it performs in game to the same level. The Wake Forest right-hander finished his Cape season with a 39% whiff rate, 20% swinging strike rate, a .152/.235/.283 slash line against, and 56% ground ball rate on the fastball. Adler combined the best mix of metrics, performance and the good old eye test. An easy plus fastball. 
 
Also Considered: Bryce Hubbart, RHP, Florida State-Brewster (2022), Dale Stanavich, LHP, Rutgers-Brewster (2022), Patrick Reilly, RHP, Vanderbilt-Orleans (2023), Reggie Crawford, LHP, UCONN-Bourne (2022), Teddy McGraw, RHP, Wake Forest-Brewster (2023), Mason Barnett, RHP, Auburn-Brewster (2022), Zack Maxwell, RHP, Georgia Tech-Chatham (2022), Andrew Mosiello, RHP, Oregon-Harwich (2022) 
 
Best Slider: Adam Maier, RHP, Oregon | Yarmouth-Dennis (2022) 
 
Why: A 2900 rpm frisbee that was up to >22 of horizontal sweep that he landed in the zone frequently with a 64% strike rate this summer. What makes the pitch so effective is his ability to generate ground balls (55% groundball rate) and miss bats (46% whiff rate, 17% swinging strike) while showing strong feel and command. Sitting 83-85 mph, Maier peppered the glove side with consistency. The pitch became the focal point of his arsenal in his third start, and he began to throw the slider with greater regularity than his fastball. There were several contenders as this was one of the more contentious categories, with plenty of viable candidates with many listed below. 
 
Also Considered: Teddy McGraw, RHP, Wake Forest-Brewster (2023), Trey Dombroski, LHP, Monmouth-Harwich (2022), Bryce Hubbart, LHP, Florida State-Brewster (2022), Adam Mazur, RHP, Iowa-Wareham (2022), Devereaux Harrison, RHP, Long Beach State-Wareham (2022), Eric Reyzelman, RHP, LSU-Harwich (2022)
 
Best Curveball: Bryce Hubbart, LHP, Florida State | Brewster (2022)
 
Why: From a pure bat-missing perspective, this is by no means an elite pitch. However, it’s an incredibly effective one and strong metrically as well. Hubbart’s primary secondary held opposing batters to a .133/.161/.167, while landing strikes at a 63% rate. The pitch has multiple variations as well, which make some of the swing-and-miss stats tricky to take just at face value. He has one variation that’s a slow early count strike stealing and ground ball producer, and a harder variation in the upper-70s that’s more of a two-strike out pitch versus right-handers. It’s the innate feel for shape and command of the pitch that set it apart, even if other curveballs missed bats at a higher clip. 
 
Also Considered: Tanner Witt, RHP, Texas-Chatham (2023), Levi Wells, RHP, Texas State-Falmouth (2022), Hunter Owen, LHP, Vanderbilt-Brewster (2023), Mikey Tepper, RHP, Mississippi State-Falmouth (2023), Danny Wilkinson, LHP, Villanova
 
Best Changeup: Luis Ramirez, RHP, Long Beach State | Yarmouth-Dennis (2022) 
 
Why: It seems only fitting that a West Coast arm would take home the title for best changeup on the circuit. Ramirez’s changeup flashed late parachuting movement and he showed the confidence to throw the pitch right-on-right, making it the rare split-neutral cambio. Opponents struggled against the pitch as well, hitting .111/.304/.167, while generating whiffs at respectable rate of 28%. His ability to drive chase swings, avoid barrels and generates ground balls when contact was made the difference in the end versus Jake Bennett’s changeup or Quinn Mathews. 
 
Also Considered: Jake Bennett, LHP, Oklahoma-Bourne (2022), Quinn Mathews, LHP, Stanford-Cotuit (2022), Adam Maier, RHP, Oregon-Yarmouth-Dennis (2022), Trey Dombroski, LHP, Monmouth-Harwich (2022)
 
Best Command: Trey Dombroski, LHP, Monmouth | Harwich (2022) 
 
Why: Frankly no one worked the edges of the zone in the league like Dombroski. He consistently owned both sides of the plate with the ability to manipulate shape on his slider or land his fastball effectively in the upper and lower quadrants. He lands all four of his pitches for strikes and shows strong feel for all of his offerings. Racked up 51 strikeouts to just 3 walks this summer, further proof that he’s landing all four of his pitches, as shown by his 70% overall strike rate. 
 
Also Considered: Cole Kirschsieper, LHP, Illinois-Wareham (2022), Bryce Hubbart, LHP, Florida State-Brewster (2022), Pat Reilly, RHP, Vanderbilt-Orleans (2023), Adam Mazur, RHP, Iowa-Wareham (2022)
 
Breakout Prospect: Adam Mazur, RHP, Iowa | Wareham Gatemen (2022) 
 
With a combination of stuff and command, Mazur and his deep mix of secondaries burst onto the scene and cemented himself within the top-three round conversation heading into the fall. Here’s what I said in my notes on Mazur:
 
“His secondary pitch mix consists of a slider, curveball, and changeup. The slider is his go-to weapon of choice, a low-80s pitch with late, devastating two plane movement. Mazur has advanced feel for the pitch as well, showing the ability to land to either side of the plate and use it against either handedness. Mixes in a changeup in the mid-80s with run and tumble, and a slower 12-6 curveball as a change of pace.”



All-Cape Cod Baseball League Teams
Only rule with the All CCBL team was each position player had to qualify for the batting title and each pitcher had to make at minimum five appearances with their respective clubs. 
 
All-Cape First Team 
 
C: Maxwell Romero Jr, Miami - Chatham Anglers
1B: Dalton Rushing, Louisville - Bourne Braves 
2B: Tommy Troy, Stanford - Wareham Gatemen
3B: Brock Wilken, Wake Forest - Harwich Mariners 
SS: Eric Brown, Coastal Carolina - Cotuit Kettleers 
OF: Jace Bohrofen, Arkansas - Falmouth Commodores 
OF: Chase DeLauter, James Madison - Orleans Firebirds 
OF: Clark Elliott, Michigan - Hyannis Harborhawks 
 
LHP: Bryce Hubbart, Florida State - Brewster Whitecaps 
RHP: Adam Mazur, Iowa - Wareham Gatemen 
RP: Eric Adler, RHP Wake Forest - Bourne Braves 
 
All-Cape Second Team
 
C: Tatem Levins, Pittsburgh - Harwich Mariners 
1B: Kris Armstrong, Florida - Falmouth Commodores 
2B: Christian Knapczyk, Louisville - Bourne Braves 
SS: Ryan Ritter, Kentucky - Cotuit Kettleers 
3B: Tyler Locklear, VCU - Orleans Firebirds 
OF: Preston Cavenaugh, UNC-Greensboro - Harwich Mariners 
OF: Tres Gonzalez, Georgia Tech - Wareham Gatemen 
OF: Anthony Hall, Oregon - Falmouth Commodores 
 
LHP: Trey Dombroski, Monmouth - Harwich Mariners 
RHP: Eric Reyzelman, RHP LSU - Harwich Mariners 
RP: Dale Stanavich, LHP Rutgers - Brewster Whitecaps 
 
Most Valuable Player: Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest - Harwich Mariners 
 
Most Valuable Pitcher: Bryce Hubbart, LHP, Florida State - Brewster Whitecaps 
 
Most Valuable Reliever: Eric Adler, RHP, Wake Forest - Bourne Braves 
 
Best 2021 Draftee: Evan Shawver, LHP, Cincinnati - Harwich Mariners - Colorado Rockies 
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