2019 Cape Cod League Top Prospects: 31-50
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Image credit: Wareham second baseman Darren Baker (Photo courtesy of Kristin Ostrowski/Wareham)
Overall, the talent on the Cape was strong, but the league has undergone changes in recent years. It was a much more offensive league this season as more pitchers are limited in how many innings they throw during the summer.
To be eligible for this ranking, position players must have played 15 games or taken 50 plate appearances, and pitchers must have appeared in at least five games or thrown 15 innings.
Prospects ranked 11-30 will come out on Wednesday, and the Top 10 will be released on Thursday.
31. Wyatt Young, SS, Yarmouth-Dennis (Sophomore, Pepperdine)
Young was perhaps this summer’s biggest surprise. After mostly playing second base this spring during his freshman year at Pepperdine, Young was forced into action at shortstop for Yarmouth-Dennis when the Red Sox saw their shortstop depth chart thrown into disarray by injuries and losing players to both the draft and USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Young made the most of his opportunity, hitting .338/.416/.446 and earning all-star honors.
Young has a simple swing that really worked at the plate. The lefthanded hitter makes a lot of contact, and while he’s listed at just 5-foot-7, 165 pounds, he produces hard contact and has more power than his frame suggests to go with above-average speed. Young acquitted himself well at shortstop, displaying good range and an advanced internal clock. He won’t be draft eligible until 2021, giving scouts plenty of time to evaluate his chances of staying at shortstop in pro ball. Regardless, he elevated his profile this summer.
32. Jacob Palisch, LHP, Harwich (Junior, Stanford)
After starting the spring in Stanford’s rotation, Palisch midway through the season moved to the bullpen with solid results. He went back to starting for Harwich and had an excellent summer, going 5-1, 0.88 with a 44-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 41 innings. He threw a seven-inning no-hitter and finished 0.2 innings shy of qualifying for the ERA title, which he would have won with ease.
Listed at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Palisch is a big lefthander with a solid four-pitch mix. His fastball sits around 90 mph, and he located it well. He throws two breaking balls with his curveball the better of the two, but they both can get slurvy at times. His changeup is his best secondary pitch and can be an above-average offering. Palisch pitches with above-average control and does a good job of keeping hitters off-balance. Overall, Palisch has a similar profile to his former Stanford teammate Kris Bubic, albeit without Bubic’s track record as a starter going into his junior year.
33. Jimmy Glowenke, SS, Bourne (Junior, Dallas Baptist)
Glowenke has been an everyday player for Dallas Baptist since he arrived on campus, and this summer he continued his strong college career with Bourne. He hit .296/.342/.385 while also playing a solid shortstop.
Glowenke has solid all-around tools. The righthanded hitter has good bat-to-ball skills and has walked about as much as he’s struck out throughout his college career. His power mostly plays as doubles pop now, but there’s some raw power in his 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame. Glowenke is a steady shortstop who consistently makes clean plays. He’s a below-average runner, which limits his range, and that will most likely will push him to second base in the future. His ability at the plate, athleticism and chance to stay up the middle make for solid value.
34. Jared Shuster, LHP, Orleans (Junior, Wake Forest)
Shuster had mixed results this spring—he struck out 90 batters in 64 innings, but he also gave up 79 hits. He was much better this summer with Orleans, however. He went 4-0, 1.40 with 35 strikeouts and five walks in 32 innings, while holding hitters to just 20 hits.
Listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Shuster has a physical build and hides the ball well. His changeup is his best pitch, and he became more willing to throw it to lefthanders as well as righthanders on the advice of Al Leiter. It is a plus offering and helps his fastball, which sits around 90 mph and gets up to 92 mph, play up. He throws both a slider and a curveball, but they lag behind his fastball-changeup combination. He pitched with better control this summer than he has shown at Wake Forest, which also played a big role in his success. Overall, his profile is reminiscent of former Wake Forest ace Tim Cooney, who was drafted in the third round in 2012.
35. Kolby Kubichek, RHP, Chatham (Sophomore, Texas)
Kubichek came to Texas with a big arm and sizable expectations, but he struggled and threw just 18 innings this spring. He turned that around and broke out in Chatham, where he went 2-2, 0.90 with a 34-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 30 innings in the regular season and earned a spot in the all-star game.
Kubichek has been up to 95 mph in the past, but this summer he settled into pitching more around 90 mph with a lively sinker. He added a short, snappy slider to his repertoire, and he also has a curveball that he can mix in, as well as a promising changeup. Kubicheck is listed at 6-foot, 165 pounds, and that size will lead to questions about whether he is better suited as a starter or a reliever as the 2021 draft draws closer. He showed starter traits this summer, however, and if he can build on that success, he offers an intriguing skillset.
36. Aidan Maldonado, RHP, Falmouth (Sophomore, Illinois)
Maldonado was well-regarded coming out of high school in Minnesota but had a rough spring for Illinois. He was much more successful during the summer at Falmouth, where he worked out of the bullpen and posted a 32-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 19.2 innings.
Maldonado is slightly undersized for a righthander at a listed 6-foot, 175 pounds, but he has a big arm. His fastball consistently reached 94-95 mph and he paired it with a power breaking ball. He has an attacking mentality on the mound and came right after hitters. The question out of high school with Maldonado was whether he’d be able to start in pro ball. He’s smoothed his delivery out a bit, but that question remains unanswered as he begins his sophomore year. As he showed this summer, he has intriguing tools and can at least be a weapon at the back of the bullpen.
37. Mason Black, RHP, Brewster (Sophomore, Lehigh)
After a solid freshman spring at Lehigh, Black turned in an outstanding summer on the Cape. He went 3-0, 1.48 to lead the league in ERA and started the all-star game, where he threw a clean inning.
Black, listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, got stronger throughout the summer and took to the advanced competition well, something freshmen sometimes struggle with on the Cape. His fastball sat in the low 90s and got up to 95 mph, and he was able to get swings and misses on the pitch. His slider is his best secondary offering, and he also can mix in a changeup. Black did a good job of throwing strikes and coming right after hitters. His physical frame and three-pitch mix give him solid starter traits, and he’ll have time to further develop them before the 2021 draft.
38. Ben Ramirez, SS, Chatham (Junior, Southern California)
Ramirez came to the Cape last summer after his freshman year at USC and struggled offensively. He played much better in his second season in the league, hitting .279/.343/.369 and manning shortstop every day for Chatham.
Listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, Ramirez has a good frame and athleticism. The lefthanded hitter has an aggressive approach at the plate but does a good job of making consistent contact. He has average raw power but hasn’t tapped into it much so far in college. Ramirez has smooth hands and infield actions, giving him a shot to remain at shortstop in pro ball. He’s a below-average runner, however, limiting his range. That may push him to second or third base, where his arm and hands would fit well.
39. Taylor Dollard, RHP, Yarmouth-Dennis (Junior, Cal Poly)
Dollard has been excellent out of the bullpen for Cal Poly the last two years, and he carried that momentum into the summer. He was outstanding for Y-D, posting a 27-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 17.1 innings and only giving up runs in one appearance all summer.
Dollard has a long, lean frame at a listed 6-foot-3, 185 pounds. He has below-average velocity now, with a fastball that sat around 90 mph and got up to 92 mph, but he’s still projectable and locates his fastball to both sides of the plate very well. He has a full four-pitch arsenal, with his slider being the best of his secondary offerings and a potential plus pitch. His best tools are his command and pitchability. He consistently throws all four pitches for strikes and has a good understanding of what he needs to do to get outs. Dollard has only ever relieved in college and his delivery has some effort to it, but his well-rounded skill set might give him a chance to start.
40. Trei Cruz, SS, Falmouth (Junior, Rice)
Cruz, the son of Jose Cruz Jr., was a draft-eligible sophomore this spring and was drafted in the 37th round by the Nationals. He elected not to sign and instead spent the summer with Falmouth, where he was one of the lineup’s anchors.
A switch-hitter, Cruz has a confident, aggressive approach at the plate. He doesn’t expand the zone much, but he goes after strikes and has the ability to drive the ball from both sides of the plate. He’s also a plus runner, giving him an intriguing offensive skillset. Unlike his father, who was a Gold Glove outfielder, Cruz is an infielder and, at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, he is bigger than his father. That size gives him the look of a third baseman or maybe an offensive second baseman, and he may yet end up there. But he’s been a shortstop both at Rice and Falmouth and his raw tools give him the ability to make highlight reel plays. The challenge will be doing it on an everyday basis in pro ball, but no matter where he ends up defensively, he offers intriguing potential.
41. Kaden Polcovich, OF/2B, Chatham (Junior, Oklahoma State)
Polcovich didn’t have a great spring at Northwest Florida State JC, but he got back on track in Chatham. He hit .305/.426/.473 to build momentum before he transfers to Oklahoma State for his junior season.
Polcovich has a disciplined approach at the plate and made consistent hard contact. A switch-hitter, he was good against lefthanded pitching and really stood out against righthanders. Listed at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, he has solid power and gets to it well. Polcovich played all over the diamond for Chatham, mostly in the outfield. He was an infielder coming out of high school and he probably profiles best at second base, but he handles the outfield well and is an average runner. His versatility is an asset, and if he keeps hitting like he did this summer, he’ll settle into a defensive home.
42. Ty Madden, RHP, Chatham (Sophomore, Texas)
Madden had a promising freshman season at Texas and made important strides this summer with Chatham. He mostly worked as a starter, going 1-1, 3.33 with 28 strikeouts and 14 walks in 27 innings.
Listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Madden looks like the prototypical Texas power pitcher. He has a big arm and has been up to 97 mph in the past, but this summer threw his fastball 90-94 mph, touching 95 mph. He throws a changeup, curveball and slider, all of which show promise, but all three need to get better for him to reach his ceiling. Madden looks like a workhorse starter, and if he can refine his slider and control, he has the potential to take off.
43. Luke Bartnicki, LHP, Chatham (Sophomore, Georgia Tech)
Bartnicki was highly regarded coming out of high school but struggled this spring at Georgia Tech. He got back on track with a solid summer for Chatham, mostly pitching out of the bullpen and going 3-1, 2.86 with 32 strikeouts and 18 walks in 28.1 innings.
Listed at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Bartnicki has an excellent build and plenty of upside. He has a smooth delivery and generates easy velocity. His fastball typically sat in the low 90s, but he can dial it up to 95 mph when he needs it. His breaking ball is slurvy right now but shows flashes as an above-average pitch when he stays on top of it. He also throws a changeup, which is still developing. Bartnicki’s biggest need is to refine his control, which is below-average. But that’s true of a lot of big lefthanders, and if he’s able to get it all straightened out, he has significant upside.
44. Allbry Major, OF, Cotuit (Junior, Xavier)
Major was a two-way player out of high school but was exclusively a hitter this year both for Xavier and Coutit. He acquitted himself well for the Kettleers and earned a spot in the all-star game.
Major stands out first for his build. He’s listed at 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, and the switch-hitter easily passes the eye test. He has a good feel for the barrel and hit .407 in 17 games. He’s shown more swing-and-miss in the past, but this summer he did a good job of making consistent contact. His frame should produce more raw power than he shows, but he’ll need to learn to incorporate his lower half into his swing better to start driving the ball out of the park. Major covers ground well in the outfield and, despite his pitching background, doesn’t have big arm strength. He’s best suited for an outfield corner but to profile there he’ll probably need to find a way to get to his power better.
45. Cody Morissette, 2B, Bourne (Sophomore, Boston College)
Morissette had a strong spring at Boston College and earned Freshman All-America honors. He wasn’t quite as productive on the Cape, but still made a strong impression with his performance for Bourne.
Morissette, a lefthanded hitter, stands out most for his feel for hitting. He has good bat-to-ball skills and consistently barrels up balls. Power isn’t a big part of his game, but he can drive the ball into the gaps effectively. Morissette spent the year at second base, both at BC and Bourne, but his hands and infield actions give him a chance at shortstop. His likely profile, however, is as an offensive second baseman. Overall, he was fairly similar to Jimmy Glowenke, his double-play partner this summer.
46. Darren Baker, 2B, Wareham (Junior, California)
Baker, the son of former big league player and manager Dusty Baker, had an impressive summer with Wareham and firmly established himself as a player to watch next year. He hit .342/.384/.376, good enough to earn a spot in the all-star game and finish fourth in the batting race.
Baker has an advanced approach at the plate and has good bat-to-ball skills. He has a simple lefthanded swing and while power is never going to be a big part of his game, he has more strength than his 6-foot, 170-pound frame suggests. He is a plus runner and uses his speed well on the bases—his 12 stolen bases ranked fifth in the league. He’s a solid second baseman with good hands and instincts. He also worked to add versatility by working in the outfield, where his speed would profile well, but he doesn’t have much game experience there. Baker is a different kind of player than his father was, but his influence—and that of the big leaguers Darren grew up around—is apparent, and he earns praise for the way he approaches the game.
47. Jamal O’Guinn, OF/1B, Chatham (Junior, Southern California)
O’Guinn got off to a strong start this summer and earned a spot on the all-star team. He cooled off after straining his oblique midway through July—not a serious injury, but one that lingered the rest of the summer. Still, he hit .259/.415/.405.
Listed at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, O’Guinn is big and physical with an intriguing toolset. The righthanded hitter covers the plate well and has a patient approach, which helped him rank second in the league in walks. He makes a lot of hard contact and has raw power but needs to incorporate his lower half into his swing better to get to it more consistently in games. O’Guinn split time between the outfield and first base. He’s athletic enough for the outfield, probably left field due to a fringy arm, but if he does end up at first base, he has the tools to play there.
48. Zach McCambley, RHP, Cotuit (Junior, Coastal Carolina)
McCambley came to college with a lot of promise and has pitched important innings for Coastal but didn’t put it all together in his first two seasons. He was excellent in five starts for Cotuit, however, going 1-0, 1.74 with 24 strikeouts and seven walks in 20.2 innings.
Listed at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, McCambley has a solid all-around skill set. His fastball sits in the low to mid-90s, and he paired it with a good breaking ball. He also can mix in a changeup, but it lags behind his other two offerings. He did a good job of throwing strikes this summer, but he still needs to sharpen his command. McCambley has experience both as a starter and reliever, and his presence on the mound is a strength.
49. Kyle Nicolas, RHP, Cotuit (Junior, Ball State)
Nicolas showed flashes this spring but struggled with his control at Ball State. Pitching out of the bullpen this summer for Cotuit, he struggled early but got things going in the second half and played an important role in the Kettleers’ championship run.
Listed at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, Nicolas has a strong frame and a powerful arm. His fastball gets up to 97 mph and sits in the mid-90s. His breaking ball improved over the course of the summer as he added depth to the pitch. He also throws a changeup, but it needs further development. Nicolas offers significant upside but hasn’t consistently been able to harness his stuff. To reach that ceiling, he’ll need the control he pitched with down the stretch this summer to become the norm.
50. Trey Dillard, RHP, Wareham (Junior, Missouri)
Dillard was a high-profile recruit after one year at San Jacinto (Texas) JC, but he struggled this spring with Missouri. He got back on track this summer while working out of the Wareham bullpen, going 2-0, 1.93 in 23.1 innings.
Listed at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, Dillard has a strong, physical frame and a powerful arm. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and gets up to 98-99 mph. He has a power breaking ball that when it’s at its best is hard and tight with a downer bite. He’s aggressive and comes right after hitters, a mentality that works well at the back of the bullpen. His control is below-average, and he’ll need to refine that and improve his pitchability to fully unlock his potential. Still, he has a chance to be one of the better relief prospects in the class.
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