2025 Cape Cod Baseball League Season Preview

Image credit: Orleans' Eldridge Park (Photo by Simon M Bruty/AnyChance Productions/Getty Images)

This weekend marks the start of the Cape Cod Baseball League’s 102nd season. Founded in 1923, the Cape League features 10 teams broken into two divisions and has long been known as the nation’s premier wood bat summer collegiate league. Each summer, it is chock-full of high-end prospects and has produced over 1,600 big leaguers.

This year is no different. Today’s preview will serve as a brief primer, while the inimitable Geoff Pontes and myself will produce a few Cape League scouting notebooks throughout the summer that will go far more in-depth on prospects to know.

SEE THE LIST

It’s important to keep in mind that in today’s preview, I have refrained from including anyone who is likely to leave before the draft or receive an invitation to Team USA’s Collegiate National Team.

East Division

Brewster Whitecaps

Best Player: Carson Tinney, C, Transfer Portal
Best Pitcher: Elijah Foster, RHP, South Carolina

Last summer was a rare “off” season for the Whitecaps, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Since taking over in 2015, head coach Jamie Shevchik has guided the ‘Caps to two Cape League titles in 2017 and 2021, three championship series and six playoff appearances. At least on paper, this year’s Brewster squad looks like a playoff team and then some.

Chatham Anglers

Best Player: Gavin Gallaher, 3B, North Carolina
Best Pitcher: Talan Bell, LHP, Clemson

This summer will mark the start of the Dennis Cook era in Chatham. A former pitching coach for the Anglers—including during the 2018 season in which they reached the championship series—Cook returns to Chatham as head coach looking to get his Anglers back on track. The Anglers have missed the playoffs in three of the last four seasons, though with a talented roster and brand new coaching staff, it feels as if new life has been breathed into a storied franchise.

Harwich Mariners

Best Player: Maddox Molony, SS, Oregon
Best Pitcher: Blake Morningstar, RHP, Wake Forest

The Mariners are the defending Cape League champions, and head coach Steve Englert and company return to Whitehouse Field looking to defend their title. The Mariners have enjoyed plenty of success under Englert, including three Cape League championships and 13 playoff appearances. Expect the ‘Ners to not only be back in the postseason for the seventh-straight summer, but to again compete for a championship.

Orleans Firebirds

Best Player: Jaden Bastian, OF, Transfer Portal
Best Pitcher: Cole Tryba, LHP, UC Santa Barbara

Head coach Kelly Nicholson, known to those both inside and out of Eldredge Park as “Skip,” has enjoyed one of the most successful managerial tenures of any coach in the Cape League. He last summer guided the ‘Birds to their third-straight playoff appearance and fourth in the last five seasons. Nicholson’s teams are usually west coast-centric, and this summer is no different. After winning 15 games and earning the No. 4 seed in last year’s playoffs, expect the Firebirds to make more noise this summer.

Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox

Best Player: Chris Hacopian, SS, Transfer Portal
Best Pitcher: Bo Rhudy, RHP, Tennessee

The Y-D Red Sox are one of the most successful franchises in the league. They’ve captured 10 Cape League titles, including three-straight from 2014-16, and have missed the playoffs just once since 2008. The man behind Y-D’s ample success? Legendary Head Coach Scott Pickler. “Pick” has amassed over 600 Cape League wins—the first manager to accomplish the feat—and boasts a talented roster seemingly every summer. This year is no different, so expect Y-D to be in the hunt for its first Cape League title in almost a decade.

West Division

Bourne Braves

Best Player: Tyler Minick, 3B, Connecticut
Best Pitcher: Nathan Taylor, RHP, Cincinnati

Since taking over prior to the 2022 season, head coach Scott Landers has guided the Braves to their most successful stretch in franchise history. They won back-to-back Cape League titles in 2022 and 2023, while last year they won the west division championship for the fourth-straight season. Unsurprisingly, the Bravos again boast a talented roster and will look to play deep into August.

Cotuit Kettleers

Best Player: Caden Bogenpohl, OF, Missouri State
Best Pitcher: Wylan Moss, RHP, UCLA

For the first time since 2003, a new manager will be on the top step of Lowell Park’s third base dugout. Following a successful 20-year tenure from Mike Roberts, Loren Hibbs will take the reins of the Cape League’s most successful franchise. Cotuit’s 17 championships are the most of any team in league history, and they’ve missed the playoffs just once since 2011. The Ketts once again have an impressive roster and will look to win their first Cape League title since 2019.

Falmouth Commodores

Best Player: Justin Osterhouse, INF, Alabama
Best Pitcher: Laif Palmer, RHP, Oregon State

Following the passing of Cape League Hall of Famer Jeff Trundy, former MLBer and 2013 World Series champion Jarrod Saltalamacchia was tabbed the next head coach of the Commodores. A former assistant coach with Bourne, Saltalamacchia is familiar with the league and knows what it takes to succeed at a high level. Like Brewster, it was a rare down summer for the ‘Dores in 2024 as they failed to make the eight-team playoff for the first time since 2015. Though also like Brewster, I fully expect Falmouth to make the playoffs.

Hyannis Harbor Hawks

Best Player: Andrew Williamson, OF, Central Florida
Best Pitcher: Henry Zatkowski, LHP, Transfer Portal

2022 marked the start of a new era at McKeon Park. After winning just 17 total games and missing the playoffs in both 2019 and 2021, Nick Johnson was tabbed the Harbor Hawks’ new general manager. He’s spearheaded what’s been a complete 180 for the franchise. The Harbor Hawks have made the playoffs in three straight seasons, won the West Division regular season title last summer and are knocking on the door of their first championship appearance since 2015. With yet another intriguing roster at his disposal, second-year head coach Mitch Karraker will look to accomplish exactly that.

Wareham Gatemen

Best Player: Chris McHugh, 1B, NC State
Best Pitcher: Camden Wicker, RHP, Central Florida

After missing the playoffs in three-straight seasons from 2021-2023, the Gatemen last year returned to the postseason. Third-year general manager Jay Spinale and third-year head coach Ryan Smyth have proven to be a quality duo, and they’ve done an excellent job of turning things around at Spillane Field. On top of a quality roster, Spillane this winter and spring got a complete face lift and will provide a far more enjoyable fan experience than in years past. The Gatemen will look to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2018-2019.