Despite Late Start, Kevin Woodall Ranks Atop Great Lakes League

Great Lakes League Top Prospects

Kevin Woodall, 1b, Lima Locos (Jr., Coastal Carolina)

Ben Spitznagel, 2b/of, Hamilton (Sr., UNC Greensboro)

Dane Tofteland, 3b, Hamilton (R-So., Indiana State)

Cole Murphy, 1b, Cincinnati (So., Cincinnati)

Connor Curlis, lhp, Lima (So., Ohio State)

Kent Axcell, rhp, Galion (R-So., Ohio State)

Jake Richmond, ss, Cincinnati (R-Jr., Northern Kentucky)

Matthew Wade, rhp, Xenia (R-Jr., Southeast Missouri State)

Kyle Moore, of, Hamilton (Sr., Indiana State)

P.J. Piesko, lhp, Licking County (Jr., Oakland)

Postseason Recap: The Hamilton Joes played as many playoff games as a team possibly can in the Great Lakes League, winning over the Cincinnati Steam in a play-in game, then taking three games to beat the Xenia Scouts in the best-of-three semifinals. In the best-of-five finals against Lima, the teams traded the first two games to force a winner-takes-all Game Five, with the Joes winning a pitchers’ duel, 2-1, to win the title.

1. Kevin Woodall, 1b, Lima Locos (Jr., Coastal Carolina)

Woodall’s start with the Lima Locos came much later than anyone could have anticipated thanks to Coastal Carolina’s national title run, but the big-bodied corner infielder shone throughout the summer. His big bat helped push the Locos to the league finals, and he collected 25 hits in just 66 at-bats (.379)—including five doubles and four homers—between the playoffs and regular season. His father Kevin was a sixth-round pick as a middle infielder in 1990, and the younger Woodall displays a good glove at first base even with a 6-foot-5, 235-pound frame.

2. Ben Spitznagel, 2b/of, Hamilton (Sr., UNC Greensboro)

After starting every game at second base for the nation’s fourth highest-scoring offense and batting .385, Spitznagel continued hitting with the Joes, hitting .393/.489/.494 in 42 games to win the batting title and earn player of the year honors from the league. Scouts regarded him as a guy that “can flat out hit.” He puts his speed to good use at the top of the lineup, where he stole 20 bags. He’s not physically imposing at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds but is a quality athlete and can play all over the field, impressing with his work ethic and consistent effort.

3. Dane Tofteland, 3b, Hamilton (R-So., Indiana State)

Tofteland impressed throughout the summer with the Joes, hitting .379/.467/.679 in 39 games in the regular season with nine homers. He also hit four homers in limited playing time with the Sycamores this spring. He has a natural swing, and even though it’s more geared for line drives, he’s shown the strength to hit balls out and do it in games. He handles third base well for some with a 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame, with a dependable glove and a good arm. He’s a threat on the bases as well, swiping 18 bags over the summer. He earned the league’s Top Player Prospect award.

4. Cole Murphy, 1b, Cincinnati (So., Cincinnati)

The Cincinnati-area product Murphy showed off his raw power in the summer, launching 12 homers and hitting .305 in 40 games. He has some swing-and-miss issues, striking out 47 times over the summer, but scouts were nonetheless impressed with his bat. At 6-foot-7, 220 pounds, his frame is probably too big to play anywhere other than first base. The Bearcats also list him as a pitcher, but he never threw in a game for them this spring and he was hit hard in five innings on the mound this summer.

5. Connor Curlis, lhp, Lima (So., Ohio State)

Curlis made a scant four appearances, all out of the pen, for Ohio State but started throughout the summer in Lima. He dazzled, getting the start in the all-star game for the North and finishing 7-1, 1.12 across 10 starts, going 56.1 innings. His upper 80s fastball isn’t overpowering, and he’s essentially a two-pitch guy right now with his fastball and breaking ball, but he’s able to locate and limit hard contact. He allowed just 31 hits in his 56.1 innings while putting together a 47-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

6. Kent Axcell, rhp, Galion (R-So., Ohio State)

Axcell has had a long road back from shoulder surgery. He got back on the mound briefly last summer and in the fall but has yet to pitch in a live game for Ohio State. Finally seeing some meaningful action again, Axcell impressed on the mound this summer, even getting to finish the season with a stint with Bourne of the Cape Cod League. He has a quick arm and an intelligent approach on the mound, striking out 35 in 20 innings this summer while walking just six. He has a solid pitcher’s build as well at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds and will try to carry his momentum into 2017.

7. Jake Richmond, ss, Cincinnati (R-Jr., Northern Kentucky)

Another hometown kid playing for the Steam, Richmond played well in his only competitive ball of 2016 after transferring from Cincinnati to Northern Kentucky. He hit .315/.388/.580 in 37 games, showing a flat swing with good pop off the bat—he hit seven homers this summer after never going deep once in two seasons with the Bearcats. Richmond has a solid arm and athleticism. He manned shortstop everyday this summer and should be playable anywhere on the infield.

8. Matthew Wade, rhp, Xenia (R-Jr., Southeast Missouri State)

Wade closed for Xenia over the summer and pitched well, striking out 17 in 22.1 innings with a 1.20 ERA. A huge reason was the marked improvement in his control. He walked just four in his 13 appearances this summer, a far cry from the 27 walks he has in 42 career innings for Southeast Missouri State. His fastball works on the strength of its life and late movement, and his slider is tight with some depth. He has a quick arm as well as a good frame at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds.

9. Kyle Moore, of, Hamilton (Sr., Indiana State)

Moore had a tough first year at Indiana State after transferring from Golden West (Calif.) JC, batting just .176 (6-for-34) in 22 games, but he got back on track over the summer as he put up a .328/.403/.500 line with four homers for Hamilton. Speed and athleticism are Moore’s strengths. He played center field everyday for Hamilton, and if he can continue to harness his tools, particularly the power he showed this summer, he could be a senior-sign candidate in 2017.

10. P.J. Piesko, lhp, Licking County (Jr., Oakland)

Piesko has only thrown 21.1 innings over two seasons for Oakland but made his case for a larger role next year, allowing just two runs in 28.2 innings in the Great Lakes League between the regular season, playoffs and all-star game. The 6-foot-1, 172-pound junior still has room to fill out his frame, and the ball comes out quick and effortlessly from the left side.