2019 Cape Cod League Top Prospects: 11-30

12. RJ Dabovich, RHP, Chatham (Junior, Arizona State)

In some respects, Dabovich is still finding himself as a pitcher and learning the intricacies of his craft. After a solid sophomore season at Arizona State, he took a step forward this summer and posted 29 strikeouts and five walks in 19 innings for Chatham.

Dabovich has a good pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds. He has a big arm and consistently ran his fastball into the mid-90s. He’s shown even more velocity at times in the past, especially in short stints. He pairs his fastball with a curveball that has plus potential. His repertoire works either as a starter or out of the bullpen, and he pitched in both roles this year. He has some encouraging starter traits, but he’ll need to smooth out some finer points in his game, such as holding runners, to stay in the rotation in the long run.

13. Adrian Del Castillo, C, Wareham (Sophomore, Miami)

Del Castillo earned Freshman All-America honors this spring at Miami after leading the Hurricanes in batting. He carried that momentum to Wareham, where he showed solid potential.

A lefthanded batter, Del Castillo has solid all-around tools at the plate. He has a good approach, though he swung and missed much more this summer than he did with the Hurricanes. He has above-average power and gets to it well in games, hitting five home runs. Defensively, Del Castillo mostly caught this summer after playing a lot of outfield this spring. As a catcher, he’s a good receiver and blocks balls well. His arm is below-average, and he’ll need to improve it to stay behind the plate, but he offers enough athleticism and hitting ability to handle a full-time move to the outfield if necessary.

14. Zach DeLoach, OF, Falmouth (Junior, Texas A&M)

DeLoach starred in the Northwoods League a year ago, but scuffled this spring back at Texas A&M. He got right back on track when he arrived on the Cape and said he prefers hitting with a wood bat. It seems to suit him well, and he hit .353/.428/.541 to win the batting title.

DeLoach made some adjustments on the Cape, simplifying his swing and switching to a toe tap to improve his timing. The lefthanded hitter has a smooth swing and does a good job of consistently putting the bat on the ball. He flashed solid raw power, hitting eight doubles and five home runs, but he mostly stuck to an approach that was more focused on making consistent contact. DeLoach played right field for Falmouth and has experience playing center field at Texas A&M. He’s an above-average runner, but not the kind of burner many teams want in center field in pro ball. Overall, DeLoach has a bit of a tweener profile, not altogether unlike former Texas A&M outfielders Nick Banks and Tyler Naquin. How well he plays this spring will determine whether he gets drafted more like Naquin (a first-rounder in 2012) or Banks (a fourth-rounder in 2016).

15. Hayden Cantrelle, 2B/SS, Falmouth (Junior, Louisiana-Lafayette)

Cantrelle has been a starter at Louisiana since he arrived on campus and has been a consistent source of all-around production at shortstop. He impressed this summer in the Falmouth lineup, hitting .315/.427/.438.

A switch-hitter, Cantrelle has good top-of-the-lineup skills. He has an advanced approach at the plate, knows how to work a walk and did a good job of putting the bat on the ball, though there was more swing-and-miss in his game in the spring. He is a plus runner and knows how to use his speed on the bases—he finished second in the league with 19 stolen bases. Cantrelle is a natural shortstop and plays there at Louisiana, but mostly played second base this summer—though he did play shortstop in the all-star game. He was a solid defender at second base and has enough tools to merit a shot at shortstop, though it’s more likely he ends up as a second baseman in pro ball.

16. Joe Boyle, RHP, Harwich (Junior, Notre Dame)

Boyle opted out of the draft in high school to attend Notre Dame and has always had a powerful arm, but poor control limited him to 26 innings over his first two years of college. He seemed to figure some things out on the mound this summer for Harwich and lit up radar guns in the process.

Boyle certainly looks the part at a listed 6-foot-7, 225 pounds. He routinely throws his fastball in the upper 90s and is no stranger to triple digits. He touched 101 mph multiple times this summer and hit 100 mph in the all-star game. He has a sharp slider and when he’s truly on, he can throw it for strikes. When he’s able to do that, he can be unhittable—he gave up only nine hits in 21 innings this summer. But if hitters can sit on his fastball, they can square it up. While he took a step or two forward this summer, Boyle’s control remains his biggest question mark. While it’ll likely never be plus, he does need to sustain it next spring. He’s one of the biggest wild cards in the draft class.

17. Jud Fabian, OF, Bourne (Sophomore, Florida)

Fabian graduated a semester early from high school to enroll at Florida in time to play the 2019 season for the Gators. He was the Gators’ everyday center fielder and held his own this spring. He did a bit more than that this summer with Bourne, hitting .290/.350/.500 with six home runs and earning a spot in the all-star game.

Fabian has an ultra-rare profile as a righthanded hitter and lefthanded thrower. At the plate, there’s a bit of free-swinger in him, and he strikes out more than scouts like. But he has a smooth swing and produces plenty of loud contact. He’s an above-average runner but isn’t much of a basestealer yet. He’s a solid defender in center with enough arm for the position. Fabian has first-round potential in 2021, but he’ll need to cut down on his swing-and-miss to get the most out of his tools.

18. Jesse Franklin, OF, Brewster (Junior, Michigan)

Franklin has been a prominent player since his high school days in Washington and this spring was the everyday center fielder on Michigan’s national runner-up team. The Wolverines’ lengthy postseason run meant Franklin didn’t get to the Cape until midway through the summer and he never truly got locked in for Brewster, though he ended up with a solid line of .282/.333/.380.

Franklin has a solid feel for hitting and shows good discipline at the plate. He has above-average raw power that he can get to, but to do so more consistently he’ll likely need to adjust his setup at the plate to allow his hands and hips to play better against high velocity. Franklin plays center field at Michigan and is a good defender with solid speed. Still, he was shifted to left field at Brewster in deference to Duke Ellis’ premium speed and defense, a circumstance that may well repeat itself in pro ball. Franklin’s offensive tools are good enough to play in an outfield corner, but he may need some work to unlock that potential.

19. Joey Wiemer, OF, Harwich (Junior, Cincinnati)

Wiemer had an up-and-down season at Cincinnati but used a strong summer at Harwich, establishing himself as a potential Day 1 pick in next year’s draft. He hit .273/.390/.354 and earned a spot in the all-star game for the Mariners.

Wiemer first stands out for his premium flow and unorthodox look at the plate that leads to Hunter Pence comparisons. He starts out in an open stance while waving his bat above his head like Craig Counsell before taking a high leg kick to get set. It isn’t a textbook swing by any means, but his athleticism and fast hands make it work for the righthanded hitter. His swing means his timing has to be very good and if it’s not, he struggles. But when it’s right, he can show just how tooled up he is. He has plus raw power, though he didn’t get to it much in games this summer, and his plus speed plays well on the bases. He also has a plus arm and can play anywhere in the outfield. Wiemer earns praise for his instincts and understanding of the game. With his size (6-foot-4, 215 pounds), raw tools and athleticism, there’s plenty of upside, though his swing increases the risk in his profile.

20. Ian Bedell, RHP, Wareham (Junior, Missouri)

Bedell this spring became one of Missouri’s top relievers and carried that momentum into the summer for Wareham, where he starred in the rotation. He was exceptional during the regular season, going 4-0, 0.58 with a 36-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 30.2 innings and was named the league’s pitcher of the year.

Bedell stands out for his combination of pitchability, projection and results. He has a four-pitch mix, which gives opposing hitters different looks they have to contend with. His fastball sits in the low 90s, and he pounds the zone with the pitch. His secondary offerings are all about average now, with his changeup the best of the group, but all three have promise. Because Bedell graduated high school a year early to enroll at Missouri, he is young for the class and pitched the whole summer as a 19-year-old. While he’s more about the sum of his parts right now, his youth, size (6-foot-2, 203 pounds) and advanced feel give him plenty of upside.

21. Casey Schmitt, 3B/RHP, Cotuit (Junior, San Diego State)

Schmitt has been one of the best two-way players in the country the last two years at San Diego State, and he further proved that this summer with Cotuit. He was the Kettleers’ everyday third baseman and was also one of their go-to relievers, the same role he has held in the spring for the Aztecs. Between the regular season and the playoffs this summer, he hit .253/.346/.456 with eight home runs in 43 games and went 2-0, 1.93 with 34 strikeouts and 12 walks in 28 innings in 13 appearances on the mound and was named playoff MVP.

As a hitter, Schmitt has impressive raw power and doesn’t sell out to get to it. He has a solid approach at the plate and does a good job of making consistent, hard contact. His swing isn’t geared to hitting for power, but he has enough to profile at third base. He’s an excellent defender at the hot corner, capable of making every play necessary and has a plus arm. On the mound, that arm strength plays in the form of a fastball that sits around 90 mph with good life. He pairs it with a splitter in the mid-80s that gives him a second solid offering. He has good feel for pitching and comes right after hitters. Schmitt likely has the most upside as a third baseman, but he has true two-way ability and could be drafted as either a hitter or a pitcher—or both—in June.

22. Jack Leftwich, RHP, Yarmouth-Dennis (Junior, Florida)

Leftwich had a tough spring in the Florida rotation as he battled some lingering injuries. He bounced back on the Cape, where he went 3-1, 3.64 and held opponents to a .191 batting average.

Leftwich, listed at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, has a strong pitchers’ frame and a solid three-pitch arsenal. His fastball sits in the low 90s, occasionally bumping higher velocity. He has a solid slider, which improved over the course of the summer, and he has worked to develop his changeup in the last year, giving him three average or better offerings. He attacks the strike zone and has above-average control. Leftwich isn’t overpowering, but he has starter traits and a good feel for his craft that will make him a solid pick in June. 

23. Parker Chavers, OF, Cotuit (Junior, Coastal Carolina)

Chavers has a dynamic all-around toolset and had an impressive summer in Cotuit, earning all-star honors and helping the Kettleers win the league championship.

Chavers’ raw tools help him stand out in several ways on the diamond. He has above-average speed and raw power, a combination that gives the lefthanded hitter plenty of upside. He has a quick swing, but he struck out in 25 percent of his plate appearances this summer, a rate that would improve with a better two-strike approach. Chavers is a solid outfielder and has a strong arm. He’s not the true burner most teams look for in center field, which would push him to an outfield corner, where he mostly played this summer. That puts a little more pressure on his bat, but after producing an isolated power of .197 this summer, there’s plenty of potential for him to tap into.

24. Brady Smith, C, Chatham (Junior, Florida)

Smith ranked No. 48 on this list a year ago and again was solid this summer on the Cape. He performed well as Chatham’s catcher and earned a spot in the all-star game.

Smith, a righthanded hitter, makes a lot of hard contact but at times gets caught in between hitting for average or power. He can do either, and there’s solid raw power in his 6-foot, 195-pound frame. He has a good approach, but there is some swing-and-miss in his game. Defensively, Smith has good catch-and-throw skills and works well with pitchers. He calls games well and has an advanced understanding of the game. He’s also spent time as an infielder in college and he’s a capable defender at the corners, but his upside is highest as a catcher.

25. Zach Brzykcy, RHP, Falmouth (Junior, Virginia Tech)

Brzykcy established himself as one of the premier relievers in the country with an excellent summer on the Cape. He dominated hitters, striking out 17 batters in 11 innings between the regular season and the playoffs while limiting them to one walk and five hits. He also led the league in saves with eight.

Brzykcy has a strong frame at a listed 6-foot-2, 225 pounds and a big arm. He reportedly touched 100 mph this spring and this summer threw his fastball in the mid- to upper 90s with a high spin rate. He paired it with a hard, downer curveball that made for an excellent 1-2 punch. While he was erratic in the spring, averaging one walk per inning, he had no trouble throwing strikes during the summer and attacked hitters well. His strong frame, powerful arm and makeup all give him the look of a high-leverage reliever.

26. Franco Aleman, RHP, Falmouth (Sophomore, St. Johns River State (Fla.) JC)

Aleman, a Cuban native, had a solid freshman year at Florida International and followed that up with a strong summer on the Cape, going 3-0, 1.43 with a 33-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 37.2 innings for Falmouth. He will this year transfer to St. Johns River State (Fla.) JC for his sophomore year and is already committed to Florida for 2021.

Listed at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, Aleman has a big, projectable frame and is oozing with upside. He relies on his sinker-slider combination and pounds the strike zone with both pitches. His fastball can touch the mid-90s, but he more typically throws it around 90 mph. He has a good feel for his stuff and pounds the strike zone, coming right after hitters. There’s a lot to like about Aleman now, but any team that drafts him is really betting that he’s just scratching the surface. He has more room for strength gains, which should lead to more velocity, and he’s still learning the finer points of pitching.

27. Tyler Mattison, RHP, Hyannis (Junior, Bryant)

Mattison is the latest big arm to come out of Bryant, and he has as much potential as any pitcher from the program since James Karinchak. He has a solid summer with Hyannis, making five starts for the Harbor Hawks.

Listed at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, Mattison has a big, physical frame and a powerful arm to match. His fastball sat in the low to mid-90s, and he can run it up a tick more. He has a big curveball and a changeup, and he can throw all three pitches for strikes. He did a good job this summer of pounding the strike zone and typically pitches with at least average control. Overall, it’s a package full of starter traits that makes Mattison an intriguing pitcher to watch.

28. Seth Lonsway, LHP, Brewster (Redshirt sophomore, Ohio State)

After sitting out the 2018 season due to an academic issue, Lonsway this spring stepped right into the front of Ohio State’s rotation and earned Freshman All-America honors after striking out 110 batters in 78 innings. The lefthander never really got it locked in on the Cape, however, walking 12 batters and striking out 10 in 12 innings.

At his best, Lonsway runs his fastball into the mid-90s, but this summer he topped out around 90 mph. He has a big curveball and can mix in a changeup. His delivery was inconsistent this summer, which led to his control problems and inconsistent stuff. Even at Ohio State he was walking too many batters, and figuring out how to throw strikes more consistently will be a key for him. Lonsway has upside, but he’s going to need to rebound from a disappointing summer to reach it.

29. Sean Sullivan, RHP, Cotuit (Sophomore, California)

Sullivan scuffled this spring as a freshman for Cal while mostly pitching out of the bullpen. But he emerged as one of the biggest surprises on the Cape, going 2-2, 2.08 with a 48-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 43.1 innings for Cotuit. He was outstanding down the stretch for the Kettleers and started (and won) the decisive game of the championship series.

Sullivan has a poised demeanor on the mound and a solid all-around skillset. His fastball sits in the low 90s and his easy delivery belies its velocity. He throws a good downer breaking ball and made strides with his changeup, turning it into a weapon against lefthanded hitters. He attacked the strike zone and coach Mike Roberts said he had an it factor like former Kettleers Sonny Gray and Mike Leake. Sullivan was also one of the youngest players on the Cape and won’t turn 19 until October. Overall, that makes for a very intriguing skillset.

30. Nick Nastrini, RHP, Falmouth (Sophomore, UCLA)

Nastrini started his freshman year playing a key role for UCLA but went down in early March with thoracic outlet syndrome, typically a season-ending injury. But he worked hard to get back to strength and pitched for the Bruins in the NCAA Tournament and then went to Falmouth for the summer. He was excellent in the Commodores’ rotation, going 2-2, 2.18 with 38 strikeouts and 11 walks in 33 innings.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Nastrini has a good build and a well-rounded arsenal. His fastball typically sits around 90 mph, but can get up to 94 mph, perhaps portending more velocity in time. He also mixes in a good changeup and breaking ball, both of which he consistently throws for strikes. As a poised strike-thrower with solid overall stuff, Nastrini has strong starter traits and good upside.