2021 Cape Cod League Top Prospects 26-50

Baseball this summer returned to Cape Cod after the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic—the first time the Cape Cod League had missed a season since the end of World War II.

The league’s return was a welcome site for many around the game and especially for the people on the Cape. The league drew large crowds all season long and the play on the diamond was at a typically high level, despite some unusual circumstances.

Like everyone else in amateur baseball, the Cape had to deal with an abnormally late draft date, which led to a midseason disruption of many rosters. USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team was also twice the size it normally is, which pulled more players away from the Cape. The flip side of that, however, was a shorter schedule for Team USA, which led to more of its players spending part of the summer on the Cape, including No. 1 prospect Brooks Lee.

The Cape’s season culminated with Brewster sweeping Bourne in the best-of-three championship series. It was the second title in four seasons for the Whitecaps and manager Jamie Shevchik.

While the 2022 draft rankings published earlier this month take a holistic view of a prospect, this list is informed primarily by a player’s performance this summer and conversations with coaches and evaluators who watched the Cape. As such, some discrepancies in the rankings exist. 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.

The top 25 can be viewed here.

26. Luke Keaschall, 2B/OF, Orleans (Sophomore, San Francisco)

Keaschall this spring earned co-freshman of the year honors in the West Coast Conference after hitting .320/.406/.475 with 11 stolen bases. He began his summer in the Cal Ripken League and was having a strong summer—hitting .325/.406/.506 in 21 games—when Orleans brought him to the Cape in mid July. He kept hitting on the Cape, batting .321/.356/.464 in 20 games.

Keaschall has a compact righthanded swing and makes consistent hard contact thanks to his feel for the barrel and bat speed. He has an aggressive approach, but his knack for putting the bat on the ball means he doesn’t strike out often. He has above-average speed and is aggressive on the bases. Keaschall played second base for San Francisco, but Orleans needed help in the outfield, so he mostly played left field. Keaschall’s feel at the plate, speed and power potential make for an exciting package, especially considering that he played the summer as an 18-year-old, making him one of the youngest players in the league.

27. Luke Gold, INF, Cotuit (Third-year sophomore, Boston College)

Gold this spring impressed even on a team with a pair of position players drafted in the top two rounds, leading BC in home runs (nine) and slugging (.576). He carried that power production into the summer, hitting .267/.363/.523 with six home runs for Cotuit.

Gold’s power is his standout tool. He’s got plus raw power and he has shown an ability to consistently get to it in games. He has a simple righthanded swing and shows good bat-to-ball skills. He has good plate coverage and doesn’t strike out much, especially for a power hitter. Defensively, Gold is still finding a home. He played second, third base and DH this spring and then split his time about equally between first, second base and DH for Cotuit. He has good arm strength, but his range can be limiting. As a righthanded-hitting, righthanded-throwing player listed at 6-foot, 215 pounds, he’s a tough profile if he ended up at first base, though his power gives him a chance to play anywhere.

28. Dalton Rushing, 1B/C, Bourne (Third-year sophomore, Louisville)

Rushing had an inconsistent spring at Louisville, limited in part by Alex Binelas and Henry Davis playing at his primary positions. But he made up for it this summer with Bourne, hitting .319/.428/.543 with seven home runs (including the playoffs).

Listed at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, Rushing has a strong frame and a powerful lefthanded swing. He creates impressive bat speed with an aggressive swing that makes good use of his strong lower half. He has plus raw power, particularly to his pull side, and did a good job of making consistent hard contact all summer. His profile suggests power over hit, but he showed solid pitch recognition and good feel at the plate. Defensively, Rushing this summer saw time at first base, catcher and the outfield. He has some intriguing tools behind the plate but would need more development to be an everyday catcher. His bat would likely play in a corner, if that’s where he eventually settled.

29. Jace Grady, OF, Cotuit (Third-year sophomore, Dallas Baptist)

Grady didn’t arrive on the Cape until mid July, but he made the most of his time in Cotuit. Over 19 games, he hit .346/.378/.538 with four home runs (and added two more in three playoff games).

Grady is a switch-hitter and packs a punch in his 5-foot-10, 185-pound frame. He creates plenty of bat speed and produces above-average power, especially from the right side. He’s an aggressive hitter and uses his above-average speed well on the bases. Grady covers ground well in center field and has good feel as a defender. Grady’s home run power was a pleasant surprise this summer after he hit four home runs in the spring and if he’s able to continue to tap into it, he has an exciting profile.

30. Eric Adler, RHP, Bourne (Third-year sophomore, Wake Forest)

Adler has been a key reliever for Wake Forest in each of his first two seasons in Winston-Salem and this spring served as closer. He this summer was the best reliever on the Cape and went 2-0, 0.96 with seven saves in 18.2 innings (including the playoffs). He struck out 30 batters and walked seven.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Adler attacks hitters with a powerful fastball-slider combination. His fastball sits 95-96 mph and has a high spin rate, which helps him miss bats. He pairs it with a sharp slider that is also a swing-and-miss offering. He throws a lot of strikes and has average control. Adler projects as a reliever, but he should be one of the best in the country in 2022.

31. Anthony Hall, OF, Falmouth (Third-year sophomore, Oregon)

Hall had a strong spring at Oregon and carried that momentum into the summer with Falmouth. He hit .283/.382/.481 with four home runs, emerging as one of the Commodores’ top hitters.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Hall has an athletic, projectable build. The lefthanded hitter made strides as a hitter this summer, improving his approach at the plate and increasingly using the whole field. He has some power, particularly when he pulls the ball, and projects for above-average juice. He’s a patient hitter and can work walks. Hall split his time with Falmouth between center and left field, but profiles best in a corner. He’s an average runner.

32. Jack Jasiak, RHP, Falmouth (Third-year sophomore, South Florida)

Jasiak has been a fixture in the USF rotation since arriving on campus two years ago and last season was the Bulls’ ace, going 6-7, 2.93 to help lead them to super regionals. He made a brief appearance on the Cape, going 2-0, 2.89 with 16 strikeouts and four walks in 18.2 innings for Falmouth.

Listed at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Jasiak has a good frame and a strong understanding of what he needs to do to be successful. His fastball sits in the low 90s and the life he gets on the pitch makes it difficult for hitters to square up. He pairs his fastball with a short slider that can be a swing-and-miss pitch and a changeup that he rarely used this summer but is tough on lefthanders. He commands his fastball well and throws all three pitches for strikes. While Jasiak doesn’t have a plus pitch, he has solid tools across the board.

33. Michael Curialle, INF/OF, Falmouth (Third-year sophomore, UCLA)

Curialle has been an everyday player at UCLA for the last two seasons and produced a solid track record for success, this year hitting .285/.366/.409. He started the summer hot for Falmouth but hit a midseason slump before getting hot again near the end of the season to hit .243/.316/.391.

Curialle has plenty of upside and an athletic, 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. The righthanded hitter has quick hands and generates above-average bat speed, which leads to hard contact and power potential. But he will need to refine his approach and cut down on his strikeouts (he whiffed in 30% of his plate appearances this summer) to reach his offensive upside. Curialle is a versatile defender and played all over the diamond for Falmouth. His athleticism means he could settle in at nearly any position.

34. Mason Barnett, RHP, Brewster (Third-year sophomore, Auburn)

Barnett has primarily pitched out of the bullpen in his first two years at Auburn but pitched this summer exclusively as a starter in five appearances for Brewster. He handled the role well, going 1-1, 4.95 with 23 strikeouts and six walks in 20 innings.

Barnett has a strong, physical frame at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds. His fastball reaches 96 mph, but more typically sits about 93 mph with good life. He has a power breaking ball that can get swings and misses, and his changeup is a weapon against lefthanded hitters. He threw a lot of strikes, though his command still needs some refining. Barnett showed his upside as a starter with Brewster. Now, he’ll look to carry that success over into a full spring season.

35. Jack Brannigan, 3B/RHP, Wareham (Third-year sophomore, Notre Dame)

Brannigan has started every game for Notre Dame since arriving on campus two years ago and this spring helped the Fighting Irish to the ACC title and super regionals. He spent the summer with Wareham, where he hit .282/.387/.372 and made three appearances on the mound.

Brannigan offers plenty of athleticism and versatility. He’s mostly been used as a third baseman and reliever, but he could move around the infield or have an expanded role on the mound. Listed at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, he has a strong build. His swing is geared toward line-drive contact, but his strength and bat speed give him a chance to develop more power in time. He’s a good athlete with a powerful arm that profiles at third. On the mound, Brannigan can run his fastball into the mid 90s and he pairs it with a promising slider. He offers a lot of upside and is still just figuring out who he is as a player.

36. Bryce Osmond, RHP, Chatham (Third-year sophomore, Oklahoma State)

Osmond was the top-ranked player in the 2019 draft class not to sign and instead brought premium upside to Oklahoma State. He’s struggled to find consistency for the Cowboys and this spring went 2-5, 7.42. He had a better summer with Chatham, going 1-2, 4.21 with 26 strikeouts and 11 walks in 21.1 innings.

Osmond, listed at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, is an excellent athlete. His fastball sits in the low 90s and touches 95 mph and he works from a good downhill angle. He has a full array of secondary offerings—changeup, curveball and slider—but his slider is the best of the group and can be a swing-and-miss pitch. His changeup and curveball will need more development to become quality weapons. His control also needs refinement, but his athleticism gives reason to believe he’ll be able to make the adjustments. Osmond offers significant upside, but still has rough edges to his game.

37. Luis Ramirez, RHP, Yarmouth-Dennis (Long Beach State)

Ramirez has been a part of the Dirtbags rotation since arriving on campus two years ago. After a solid spring, he spent the summer with Y-D, going 0-2, 3.10 with 33 strikeouts and 13 walks in 29 innings.

Ramirez has a strong frame at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds and has an advanced understanding of pitching. His fastball sits in the low 90s and he isn’t afraid to attack hitters with the pitch. He mixes his fastball with a slider and changeup, primarily using his slider against righthanders and his changeup against lefthanders. He also throws a curveball, but it is not as good as his slider. He has average control, but attacks hitters and has a good presence on the mound.

38. Andrew Mosiello, RHP, Harwich (Oregon)

Mosiello worked as a reliever in his first two years at Oregon, and this spring went 3-1, 4.12 with 52 strikeouts and eight walks in 39.1 innings. He came to the Cape to get stretched out as a starter and fared well in the role, going 1-1, 2.01 with 26 strikeouts and 11 walks in 22.1 innings.

Mosiello is listed at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds and has a quick arm. His fastball sits 89-92 mph, and he commands it well, throwing it for strikes to all parts of the zone. He primarily relies on his fastball—this summer throwing it about two-thirds of the time—but also mixes in an average slider and changeup. His stuff plays up thanks to some deception that makes it tough to recognize what he’s throwing. If Mosiello can maintain that stuff over a full spring season, he provides intriguing upside.

39. Jim Jarvis, SS, Wareham (Third-year sophomore, Alabama)

Jarvis has been a regular for Alabama since arriving on campus two years ago. He spent this summer with Wareham, hitting .289/.378/.453 with four home runs and eight stolen bases.

Jarvis, a righthanded hitter, has good on-base skills and above-average speed, making him a good fit at the top of the order. His swing is geared toward line drives and his feel at the plate leads to a lot of contact. He this spring walked more than he struck out and while he didn’t repeat that performance with Wareham, he does offer good plate discipline. His power was something of a surprise—he has not homered in 218 at-bats with Alabama—but his quick swing leads to some hard contact. Jarvis has good hands, an average arm and solid infield actions. He might not have been the toolsiest shortstop on the Cape, but he was solid and should be able to stay up the middle in pro ball.

40. Adam Tulloch, LHP, Chatham (Fourth-year junior, Arizona State)

Tulloch transferred from Central Florida JC to West Virginia for the 2021 season, but struggled in Morgantown, going 0-4, 6.27. He impressed on the Cape, however, and was drafted in the 17th round by the Dodgers. He opted not to sign and finished the summer with Chatham, ranking third in the league in strikeouts (43 in 29 innings). He will this year transfer to Arizona State.

Listed at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Tulloch has a strong build and big stuff from the left side. His fastball sits in the low 90s and can reach 94-95 mph at times with riding life. He pitches off his fastball well and pairs it with a slider that has good depth and can be an above-average offering. He also has a changeup, but it is behind his fastball-slider combination. Tulloch has easy arm action and throws a lot of strikes. There are some questions as to whether he profiles best as a starter or a reliever, but his stuff plays well.

41. Orion Kerkering, RHP, Orleans (Third-year sophomore, South Florida)

Kerkering this spring was one of USF’s top relievers and played a key role in helping the Bulls reach super regionals. He spent the summer with Orleans and after beginning the season pitching out of the bullpen, he got stretched out with some starts at the end of the campaign.

Listed at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Kerkering has a strong frame and a powerful arm. He gets easy velocity, and his fastball sits in the mid 90s, touching 97 mph. He pairs it with a sharp slider and also has a developing changeup. He showed the stuff and physicality needed to start, but he still has work to do to prove he can handle the role. He’ll need to refine his command and learn how to pitch more off his fastball. If he can do that, he offers a lot of upside.

42. Sebastian Keane, RHP, Chatham (Third-year sophomore, Northeastern)

Keane has been a high-profile prospect since high school, when he was in 2019 drafted in the 11th round by his hometown Red Sox. He continued on to Northeastern, where he’s been a fixture in the rotation, and spent the summer in Chatham, where he went 0-1, 3.85 with 25 strikeouts and seven walks in 21 innings.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 187 pounds, Keane still has a projectable, wiry frame and he could stand to add some strength to better maintain his stuff over the course of a long season. His fastball sat around 90 mph most of the summer and he ran it up to 93 mph with late life. He pairs it effectively with a slider that is a solid offering. He’s got some deception to his delivery, helping his stuff play up. Developing a reliable third offering would help his profile.

43. Cy Nielson, LHP, Chatham (Third-year sophomore, Brigham Young)

Nielson in 2019 was drafted in the 40th round out of high school and was one of the headliners of an exciting recruiting class for BYU. The last two years have been up and down for him, but he showed impressive stuff this summer with Chatham.

Nielson has a strong build at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds and a powerful arm. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and he pairs it with a power slider that is a swing-and-miss pitch at its best. He also has a changeup, but it lags behind his fastball-slider combination. Nielson has struggled with his control at BYU and over the course of the summer showed improvement in that respect. He mostly worked in relief this summer, albeit in multi-inning appearances, and he’ll need to show consistency with his improvements over longer outings to reach his potential as a starter. But with two potentially plus pitches, the lefthander has intriguing upside.

44. Tyler Locklear, 3B, Orleans (Third-year sophomore, Virginia Commonwealth)

Locklear this spring hit .345/.515/.686 with 16 home runs to earn All-America honors and was named Atlantic-10 player of the year. His powerful year continued in Orleans, where he hit .256/.333/.504 with nine home runs, tying teammate Chase DeLauter for the league lead.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Locklear has a big, powerful frame. The righthanded hitter had some of the best raw power in the league and can drive the ball out to all fields. He’s an aggressive hitter and chases out of the zone, but his strikeout rate (22.7%) is not out of line for his profile. Locklear has mostly played third base in college, but his range and arm may eventually lead him to move to first base or left field. His righthanded power can be a carrying tool, however.

45. Maxwell Romero Jr., C, Chatham (Third-year sophomore, Miami)

Romero Jr. this spring served as Vanderbilt’s backup catcher and arrived on the Cape following the Commodores’ runner-up finish at the College World Series. He helped stabilize Chatham’s catching position and took well to the Cape, hitting .264/.327/.495 with five home runs in 27 games.

Romero Jr. has a strong, 6-foot-1, 204-pound frame. The lefthanded hitter uses his lower half well to generate bat speed and above-average raw power. He’s an aggressive hitter and struck out 30 times in 101 plate appearances. His splits against lefthanded pitching are pronounced, though he barely faced any lefties this spring, so simply getting more reps could lead to progress. Defensively, he’s a solid receiver with a strong arm. Romero this summer transferred to Miami and how he responds to an everyday role next spring will be closely watched.

46. Max Anderson, 3B, Bourne (Sophomore, Nebraska)

Anderson this spring stood out as a freshman and helped Nebraska to the Big Ten title. He carried that success into the summer with Bourne, where he hit .282/.325/.430 with four home runs (including the playoffs).

Anderson stands out most for his feel at the plate. The righthanded hitter has quick hands and does a good job of putting the bat on the ball. His bat speed gives him solid power potential. He’s an aggressive hitter and doesn’t walk much, but he also doesn’t swing and miss often. Anderson has good hands and infield actions. He mostly played third base, but also saw some action on the right side of the infield. His feel for hitting makes him an intriguing prospect to track.

47. Trevor Martin, RHP, Chatham (Sophomore, Oklahoma State)

Martin this spring as a freshman was a key reliever for Oklahoma State. He again worked primarily out of the bullpen with Chatham but mixed in a couple starts and longer relief outings over the summer. He went 3-0, 2.79 with 27 strikeouts and nine walks in 19.1 innings.

Listed at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, Martin has a big frame and a powerful right arm. At his best, his fastball reaches 97-98 mph, but in longer outings or when he’s not fully rested, it more typically is in the low-to-mid 90s. His fastball has natural cutting action, which makes him tough on lefthanders. He pairs his fastball with a hard slider and can also throw a changeup but doesn’t use it much in short stints. Martin has a chance to develop as a starter, but there’s little question his stuff would play as a power reliever. He is a draft-eligible sophomore.

48. Dominic Johnson, OF, Hyannis (Sophomore, Kansas State)

Johnson was one of the fastest players in the 2020 draft class, but this spring never found his stride at Oklahoma State and got just 13 at-bats. He fared much better with Hyannis, where he hit .265/.365/.376 and led the league with 14 stolen bases.

Johnson has elite speed, and his game is based around it. Listed at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, the righthander can beat out ground balls for infield hits, stretch singles into doubles and is always a threat to steal. He can drive the ball into the gaps, but his swing is more geared for contact and power will never be a big part of his game. He struck out in 28% of his plate appearances, more than a player of his skill set would like, but that stems from his patient approach at the plate. His speed also plays on defense, and he has enough arm for any outfield position. Johnson is a draft-eligible sophomore.

49. Pres Cavenaugh, OF, Harwich (Third-year sophomore, UNC Greensboro)

Cavenaugh had an up-and-down spring at UNCG, but he was one of the most consistent hitters on the Cape. He hit .333/.413/.429 with seven stolen bases and finished second in the batting race to Clark Elliott (.344).

Cavenaugh stands out most for his hittability. The lefthanded hitter has a good feel for the barrel and makes a lot of contact. His approach, plate discipline and smooth swing help him to spray line drives. He has gap power and there’s room to develop more in time, but he’s likely to always be hit over power. Cavenaugh is an above-average runner and his instincts on the bases help it play up. He played in the outfield corners and his arm plays well in the outfield. Cavenaugh may get caught as a tweener, but his hittability makes him an intriguing prospect.

50. Owen Diodati, OF, Wareham (Third-year sophomore, Alabama)

Diodati has shown off his power at Alabama over the last two years and this summer brought that juice to Wareham. He hit .260/.325/.447 with seven home runs (including playoffs).

Diodati has a big, strong frame at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds. The lefthanded hitter has plus raw power and has proven adept at getting to it in games. He’s an aggressive hitter with a lot of loft in his swing and there is swing and miss in his game (he struck out in 27% of his plate appearances). He has some platoon concerns, as all seven of his home runs came against righthanders and his OPS had a dramatic split (.921 vs. RHP, .410 vs. LHP). He profiles best in left field. There’s a lot riding on Diodati’s bat, but his lefthanded power can be a carrying tool.