Cape Cod League Hot Sheet (6/19/23)
Welcome to the Cape Cod League Hot Sheet! Like our college and pro hot sheets, the Cape Cod League Hot Sheet recognizes some of the top performers around the Cape after each week of play. Geoff Pontes and Peter Flaherty contributed to the Cape Cod League Hot Sheet this week.
1. Ben Williamson, 3B, William and Mary
Team: Hyannis
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .500/.545/.700 (10-for-20), 1 R, 4 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBIs, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0-for-0 SB
The Scoop: No hitter on the Cape over the first week of the season has performed as well as Williamson has, as the William & Mary third baseman collected multiple hits in four out of five games. His signature game came in a 6-3 victory over Chatham on June 12, when Williamson went 4-for-4 with a walk, reaching base in all five of his plate appearances. A draft-eligible fourth-year player, Williamson hit .391/.513/.662 over 55 games in 2023 for the Tribe. (GP)
2. Sam Armstrong, RHP, Old Dominion
Team: Harwich
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 10 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 13 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: The draft-eligible righthander from Old Dominion has made two starts for Harwich against East division foes in Yarmouth-Dennis and Orleans and is yet to allow an earned run. Armstrong has a deep repertoire of pitches, using a low-90s fastball from a low release point, a low-80s slider with some sweep, a two-plane curveball, a mid-80s changeup and the occasional high-80s cutter. The New Jersey native has struck out six and seven batters, respectively, in his first two starts. (GP)
3. Billy Amick, 3B/OF, Clemson
Team: Hyannis
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .583/.667/1.167 (7-for-12), 6 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 2 BB, 3 SO, 0-for-0 SB
The Scoop: While Amick only played four games last week, he had a hit in every game in which he played. Amick has already tallied two multi-hit games, including a 2-for-2 showing against Falmouth on Wednesday when he reached base in all three plate appearances and a 3-for-4 game in a loss against Bourne on Friday when he hit two home runs and drove in four. Amick has started three games at third base and one in right field, and he looks like a potential breakout candidate this summer. (GP)
4. Tanner Thach, 1B/OF, UNC Wilmington
Team: Cotuit
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .429/.579/.929 (6-for-14), 5 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 2 RBIs, 3 BB, 1 SO, 1-for-1 SB
The Scoop: One of the standout underclassmen over the first week of the season, Thach has provided some pop to the Cotuit lineup. After collecting one hit across his first two starts, Thach caught fire over the weekend, going a combined 5-for-8 over the final two games of the week. He went 3-for-4 on Friday with two home runs and a walk against Orleans before following that up with a 2-for-4 showing against Chatham on Sunday. A two-way talent, Thach is up to 92 mph on the mound and should see some time as a reliever for the Kettleers this summer. (GP)
5. Joe Whitman, LHP, Kent State
Team: Cotuit
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: After two seasons at Purdue, Whitman transferred to Kent State for the 2023 spring season. He made 15 starts, compiling a 9-1 record with a 2.56 ERA and 100 strikeouts to 29 walks over 81 innings. In his first Cape Cod League start of 2023, Whitman dazzled, tossing five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out 11 with no walks. Whitman sat 91-94 mph, touching 95 mph, with a plus slider sitting in the low 80s with spin rates in the 2,600-2,800 range and a changeup. This was Whitman’s one and only start for the Kettleers this summer as he prepares for the MLB draft next month. (GP)
6. Nathan Archer, OF, Yarmouth-Dennis
Team: Bowling Green
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .429/.429/.714 (9-for-21), 4 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 0 BB, 6 SO, 0-for-1 SB
The Scoop: The 2024 draft-eligible outfielder opened the season hot, as he collected a hit in each of his first five games. Over that stretch Archer had three multi-hit efforts and hit a homer in back-to-back games on Monday and Tuesday. Archer is aggressive at the plate and his approach served him well as he collected nine hits over his first five Cape Cod League contests. While Archer looks to make contact, his aggressive approach does come with quite a few strikeouts—Archer has six strikeouts across six Cape Cod League games. (GP)
7. Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State
Team: Hyannis
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: The freshman lefthander has been nearly untouchable in his first three appearances for Hyannis, with 11 strikeouts against the first 17 batters he’s faced. Arnold hides the ball extremely well and attacks hitters from a difficult sidearm slot. He features a low-90s fastball and a high-70s slider. The slider is a nightmare for lefthanded hitters in particular, as it will start behind their back and end up over the plate. Arnold has an easy, effortless operation and will play a prominent role this summer for the Harbor Hawks.
8. Hunter Hines, 1B/OF, Mississippi State
Team: Yarmouth-Dennis
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .400/.419/.700 (12-for-30), 6 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 11 RBIs, 1 BB, 3 SO, 3-for-3 SB
The Scoop: Hines has enjoyed a strong first week for Yarmouth-Dennis, headlined by a 3-for-4, three-RBI performance in which he doubled and hit a home run. Hines has recorded at least two hits in each of his last five games, and his two home runs and 11 RBIs are tops in the league. The 6-foot-4 first baseman has plus raw power, particularly to the pull side. His profile will play quite nicely at the hitter-friendly confines of Red Wilson Field.
9. Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
Team: Chatham
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: Prior to pitching for Team USA’s Collegiate National Team, Brecht has made his way out to the Cape, where he will make a handful of starts for Chatham. Brecht has some of the best pure stuff of any pitcher in all of college baseball and it was on full display in his first start. His fastball sat in the 94-97 mph range, while his hellacious mid-80s slider was his go-to out pitch. Although his time on the Cape will be short lived, Brecht figures to make a big-time impact for head coach Tom Holliday.
10. Brett Bateman, OF, Minnesota
Team: Cotuit
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .429/.500/.571 (9-for-21), 5 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 7 RBIs, 3 BB, 1 SO, 3-for-4 SB
The Scoop: A 2023 draft-eligible player, the Golden Gophers outfielder has been on a tear to begin the Cape Cod League season. With a game predicated on contact and speed, Bateman is a perfect fit for Cotuit and coach Mike Roberts. Bateman has a hit in all six games for the Kettleers, including multi-hit efforts in each of his last three games. A potential later-round pick, Bateman is showing his contact skills, speed and defensive prowess early. (GP)
11. Jay Driver, RHP, Harvard
Team: Hyannis
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: Driver has been excellent in his first two appearances for the Harbor Hawks, with nine strikeouts across seven shutout innings. He has flashed his trademark power sinker-slider combination, with each offering profiling as a plus pitch in the early going. His sinker has been clocked as high as 95 mph, while his slider has serious horizontal movement. Another positive development for Driver’s arsenal has been his changeup. While it is still a work in progress, the usage is up and provides a different look for hitters. Driver is on track to be selected at some point in the middle of day two in this July’s draft. (PF)
12. Camron Hill, LHP, Georgia Tech
Team: Cotuit
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: 2-0, 0.00, 6.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: The 2024 draft-eligible lefthander has made three relief appearances for Cotuit and is yet to allow an earned run across 6.1 innings of work. He’s struck out 11 of the 23 batters he’s faced, allowing only four to reach base. His best outing came on Sunday as he struck out six Chatham batters across 2.2 scoreless innings to secure the win for the Kettleers. Hill is a tall lefthander with a crossfire delivery that works off of a nasty one-two combination in his four-seam fastball at 91-94 mph and a sweepy slider that profiles as a potential plus offering. (GP)
