2023 Cape Cod League Top 50 Prospects

3. Derek Bender, C, Bourne 

Coastal Carolina

Bender was the heart and soul of league champion Bourne this summer and was a key reason why the Braves repeated as Cape champions. As a Coastal Carolina sophomore, Bender had a breakout campaign in which he hit .341 with 19 home runs and 81 RBIs in 62 games. 

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound backstop did not miss a beat on the Cape. He hit an impressive .374/.446/.557 with four home runs and a league-leading 18 stolen bases in 31 games. 

Bender stands slightly crouched in the box with the head of his bat already pointed toward the pitcher, a pre-pitch setup that allows him to further tip his barrel in his load. He has neither a big leg kick nor sizable stride, but his barrel explodes through the zone. He does an excellent job of catching the baseball out front to generate plus power to all fields. While his chase rate was high at 31%, Bender improved his approach and saw his chase rates drop during the season.  

Defensively, Bender showed off his versatility with games at first base, catcher and even the outfield. His defense behind the dish is a work in progress. His arm is average, and Bender likely profiles best as a bat-first first baseman in pro ball. 

4. JJ Wetherholt, 2B, Chatham

West Virginia

This spring at West Virginia, Wetherholt emerged as one of the premier hitters in college baseball by hitting a Division I-leading .449 with 42 extra-base hits, 60 RBIs, 36 stolen bases and more walks (26) than strikeouts (22). 

While his time on the Cape was limited, Wetherholt made the most of his eight games for Chatham going 9-for-28 (.321) with four doubles, a home run and eight RBIs. He has excellent bat-to-ball skills and feel for the barrel, boasting an overall in-zone contact rate of 94%. 

Though Wetherholt stands in at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, he has serious thump in his bat and consistently generates hard contact. He sprays line drives to all fields and has plus bat speed with a seriously whippy barrel. Wetherholt’s hit tool grades out as a 70, and he is perhaps the best pure hitter in the 2024 draft class. 

Westerholt has average power but still figures to be good for 12-15 home runs as a pro. He is a plus runner who plays fast and really pushes the pace on opposing defenses and pitchers. 

5. Seaver King, 2B/3B, Harwich

Wake Forest

Nobody in college baseball saw their draft stock skyrocket this season as much as King, the Division II Wingate (N.C.) star who transferred to Wake Forest for the 2024 season.

The uber-athletic infielder hit .411 this spring with 11 home runs. Though he played in just 16 games this summer for Harwich, King cemented himself both as one of the best players on the Cape and a likely first-rounder next summer. He wound up hitting .424/.479/.542 with a home run and five stolen bases.

King has an extremely explosive operation at the plate, with a low handset and plus bat speed. He continues to make progress in his approach, but he already has displayed above-average bat-to-ball skills. With two strikes, King will widen his base and eliminate his stride, which enables him to more consistently move the baseball. 

He has above-average raw power, mainly to his pull side, and an advanced hit tool. King has consistently turned in 70-grade run times and is smart on the basepaths. His athleticism will allow him to stick on the dirt, most likely at second base in pro ball.  

6. Cole Mathis, 1B/RHP, Cotuit 

College of Charleston

Mathis burst onto the scene this summer, quickly establishing himself as one of the best two-way talents in the nation. In the spring, he tore up the Colonial Athletic Association, hitting .330 with nine home runs and going 5-1, 3.45 in 60 innings. 

On the Cape, Mathis hit .318/.381/.667 and finished second in the league in both home runs (11) and RBIs (42). He uses a low handset with a small load. His hands explode through the strike zone and he backspins the ball with ease to all fields. 

Mathis had no trouble going with pitches on the outer half of the plate and shooting the ball into the right-center gap. The only potential hole in his approach was at times he struggled picking up spin, but overall he had strong swing decisions. 

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Mathis also shined on the mound, flashing a fastball up to 96 mph and a plus curveball with sharp, downward action and plenty of depth. Across 20 innings he struck out 23 and walked five. 

Mathis is an average runner and athlete. He plays primarily first base but has experience at third base, which is where he could play next spring. His work ethic is off the charts and he exudes a quiet confidence that is a real asset on the field.

7. Nick McLain, OF, Wareham 

Arizona State

The youngest of the three McLain brothers, Nick went undrafted in 2021 because of his strong commitment to UCLA, where oldest brother Matt played. He missed all of his freshman year with a back injury and transferred to Arizona State, where middle brother Sean played.

Nick broke his hamate bone a week before ASU’s season and did not debut until April 11. He hit .298/.391/.649 with eight home runs and 15 walks to 19 strikeouts. The switch-hitter joined Wareham in the second week of the Cape season. 

McLain showed advanced plate discipline, above-average bat-to-ball skills and above-average power from the left side of the plate, hitting .329/.414/.521 with four home runs, an 82% contact rate and a 21% chase rate. He hit just .160 batting righthanded. 

McLain saw the majority of his time in right field, where his plus running ability and strong arm were assets. 

8. Camron Hill, LHP, Cotuit 

Georgia Tech

In a down summer for Cape pitching, Hill shined the brightest. In many ways, Hill wasn’t a likely candidate for dominance because he struggled badly for the Yellowjackets in the spring, allowing 26 earned runs over 29.1 innings. 

During his time with Cotuit on the Cape it was a much different story. Hill allowed just four earned runs in 33 innings while striking out 45 and walking 16.

A tall and athletic 6-foot-6 southpaw, Hill mixed three pitches throughout the summer in his 91-93 mph fastball, 77-80 slider and low-80s changeup. Each of his pitches generated whiff rates of 35% or higher. Both his fastball and changeup trail his slider as far as feel and the ability to miss bats in and out of the zone. 

Hill does a good job of attacking high with his four-seam fastball, mixing in his slider as his primary secondary and using his changeup interchangeably with his slider against righthanded hitters. His ability to throw all of his pitches for strikes at an average or better rate with the ability to miss bats with all three gives Hill the look of a potential lefthanded starter with room to grow into more velocity. 

9. Jo Oyama, 2B, Orleans

UC Irvine 

While Oyama went undrafted this July, he may have hit his way into a top-10-rounds pick in 2024. No player in the East Division was as consistent this summer. 

A native of Okinawa, Japan, Oyama moved to the U.S. to play baseball four years ago. With little to no knowledge of English, he enrolled at Merced (Calif.) JC and spent three seasons there before transferring to UC Irvine. 

Oyama hit .319/.418/.500 with seven home runs and 14 stolen bases for the Anteaters this spring. He joined Orleans during the first week of the Cape season and started 46 games, including the playoffs. Oyama hit .360/.456/.613 with five home runs in the regular season before hitting two home runs in the win-or-go-home third game versus Bourne. 

It was a magical summer for Oyama, who displayed a well-rounded game with impact on both sides of the field. He has above-average bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline with sneaky gap-to-gap power and above-average baserunning ability. 

He’s a solid-average second baseman who can fill in around the diamond but is best suited at the keystone. 

10. Jonathan Vastine, SS, Bourne

Vanderbilt

Lauded for his gritty play as a prep, Vastine went undrafted out of Barstow (Fla.) High in 2021 because of his strong commitment to Vanderbilt. He appeared in 30 games for the Commodores as a freshman but hit just .196. 

He spent the 2022 summer in the Northwoods League and earned a starting role for Vanderbilt as a sophomore. He hit .287/.355/.448 with five home runs in 62 games. He joined Bourne during the second week of the Cape season and was a mainstay for the Braves all summer. He hit .306/.397/.430 while providing strong defense on a nightly basis. 

Vastine’s offensive game is predicated on his above-average bat-to-ball skills. He can get overly aggressive at the plate, but his ability to make contact often bails him out of fringy swing decisions. Overall, he shows moderate patience at the plate and has below-average power but could grow into more as he adds strength. 

Vastine is a plus defender at shortstop with strong glove work, hands and range. His arm is merely average but his release is quick and he shows a good internal clock.

11. Braden Montgomery, OF/RHP, Yarmouth-Dennis

Texas A&M

Montgomery shocked the college baseball world when he entered the transfer portal after producing a .315/.414/.603 slash line with 30 doubles and 35 home runs over the course of his two seasons at Stanford. This year was the best for the 6-foot-3, 215-pound two-way sensation as he hit .336 with 14 doubles, 17 home runs and 61 RBIs. Montgomery saw his swing decisions improve by leaps and bounds, leading to his walk rate skyrocketing from 6.5% to 16.5%. He has thunderous raw power from both sides of the plate, showing off above-average hand speed and a beautiful finish. Montgomery is an average runner who is far from a clogger and someone who will steal a base from time to time.

In the field, Montgomery tracks the baseball well and has a legitimate 70-grade arm. He will without a doubt stick in right field professionally and he has 25-30 home run upside. While he has a clean delivery and premium velocity with a fastball that tops out at 99 mph, Montgomery lacks polish on the mound. He has below-average control and is much more a thrower than a pitcher right now. The Aggies are likely to use him in a late-inning role where he can rely on blowing his fastball by opposing hitters. 

Long term, Montgomery projects to be a hitter only. This July, he is seeking to be the first Aggie drafted in the top 10 overall picks since Asa Lacy was selected fourth overall in 2020.

12. Matt Halbach, 3B, Orleans

UC San Diego

One of the best pure hitters on the Cape this summer, Halbach showed an uncanny ability to punish fastballs while limiting his swing and miss. Over two seasons with UC San Diego, Halbach has hit .291/.378/.472 over 102 games for the Tritons. He was selected to the All-Big West first team in 2023 after hitting .306/.406/.500 with 25 extra-base hits. 

Over the summer with Orelans Halbach showed the ability to make consistent all-fields contact with a balance of contact hitting and power. He showed near equal abilities against lefthanded and righthanded pitching while boasting one of the lowest swinging strike rates against fastballs in the league. 

Halbach hit .364/.455/.512 over 32 games with the Firebirds, finishing with the highest batting average in the East Division and fourth in the entire CCBL. Halbach has a short, hands-driven swing with good bat speed and a two-handed finish. While his game power now is fringe-average, Halbach shows the attributes to tap into more raw power with some tweaks. 

While Halbach has played third base with UC San Diego, his primary position this summer was first base. In order to fit in as a righthanded-hitting and throwing first baseman, Halbach will have to hit and hit for power. Despite these questions, Halbach will likely go in the fifth-to-seventh-round range in the 2024 draft. 

13. James Tibbs, OF, Brewster

Florida State

One of the better sluggers on the Cape this summer, Tibbs was fresh off a breakout sophomore campaign where he hit .339/.471/.682 with 17 home runs for the Seminoles. With a boxy 6-foot, 200-pound frame with broad shoulders and strong wrists, Tibbs looks like your prototypical power-hitting left fielder. Tibbs continued to hit for power on the Cape while showing solid contact skills and on-base ability, hitting .303/.390/.472 with six doubles and six home runs over 40 games with the Whitecaps. 

Over the course of the summer he showed the ability to stay within his approach, avoided expanding the zone and showed remarkable consistency against all pitch types. He does a majority of his damage against fastballs and showed the ability to catch up to velocity. While Tibbs isn’t the biggest player physically, he gets the most out of his power with bat speed and strong hands and wrists. He has a pull-heavy approach with his best contact but shows the ability to go the opposite way. Over the course of the summer Tibbs performed against lefthanders, hitting .349/.451/.442 over 51 plate appearances. 

Tibbs is more than just a power hitter, with a refined approach and at least average bat-to-ball skills. He’s a fringe-average runner who’s best suited for an outfield corner defensively. Tibbs will return to Florida State looking to build on the momentum of 2023. 

14. Caden Bodine, C, Bourne

Coastal Carolina 

One of the top freshmen in the country, Bodine hit .367/.456/.609 with 11 home runs over 56 starts for Coastal. He was selected as the Sun Belt Conference freshman of the year and made the All-Sun Belt first team. He made 26 starts for Bourne, 13 behind the plate, hitting .384/.491/.454 over 26 games and earning a selection to the West Division all-star team. Bodine departed following the All-Star Game but was one of the top 2025 draft prospects on the circuit this summer. 

A switch-hitter, Bodine shows consistent approach and contact from both sides of the plate, but his power this summer greatly favored his righthanded swing. Bodine hit .562/.588/.750 against lefthanded pitching this summer, collecting all of his extra-base hits against lefties. Against righanders Bodine is more contact and approach oriented, he’s far more passive from the left side, looking to drive the ball up the middle and go the other way. His lefthanded swing is far more top-hand dominant, while his righthanded swing is powerful and loose. 

Behind the plate Bodine shows a strong throwing arm with the ability to keep runners honest. His receiving is fringe-average and an area that likely needs improvement long term. He’s a strong overall talent with a refined set of plate skills, some power and the ability to stick behind the plate long term. 

15. Tristan Smith, LHP, Bourne

Clemson

A draft eligible sophomore, who impressed the season with Clemson. Smith made 24 appearances for the Tigers, the spring striking out 43 batters over 31.2 innings pitched. He worked in a variety of roles during his freshman campaign, working as a starter reliever and occasional closer. Smith mixes a quartet of pitches with interesting shapes, delivering all of his offerings from a deceptive low three quarter arm slot. 

Smith’s primary pitch is his low 90s fastball with above average induced vertical break and armside run. This fastball shape with heavy bore coming from Smith’s low lefthanded slot allows the pitch to play above its velocity. During the summer season, Smith generated whiffs at a 31% rate against his fastball. Smith’s primary secondary is a low 80s slider with heavy cut. Smith didn’t show any bias in terms of pitch usage deploying the slider regularly against right handed hitters. By the same token Smith was comfortable using his low 80s change up and left and left situations. He’ll mix in an upper-70s curveball with more depth than his slider. 

While command proved to be a thorn in Smith’s side during the spring season with Clemson, he showed average strike-throwing skills on the Cape walking just 10 batters over 23 innings. Smith is a draft eligible sophomore with a combination of stuff, deception, pitchability and projection. If he pitches well for Clemson this spring he may work his way into the day one draft conversation. 

16. Cade Obermueller, LHP, Hyannis

Iowa

Obermueller is a lefthanded power sidearmer with a filthy two-pitch mix who’s worked primarily as a reliever as a collegiate. During his freshman campaign Obermueller struggled with command for Iowa but showcased exceptional swing-and-miss stuff. Throughout the summer Obermueller was deployed by Hyannis as a reliever, typically getting between four to six outs. 

With a low sidearm slot from the left side Obermueller’s operation creates natural deception. He dominated lefthanded hitters this summer with his low-80s sweeping slider, using the pitch 56% of the time in same side matchups. Obermueller generated whiffs against lefthanded hitters at a rate of 63% against the slider. 

Against righthanders his approach becomes fastball dominant; his sinker sits 92-94 mph and touches 97 mph at peak. His sinker-focused plan of attack to righthanders yielded heavy rates of ground balls and whiffs, compensating for the lack of a true secondary in offhanded matchups. 

Obermueller is an undersized lefthander with excellent stuff and plenty of deception, but there are questions around his command and ability to make the jump to a starter in the future. 

17. Caleb Lomavita, C, Cotuit 

California  

Over the past two years, Lomavita has established himself as one of the best catchers in college baseball. He hit .316 this spring with 13 doubles, 16 home runs and 43 RBIs in 48 games for the Golden Bears, and this summer he was selected to play in the all-star game for the second time in as many years after hitting .329 with five doubles and three home runs. One adjustment this summer that paid dividends for Lomavita was widening his base and eliminating his stride. Lomavita picked up spin much better in his new setup without sacrificing any of his power. 

The 5-foot-11 backstop has a unique profile for a catcher in that he is an above-average runner, a great athlete and has a lengthy offensive track record. Lomavita has plus raw power and an above-average hit tool. Behind the plate, he has an above-average throwing arm and his receiving and defense have each improved drastically. This spring he will again anchor California’s lineup and could be the Golden Bears’ second first-round draft pick in the last three years.

18. Will Turner, OF, Brewster 

South Alabama

Turner starred this spring for South Alabama, raking his way to a .349 average with 30 extra-base hits, 52 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He carried over his spring success into the summer, hitting .295 with two doubles, two home runs and 16 RBIs. Turner has an extremely athletic build at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds with some present physicality. He has loose, quick hands and generates serious “buggy whip” with the barrel. This summer he showed above-average raw power to the pull side and an advanced hit tool. Turner has a keen eye at the plate and strong bat-to-ball skills. 

He is an outstanding defender in center field where he has great instincts, plenty of range into either gap and a plus throwing arm. Turner has turned in plus run times and is comfortably an above-average runner. Turner heads into the 2024 season as one of the best mid-major players in all of college baseball and is on his way to being the highest South Alabama draft pick since Ethan Wilson was selected 49th overall in 2021.

19. Davis Diaz, 3B, Brewster

Vanderbilt

Following a strong sophomore season for the Commodores, Diaz shined in Brewster this summer. The athletic infielder hit .284 with five doubles, three home runs and 16 RBIs. Diaz has both an advanced approach and bat-to-ball skills as evidenced by his 18% overall chase rate and 93% overall in-zone contact rate. He has a quiet, in-sync operation and his hands explode through the zone. Diaz does an excellent job of extending through the baseball and finishing his swing, which allows him to really drive the baseball. He currently has average raw power and an above-average hit tool. 

Diaz will stick on the dirt somewhere, it is just a matter of where. This summer he looked good at shortstop with smooth actions and an above-average arm. Diaz also has plenty of experience at third base, which is where he spent most of his time. His arm more than plays at the position and he has good range in either direction. With continued success this spring, Diaz has a chance to hear his name called inside the top three rounds of the draft.

20. RJ Austin, OF/2B, Yarmouth-Dennis

Vanderbilt

Austin impressed in his true freshman season for the Commodores, hitting .257 with 11 doubles, seven home runs and 43 RBIs. True freshmen hitters tend to struggle on the Cape, but Austin is a unique case of a freshman thriving. Austin hit .327 with a pair of doubles, a home run and 13 RBIs for Yarmouth-Dennis. He has a high leg kick at the plate, but did a nice job of getting his front foot down in time. 

Austin swings a quick bat and showed some present power to the pull side. At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Austin projects to add some physicality to his frame which will translate to more power. While he did struggle against spin, Austin had an advanced approach and sound swing decisions. 

Defensively, Austin fits best somewhere in the outfield. With a crowded Commodores infield this spring, expect Austin to potentially man center field, where his speed and athleticism will shine. His defensive future professionally is more murky, but it is something that will work itself out over the course of the next couple of seasons. Austin is not draft eligible until 2025, but expect the rising sophomore to earn an invitation to Team USA’s Collegiate National Team next summer. In 2025, Austin is a likely top-three round draft choice.

21. Greysen Carter, RHP, Orleans

Vanderbilt

A 6-foot-5 righthander with a high-powered arsenal, Carter is a high-level athlete with a strong build. He was ranked as the No. 167 player in the 2021 draft out of high school, but matriculated to campus at Vanderbilt. Over two seasons with the Commodores he had solid results mostly out of the bullpen but he did see seven starts for the Commodores this spring. Over the summer with Orleans, Carter established himself as one of the top pitching prospects on the Cape.

Carter throws a trio of pitches in a four-seam fastball in the upper 90s, an upper-80s changeup and an upper-70s breaking ball, showing good velocity separation among his three pitches. His arsenal is fastball dominant, as he threw 87% fastballs this summer. There’s a good reason behind it as Carter’s fastball sits 96-99 mph, touching 100 mph at peak with heavy cut. His fastball’s movement profile makes it a true cut fastball with premium velocity. It’s a real plus pitch and the results speak for themselves. 

Despite an 87% usage rate, Cape hitters batted just .122/.233/.149 against the pitch with a 30% whiff rate and a 64% groundball rate. It’s easy to say Carter had the best fastball among Cape starters this summer, with that combination of power, movement and results. His secondaries lagged behind as they were hardly used. His curveball is a two-plane high-70s breaking ball with low spin rates and his changeup is an upper-80s pitch with moderate tumble and fade. 

Carter has the type of pitch mix that can work in a variety of roles, as his fastball is a weapon that would immediately work in high-leverage situations as a professional. His command is well below-average as strike-throwing was a continued issue for Carter this summer. While he showed improvement in this area, it’s something Carter will need to show further refinement with this spring to avoid a permanent move to the bullpen in pro ball.

22. Derek Clark, LHP, Orleans 

West Virginia

Clark was one of the most effective arms at the Division II level this spring, pitching his way to a 2.78 ERA with an impressive 104-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 103.2 innings pitched. While the vast majority of pitchers would be shut down for the summer after such a large workload, Clark was in Orleans from the first pitch of the season all the way until the last. He was used in every role imaginable on the mound and was the workhorse of the Firebirds pitching staff. On the summer, Clark had a 1.80 ERA with 38 strikeouts to just 10 walks across a staff-high 40 innings pitched.

The 5-foot-8 southpaw boasts an effective three-pitch mix that features a fastball, a slider and a changeup. Clark hides the baseball incredibly well, allowing his high-80s fastball to play harder than the velocity might suggest. Both his slider and changeup are above-average pitches, and this summer each had a miss rate north of 40%. Clark’s most impressive trait on the mound is his pitchability. He has advanced feel and command for all three of his offerings, and he sequences his pitches well.

Clark’s ceiling professionally is an effective fifth starter, but if he continues the momentum he built this summer into the spring he figures to be selected early on day three of the draft.

23. Jaime Ferrer, OF, Brewster

Florida State

Over two seasons with Florida State Ferrer has been remarkably consistent, hitting .322/.404/.536 over 113 games with the Seminoles. He shows a good balance of all-around skills at the plate with above-average bat-to-ball skills, average swing decisions and average power. Ferrer was consistent as always this summer, hitting .313/.420/.458 over 31 games with the Whitecaps. 

While Ferrer’s game is heavily reliant on his bat-to-ball skills he doesn’t sell out for contact. His righthanded swing is short to the ball with a good attack angle allowing him to pull pitches on the inner half to his pull side. Ferrer rarely uses the opposite side of the field, showing the ability to hit balls on the outer half back up the middle. 

It’s a bat-first profile as Ferrer is a fringe-average runner who’s best suited for the corner outfield, where his above-average throwing arm is an asset, as he recorded four outfield assists this summer with Brewster. A potential fourth-to-sixth-round option entering next spring, Ferrer will look to take another step forward in his pre-draft season with the Seminoles. 

24. Hunter Hines, 1B, Yarmouth-Dennis 

Mississippi State

Hines is a hulking 6-foot-4, 220-pound first baseman who this spring emerged as one of the biggest power threats in all of college baseball. He hit .297 with 12 doubles, 22 home runs and 61 RBIs across 52 games. This summer, Hines led the league in both home runs (13) and RBIs (45). His 13 home runs were the highest single-season total since Bobby Dalbec hit 12 in 2015. 

He stands in the box with a slightly open front side and low handset. Hines has average bat and hand speed, but his sheer strength and long arms allow him to hammer the baseball to all fields. Hines’ rather uphill swing is a double-edged sword: on one hand, he can get the ball up in the air consistently, but he also has big time swing-and-miss issues. This summer he had an overall miss rate of 38% and struggled to pick up spin. Hines is a below-average runner who is limited to first base defensively, but he has legitimate 70-grade raw power. Professionally, he will have 35-plus home run upside.

Hines will be one of the most coveted power bats in this year’s draft with a chance to be selected in the first four or five rounds.

25. Kaeden Kent, 1B/3B, Chatham

Texas A&M

The son of former NL MVP Jeff Kent, Kaeden is a tall and projectable lefthanded-hitting corner infielder coming off a middling freshman campaign for Texas A&M. The 6-foot-3 Kent looks the part of a future slugger, with room to add strength and tap into more of his raw power in games. He hit .329/.405/.430 for the Anglers this summer, finishing fourth in the league in hits with 49. He was selected to the East Division all-star team. 

Boasting a moderately aggressive approach at the plate, Kent impressed throughout the summer with his ability to make consistent contact against a variety of pitch types. Despite longer levers, Kent’s strength as a hitter is his ability to make contact. He showed little to no trouble against spin, making contact at an average rate while maintaining his approach. His swinging strike rate this summer against breaking pitches was just 10%. 

A flat bat path and level plane allow Kent to hit pitches in a variety of locations, but likely limit his best hit balls to line drives. He’s sound mechanically with very few moving parts outside of a moderate stride. With loose hands and above-average bat speed, Kent should add power in the coming years. He’s an intriguing draft prospect for the 2025 cycle with strong plate skills and power projection. 

26. Bryce Eblin, 2B, Bourne

Alabama

A member of the back-to-back CCBL champion Bourne teams, Eblin is a polished contact-oriented hitter with the ability to spray line drives all over the field with average running ability. Eblin was draft eligible in 2023 but went undrafted in the 20-round draft. He played in 40 games with the Braves and was selected to the West Division all-star team as he hit .367/.429/.392, finishing tied for fifth in the Cape Cod League in hits. 

Eblin’s game is centered around his ability to make consistent contact. He made contact on 85% of the pitches he swung at this summer. He will expand the zone, but his plus contact skills allow him to get away with aggressive swing decisions. 

He has very limited power based on the exit velocity data as well as spray charts. It’s rare to see Eblin hit anything in the air with authority as his batted ball profile greatly favors groundball and line drive contact. He uses the whole field and is rarely if ever beaten in-zone. 

He can handle premium velocity, hitting six of the 25 strikes he saw at 95-plus mph this summer into play while just swinging and missing at four pitches at 95 mph or higher. 

A hit tool-driven second baseman who lacks loud tools to buoy his profile, Eblin is a polished hitter with a refined approach to the game. 

27. Sean Matson, RHP, Orleans

Harvard

Matson was far and away the best reliever in the league this summer, pitching his way to a sparkling 0.00 ERA with 26 strikeouts to three walks across 21.2 innings pitched. He relied heavily on his effective fastball-slider combination, with each offering generating its fair share of swing and miss. Matson’s fastball has tons of life through the strike zone and is at its best when elevated. His low-80s slider is a plus pitch with sharp, two-plane break and this summer had a miss rate of 42%. Matson throws from a near over-the-top slot with a short arm action and present arm speed. 

After pitching out of the rotation in each of his first two years at Harvard, Matson figures to make the shift to the bullpen full time this spring. While his draft ceiling is somewhat limited due to his reliever status, Matson has a chance to be drafted in the top 10 rounds as one of the premier relief pitchers in college baseball.

28. Danny Avitia, RHP, Orleans 

Grand Canyon

Avitia is a low slot righthanded changeup artist with a low-90s fastball and a sweepy slider in the upper 70s. Avitia was selected by the Cubs in the 19th round of the 2021 draft out of high school but failed to sign and honored his commitment to GCU. 

After two seasons at Grand Canyon, Avitia is coming off a WAC pitcher of the year award as a freshman in 2022 and consecutive WAC first team honors. This summer Avitia was the ace of the Orleans staff, making six starts for the Firebirds, allowing five earned runs over 27.2 innings while striking out 24 batters to 14 walks. 

While Avitia didn’t dominate opposing lineups with swing and miss he did keep hitters off balance with a trio of shapes while generating ground balls at a rate of 53%. Avitia’s bread and butter is his changeup, using the pitch as his primary secondary regardless of matchup. In fact, Avitia’s changeup might be at its most effective in right on right matchups. The pitch has the highest whiff rate of any of Avitia’s pitches against both righthanders and lefthanders. 

He’ll mix in a slider with sweep against righthanders but it’s a change-of-pace pitch to throw hitters off the scent of his fastball and changeup plan of attack. 

29. Deric Fabian, SS, Chatham

Auburn

Following a spring season in which he registered just 38 at-bats, Fabian had an outstanding summer for the Chatham Anglers. The 6-foot-3 shortstop was the Anglers’ best hitter, boasting a .353 average with 20 RBIs and a team-leading five home runs. At the plate, Fabian has a direct path to contact and his barrel really accelerates through the strike zone. With two strikes, he widens his base and eliminates his stride which enables him to put the ball in play more consistently. Fabian has above-average power to the pull side, and with some added physicality to his wiry frame he will naturally add impact.

Fabian has clean actions at shortstop with quick feet and an above-average arm. Fabian will have a key role this spring at Auburn, where he projects to be the Tigers’ everyday shortstop. Should Fabian carry over his standout summer into the spring, he figures to be a day two selection.

30. Zach Ehrhard, OF, Hyannis

Oklahoma State

Ehrhard’s season made for one of the best stories in the Cape League as after a tough 0-for-25 stretch to start his summer, the rising junior outfielder went 35-for-93 (.376) from June 30 onward to finish the regular season with a .297 average along with four extra-base hits and 18 RBI. The 5-foot-11 Ehrhard has plus bat-to-ball skills with an impressive in-zone contact rate of 94%, as well as a professional approach. Ehrhard has some physicality in his lower half and has big time hand speed with an explosive back side. 

He plays the game at one speed and as a plus runner, he really pushes the pace on opposing pitchers. Ehrhard this summer stole 11 bases and also demonstrated a knack for taking an extra base on a ball hit in the gap or down the line. He is a problem causer in the best way possible.

In the outfield, Ehrhard is a great athlete with a quick first step. He takes crisp routes to the baseball and has an above average throwing arm which will allow him to stick in either center or right field professionally. Ehrhard will hit in the top half of the always high-powered Oklahoma State lineup where he will look to establish himself as a middle round draft choice.

31. Nick Mitchell, OF, Hyannis

Indiana

Mitchell burst onto the scene last summer following an impressive summer in the Northwoods League where he hit .372 with 24 extra-base hits, more walks (39) than strikeouts (24) and 16 stolen bases. This spring, he slashed .354/.454/.568 with 27 extra base-hits and more walks (33) than strikeouts (25). For the Harbor Hawks this summer, Mitchell was an all-star selection after hitting .258 with seven extra-base hits. Mitchell’s calling card is his plus bat-to-ball skills, as he ran an overall contact rate of 88% for the summer. Against fastballs and sliders, his overall contact rate was a whopping 93% and 96%, respectively. 

Mitchell has excellent feel for the barrel with some quickness to his hands and while he has below-average power, he makes up for it with a plus hit tool. He is a plus runner whose speed enables him to have plenty of range in the outfield. Long term, Mitchell projects as a left fielder. He projects as a top-10 round pick this July. 

32. Finnegan Wall, RHP, Yarmouth-Dennis

UC Irvine

Wall spent most of his time this spring pitching out of the bullpen, and across 41.1 innings he logged a 4.35 ERA with 35 strikeouts to 12 walks. This summer, he made seven appearances (all starts) and pitched his way to a 2.91 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched. Wall has a three-pitch mix that includes a fastball, slider and changeup. While his fastball sits in the 88-91 mph range, it is still an effective offering thanks to his advanced command of the pitch and its run and ride through the strike zone. Both his slider and changeup flashed above-average this summer, with the changeup showing plus potential. 

The 6-foot-2 righthander attacks from a difficult-to-pick-up, high three-quarter slot and has a short, quick arm action. There is some natural deception in Wall’s delivery which plays in his favor. He is a pitchability-over-stuff arm with fourth starter upside, but is still likely to be a day two draft choice with a successful spring as a weekend starter. 

33. Jack Penney, 3B, Orleans

Notre Dame

Penney performed well for the Fighting Irish this spring, belting a team-leading 10 home runs with 27 RBIs. Over the course of the summer, he established himself as one of the more reliable bats in the Orleans order. Along with his .275 average, Penney’s five home runs and 22 RBIs were each tied for the team lead. He has a simple setup at the plate with an open front side and a smooth, contact-oriented swing. Penney has a tick above-average raw power, and this summer showed off his advanced feel for the barrel. 

Penney is a solid defender at third with an average arm and although he played 15 games at shortstop, his long-term future is over at the hot corner. The game never appeared to really speed up on Penney, which is a testament to his poise and level-headedness. Penney is a good all-around player who should have a reasonably high floor professionally. He profiles as a day two pick in 2024.

34. Kaelen Culpepper, 3B, Kansas State

Culpepper had a fantastic spring at Kansas State, hitting .325 with 18 extra-base hits and 41 RBIs across 40 games played. His performance earned him an invitation to Team USA’s Collegiate National Team, where he performed well. Culpepper’s stint with the Stars and Stripes limited his time on the Cape to just 17 games, but he continued to cement himself as a likely top-three round draft pick. He hit .270 with a trio of doubles, seven RBIs, six stolen bases and walked (eight) nearly as much as he struck out (10). 

Culpepper has a rhythmic operation in the box with above-average bat speed, an engaged back side and plenty of torque in his lower half. There is some physicality to his 6-foot, 193-pound frame, but he is also a borderline plus runner. Culpepper defends well at third base, showing off ample range in either direction and a plus throwing arm. Culpepper is athletic enough to man shortstop, which is where he is likely to play this spring after the departure of 2023 seventh-round draft pick, Nick Goodwin. He has day one upside in this year’s draft.

35. Gavin Turley, OF, Falmouth

Oregon State 

One of the most tooled-up talents on the Cape this summer, Turley started slow but found his groove over the final weeks of the season, putting on impressive displays of power, speed and athleticism. A highly touted recruit to Oregon State, Turley hit .309/.438/.664 with 14 home runs as a freshman. 

A tooled-up player with a three true outcomes profile, Turley looks to do damage with his powerful righthanded swing. He sets up in a deep knee bend slightly open, utilizing a toe-tap timing mechanism before stride. He has nature loft to his swing and will backspin fly balls on his best contact. 

He’s a plus runner who’s not a major basestealing threat but will use his speed to push for extra bases on balls to the gap. He shows swing and miss against all pitch types, and is far too often fooled by spin. He struggled with fastballs elevated and away and breaking balls low and away. 

Despite his swing-and-miss issues, Turley showed a strong plate approach, limiting chase swings and rarely expanding the zone. He’s a solid defender in an outfield corner who has the speed to handle center field. 

His combination of power and speed make Turley one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 draft class, but his major swing-and-miss issues are a concerning early trend. 

36. Braden Davis, LHP, Falmouth

Oklahoma

Davis was excellent out of the bullpen this spring for Sam Houston State with a 2.78 ERA and 61 strikeouts across 45.1 innings pitched. He transitioned to the starting rotation this summer for Falmouth and thrived. Across six appearances (five starts), Davis registered a 2.73 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 26.1 innings pitched. Davis’ fastball was consistently 89-92 mph with some natural arm-side run. He hides the ball well and it gets on hitters quickly. 

Davis’ calling card is a high-70s changeup with ample late fading action. It was a pitch that was seemingly impossible for righthanded hitters to lay off of, as it had a miss rate of 58% and a chase rate of 37%. It is a 60-grade pitch, and it was the best of its kind on the Cape circuit. His slider flashed above-average at times and is especially effective against lefthanded hitters. With a strong season as a weekend starter for the Sooners, Davis should be drafted between the fourth and seventh rounds next July.

37. Janzen Keisel, RHP, Cotuit 

Oklahoma State 

One of the top pitching prospects for the 2024 draft on the Cape this summer, Keisel enjoyed a standout freshman campaign at BYU in 2022 before entering the transfer portal and ultimately committing to Oklahoma State. With the Cowboys Keisel endured a difficult season in 2023, making nine appearances and working 18.1 innings while allowing 16 earned runs. With Cotuit, Keisel found more consistent command, throwing 21 innings across seven appearances, striking out 20 batters to 10 walks. 

While Keisel throws five to six pitch shapes he has a strong trio of primary pitches. Keisel pitches off of his pair of fastball shapes (four-seam and two-seam), sitting 92-94 mph and touching 97 mph at peak. He shows the ability to ride his four-seam, but he’ll mix in a two-seam with heavier running action. 

His slider is a sweepy low-80s breaking ball with above-average glove-side break and flatter tilt and limited depth. While the slider was ineffective as a bat-misser, opposing batters hit just .136/.200/.136 against the pitch this summer. 

Keisel rounds out his primary mix with a changeup in the mid 80s with tumble and fade but he has limited command of the pitch and struggles to fool hitters with his cadence on the pitch.

A raw but talented righthander with a starter’s pitch mix and body, Keisel’s upside is determined by his ability to refine his command. 

38. Walker Janek, C, Falmouth 

Sam Houston State

Janek had a standout spring for the Bearkats, hitting .301 with 30 extra-base hits, 65 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 57 games. He continued his hot hitting this summer for Falmouth, lacing 11 extra-base hits with 17 RBIs to go along with a .281 average. Janek extends through the baseball extremely well and showed off plus power to the pull side. Behind the dish, Janek showed off a plus throwing arm as well as a quick transfer. He threw out 14 of 39 potential base stealers, which is good for a caught-stealing percentage of 36%.

At 6-foot, 205 pounds, Janek has a prototypical catcher’s build. Offensive catchers are hard to come by, but Janek fits the bill. With another productive spring as the anchor of Sam Houston’s lineup, he is likely to be selected in the top six or seven rounds of the 2024 draft.

39. Bryce Cunningham, RHP, Bourne 

Vanderbilt

Over two seasons at Vanderbilt Cunningham has filled a variety of roles for the Commodores, but he’s been an all-star starter for Bourne. After a solid 2022 summer with the Braves, Cunningham took another step forward in 2023, ranking as one of the top starters in the CCBL. 

Cunningham mixes a trio of pitches in a four-seam fastball sitting 91-93 mph and touching 95 mph at peak with moderate ride and arm-side run. His slider is his primary secondary, sitting 81-84 mph with heavy cut. The slider is Cunnigham’s best bat-missing pitch and by far his most used secondary. He’ll flash a changeup with tumble and fade in the mid-to-high 80s but struggled to command the pitch with regularity this summer. 

Cunnigham’s above-average command of his fastball and slider combination allowed him to successfully navigate loaded Cape lineups for a second consecutive summer. He’ll look to join the Commodores weekend rotation entering his draft spring in 2024.

40. Zach Yorke, 1B, Hyannis

Grand Canyon

A huge first baseman with advanced plate skills, Yorke is rarely if ever fooled by opposing pitchers. The younger brother of the Red Sox’s Nick Yorke, Zach physically resembles the Mets’ Dan Vogelbach in terms of build and skill set. While Yorke flashes above-average power, his game is built on the refinement of his hit tool. Yorke hit .368/.471/.549 this spring for the Antelopes with eight home runs. 

Yorke is a plus, if not plus-plus contact hitter, rarely swinging and missing and hardly if ever expanding the zone. He shows bat speed, natural strength and barrel control, as he projects to be an average or better power hitter at minimum. What makes Yorke unique is the refinement of his approach and ability to hit for power without having to sell out for it. 

Yorke is a first base-only player with arguably the best hit tool on the Cape this summer. 

41. Grant Hussey, 1B, Wareham

West Virginia 

A power-over-everything slugger who’s already seeing a majority of his time at first base, the lefthanded-hitting Hussey showed power, solid on-base skills and plenty of swing and miss this summer. The bigger-bodied Hussey lacks speed or twitch and the profile will depend on how much he hits at the next level. A native of West Virginia, Hussey stayed in the state where he enjoyed two seasons with the Mountaineers, hitting 25 home runs over that time. With Wareham this summer Hussey hit .276/.350/.472 over 33 games with the Gatemen. 

His ability to handle spin is a major question mark as Hussey ran a 22% swinging strike rate against sliders, curveballs and changeups this season. His inability to adjust to spin or offspeed was consistently exploited throughout the summer. An excellent fastball hitter, Hussey does a majority of his damage against righthanded fastballs as he hit all of his home runs this summer against the pitch. Hussey has plenty of bat speed and showed the ability to catch up to premium velocity. 

42. Gavin Kilen, SS, Falmouth

Louisville 

A twitchy slash-and-dash style player, Kilen has a similar profile to former Louisville teammate Christian Knapczyk. A highly touted prep, Kilen ranked No. 149 overall in the 2022 draft, and was selected by the Red Sox in the 13th round but chose to honor his commitment to Louisville. 

Kilen had an underwhelming freshman season with the Cardinals, hitting .265/.321/.338 over 46 games. 

With Falmouth over 28 games Kilen came into his own, showing some of the best pure bat-to-ball skills on the circuit, boasting a refined approach and the ability to handle a variety of locations in the zone. Kilen is an excellent fastball hitter who did a majority of his hitting against heaters this summer. 

He showed some swing and miss against spin, which was heavily influenced by his aggressive swing decisions. A plus runner, Kilen is only an average basestealer. Defensively, Kilen saw a majority of his time at shortstop, but he’s stretched there defensively due to a lack of arm strength. 

Kilen is likely an above-average defender at second base long term with a contact-focused offensive profile.

43. John Spikerman, OF, Falmouth

Oklahoma

Coming off a strong sophomore season in which he hit .270 with 18 extra-base hits and 27 stolen bases, Spikerman had a productive summer for the Commodores. The 6-foot-1 switch-hitting outfielder hit .238 with five doubles, a pair of home runs and 14 RBIs across 27 games played. Spikerman has quick hands from both sides of the plate, but he generates better impact from the left side. He is a 70-grade runner who went 12-for-12 in stolen base attempts this summer and wreaked havoc on the basepaths. 

Spikerman’s speed and baseball sense translate well defensively in center field, which is where he will play every day this spring for Oklahoma. Although his bat-to-ball skills will need to improve, Spikerman has an above-average approach with low chase rates across the board. He has top-five round upside in the 2024 draft.

44. Trevor Haskins, SS, Cotuit

Stanford

Haskins saw little action this spring for the Cardinal due to a nagging injury, but he made the most of his time in Cotuit this summer as he hit .364 with four doubles, three home runs and nine RBIs across 11 regular season games. He stands upright in the box with a medium-high handset and uses a barrel tip as a timing mechanism as he begins his stride. Haskins swung a quick bat and showed off the ability to drive the baseball into either gap. He demonstrated above-average raw power and a budding hit tool. Haskins’ approach needs refining, but it will likely improve with more consistent playing time and at-bats. 

Haskins is an excellent defender at shortstop with great actions and an above-average arm. He is comfortable coming in on the baseball and throwing from multiple arm angles. Haskins this spring projects to be the Cardinal’s everyday shortstop, which is where he will stick professionally. If he is able to stay healthy and produce, Haskins has a chance to be selected in the top five rounds of the 2024 draft.

45. Devin Obee, OF, Harwich 

Duke

Although he had a modest spring for the Blue Devils, Obee had an all-star summer in Harwich. After hitting eight extra-base hits and driving in just 10 runs across 50 games at Duke, Obee lashed 10 extra-base hits and drove in a team-leading 23 runs this summer for the Mariners. His five home runs were also the most of any Harwich hitter. The son of former NFL wide receiver Terry Obee, Devin has an ultra-athletic and physical build at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds. He has a minimal load and stride at the plate, letting his natural strength do most of the work. Obee’s hit tool needs refining, but he has plus raw power. Continuing to improve both his bat-to-ball skills and approach will be key as he heads into the 2024 season. 

Obee’s athleticism and strong throwing arm will allow him to stick in right field long term, and he projects as a top-10 round pick in next year’s draft.

46. Kade Snell, 1B, Falmouth

Alabama

Entering the summer, Snell was relatively unknown among the star-studded Falmouth Commodores roster, but proved to be one of their most talented hitters during his time on the Cape. He spent his freshman season at Auburn before transferring to Juco Wallace (Ala.) JC. He won NJCAA national player of the year honors in 2023 as a two-way star after hitting .393 with 13 home runs and 70 RBIs while also going 10-0 with a 1.86 ERA and 87 strikeouts. 

He played exclusively as a hitter on the Cape, hitting .342/.435/.456 with six extra-base hits over 21 games. Snell was selected to the West Division all-star team and departed shortly after the all-star game. Over the summer he showed a refined approach, keeping a tight zone and rarely expanding with average bat-to-ball skills and above-average power. 

He has moderate swing-and-miss issues against spin but limited his chase swings to mitigate any issues with contact consistency. Snell looks the part of a slugging, lefthanded-hitting first baseman, with bat speed and power in his swing. 

47. Garrett Michel, 1B, Bourne 

Virginia Tech 

After a freshman campaign with the Hokies where Michel hit .339/.465/.626 with 11 home runs he headed to Bourne to join a loaded Braves team this summer. With a power-over-everything profile, Michel is only of average build but his ability to generate power is tremendous. He utilizes a leg kick timing mechanism before unleashing a long power swing with a barrel that flies through the zone. 

Michel possesses plenty of bat speed and strength, allowing him to hit for power. His heavily rotational swing allows him to pepper pitches over the heart of the plate but also makes him immune to spin and soft stuff. Michel has a fairly serious swing-and-miss issue that he’ll hope to iron out in the coming years. 

A below-average contact hitter with average approach and swing decisions, Michel has a Phil Plantier-like setup on the first pitch of at-bats. He stands up straight with a narrow base at the back of the batter’s box, before altering his setup with each subsequent pitch, setting up open with a slight knee bend. 

Michel saw a majority of his time this summer at first base for Bourne, his likely long-term position. He’s a potential early day twoname for the 2025 draft. 

48. Brody Donay, C, Hyannis 

Florida

Few players stand out on a field quite like Donay. A 6-foot-5 catcher with long limbs and a powerful bat, Donay possesses two 70 tools in his raw power and throwing arm behind the plate. While each is a great individual tool to have, he lacks the plate skills necessary to get to his power and the defensive polish to stick behind the plate long term. 

Donay consistently struggles to make contact, regardless of pitch type, but his struggles against changeups and spin are notable. Over the course of the summer Donay hit .229/.328/.467 with four home runs, but also whiffed at 42% of pitches he swung at this summer. Behind the plate Donay will struggle with framing and blocking, making four errors this summer while allowing a dozen passed balls over 25 games behind the plate. 

A talented underclassman with big tools but raw underlying skills, after spending his freshman campaign at Virginia Tech, Donay will transfer to Florida for 2024. 

49. Josh Pearson, OF, Brewster

Louisiana State

Pearson followed up his national championship spring with a strong summer in Brewster. The 5-foot-10 outfielder hit .277 with four doubles, three home runs and 13 RBIs in 19 games. He has a loose, relaxed setup at the plate and his barrel explodes through the strike zone. Pearson has above-average power to the pull side, which is where all eight of his extra-base hits this summer were hit. He has good bat-to-ball skills and hammered fastballs with an in-zone contact rate of 94%. Pearson has a disciplined approach and this summer walked (10) more than he struck out (8). 

With an average arm and athleticism, Pearson projects as a left fielder professionally. He plays the game hard and this spring will play an integral role for Jay Johnson’s LSU squad. Pearson is likely to be picked on day two next July.

50. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, 2B, Bourne

Rutgers

The Somerset, N.J. native enjoyed a breakout spring at Rutgers in 2023, hitting .298/.393/.487 and earning an invite to the Collegiate National Team training camp. 

While Kuroda-Grauer didn’t do much at the plate during the regular season, he became a man possessed in the playoffs, matching his regular season hit total in a third of the games as he went 16-for-36 over the Braves championship run. He showed advanced bat-to-ball skills, above-average speed, steady defense at second and fringe-average power over his playoff run, saving a summer that at one point looked like a disappointment. 

Kuroda-Grauer has a well-rounded second base skill set with the ability to add more power as he matures.