Cape Cod League Hot Sheet (6/26/23)

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. Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest
Team: Harwich Mariners
Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .667/.688/1.000 (10-for-15), 6 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB, 2 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: Unfortunately for Cape Cod League fans, King jettisoned to Cary, N.C. for the USA Collegiate National Team workouts. Prior to that, the incoming Wake Forest transfer was a must-see name over the first two weeks of the Cape circuit. Last week he opened play with a 4-for-5 performance against Cotuit and followed it up the next day with a 5-for-5 showing against Brewster. King showed off his power, speed and bat-to-ball skills and looks like a major climber up draft boards for 2024. 

2. Derek Bender, 1B, Coastal Carolina 
Team: Bourne Braves
Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .538/.600/.923 (14-for-26), 11 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBIs, 4 BB, 4 SO, 3-for-3 SB

The Scoop: Bender debuted on the Cape June 19 and played in all seven of the Braves’ games last week. Bender tallied a hit in six of seven games, including five multi-hit efforts. His standout game, in a week full of them, came on Friday when Bender went 4-for-4 with four runs scored, and he hit for the cycle. Bender hit .341/.399/.635 with 19 home runs in his sophomore campaign with the Chanticleers in 2023. 

3. Josh Timmerman, RHP, Ohio State
Team: Brewster Whitecaps 
Age: 21

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 10 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 12 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: While Timmerman’s numbers with Ohio State may not show it, he’s a legitimate 2023 draft prospect. Timmerman dominated across two appearances last week spanning 10 innings. He struck out 12 batters and didn’t allow a hit until his 10th inning of work. Timmerman sits low 90s on his four-seam fastball with above-average spin and average ride from a lower release. He pairs that with a high-80s cutter that’s very effective at getting in on the hands of lefthanded hitters and a sweepy low-80s slider with spin rates in the 2,600-2,700 range. 

4. Nick McLain, OF, Arizona State
Team: Wareham Gatemen
Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .364/.444/.636 (8-for-22), 3 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 3 BB, 4 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: A standout for Arizona State this spring, McLain dealt with some injuries throughout the season. When he’s on the field his hitting prowess is impressive. McLain started six games last week and collected a hit in five of them, including three multi-hit efforts. He enjoyed his meetings with Hyannis last week; McLain had two hits and a home run in each of his starts against the Harbor Hawks. At this rate, Nick, the third McLain brother to play for Wareham since 2019, may follow in the footsteps of his older brother Matt and earn an All-Star Game nod later this summer. 

5. Jo Oyama, 2B, UC Irvine
Team: Orleans Firebirds
Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .435/.519/.739 (10-for-23), 5 R, 1 2B, 3 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBIs, 4 BB, 1 SO, 3-for-6 SB

The Scoop: A speedy native of Japan, Oyama has been on fire over the last week as he collected multiple hits in four out of six games. The infielder finished the week with a triple in three consecutive games and seven hits over his final 12 at-bats. A 2023 draft-eligible player, Oyama isn’t a highly rated prospect but he can hit and wreak havoc once he’s on base. 

6. Brett Bateman, OF, Minnesota 
Team: Cotuit Kettleers
Age: 21

Why He’s Here: .571/.545/.619 (12-for-21), 1 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 6 RBIs, 0 BB, 4 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: It’s a return to the Hot Sheet for Bateman, who’s done nothing but hit this summer. A 2023 draft-eligible outfielder, Bateman seems to be in the Chase Meidroth and Gordon Graceffo mold of a pre-draft player showing out and gaining momentum heading into the draft. Bateman is hitting .500 over 12 Cape League games, easily leading the circuit in batting average. Last week he collected a hit in all six games, including four multi-hit efforts. His high-water mark came on Tuesday, when Bateman went 4-for-4 against Bourne with two RBIs. 

7. Braden Davis, LHP, Sam Houston State
Team: Falmouth Commodores 
Age: 20

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 7.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 11 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: On the pitching side only Josh Timmerman last week outpitched Davis, who hurled 7.1 scoreless innings across two appearances. Davis came on in relief June 19 for Carson Dorsey and held Hyannis to two walks and a hit, as he struck out five over three innings. He followed that up with an appearance against Chatham on Saturday, when he silenced the Anglers bats over 4.1 innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out six. The 2024 draft-eligible lefthander boasts a low-90s fastball with bore, a low-80s gyro slider and a low-80s changeup. 

8. Hunter Fitz-Gerald, 1B, Old Dominion
Team: Harwich Mariners
Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .348/.423/.435 (8-for-23), 5 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 6 RBIs, 3 BB, 6 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: While the unusual hyphen might catch your eye, Fitz-Gerald is the Mariners best hitter now that Seaver Kinghas departed for the Collegiate National Team. He has 15 hits over the first two weeks and flashed some on-base skills and power. He got on base in every game last week and had four games where he reached base two or more times. He’s a potential three true outcomes hitter with plus raw power. 

9. Cade Obermueller, LHP, Iowa
Team: Hyannis Harborhawks 
Age: 19

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Boasting some of the most unusual pitch shapes on the Cape, Obermueller was a dominant force for the Harbor Hawks last week out of the bullpen. He allowed just one hit and two walks over three appearances spanning 5.2 innings as he struck out eight. He pitched the seventh in the Harbor Hawks’ thrilling seven-run, late-inning comeback against Cotuit on Thursday and followed that up with 2.2 scoreless innings on Sunday against Wareham. Obermueller mixes a low-release sinker with a high-spin slider, both of which grade out highly on Stuff+ models. 

10. Hunter Hines, 1B, Mississippi State
Team: Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .208/.321/.625 (5-for-24), 4 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 6 RBIs, 4 BB, 8 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Although the .208 average is rather modest, Hines continues to hit the baseball with authority. Of his five hits last week, four went for extra bases, including three home runs. We mentioned it on last week’s podcast, but Hines’ profile plays exceptionally well at the hitter-friendly confines of Red Wilson Field. Hines leads the league in both home runs (five) and RBIs (17), and is also hitting .315. It is still early in the season, but he is a name to watch in the MVP race.

11. Xavier Casserilla, 3B, Seminole State JC
Team: Chatham Anglers
Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .444/.545/1.000 (4-for-9), 2 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 2 BB, 2 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Casserilla enjoyed a breakout week, recording one hit in each of his four games played. He had an extra-base hit in three of the four games, including two doubles and his first home run of the summer. Casserilla’s first long ball could not have come at a better time as it brought life to the Anglers’ offense in a key win over Falmouth. Casserilla has quick hands at the plate and has shown the ability to drive the baseball. His production going forward will be key for a Chatham team that is looking to hit its stride. 

12. Leighton Finley, RHP, Georgia
Team: Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
Age: 19

Why He’s Here: 1-1, 0.00, 6.1 IP, 4 H, 1  R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Finley last week was excellent in his two appearances, firing 6.1 innings in which he did not allow an earned run and collected eight strikeouts.