Cape Cod League Hot Sheet Week Six

2. Cameron Smith, 3B, Florida State

Team: Hyannis Harbor Hawks

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .545/.600/1.373 (12-for-22), 8 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 1 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: The 6-foot-3 third baseman has become a regular on the weekly Hot Sheet, and for good reason. This past week might have been Smith’s best five-game stretch of the season, as he laced 12 hits and drove in seven runs. He recorded multiple hits in each of his games played, but most notably went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs on Wednesday against Yarmouth-Dennis. On the season, Smith is now hitting .363 with a league-leading 11 doubles, three triples and six home runs. He is on the short list of MVP candidates and has established himself as a potential first-round selection in 2024. (PF)

3. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State 

Team: Falmouth Commodores 

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .526/.583/.737 (10-for-19), 4 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 6 RBIs, 4 BB, 1 SO, 4-for-4 SB

The Scoop: Bazzana collected a hit in all five games in week six, including four multi-hit games. He earned a start in left field for the West all-star team and had a hit in the event. Bazzana’s high-water mark came on July 21 against Bourne, as he went 3-for-4 with five RBIs, a double and a triple. Bazzana’s advanced approach is among the best in amateur baseball. He differentiates balls and strikes, makes a high rate of contact and flashes potential above-average power rooted in his bat speed and barrel control. He’s arguably the best prospect in the Cape Cod League and in the running for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft. (GP)

4. Mason Nichols, RHP, Mississippi

Team: Hyannis Harbor Hawks

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 5.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR

The Scoop: Nichols on Wednesday carved through a talented Yarmouth-Dennis lineup, holding the Red Sox hitless over the course of 5.2 shutout innings. The 6-foot-5 righthander walked only one hitter, struck out a pair and retired the first 16 hitters of the game in order. Nichols’ fastball sat in the low 90s, a pitch he located well to either side of the plate and used to generate soft contact. He supplemented his heater with an effective low-80s slider. After spending two weeks in June with Team USA’s Collegiate National Team, Nichols on the Cape has pitched his way to a 4.09 ERA with 14 strikeouts across 22 innings. (PF)

5. Tristan Smith, LHP, Clemson

Team: Bourne Braves

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Smith has emerged as perhaps the most reliable starter on Bourne’s pitching staff. On Monday against Wareham, the 6-foot-2 Smith had his best start of the summer as he fired five shutout, hitless innings and struck out eight. Smith relies heavily on his fastball, a pitch this summer he has thrown 73% of the time. It has been up to 95 mph, shows good carry through the zone and is at its best when elevated. Continuing to develop effective secondary offerings will be key for Smith going forward. In his last 14 innings pitched, he has allowed one earned run and recorded 21 strikeouts. This summer, Smith has a 2.00 ERA with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 26-to-7 in 18 innings pitched. (PF)

6. Janzen Keisel, RHP, Oklahoma State

Team: Cotuit Kettleers

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 S0, 0 HR

The Scoop: Keisel last Friday spun the best start of his summer season, tossing five shutout, hitless innings against Wareham in which he notched four strikeouts and walked just one. Keisel’s fastball has long been his calling card, and in this particular start he generated nine whiffs with the pitch. It sat in the 92-95 mph range, but he touched 96 and 97 multiple times. While inconsistent, Keisel’s high-spin slider shows plus potential. His direction has drastically improved this summer, which has led to better command. Keisel has not allowed an earned run in his last nine innings pitched and this summer has a 2.50 ERA. (PF)

7. Jason Doktorczyk, RHP, Nevada

Team: Yarmouth-Dennis

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Doktorczyk has thrived this summer for Yarmouth-Dennis while being used primarily in a middle relief role, throwing three to four innings per appearance. On Monday against Orleans he made his first start of the summer and spun six shutout innings in which he struck out seven and walked none. Most impressively, Doktorczyk started the game with an immaculate inning as he struck out the side on nine pitches. The imposing 6-foot-6 righthander hides the ball well and throws from a three-quarter slot. His low-90s fastball gets on hitters quickly and has plenty of life through the zone. Doktorczyk’s best secondary offering is a high-70s slider with tight spin and ample horizontal movement. This summer he has a 2.91 ERA with 24 strikeouts across 24.2 innings pitched. (PF)

8. Smith Pinson, RHP, Kennesaw State

Team: Yarmouth-Dennis

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Throughout the summer, Pinson has been one of the more consistent performers in the league. On July 21, Pinson threw six scoreless innings, his second time performing that act this season, as he led Yarmouth-Dennis to an 11-1 victory at Brewster. He struck out five for the fifth time in six starts this summer and has cemented himself as one of the best pitching prospects in the league. The performance does outpace the stuff for Pinson, who sits in the upper 80s on his sinker, with a mid-70s changeup with heavy tumble and fade as his primary weapon. His ability to kill lift and spin on his changeup is the defining characteristic of the pitch and allows it to play up. (GP) 

9. Cole Mathis, 1B/RHP, College of Charleston 

Team: Cotuit Kettleers 

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .318/.360/.864 (7-for-22), 5 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 8 RBIs, 1 BB, 4 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Last week Mathis celebrated his 20th birthday and started for the West in the all-star game. He also did his Cole-Tani act for Cotuit, hitting in the middle of the lineup for the Kettleers and coming on to toss two scoreless innings in a July 19 victory over Bourne. Mathis’ best game of the week came on his birthday as he slugged a pair of home runs at Yarmouth-Dennis, helping the Kettleers to a 10-3 victory over the top team in the East Division. Mathis is a potential first-rounder in 2024. (GP) 

10. Bryce Eblin, 2B, Alabama

Team: Bourne Braves

Age: 21

Why He’s Here: .522/.522/1.087 (12-for-23), 4 R, 1 2B, 5 RBI, 0 BB, 3 SO, 2-for-3 SB

The Scoop: Eblin has been a sparkplug in a loaded Bourne lineup, providing a big-time boost in the middle of the order. The all-star infielder had a fast start to his week, going 4-for-5 with a double and two RBIs in a 10-2 win over Brewster. Eblin has collected three hits in back-to-back games while showing off his advanced feel for the barrel and professional approach. He has rather quietly upped his average on the season to an impressive .337 with 18 RBIs. (PF)

11. Zander Darby, 3B, UC Santa Barbara

Team: Yarmouth-Dennis

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .450/.522/1.172 (9-for-20), 4 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 6 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Darby last week was Yarmouth-Dennis’ best hitter, pounding out nine hits in six games. He also doubled, homered and drove in six runs. Between July 21 and July 24, Darby went 8-for-11, including a 4-for-5 game against Orleans in which he belted a two-run home run. The rising junior has a pro-like body at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, and this summer is hitting .290 with four doubles, three home runs and 13 RBIs. Darby this spring figures to make a big impact in the heart of the Gauchos’ order and is an intriguing follow heading into the 2024 draft cycle. (PF)

12. Yoel Tejeda, RHP, Florida State

Team: Wareham Gatemen

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: In what was Tejeda’s final start of the season, the tall righthander went five scoreless innings, striking out five while allowing just four baserunners to reach. A former two-way player, Tejeda will focus on pitching for the 2024 season. He boasts a four-seam fastball at 93-95 mph that will touch 98 mph at peak, a mid-80s slider with cut and a changeup in the mid 80s. (GP) 

13. Ryan Delgado, RHP, Cal Baptist 

Team: Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox 

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 5.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Delgado was late joining Yarmouth-Dennis, and he made just his second appearance for the Red Sox last week. Fortunately for Coach Pickler’s squad, Delgado arrived just in the nick of time. On Sunday Delgado threw 5.1 innings at Orleans, scattering two hits and a walk and allowing a single unearned run. Draft eligible in 2024, Delgado combines a sinker at 89-91 mph with heavy arm-side run from a low release height with a tight slider at 82-84 mph, a curveball with two-plane break at 78-80 mph and a changeup with heavy tumble and fade. (GP)