Top Performances From A Summer Ball Season Unlike Any Other

Image credit: Orlando Scorpions outfielder Jud Fabian (Photo courtesy of the Florida League)

It was a season unlike any other for summer ball around the country. While many leagues, like the Cape Cod League, canceled their season, others were able to play a modified schedule this summer.

We wrap up the leagues that have completed their season, including some of the top performers from around the country.

Coastal Plain League

The league was one of the largest to play its season this summer but balancing local regulations across four states made for a challenging summer. The league ultimately split into a northern and southern pod with about half its teams in action.

Championship: Macon defeated Savannah, 6-5, in the Southern Division championship. It is the team’s first title since joining the league in 2018.

Standout performers

High Point-Thomasville righthander Ryan Cusick (Wake Forest) was perhaps the best prospect in the league this summer and lived up to the hype. He led the league in strikeouts, whiffing 40 batters in 23.2 innings and posting a 1.14 ERA in five starts.

Lexington County infielder Brennan Milone (South Carolina) had a much abbreviated freshman season, due to both an injury and the pandemic, but did his best to make up for lost time over the summer. He hit .365/.452/.750 and led the league with nine home runs in 27 games. In total, 18 of his 35 hits this summer went for extra bases.

Florida League

Like many leagues that were able to play this summer, the Florida League was beefed up both in terms of teams and talent. Its location in central Florida made it a natural landing spot for many of the state’s best players.

Championship: Sanford swept Leesburg, 2-0, to win its fifth championship in program history.

Standout performers

Winter Garden second baseman Lucas Dunn (Louisville) hit .365/.474/.651 with four home runs and was named the league’s MVP.

Orlando outfielder Jud Fabian (Florida) did a little bit of everything, hitting .304/.484/.522 with two home runs, 15 walks, eight stolen bases and four assists.

Futures League

The league, which celebrated its 10th season, was the biggest to play this summer in the Northeast. While things looked a bit different this summer, six of the league’s seven teams were able to play and got in about 40 games over six weeks.

Championship: Nashua defeated Worcester, 2 games to 1, in the championship series. It was the fifth title for the Silver Knights.

Standout performers

North Shore outfielder Sal Frelick (Boston College) was the league’s top prospect and its batting champion. He hit .398/.473/.592 with eight doubles, three home runs and nine stolen bases.

Brockton righthander Nick Sinacola (Maine) was named pitcher of the year after going 3-1, 1.61 with 55 strikeouts in 39 innings.

Grand Park League

The league debuted this summer in Indianapolis in response to the pandemic shuttering other leagues around the Midwest. Using the large complex at Grand Park, it was able to operate in a single location, with games twice a week, making for easy operation and attracting some of the best players in the region.

Championship: The Turf Monsters defeated the Snapping Turtles, 5-4, in the championship game at Victory Field, the home of Triple-A Indianapolis.

Standout performers

Local Legends righthander Chayce McDermott (Ball State) was electric this summer, striking out 33 batters in just 14 innings. He held opponents to one run on four hits and 10 walks.

Turf Monsters outfielder Ethan Vecrumba (Indiana) helped the Turf Monsters to the championship, going 13-for-27 with five doubles and two triples.

San Diego League

The league persevered through the pandemic and strict local restrictions to complete its second season. The league expanded to eight teams and drew an impressive array of talent, especially among local players.

Championship: The Hooks defeated the Brewers, 10-6, in the championship game.

Standout performers

Brewers outfielder/lefthander Kyle Carr (San Diego) put on a show as a two-way player. The incoming freshman hit .415 with three home runs in 13 games. In six appearances on the mound, he posted a 1.53 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 17.2 innings.

Jets righthander Grant Holman (California) was excellent working out of the bullpen. In eight innings over five appearances, he held opponents scoreless and hitless, while striking out 15 batters and walking just one. He also struck out two batters in a perfect inning in the all-star game.

South Florida League

The league’s 10th anniversary season was unlike any other in its history. Still, the league was able to successfully complete the campaign despite the pandemic and Hurricane Isaias bearing down on the South Florida coast during the playoffs.

Championship: West Boca defeated Florida, 9-3, to win its third straight championship. Derek Cartaya (Florida International) has been a part of all three titles and this year was named championship game MVP after going 3-for-5 with two RBI.

Standout performers

Delray Beach infielder Zack Neto (Campbell) was named offensive player of the year and fell one RBI shy of winning the triple crown. He hit .439/.537/.765 with six home runs, 32 RBI and 11 stolen bases. He also pitched, going 1-3, 4.50 with 29 strikeouts and 12 walks in 24 innings.

Boca Raton righthander Mason Black (Lehigh) was named pitcher of the year after a dominant summer. He went 3-0, 0.64 with 42 strikeouts. He held opponents to two runs on 10 hits and 10 walks in 28 innings, showing why he is a premium prospect in next year’s draft.

Texas Collegiate League

The league expanded its footprint this summer, moving into Louisiana and Oklahoma, as well as also adding more teams in Texas. Its expansion included the addition of a couple teams playing in minor league parks after the cancellation of the MiLB season. The league was able to attract some strong talent, especially among Texas-based players.

Championship: Brazos Valley defeated Tulsa, 13-2, in the championship game to win a third straight league title.

Standout performers

Round Rock infielder Ryan Hernandez (Houston) was named South Division player of the year after hitting .364/.456/.693 with six home runs, leading the league in both hitting and home runs. He fell four RBIs short of the triple crown.

Tulsa righthander Bryce Osmond (Oklahoma State) was named North Division pitcher of the year after leading the league with 36 strikeouts in 23.2 innings. He went 2-1, 2.28.

Wild Wild West League

The WWWL league sprung up in Oregon after the cancellation of the West Coast League season. The four-team league played a short season of just a little more than a dozen games but did well to provide that opportunity for baseball in the Pacific Northwest.

Championship: West Linn defeated Portland, 8-5, to win the title.

Standout performers

West Linn outfielder Jake Holcroft (Portland) won MVP honors after hitting .377/.459/.679 with a league-best four home runs and 20 RBIs.

West Linn lefthander Cooper Hjerpe (Oregon State) made three excellent starts, including throwing four scoreless innings in the championship game. In 8.1 innings for the summer, he struck out 18 batters and held opponents to no runs on two hits and six walks.