Things continue to evolve in college baseball. Eye-popping home run totals, record transfers and NIL money are the new normal. Summer ball-and more specifically the Cape Cod League-has been impacted mightily by the changing dynamics.
In a league and region that is historically resistant to change, the 10 Cape teams have been forced to adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of college sports.
Even before the 2020 pandemic and lost season, the Cape Cod League had already begun morphing into what many called more of a "showcase" league. But when the draft was moved back from early June to mid-July in 2021, the nature of summer ball changed.
With players hoping to get one final look from scouts, early Cape Cod League rosters the last three summers have been littered with draft-eligible players. These players are typically juniors and fourth-year players who fall in the Day 3 range of the draft looking for a last-minute bump.
This has allowed for late-arriving players from teams that advanced to the College World Series to get an extra week or two of rest before beginning their summer ball adventures. It's an imperfect cycle, and one that's been further impacted by the transfer portal, as players leave mid-summer to take visits and often do not return to the Cape.
It has all led to a Cape Cod League, where 50% of rosters will change multiple times between mid-June and early August. Pitching is as scarce as it's ever been, with many pitchers on innings limits.
1 TRAVIS BAZZANA
2B - FALMOUTH OREGON STATE
Age: 20. HT: 6-0. WT: 195. B-T: L-R.
A product of Australia, Bazzana has established himself as one of the best players in college baseball. After an excellent sophomore year at Oregon State in which he hit .374 with 11 home runs and 36 stolen bases, he took home Cape League MVP honors after winning the batting title at .375/.456/.581 with six homers and 14 steals.
Bazzana has physicality and serious forearm strength. In the box, he has an advanced approach and elite swing decisions. On the Cape, he walked as many times as he struck out with an overall chase rate of just 16%.
Bazzana's impressive bat-to-ball skills translated to an in-zone contact rate of 91%. He also possesses double-plus bat speed and has shown the ability to drive the ball with authority to all fields. His above-average power could translate to 20-25-homer upside in pro ball.
Bazzana is a plus runner who knows how to run. His baseball IQ is off the charts and he picks his spots to steal bases. His defensive home is a bit murky. He spent time at second base, third base and even left field on the Cape. However, he is an outstanding athlete with good instincts and above-average arm strength.
2 CAMERON SMITH
3B HYANNIS FLORIDA STATE
Age: 20. HT: 6-3. WT: 220. B-T: R-R.
After drawing significant draft interest out of high school in South Florida, Smith opted to attend Florida State. He had an up-and-down spring and hit just.258 with 12 home runs. Smith struggled to pick up spin all season and had a chase rate of 37%.
Under the tutelage of Hyannis hitting coach Tino Martinez and head coach Eric Beattie, Smith blossomed this summer and was named the Cape's top pro prospect. He hit .347/.406/.575 with six home runs, while his approach and swing decisions also dramatically improved.
Smith's overall miss rate shrunk from 29% to 19%, and against sliders it was just 16%. He hammered nearly any pitch in the strike zone and showed off well above-average bat-to-ball skills and plus raw power all summer.
While not super athletic, Smith still moves reasonably well at third base, where his plus arm is an asset.
3 DEREK BENDER
C BOURNE COASTAL CAROLINA
Age: 20. HT: 6-1. WT: 210. B-T: R-R.
Bender was the heart and soul of league champion Bourne as it 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.
He didn't miss a beat on the Cape. Bender hit .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. 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 he likely profiles best as a bat-first first baseman in pro ball.
4 JJ WETHERHOLT
2B CHATHAM - WEST VIRGINIA
Age: 20. HT: 5-11. WT: 190. B-T: L-R.
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%.
Wetherholt 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. His hit tool grades as a 70, and he is perhaps the best pure hitter in the 2024 draft.
Wetherholt 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.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1398697516/1693837706/articles/CktG35cDz1693910284685/8888373887.jpg]
5 SEAVER KING
2B/3BHARWICH - WAKE FOREST
Age: 20. HT: 6-0. WT: 190. B-T: R-R.
No college player saw his draft stock skyrocket this season as much as King, the Division II Wingate (N.C.) star who transferred to Wake Forest.
The uber-athletic King hit .411 this spring with 11 home runs. Though he played in just 16 games this summer for Harwich, he 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 put the bat on the ball.
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
Age: 20. HT: 6-1. WT: 210. B-T: R-R.
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 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 hol...
In a league and region that is historically resistant to change, the 10 Cape teams have been forced to adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of college sports.
Even before the 2020 pandemic and lost season, the Cape Cod League had already begun morphing into what many called more of a "showcase" league. But when the draft was moved back from early June to mid-July in 2021, the nature of summer ball changed.
With players hoping to get one final look from scouts, early Cape Cod League rosters the last three summers have been littered with draft-eligible players. These players are typically juniors and fourth-year players who fall in the Day 3 range of the draft looking for a last-minute bump.
This has allowed for late-arriving players from teams that advanced to the College World Series to get an extra week or two of rest before beginning their summer ball adventures. It's an imperfect cycle, and one that's been further impacted by the transfer portal, as players leave mid-summer to take visits and often do not return to the Cape.
It has all led to a Cape Cod League, where 50% of rosters will change multiple times between mid-June and early August. Pitching is as scarce as it's ever been, with many pitchers on innings limits.
1 TRAVIS BAZZANA
2B - FALMOUTH OREGON STATE
Age: 20. HT: 6-0. WT: 195. B-T: L-R.
A product of Australia, Bazzana has established himself as one of the best players in college baseball. After an excellent sophomore year at Oregon State in which he hit .374 with 11 home runs and 36 stolen bases, he took home Cape League MVP honors after winning the batting title at .375/.456/.581 with six homers and 14 steals.
Bazzana has physicality and serious forearm strength. In the box, he has an advanced approach and elite swing decisions. On the Cape, he walked as many times as he struck out with an overall chase rate of just 16%.
Bazzana's impressive bat-to-ball skills translated to an in-zone contact rate of 91%. He also possesses double-plus bat speed and has shown the ability to drive the ball with authority to all fields. His above-average power could translate to 20-25-homer upside in pro ball.
Bazzana is a plus runner who knows how to run. His baseball IQ is off the charts and he picks his spots to steal bases. His defensive home is a bit murky. He spent time at second base, third base and even left field on the Cape. However, he is an outstanding athlete with good instincts and above-average arm strength.
2 CAMERON SMITH
3B HYANNIS FLORIDA STATE
Age: 20. HT: 6-3. WT: 220. B-T: R-R.
After drawing significant draft interest out of high school in South Florida, Smith opted to attend Florida State. He had an up-and-down spring and hit just.258 with 12 home runs. Smith struggled to pick up spin all season and had a chase rate of 37%.
Under the tutelage of Hyannis hitting coach Tino Martinez and head coach Eric Beattie, Smith blossomed this summer and was named the Cape's top pro prospect. He hit .347/.406/.575 with six home runs, while his approach and swing decisions also dramatically improved.
Smith's overall miss rate shrunk from 29% to 19%, and against sliders it was just 16%. He hammered nearly any pitch in the strike zone and showed off well above-average bat-to-ball skills and plus raw power all summer.
While not super athletic, Smith still moves reasonably well at third base, where his plus arm is an asset.
3 DEREK BENDER
C BOURNE COASTAL CAROLINA
Age: 20. HT: 6-1. WT: 210. B-T: R-R.
Bender was the heart and soul of league champion Bourne as it 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.
He didn't miss a beat on the Cape. Bender hit .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. 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 he likely profiles best as a bat-first first baseman in pro ball.
4 JJ WETHERHOLT
2B CHATHAM - WEST VIRGINIA
Age: 20. HT: 5-11. WT: 190. B-T: L-R.
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%.
Wetherholt 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. His hit tool grades as a 70, and he is perhaps the best pure hitter in the 2024 draft.
Wetherholt 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.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1398697516/1693837706/articles/CktG35cDz1693910284685/8888373887.jpg]
5 SEAVER KING
2B/3BHARWICH - WAKE FOREST
Age: 20. HT: 6-0. WT: 190. B-T: R-R.
No college player saw his draft stock skyrocket this season as much as King, the Division II Wingate (N.C.) star who transferred to Wake Forest.
The uber-athletic King hit .411 this spring with 11 home runs. Though he played in just 16 games this summer for Harwich, he 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 put the bat on the ball.
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
Age: 20. HT: 6-1. WT: 210. B-T: R-R.
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 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 hol...
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Baseball America (Digital) - 1 Issue, September 2023