It’s starting to become a bit much isn’t it? My whole Cape Cod League obsession. I spent a better part of my summer attending CCBL contests, documenting my adventures through live look posts and dozens of videos. Rating and ranking players in our top 50, and taking every chance I can to discuss 2019’s standouts.

But what about the ghosts of summers past? Particularly 2018’s standout performers, what happened to them? Don’t worry random italicized voice (used courtesy of Razzball), I got you! In today’s post I’ll discuss some of the top players from the 2018 edition of the CCBL and how they fared in their follow up draft eligible seasons. Meaning, we’re sticking to 2019 draftees and leaving the Torks, Campbells, and Cantrelles for next year’s ‘Where Are They Now’.

Hitters

Cape Line: 57 PAs, .308/.368/.654, 5 HR, 1 SB | Team: Wareham Gatemen

After starring for Wareham early in the Cape seeason, Vaughn headed off to team USA in late June. To say his early season performance left an impression would be an understatement. The Cal slugger led the CCBL in home runs at the time of his departure and hasn’t let up since. First posting another strong season of production this spring on the heels of a historic sophomore campaign. He went third overall to the White Sox and matriculated all the way to High-A fresh from the draft. There’s an outside shot Vaughn begins 2020 with Double-A Birmingham eyeing a late season promotion.

Cape Line: 164 PAs, .311/.374/.500, 5 HR, 2 SB | Team: Orleans Firebirds

One of the breakout performers of the 2018 summer, Bleday translated a Cape League power breakout right through his junior season, as he led the Vandy Boys to their first National Championship since 2014. Bleday went fourth overall to the Marlins and was assigned directly to the treacherous Florida State League. His average estimated flyball distance was under 290 which even for the FSL is below what you’d expect from a power bat of his ilk. Overall his Cape breakout sustained and rocketed him to the top five.

Cape Line: 140 PAs, .259/.374/.353, 3 HR, 20 SB | Team: Chatham Anglers

Switch-hitters will always get my attention when I go in blind, and Jones captivated me when I caught him on early June as a member of the Chatham Anglers. His line drive oriented stroke from both sides, his quick bat, wiry strength, and double plus run times sparked a fascination I’ve yet to fully shake. Jones is one of the most exciting prospects to enter professional baseball from the college ranks in some time. Plus athletes, with projection, up the middle futures, on base skills, and plus speed don’t come around often, and rarely do they land with top flight player dev organizations. Things couldn’t have gone better for Jones since his Cape adventure.

Cape Line: 159 PAs, .209/.323/.388, 7 HR, 1 SB | Team: Cotuit Kettleers

The switch-hitting UCLA slugger’s time down the Cape exemplified the three true outcome experience with strikeouts, homers, and walks accounting for nearly 40 percent of Toglua’s outcomes in 2018 CCBL play. He showed difficulty with good breaking stuff but with the ability to punish a fastball, Toglia brought equal amounts of excitement and frustration. His batting average on balls in play was well below average at .228 so some of his batting average was luck driven. Over the spring Toglia’s luck changed, connecting for 17 home runs over 63 contests for UCLA posting an isolated slugging of .310. His strong statistical performance carried through to his professional debut in the short season Northwest League where the Toglia flashed both power and on-base ability with consistency.

Cape Line: 111 PAs, .322/.450/.567, 6 HR, 3 SB | Team: Chatham Anglers

On-base driven players with power will always have a special place in my heart. Often the most advanced approaches in the amateur ranks go hand and hand with an advanced understanding of hitting on a macro level. The UNC star was one such player that emerged from my 2018 Cape exploits. The ability to work deep into counts, drive the ball with authority, avoid punch outs and play a multitude of positions make him a perfect fit for data-driven an organization like Los Angeles. He only featured in ten games post draft doing very little statistically speaking. One area to note is Busch logging all of his defensive innings at second base.

Cape Line: 168 PAs, .305/.458/.438, 4 HR, 0 SB | Team: Orleans Firebirds

No matter CCBL, ACC, rookie ball, short season, or A ball, Logan Wyatt is who he is: An on-base machine with a line drive contract driven approach and a lot less power than you’d hope for from a 6-foot-4 first base only profile. Not much changed with Wyatt throughout the year, and it will be a matter of mechanical adjustment should he hone his power stroke. All this to say, as currently constituted Wyatt is what he is.

Cape Line: 148 PAs, .326/.361/.565, 6 HR, 5 SB | Team: Falmouth Commodores

The rare power bat from a Stanford program famous for its contact driven approach to hitting. Stowers stuck out for his all around offensive ability, hitting for contact, power, and running the bases well while featuring at the outfield corners. He did show an issue with strikeouts that hadn’t shown during his spring seasons, but it didn’t hinder his production over the course of the summer with Falmouth. A strong spring landed Stowers in the second round, part of the new look Baltimore front office’s debut rule four draft class. He struggled to make contact with consistency in the New York-Penn this summer, but flashed moments of brilliance with home runs and heads up base running.

I anticipated a stronger a pro debut for Stowers, but I wouldn’t waver much on the stock we put in his ability to hit pre-draft. Not a star but a serviceable regular in the making.

Cape Line: 135 PAs, .252/.351/.435, 5 HR, 6 SB | Team: Cotuit Kettleers

Some of the hardest hit balls of the 2018 CCBL season belonged to the former Wright State breakout. After destroying the Horizon League to the tune of .407/.538/.729, Burdick was selected by the Miami Marlins in the third round and proceeded to provide some of the strongest statistical production of any player out of the draft. A power corner bat with some swing and miss beneath the surface, Burdick could be trick or treat in 2020. I tend to be on the optimistic side as his ability to slug has never been a question.

Cape Line: 185 PAs, .313/.391/.456, 4 HR, 2 SB | Team: Harwich Mariners

Unfortunately, I didn’t get an opportunity to follow up my 2018 looks at Lipcius in the NYPL, as the Tigers jumped Lipcius from the draft directly to the Midwest League. After strong showings for both Harwich in CCBL and Tennessee in the spring of 2019. The same success did not translate to his professional debut. Much of Lipcius’ game is predicated on his cerebral approach and good instincts. He’s just an average athlete with no plus tools or abilities. Though he will flash above average power in batting practice, it hasn’t translated to games. His lack of arm strength may hinder his ability to stick anywhere outside first base long term is a major knock on the profile.

Cape Line: 76 PAs, .305/.421/.576, 4 HR, 3 SB | Team: Wareham Gatemen

A personal favorite of mine from the 2018 CCBL season, Packard showed elite on base skills and over-the-fence thump in multiple looks over the course of July. He dealt with a hand injury early in the spring for East Carolina as well as some tragic personal news with his mother receiving a cancer diagnosis. Packard returned strong slashing .358/.444/.550 in 58 games. He hit well across three levels of pro ball fresh from the draft and flashed the above average hit-power combo that made him a CCBL stud.

Cape Line: 156 PAs, .331/.404/.449, 2 HR, 5 SB | Team: Harwich Mariners

A excellent performer at the plate during his two seasons at UVA and that was true over the summer of 2018. Morris showed the ability to make consistently strong contact and a habit of putting the ball in play. His swing is a little stiff, as he’s not the most athletic specimen, but he’s smart about what he swings at and shows an understanding of the game. He lacks range in the middle infield, but shows at least adequate hands at short. Saw an equal amount of time at both short and second in his debut with the Toronto organization. Fits the mold of a bat first second baseman with a hit over power profile. Power didn’t play at all in 64 Northwest League games, but he should find at least average pop at maturity.

Cape Line: 180 PAs, .349/.450/.490, 4 HR, 1 SB | Team: Wareham Gatemen

No player stole my heart the way Shenton did. If you don’t know his backstory, read up. Not only did he display arguably the league’s best hit tool but a knack for coming up with big hits at the right times. He’s a bad body bat-first utility type, which makes it a hard profile for teams to invest in early in the draft, but the Mariners might have bagged themselves a steal. Shenton’s ability to make consistent contact and average pop make him a “professional hitter type” that grinds at bats and gets the ball in play. A less powerful Willie Calhoun with more defensive versatility. His professional debut was stellar but boosted by a friendly home hitting environment.

Cape Line: 173 PAs, .379/.474/.521, 3 HR, 6 SB | Team: Hyannis Harbor Hawks

A talented three-year starter at Campbell, that was heavily recruited out of high school as a pitcher. Campbell gave Barefoot the ability to do both and he developed with the stick in each of his seasons with the Camels. He won the CCBL batting title in the summer of 2018 with his .379 mark registering as the highest among qualified hitters. He’s a strong base runner with a sneaky first step, an average corner outfield defender, and some developing thump. He struggled in the NYPL but should show well in 2020 coming off a full winter under the eye of the Astros player dev.

Cape Line: 129 PAs, .340/.445/.573, 7 HR, 14 SB | Team: Chatham Anglers

This is one of those times when scouting the statline was deceiving. Those that saw Sabol, knew he was a 4-7 round talent, with a lot of padded CCBL numbers. His production was that of an elite player posting one of the best overall lines of the summer. He was also versatile defensively playing outfield, first base, and catching across my looks. What lay beneath however was a very likely move off catcher, a weak arm that likely would land him in left or first base, a longer swing with levers to match. He wasn’t overly strikeout prone and did show good approach. So I can’t say I saw the bat path hurt him first hand. Unfortunately Sabol’s Cape performance didn’t translate to the spring, with a subpar .268/.346/.368 slashline. He dropped out of the first few rounds and landed with the Pirates in round seven. His overall strong performance out of the draft might point to some potential upside for Sabol as a versatile bench player one day.

Cape Line: 82 PAs, .300/.390/.686, 8 HR, 1 SB | Team: Orleans Firebirds

The unlikeliest of stories, Osborne entered the Cape in early June as a two-way player, likely to spend the majority of his summer in relief for the Firebirds and skipper Kelly Nicholson. Instead he spent his three weeks with Orleans as the primary designated hitter leading the Cape at the time of signing with Oakland. As a draft eligible junior that went undrafted, Osborne was eligible to sign with any team post draft. A standout with Tennessee Tech his junior season, he led the Golden Eagles to a super regional berth.

Osborne had a decent showing professionally after signing, performing at a league average level in the New York-Penn. To start 2019, Osborne struggled over the first month and a half before seeing reassignment for a second stint in short season ball with Vermont. After 10 games with the Lake Monsters Osborne returned to Beloit where he hit .261/.322/.466, with five homers and 22 extra base hits over 43 contests from July to late August. The adjustments made in his short season stint allowed him to perform at a level nearly 25 percent above league average.

Obviously Osborne is a little old for the level, but the early expectations for a prospect with such an unusual path are different. An interesting follow for 2020, as the friendly California League confines might further bolster a late season breakout.

Pitchers edition coming later in the week