The Commodores boast a rich history of being a summer stop for future major league talent with current big league stars like Rhys Hoskins, A.J. Pollock, Kyle Gibson, Andrew Heaney, and Marco Gonzales all spending time at Fuller Field at one point. The Commodores have one three CCBL titles over the last eight seasons, making them one of the premier stops on the Cape. The 2018 squad boasted talent all over the roster with the Yankees T.J. Sikkema, Baltimore’s Kyle Stowers and Maverick Handley, the Red Sox Cameron Cannon, the Dodgers Jack Little, the Twins Matt Wallner and A’s first rounder Logan Davidson. This year’s team is unlikely to feature as many 2020 draft picks, but there’s plenty of talent in the ranks that make the Commodores a worthy take again in 2019.
Pitchers
Franco Aleman, RHP Florida International
Zachary Brzykcy, RHP Virginia Tech
Steven Casey, RHP Florida International
Javin Drake, RHP Western Illinois
Chris Gonzalez, LHP Stetson
Logan Hofmann, RHP Northwestern State
Aidan Maldonado, RHP Illinois p15
Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP South Carolina p31
Tyler Ras, RHP Alabama
Hayden Rosenkrantz, RHP Washington State
Tommy Sheehan, LHP Notre Dame
Noah Thompson, LHP Lipscomb
Justin Wrobleski, LHP Clemson
Summary: This is a somewhat underwhelming group overall, but there are a few under-the-radar arms like returning Notre Dame Lefty Tommy Sheehan, Virginia Tech pen arm Zach Brzykcy, Stetson’s Chris Gonzalez, and Florida International’s Franco Aleman. Their two most highly rated arms are a pair of projectable arms in Illinois freshman Aidan Maldonado and South Carolina’s Carmen Mlodzinski.
Standout: Aidan Maldonado, Illinois - A projectable righty that hasn’t gotten the results as of yet, his stuff is plus with a fastball that sits 93-94 touching 96 with some run. His slider is a plus swing and miss offering and points to a potential breakout if he can clean up his somewhat messy mechanics. Lots of moving parts in the delivery with an overhead windup and his lower half consistently gets out of sync. Arm is quick and he already has two viable pitches, wouldn’t shock me if Maldonado leaves the Cape with increased 2021 draft stock.
Sleeper: Zach Brzykcy, Virginia Tech - A pen arm for the Hokies Brzykcy is hard to square up, working 92-94, touching 95, pairing his fastball with a plus slider in the low-mid-80s. Control is still an issues as he walked a batter per inning. There’s closer stuff here, but I’m not sure he’ll be stretched out at some point, or if he’ll remain in the pen.
Catchers
Sean Harrington, Babson
Michael Turner, Kent State
Summary: A pair of under-the-radar names in Babson’s Sean Harrington (Go Beavers!) and Kent State’s Michael Turner. Each is a career .300 hitter for their respective clubs with Turner showing more over-the-fence pop as he slashed .366/.442/.522 with four homers in 38 games for Kent State.
Infielders
Ryan Berardino, Bentley
Hayden Cantrelle, Louisiana-Lafayette
Bern Casparius, UNC
Trei Cruz, Rice
Jake Frasca, Sacred Heart
Steven Moretto, Sacramento State
Chris Rinaldi, Holy Cross
Alex Volpi, Holy Cross
Summary: A lot of local New England college talent among this group as it features four players from smaller New England programs, as well as Westport, Connecticut native and UNC Tarheel Ben Casparius. The two standouts for me are Louisiana Lafayette’s Hayden Cantrelle and Rice’s power hitting Treu Cruz. A group that will likely be better due to the wide ranging skill sets and experienced college bats.
Standout: Hayden Cantrelle, Louisiana-Lafayette - I caught Cantrelle last season for Falmouth and despite his poor results it was easy to see the speed, plate discipline and contact skills. He slashed .310/.428/.504 for the Ragin’ Cajuns hitting nine home runs and stealing 28 bases on 32 attempts. If he shows well in his return to Guv Fuller Field.
Sleeper: Trei Cruz, Rice - A standout for Rice this season as Cruz hit .305/.393/.519 with 26 extra base hits in 54 games, while walking at a near-13 percent clip. The switch-hitting Cruz is an above-average fielder with the ability to stick at shortstop, not highly ranked on many draft boards but that could change in a hurry with a strong summer.
Outfielders
Jackson Coutts, URI
Blake Dunn, Western Michigan
Maddux Houghton, Lipscomb
Austin Langworthy, Florida
Austin Masel, Holy Cross
Summary: Another group featuring some local talent in URI’s Jackson Coutts and Holy Cross’ Austin Masel, but this group is propped up by Florida senior Austin Langworthy and Lipscomb centerfielder Maddux Houghton. Through a couple of games each has hit, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as each has a track record of hitting with their respective schools.
Standout: Austin Langworthy, Florida - Draft eligible in 2019, Langworthy was content on returning to Gainsville for another season as he went undrafted. Our own Kyler Peterson caught Langworthy earlier in the season and here’s what he had to say “Langworthy was an integral piece last Spring for the Gators, batting .290 and smacking an extra-inning walk-off homer in the Super Regionals to get them back to Omaha. Langworthy has hit only four homers in each of his first two years at Florida. However, this past Summer in the Cape, he had an unexpected power surge, bashing seven home runs in only 26 games with wood bats. He has continued this streak of power in the fall, hitting multiple bombs in exhibitions. Langworthy isn’t the biggest guy, listed at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, but he sure does pack a punch.”
Sleeper: Maddux Houghton, Lipscomb - The Bison’s centerfielder had a really strong spring in 2019 slashing .342/.400/.482 with 4 home runs and 20 steals on 25 attempts. Not much power, but there’s real feel to hit, lots of line drive contact and the wheels to impact the game on the bases and stick in center. Lipscomb is an underrated baseball factory, so it’s only fitting Houghton is an underrated player.