Unfortunately neither Freddie Prinze Jr. nor Jessica Biel will take part in any of the Chatham Anglers activities this season. In fact they’ve been banned from the town of Chatham altogether but that’s besides the point. For years now Chatham has been one of the more recognizable franchises in the Cape Cod League, boasting such heady alumni as Thurman Munson, Jeff Bagwell, Kris Bryant, Evan Longoria, Whit Merrifield, and Andrew Miller. Last year’s squad featured 2019 first rounders Alek Manoah, Greg Jones, and Michael Busch. Another strong squad will take the field for the Anglers again this season. Let’s take a look at the 2019 roster, the top names entering the season and a potential risers or two to watch.

Rosters courtesy of Chatham Anglers

Pitchers
Dane Acker, RHP San Jacinto (TX)
Cole Ayers, RHP Kentucky
Luke Bartinicki, LHP Georgia Tech
Burl Carraway, LHP Dallas Baptist
Jack Conlon, RHP San Jacinto (TX)
R.J. Dabovich, RHP Arizona State
Daniel Federman, RHP Miami (FL)
Hugh Fisher, LHP Vanderbilt
Mason Hazelwood, LHP Kentucky
Kasey Kalich, RHP Texas A&M
Haydn King, LHP UNLV
Kolby Kubicheck, RHP Texas
Ty Madden, RHP Texas
Reeves Martin, RHP New Orleans
Jack Owen, LHP Auburn
Christian Scott, RHP Florida
Austin Vernon, RHP North Carolina Central
Cade Winquest, RHP Texas-Arlington
Jeremy Wu-Yelland, LHP Hawaii

Summary: A solid but unspectacular staff as currently constituted, names like Daniel Federman, Hugh Fisher, Christian Scott, R.J. Dabovich, Mason Hazelwood, Kasey Kalich, Kolby Kubicheck, and Reeves Martin have all performed to a degree in 2019 with Fisher, Scott, Kalich, and Ty Madden the standouts.

Standout: Hugh Fisher, Vanderbilt - A standout in the Commodores bullpen this season Fisher is a lefty that can touch 97 MPH. He’s big at 6-foot-5 and has experience with team USA.

Sleepers: Burl Carraway, Dallas Baptist - Pen arm at Dallas Baptist that was up to 97 mph at times this year. Ability to miss bats at an elite rate makes him a definite watch for me.

Austin Vernon, RHP - A 6-foot-8 monster from unheralded NC Central, Vernon is armed with a fastball that can touch the upper registers. One name that’s piqued my interest.

Catchers
Saul Garza, LSU
Zach Miller, Delaware
Brady Smith, Florida
Charlie Welch, Pepperdine

Summary: A solid group with two SEC performers in Garza and Smith. Should be an interesting pair to watch.

Standout: Brady Smith, Florida - Showed well down the Cape last season with Cotuit hitting .333/.412/.431. Followed that up with a strong season for the Gators hitting .279/.401/.456.

Sleepers: Zach Miller, Delaware - Miller has been a solid for Delaware starting 94 games for the Fightin’ Blue Hens, spent last summer in the Perfect Game League.

Infielders
Jorge Arenas, SS Stetson
Tyler Doanes, INF West Virginia
Branden Fryman, INF Samford
Kaden Palcovich, INF Northwest Florida St.
Ben Ramirez, 3B USC
Cooper Swanson, INF FSU
Jimmy Titus, INF Bryant
Alex Toral, 1B /OF Miami
Anthony Vilar, INF Miami
Paxton Wallace, 3B Wichita State
Freddy Zamora, SS Miami

Summary: This group is headlined by the Miami trio of Zamora, Toral, and Vilar, but there’s plenty of other performers from 2019. Names like Bryant’s Jimmy Titus who hit .341/.425/.570 with 11 home runs and West Virginia’s Tyler Doanes. There’s been talk that potential 2020 1.1 candidate Spencer Torkelson could log some time early before heading off for National Team duties.

Standout: Freddy Zamora, Miami - A strong performer on both sides of the ball for the Hurricanes, Zamora has first round buzz heading into the summer. The top position player on a strong Chatham squad.

Sleeper: Tyler Doanes, West Virginia - Chatham goes back to the Mountaineers pipeline plucking Doanes a top offensive performer for West Virginia. He hit .308/.399/.513 with 5 home runs, and 17 steals in 2019.

Outfielders
Kendrick Calilao, Florida
Cooper Davis, Vanderbilt
Adan Fernandez, Florida International
Colin Hall, Georgia Tech

Summary: A quintet of players from big programs, with a few strong Freshman performers in Florida’s Kendrick Calilao and Vandy’s Cooper Davis. Each are on the first day one radar for 2020 and 2021 respectively and should lead the group in at bats. The aforementioned Toral might see some time in the outfield as well giving the Anglers a strong core of potential outfielders.

Standout: Kendrick Calilao, Florida - Calilao spurned the St Louis Cardinals following the 2019 draft and got to campus at Gainesville this season. He was a strong performer in the early going but faded as conference play began. He’s not particularly athletic, and he’s likely to end up in a corner outfield or first base role in the future. His superior bat to ball skills, and barrel control should make him one of the more interesting 2021 draft prospects down the Cape this summer.

Sleeper: Colin Hall, Georgia Tech - Hall isn’t the most exciting talent but his ability to hit is carrying tool. These types can often breakout over the course of the summer season often boosting their stock significantly year over year.