With the 2021 Cape Cod League in the books, it felt only appropriate we doll out some postseason awards for those who impressed. The Cape Cod League can be a pretty good preview into what players to keep an eye on for the following MLB Draft. It’s a wood bat league and, in a lot of cases, the first chance scouts have to see draft prospects with lumber in-hand.
The following teams have been constructed within the context of games played, positional eligibility, age, performance and prospect status. Some players unfortunately are omitted from this list because they played at a loaded position. Most of the Team USA players will not be on this list because they only played a handful of games before joining Team USA, with Brooks Lee being the notable exception as he returned to the Cape after Team USA wrapped up and played for Yarmouth-Dennis the rest of the 2021 season. All of these are based on live looks of each player from two of our evaluators.
Designated Hitters
East
Brooks Lee (Cal Poly)
Lee was a top prospect coming out of high school as a shortstop at San Luis Obispo, and stayed home for college to play for his father at Cal Poly. He's definitely built on his prospect status in 2021, both as a Mustang, as a USCNT selection, and as a player for the Y-D Red Sox. Lee is as physical a shortstop as you'll see in the amateur ranks, and has a swing geared for power from both sides of the plate. Lee was among the most imposing hitters all summer, slashing .405/.432/.667 with six homers in just 88 plate appearances. While there may be concern that his body will force him to move to 3B as a pro, Lee has the instincts and arm to play short at present. An early favorite to go in the first round, Lee will look to add to his outstanding track record this year at Cal Poly.
West
Clark Elliott (Michigan)
Hyannis didn't have a lot of bright spots this summer, but Michigan outfielder Clark Elliott emerged as the biggest on-base threat in the league. The Harbor Hawks leadoff hitter recognizes spin very well, and even when fooled has quick wrists that can get the bat-to-ball. Elliott returns to campus this fall looking to add more power to his game, which would really solidify him as a model darling and potential top 100 selection in the 2022 draft.
Catcher
East
Max Romero (Miami)
Romero put up some eye-popping numbers in a limited sample at Vanderbilt, and more or less reaffirmed his bat-first catcher skillset at Chatham. In 101 plate appearances, Romero slashed .264/.327/.495 with five homers. He has big raw juice and a plus arm, but needs to refine his blocking and agility behind the plate and cut down on the swing and miss. Romero recently announced he's transferring to Miami for his junior year, and should be in line for the starting catching job after Adrian Del Castillo was drafted in the second round by the D-Backs.
West
Jimmy Crooks (Oklahoma)
Catcher was a bit light in terms of prospects on the West side of the cape, but Jimmy Crooks had a solid summer at Wareham. Over 115 plate appearances, Crooks slashed .260/.330/.346 with two homers. While the power didn't show, he did show good feel for hitting and was an all-around solid defender behind the plate. Another year of production in Big 12 play should ensure Crooks a position near the top of the board of 2022 college catchers.
First Base
East
Dominic Keegan (Vanderbilt)
Keegan was drafted in the 19th round by the Yankees this year, but opted not to sign and return to Vanderbilt for a fourth season. As a right-right first baseman, there's a lot of pressure on his bat to carry him as a prospect. That said, his Cape performance continued to support the notion it’s there. Over 49 plate appearances, Keegan slashed .302/.388/.651 with five homers. Yeah, that’s a homer every 10 at-bats. Keegan may get some run behind the plate for Vandy in 2022 and certainly seems to have some of the best juice of any player in the 2022 class.
West
Dalton Rushing (Louisville)
Dalton Rushing anchored the middle of the Bourne lineup all summer and posted great numbers on the back of his double-plus raw power. With big bat speed and good barrel feel, Rushing can certainly put a charge into one at the plate. Over 142 plate appearances, Rushing slashed .314/.401/.542 with six homers. Defensively, Rushing caught a bit, but first base feels like the long term home, and he looks plenty capable of handling that at the pro level. With more consistent playing time after the departure of Henry Davis and Alex Binelas, Rushing should get the opportunity to solidify himself as a top first base prospect in the 2022 draft.
Second Base
East
Peyton Chatagnier (Ole Miss)
Chatagnier's play style is, in a word, aggressive. The Ole Miss product features solid bat speed and rotational torque that allows him to tap into above average raw power, with smooth actions and a good arm. At the plate, Chatagnier posted a .232/.328/.384 slash with four homers. However, an aggressive approach at the plate and impulsive decision making in the field led to streaky performance on the Cape. With that said, there's potential for an everyday middle infielder here, and if Chatagnier shows improvement in his plate discipline and more consistency defensively, he could quickly climb up boards.
West
Tommy Troy (Stanford)
Middle infield in the West was absolutely stacked this year, but Tommy Troy stood out the most from this very talented group of players. Troy possesses big time strength for a man of his stature, and abused the Spillane Field bleachers in BP. Not letting his offensive talent be limited to pre-game, the Cardinal freshman showed one of the strongest combinations of power and hit on the Cape this year. His .299/.364/.479 slash with four homers was awfully loud. Troy should be a top follow for all West Coast scouts over the next two years. He is 2023 draft-eligible.
Third Base
East
Brock Wilken (Wake Forest)
There are some positions on these All-Star teams that can be pretty competitive to fill out. This one, however, was a shoe-in. Wilken was a beast in both ACC and CCBL play this year. He possessed the most raw and game power of anyone we saw on the Cape this year. Add in advanced pitch recognition and a plus arm and you’ve got the makings one a potential Top 10 pick in 2023. Wilken slashed .302/.430/.519 on the Cape with six routinely mammoth homers.
West
Max Anderson (Nebraska)
Anderson brought a lot of momentum from a decorated freshman year at Nebraska where he was Big 10 Freshman of the Year and a First Team Freshman All-American. Slotted often in the #2 hole of a stacked Bourne lineup, Anderson was a consistent presence with loads of hit tool and pull-side juice. Anderson slashed .283/.328/.425 with three homers in 128 plate appearances. Teams that value track record should definitely have Anderson high on their boards for 2023, and there will be plenty of eyes on him in the Midwest next spring.
Shortstop
East
Zach Neto (Campbell)
Coming off a big year at Campbell, scouts were looking for Zach Neto to impress them against stiffer competition and impress he did. Neto showed at least above average power with advanced feel for hitting and projection. His .304/.439/.587 slash with three homers highlights a mature approach at the plate with plenty of thump. Neto was a consistent defensive performer with the arm and glove to be an asset at shortstop long-term at the highest level. He currently tracks as a first rounder in the 2022 draft and represents some of the highest ceiling on this list for my money.
West
Ryan Ritter (Kentucky)
Scouts were waiting to see Ryan Ritter put it all together, and in the last three weeks of the Cape season they were rewarded for their patience. Ritter had shown flashes of his offensive ability in games, but started to get more consistent with the barrel and the slugging percentage ticked up as well. Ritter finished extremely strong, slashing .330/.431/.429 this summer with a homer for good measure. Building on this momentum will be key for Ritter, as an improved junior year at Kentucky could vault him into first round discussions as a projectable shortstop with defensive and offensive impact ability.
Outfield
East
Pres Cavenaugh (UNC Greensboro)
Harwich relied on Pres Cavenaugh hitting leadoff to set the table for thumpers Brock Wilken, Dylan Phillips and Chris Newell. He more than held up his end of the bargain. Cavenaugh's main strengths offensively are advanced pitch selection and twitchy wrists that help him get the bat through the zone very quickly. His .333/.413/.429 slash speaks to that skillset. Defensively, he has solid range and an accurate arm, capable of playing all three outfield positions. Cavenaugh has helium in the 2022 draft class. If he taps into more power this spring, he could be a day one sleeper.
Spencer Jones (Vanderbilt)
Spencer Jones has seen inconsistent playing time at Vandy over the last two seasons, mostly due to injury, so the Cape was an opportunity for him to showcase his toolset. To say that he's athletic is an understatement. At 6-foot-7, 225 pounds., Jones is an above average runner with easy plus power, and flashes playmaking ability in center field. At the plate, he posted a .312/.424/.481 slash with three homers. Plain and simple, he's a unicorn, and with that distinction comes a world of potential outcomes that result in Jones playing a significant role at the highest level. Cutting down on swing and miss and establishing a performance track record in SEC play will be key for him in 2022.
Chase DeLauter (James Madison)
Much like Zach Neto, Chase DeLauter came to the Cape looking to prove himself as more than a big fish in a mid-major pond. The James Madison outfielder took a second to get himself acclimated, but once he did there was no doubt that this was a bonafide stud. At the plate, DeLauter has a controlled swing that covers both halves of the strike zone and relies on a strong lower half to drive the ball pretty much anywhere he wants. His monstrous .297/.397/.589 line with nine homers speaks to the impact he left on the league. Defensively, he started as Orleans' right fielder, but after an injury to Rhylan Thomas he moved to his more natural position in center field. With strong reads, good closing speed and a plus arm, he projects long term in CF. Make no mistake; this a potential top 10 talent in the 2022 draft with at least a puncher's chance of going first overall.
West
Anthony Hall (Oregon)
Oregon's starting center fielder over the last two years came to the Cape and produced at the plate for the Commodores. Hall is a physical presence at 6-foot-3 205 pounds, and has a low maintenance swing with easy juice to straightaway center and his pull side. Aggressive to a fault, Hall can cover most pitches but needs to pare it down to pitches in his zone. He had a solid Cape performance, slashing .283/.382/.481 with four homers. If he cuts down the swing and miss at Oregon in 2022, he will have both the on-base and contact skills to be an early round pick in the draft.
Jace Grady (Dallas Baptist)
Coming off a strong sophomore season at Dallas Baptist, Jace Grady continued to abuse pitchers when he arrived at Cotuit. His .346/.378/.538 line with four homers was among the most impressive performances you could find on the summer circuit. Grady has a smooth swing and pull-side power from both sides of the plate, but his quick hands might be the standout attribute from his offensive profile. With good defense in center field, he projects in a starting role at the position as a pro. Grady has the tools to be an early selection in 2022.
Jace Bohrofen (Arkansas)
Coming off a solid freshman year at Oklahoma, Jace Bohrofen built off that performance and shined as a 19 year old on the Cape. With good pitch recognition and an ability to whip the barrel, he consistently makes loud contact and gets on base frequently. A top follow for the 2023 draft, Bohrofen announced over the summer that he'll be transferring to Arkansas, making an already intimidating lineup even more powerful. His .279/.375/.504 slash this summer may be indicative of what’s to come for the Razorbacks.
Pitchers
East
Bryce Hubbart (Florida State)
Hubbart's performance on the Cape this year has generated a lot of big buzz. The Florida State lefty was the ace of the Brewster staff this summer, featuring a strong package of stuff. It starts with a low-90s four seam fastball, a big curveball in the low to mid-70s with usable shape manipulation, as well as a sweeping slider. Over 31 innings this summer, Hubbart posted a 0.87 ERA with a miniscule 0.710 WHIP. He punched out 45 batters in the process. There is some effort with his arm and lower half in the delivery, but Hubbart repeats well and lands his pitches where he wants to. It’s an extremely uncomfortable at-bat with a ton of deception. This could be the first college pitcher off the board in 2022.
Adam Maier (University of British Columbia)
Adam Maier came to the Cape with not a lot known about him. His 2021 season was cancelled due to the pandemic and it was hard for scouts to see him due to the issues crossing the Canadian border. However, it didn't take long for him to capture tons of attention from brass and decision makers. Maier features an above average two seam fastball that sits 91-94 with tons of arm-side run and sink, a mid-80s changeup that mimics the two seamer's movement profile, as well as a slider in the low 80s with elite spin metrics. To say that his performance on the Cape was impressive would be an understatement; Maier pitches for the University of British Columbia, an NAIA school, so this is the best competition he'll face leading up to the 2022 draft. His arsenal sure looks like high-round stuff, and with no red flags in the delivery and a promising frame.
Trey Dombroski (Monmouth)
If you value performance in draft prospects, Trey Dombroski is your man. The Monmouth lefty pitched for Harwich through the entirety of the Cape season, posting an eye-popping 45:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 31.2 innings. The stuff is solid; two and four seam fastballs at 88-90, touching 91, a mid-to-high 70s curveball with above average shape, and a low-80s changeup with late diving action. As you might suspect, the way Dombroski is able to get such impressive production is very advanced command. He hits his spots with frequency and can work left-to-right to keep hitters off balance. There's some room left for projection on his 6-foot-5 225-pound frame. How high Dombroksi goes will depend on how teams think his command and stuff will play as he progresses to smaller strike zones and more advanced hitters.
West
Adam Mazur (Iowa)
Mazur was one of the biggest risers on the Cape this summer, showing scouts improved command of his arsenal. He features a pair of fastballs in the low-to-mid 90s, a slider that flashes plus and a burgeoning changeup. The 6-foot-3 righty will be transferring from South Dakota State to Iowa for the 2022 season, and has room to add muscle on his frame. Mazur was the anchor for Wareham all summer, posting a 1.55 ERA, striking out 34 batters in 29 strong innings.
Spencer Miles (Missouri)
Miles was another Wareham pitcher with loud stuff, but a limited track record of performance. He definitely bucked the trend in regards to performance while with the Gateman, racking up big strikeout totals and a low ERA, while also limiting his walks. Miles has a fastball that sits 92-95 with big carry, and a big curveball to pair with it. With new pitching coaches at Missouri, look for Miles to continue building momentum in 2022. He’ll be a weekend starter for the Tigers this season.
Mark Adamiak (Arkansas)
After missing the entire 2021 season for Arkansas, Adamiak came out firing gas at Hyannis. He sat 91-96 with his fastball and touched 98, showing flashes with the slider and changeup. However, issues throwing strikes led to mixed results in Cape play. Adamiak will certainly have the opportunity to work his way into the Razorbacks' weekend rotation with a strong fall, with late inning relief serving as a nice fallback option.