My fourth edition of live looks on the Cape. The regular season just ended and pitching became increasingly hard to come by towards the end, with arms being rapidly shut down. This led to only hitters being covered here. The games covered here include all Hyannis Harbor Hawks games from 7/16 through the end of the regular season.
Seaver King, SS, Wake Forest, Harwich Mariners
Regular season final line: .424/.479/.542 , 5 XBH, 7 BB, 9 K over 71 PA
King has transformed himself from a DII grinder into a legitimate high-profile prospect. He played his first two years at Wingate University in North Carolina, where he posted a .399/.454/.676 line with an 11 K% over 399 lifetime plate appearances. This success led him to a spot on Team USA this summer, where he played in between two different Cape stints. He possesses an advanced approach at the plate with great bat-to-ball skills. He rarely strikes out, but also has the ability to do extra-base damage given his track record and good exit velocities. Offensively, I see a lot of similarities to Luis Matos. He starts with a similar load with his hands low, but gets into the launch position early followed by a simple toe tap and follow-through. Both put the bat on the ball often, but also don’t walk a lot. This summer was crucial for King’s stock given his lack of track record facing velocity, but he has proven that is a non-issue for him. He had some error trouble at school, but he is a great athlete with range good enough to stay at shortstop. However, he likely profiles better at second if he ends up moving off shortstop. King recently transferred to ACC powerhouse Wake Forest, where he should play a crucial part in getting the Demon Deacons back to Omaha in 2024 before he is inevitably drafted.
Kaelen Culpepper, 3B/SS, Kansas State, Harwich Mariners
Regular season final line: .270/.382/.318, 10 K, 8 BB over 76 PA
Culpepper’s numbers may not blow you away on the stat sheet, but he possesses an intriguing profile with fairly significant upside. Like King, he began the summer on the Cape, but played for Team USA in the middle of it before returning for a couple of weeks. He’s a high-contact guy with the ability to drive the ball to all fields. It’s a simple swing with a two-handed follow-through that hasn’t produced a ton of extra-base power so far, but he hits the ball hard enough that he could end up with a lot of doubles and potentially average home run power at the next level. What stands out to me most is his ability to handle velocity. Between his college, USA, and Cape numbers, he slashed .462/.588/.750 against fastballs above 90 MPH. This is an indicator that he isn’t just a product of beating up on weak competition. However, he does have a tendency to chase breaking pitches. This hasn’t caught up to him yet, but he will need to adjust or pitchers will start to pound him with breaking balls out of the zone. Defensively, he has a cannon for an arm that should play at third base long-term regardless of his future power output. He’s a solid athlete with good instincts, so he could potentially play some outfield in the future. He also plays shortstop, but his profile fits better at third. Culpepper is another player to watch going into 2024 and his spring season will be a large indicator of where he lands in the draft.
Braden Montgomery, OF/RHP, Transfer Portal, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
Regular season final line: .340/.429/.472, 5 XBH, 16 K, 9 BB over 63 PA
While Montgomery didn’t fare particularly well in the two games I saw him, his track record and reviews were too good to leave him out of this article. The switch-hitting two-way player possesses an advanced toolset on both sides of the ball. Offensively, his selective approach led him to a 16.5 BB% at school. He crushes fastballs, rarely whiffing at them and often taking advantage of pitchers’ mistakes in the zone. Velocity is no issue for him either, as he hits better against fastballs above 90 MPH than he does below. Breaking balls give him slightly more trouble, but the difference between his production versus fastballs and breakers is not enough to concern me. This approach combined with his plus-plus raw power is what makes his bat such a commodity. He consistently posts elite exit velocities and projects to be an above-average power hitter at the highest level. While this is all stellar, his arm strength is even more impressive. It’s an 80-grade arm in the outfield that would play in the big leagues right now. He moves well, but is likely destined for a corner long-term as he adds weight. Not to mention, he can also pitch. He’s ramped it up to 96 MPH this summer with a gyro slider and, when thrown correctly, a changeup with a ton of horizontal movement. His command is inconsistent, but the tools are there to develop him as a pitcher if he doesn’t pan out as a hitter. Overall, Montgomery is one of the most talented players in the NCAA and should be announcing his new school in the near future. He could be a top pick in next year’s draft with continued development.
Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State, Falmouth Commodores
Regular season final line: .375/.456/.581, 14 XBH (6 HR), 14/17 SB, 18 K, 18 BB over 158 PA
Bazzana has impressed in all facets this summer for Falmouth. He consistently gets rave reviews about his makeup from anyone who gets the chance to meet him. He is a student of the game with an incredibly advanced approach at the plate. He walked as much as he struck out during the regular season at 11.4% each, making a ton of hard contact in the process. It’s an unorthodox stance with the bat head pointing downward in his setup, but it allows him to get into the hitting position quickly with a small leg kick. He rarely chases pitches out of the zone, regardless of pitch, yet still registers elite exit velocities. He rarely misses pitches in the zone, especially fastballs. He punishes pitches on the inner half that he can turn on and drive, but covers the entire zone with authority and does not have any significant holes. This makes him an incredibly tough out because there is simply no pitch that he does not hit well. He hits higher velocity better than lower in a relatively small sample, supporting the point that he should have little trouble when faced with professional pitchers. Not to mention, he recently took home the league batting title. He has played all over the diamond defensively (including shortstop this summer), but profiles best at second base long-term. The Australia native has been arguably the most impressive hitter on the Cape this summer, which is why he is one of the top prospects going into the 2024 draft.
Cole Mathis, 1B/RHP, College of Charleston, Cotuit Kettleers
Regular season final line: .318/.381/.667, 22 XBH (11 HR), 25 K, 12 BB over 147 PA
Mathis has been on a tear since he stepped foot on the Cape in June. The two-way player has showcased a combination of power and hit ability rarely seen by a player his age. He finished second in the league in home runs with 11 during the regular season, which is four more than the league leader last season. He’s done this while only striking out at a 17% clip, which is just slightly more than his 15% mark at school against generally less competitive pitching. He MASHES fastballs. He has an OPS significantly over 1.000 against them to go along with an approximately 90% Z-Contact%. Like most of the other players I’ve mentioned, velocity has not given him issues on the Cape or at CofC. He has had more success against lefties than righties, but the discrepancy is not large enough to knock him for because he still hits righties well. He doesn’t have an outlier tendency in terms of chasing pitches, either. He is simply a well-rounded hitter with little to no holes up to this point. Not to mention, he can chuck 96 MPH off the mound with two breaking balls. His arsenal is not particularly advanced beyond the fastball, but the curveball has a promising 11-5 shape. Though likely not a pitcher at the next level, Mathis’ bat should and will likely be the reason he gets selected early in next year’s draft.
Jonathan Vastine, MIF, Vanderbilt, Bourne Braves
Regular season final line: .306/.397/.430, 10 XBH, 14/16 SB, 27 K, 19 BB over 150 PA
Vastine has been a consistent producer atop the Bourne lineup throughout the season. The athletic middle infielder has slowly been putting it together with the bat this summer after an underwhelming college season. A highly touted hitter going back to his high school days, he possesses a contact-oriented approach that doesn’t involve his legs much, giving him the look of a slap hitter. He hits fastballs better than off-speed, but has shown improvement with breaking balls this summer compared to his school season. His chase rates are a bit concerning, but that has also trended in the right direction on the Cape. He has shown many flashes of the hitter Vanderbilt thought they would have this past spring. What makes Vastine exceptionally valuable is his glove. He’s extremely athletic with a strong arm and a ton of range, so he should have no problem sticking at shortstop long-term. However, he profiles just as well at second base if he were to end up there. It’s a silky-smooth operation that scouts who have seen him are raving about. This combined with his plus speed gives him the makings of a dynamic player at the next level if he can figure out his unprecedented swing-and-miss issues.
Zach Yorke, 1B, Grand Canyon, Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Regular season final line: .338/.425/.487, 5 XBH (3 HR), 6 K, 12 BB over 87 PA
Despite the misconceptions, Yorke has been one of the best pure hitters in the Cape league this year. The brother of Red Sox second base prospect Nick Yorke possesses an advanced approach that has led him to a minuscule 6.9% strikeout rate on the Cape, which is half as much as he walks. It’s a legitimate plus hit tool that has played at every level up to this point. He works plenty of walks, leading to many Daniel Vogelbach comparisons due to his 6’2”, 290 lb. frame. He has great pitch recognition, as he ran a cumulative chase rate of around 10% on all pitch types this summer as well. He has more trouble with breaking balls, but it’s more weak contact than swing and miss. It’s a simple operation in the box, with an upright stance followed by a small toe tap. This simple approach gives him little opportunity for error in his load. His power is good as well. Though he only hit 8 home runs at school, he has three on the Cape and has shown the ability to hit the ball deep out of the park. It’s more hit-over-power now, but could result in more in-game power later with time and maturity. The knocks on Yorke are his defense and athleticism. He is limited to only first base, where he is still a liability. He is likely destined for a designated hitter role at the next level if he doesn’t improve his movement and quickness. Regardless, the bat is what you’re buying with Yorke. He could be a high draft pick in 2025 with continued success when he is first eligible.