Cape Cod League Update: The 2014 MLB Draft

With this, I suppose it really is the end of my Cape League series. The 2014 Draft marks the last time pre-Majors that I’ll hear about this large of a group of players from the 2012 Cape League (some of them still might be in the draft next year, but not on this overall scale). So, just like I did last year, here’s a list of the 2012 alumni who were taken in this year’s draft:


Player: Kyle Schwarber
Pick: Round 1, Pick 4
Position: C (LF on the Cape)
Cape League Team: Wareham Gatemen
College: Indiana
Major League Team: Chicago Cubs
I didn’t get to see a lot of eventual champion Wareham, but Schwarber was impressive the few times that I did see them. I featured him in my team write-up.


Player: Aaron Nola
Pick: Round 1, Pick 7
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Harwich Mariners
College: LSU
Major League Team: Philadelphia Phillies


Player: Jeff Hoffman
Pick: Round 1, Pick 9
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Hyannis Harbor Hawks
College: East Carolina
Major League Team: Toronto Blue Jays
Hoffman was the second half of Hyannis’s 1-2 punch that also featured last year’s first round pick Sean Manaea.

Player: Michael Conforto
Pick: Round 1, Pick 10
Position: OF
Cape League Team: Brewster Whitecaps
College: Oregon State
Major League Team: New York Mets


Player: Trea Turner

Pick: Round 1, Pick 13
Position: SS
Cape League Team: Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
College: North Carolina State
Major League Team: San Diego Padres

Player: Sean Newcomb
Pick: Round 1, Pick 14
Position: LHP
Cape League Team: Wareham Gatemen
College: University of Hartford
Major League Team: Los Angeles Angels


Player: Luke Weaver
Pick: Round 1, Pick 27
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Brewster Whitecaps
College: Florida State
Major League Team: St. Louis Cardinals


Player: Alex Blandino
Pick: Round 1, Pick 29
Position: SS
Cape League Team: Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
College: Stanford
Major League Team: Cincinnati Reds
Blandino was featured in the Y-D write-up as the team faced off in the league championship (ultimately losing to Wareham).


Player: A.J. Reed
Pick: Round 2, Pick 1
Position: 1B (LHP on the Cape)
Cape League Team: Harwich Mariners
College: Kentucky
Major League Team: Houston Astros
I actually featured Reed in my write-up as a pitcher, he was that good. One wonders how the team’s Murderer’s Row would have looked with him hitting as well, though.


Player: Nick Burdi
Pick: Round 2, Pick 5
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Chatham Anglers
College: Louisville
Major League Team: Minnesota Twins


Player: Aramis Garcia
Pick: Round 2, Pick 11
Position: C
Cape League Team: Cotuit Kettleers
College: Florida International
Major League Team: San Francisco Giants


Player: Sam Travis
Pick: Round 2, Pick 27
Position: 1B (also OF on the Cape)
Cape League Team: Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
College: Indiana
Major League Team: Boston Red Sox
Another one in my Y-D write up. There were quite a few of them taken this year.


Player: Aaron Brown
Pick: Round 3, Pick 7
Position: CF
Cape League Team: Chatham Anglers
College: Pepperdine
Major League Team: Philadelphia Phillies


Player: Dylan Davis
Pick: Round 3, Pick 13
Position: RF (also RHP on the Cape)
Cape League Team: Brewster Whitecaps
College: Oregon State
Major League Team: San Francisco Giants


Player: Eric Skoglund
Pick: Round 3, Pick 18
Position: LHP
Cape League Team: Harwich Mariners
College: Central Florida
Major League Team: Kansas City Royals


Player: Brett Austin
Pick: Round 4, Pick 3
Position: C
Cape League Team: Harwich Mariners
College: North Carolina State
Major League Team: Chicago White Sox
Another key part of the Harwich offense.


Player: Dustin DeMuth
Pick: Round 5, Pick 11
Position: 3B (SS on the Cape)
Cape League Team: Wareham Gatemen
College: Indiana
Major League Team: Milwaukee Brewers


Player: Louie Lechich
Pick: Round 6, Pick 3
Position: CF (also LHP on the Cape)
Cape League Team: Chatham Anglers
College: University of San Diego
Major League Team: Chicago White Sox
Similar to Reed, in that I wrote about his pitching and he’s being drafted as a hitter.


Player: Brandon Leibrandt
Pick: Round 6, Pick 7
Position: LHP
Cape League Team: Brewster Whitecaps
College: Florida State
Major League Team: Philadelphia Phillies


Player: Jonathan Holder
Pick: Round 6, Pick 17
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Wareham Gatemen
College: Mississippi State
Major League Team: New York Yankees
Another one featured in the Champions’ summary.


Player: Dale “D.K.” Carey
Pick: Round 7, Pick 19
Position: CF
Cape League Team: Chatham Anglers
College: Miami (Florida)
Major League Team: Washington Nationals
Carey was one of my favorite players to watch while scoring Chatham games. He, Andrew Knapp, and Chad Pinder were the brightest spots of that team.


Player: Jose Lopez
Pick: Round 6, Pick 20
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
College: Seton Hall
Major League Team: Cincinnati Reds


Player: Justin Shafer
Pick: Round 8, Pick 9
Position: RHP (IF on the Cape)
Cape League Team: Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
College: Florida
Major League Team: Toronto Blue Jays


Player: Steve Wilkerson
Pick: Round 8, Pick 16
Position: 2B
Cape League Team: Hyannis Harbor Hawks
College: Clemson
Major League Team: Baltimore Orioles


Player: Ben Wetzler
Pick: Round 9, Pick 2
Position: LHP
Cape League Team: Falmouth Commodores
College: Oregon State
Major League Team: Miami Marlins
I remember watching Wetzler (since I saw an abundance of Falmouth games, and had to stop myself from covering every player on the team), although I didn’t feature him in my write-up. It’s a shame he fell a few rounds from last year, though, after Philadelphia’s shameful reporting of him from last year. It’d be great if he goes on to beat them repeatedly as part of a division rival.


Player: James Farris
Pick: Round 9, Pick 4
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Orleans Firebirds
College: Arizona
Major League Team: Chicago Cubs


Player: Peter Miller
Pick: Round 9, Pick 6
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Hyannis Harbor Hawks
College: Florida State
Major League Team: Seattle Mariners


Player: Austen Anderson
Pick: Round 9, Pick 16
Position: 3B (SS on the Cape)
Cape League Team: Falmouth Commodores
College: Ole Miss
Major League Team: Baltimore Orioles


Player: Mike Fagan
Pick: Round 9, Pick 27
Position: LHP
Cape League Team: Chatham Anglers
College: Princeton
Major League Team: Oakland A’s
Again, I have fond memories of these last two.


Player: Jay Gonzalez
Pick: Round 10, Pick 16
Position: CF
Cape League Team: Orleans Firebirds
College: University of Mount Olive
Major League Team: Baltimore Orioles


Player: Ty McFarland
Pick: Round 10, Pick 17
Position: 2B (3B on the Cape)
Cape League Team: Wareham Gatemen
College: James Madison
Major League Team: New York Yankees


Player: Cole Sturgeon
Pick: Round 10, Pick 29
Position: OF
Cape League Team: Wareham Gatemen
College: Louisville
Major League Team: Boston Red Sox
Another one from my Wareham review.


Player: Danny Diekroeger
Pick: Round 10, Pick 30
Position: 3B
Cape League Team: Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
College: Stanford
Major League Team: St. Louis Cardinals


Player: Brandon Woodruff
Pick: Round 11, Pick 11
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Harwich Mariners
College: Mississippi State
Major League Team: Milwaukee Brewers


Player: Robert Pehl
Pick: Round 11, Pick 18
Position: OF (2B on the Cape)
Cape League Team: Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
College: Washington
Major League Team: Kansas City Royals
One of the stars for Y-D that year.


Player: A.J. Vanegas
Pick: Round 11, Pick 24
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
College: Stanford
Major League Team: Los Angeles Dodgers


Player: Karsten Whitson
Pick: Round 11, Pick 29
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Orleans Firebirds
College: Florida
Major League Team: Boston Red Sox
Got a small section in my Orleans summary.


Player: Jared Ruxer
Pick: Round 12, Pick 14
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Wareham Gatemen
College: Louisville
Major League Team: Los Angeles Angels


Player: Will Allen
Pick: Round 13, Pick 25
Position: C
Cape League Team: Bourne Braves
College: Ole Miss
Major League Team: Detroit Tigers


Player: Chris Huffman
Pick: Round 14, Pick 13
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Wareham Gatemen
College: James Madison
Major League Team: San Diego Padres


Player: Joe Filomeno
Pick: Round 15, Pick 21
Position: LHP
Cape League Team: Wareham Gatemen
College: Louisville
Major League Team: Texas Rangers


Player: Joe Broussard
Pick: Round 15, Pick 24
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Cotuit Kettleers
College: LSU
Major League Team: Los Angeles Dodgers


Player: Trent Gilbert
Pick: Round 15, Pick 27
Position: 2B
Cape League Team: Bourne Braves
College: Arizona
Major League Team: Oakland A’s


Player: Scott Squier
Pick: Round 16, Pick 2
Position: LHP
Cape League Team: Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
College: Hawaii
Major League Team: Miami Marlins


Player: Wayne Taylor
Pick: Round 16, Pick 6
Position: C
Cape League Team: Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
College: Stanford
Major League Team: Seattle Mariners
One of Y-D’s two promising catchers from that year (and a great guy).


Player: Sean McHugh
Pick: Round 18, Pick 7
Position: C
Cape League Team: Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
College: Purdue
Major League Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Y-D’s other catcher from that year.


Player: Dusty Isaacs
Pick: Round 18, Pick 9
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Cotuit Kettleers
College: Georgia Tech
Major League Team: Toronto Blue Jays
One of Cotuit’s bullpen aces.


Player: Joey Denato
Pick: Round 19, Pick 7
Position: LHP
Cape League Team: Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
College: Indiana
Major League Team: Philadelphia Phillies


Player: Hawtin Buchanan
Pick: Round 20, Pick 6
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Bourne Braves
College: Ole Miss
Major League Team: Seattle Mariners


Player: Derek Campbell
Pick: Round 20, Pick 7
Position: 2B
Cape League Team: Brewster Whitecaps
College: California
Major League Team: Philadelphia Phillies


Player: Adam McCreery
Pick: Round 22, Pick 14
Position: LHP
Cape League Team: Cotuit Kettleers
College: Azusa Pacific
Major League Team: Los Angeles Angels
Another strong Cotuit pitcher.


Player: Josh Walker
Pick: Round 22, Pick 16
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Hyannis Harbor Hawks
College: New Mexico
Major League Team: Baltimore Orioles


Player: Dominic Jose
Pick: Round 24, Pick 17
Position: CF
Cape League Team: Hyannis Harbor Hawks
College: Stanford
Major League Team: New York Yankees
Hyannis’s offensive star to match their strong staff.


Player: Casey Turgeon
Pick: Round 24, Pick 30
Position: 2B
Cape League Team: Falmouth Commodores
College: Florida
Major League Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Turgeon got a late start, but I always enjoyed watching him play, so it makes me happy that the Cardinals took him.


Player: Mason Robbins
Pick: Round 25, Pick 3
Position: RF
Cape League Team: Bourne Braves
College: Southern Mississippi
Major League Team: Chicago White Sox
Part of Bourne’s offensive attack, along with last year’s overall #5 Colin Moran.


Player: Gage Smith
Pick: Round 25, Pick 25
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Hyannis Harbor Hawks
College: Florida State
Major League Team: Detroit Tigers


Player: Erik Forgione
Pick: Round 25, Pick 26
Position: SS
Cape League Team: Brewster Whitecaps
College: Washington
Major League Team: Pittsburgh Pirates


Player: Mott Hyde
Pick: Round 26, Pick 1
Position: 2B
Cape League Team: Wareham Gatemen
College: Georgia Tech
Major League Team: Houston Astros
Yet another Wareham star. You can see why they did so well that year.


Player: Ethan Gross
Pick: Round 26, Pick 3
Position: SS
Cape League Team: Wareham Gatemen
College: Memphis
Major League Team: Chicago White Sox


Player: Chase McDowell
Pick: Round 26, Pick 19
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Brewster Whitecaps
College: Rice
Major League Team: Washington Nationals


Player: Brandon McNitt
Pick: Round 27, Pick 1
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Orleans Firebirds
College: SUNY Stony Brook
Major League Team: Houston Astros


Player: Craig Schlitter
Pick: Round 27, Pick 8
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Falmouth Commodores
College: Bryant
Major League Team: Colorado Rockies
Falmouth’s ace, and someone I had the pleasure of interviewing.


Player: Billy Bereszniewicz
Pick: Round 28, Pick 24
Position: OF
Cape League Team: Cotuit Kettleers
College: SUNY Binghamton
Major League Team: Los Angeles Dodgers


Player: Michael Theofanopoulos
Pick: Round 30, Pick 5
Position: LHP
Cape League Team: Brewster Whitecaps
College: California
Major League Team: Minnesota Twins

(Note: MLB.com has his listed as "Theo Theofanopoulos". I don't know why, as it doesn't seem to be a different person.)


Player: Ryan Atwood
Pick: Round 30, Pick 12
Position: LHP
Cape League Team: Chatham Anglers
College: Florida Gulf Coast
Major League Team: San Diego Padres


Player: Trevor Mitsui
Pick: Round 30, Pick 15
Position: 1B
Cape League Team: Brewster Whitecaps
College: Washington
Major League Team: Arizona Diamondbacks
Was in my Brewster write-up.


Player: Jordan Ramsey
Pick: Round 32, Pick 17
Position: RHP
Cape League Team: Cotuit Kettleers
College: UNC-Wilmington
Major League Team: New York Yankees


Player: Austen Smith
Pick: Round 33, Pick 2
Position: 1B
Cape League Team: Harwich Mariners
College: Alabama
Major League Team: Miami Marlins


Player: Taylor Zeutenhorst
Pick: Round 38, Pick 6
Position: OF (IF on the Cape)
Cape League Team: Hyannis Harbor Hawks
College: Iowa
Major League Team: Seattle Mariners


Player: Sasha Kuebel
Pick: Round 38, Pick 30
Position: LHP
Cape League Team: Hyannis Harbor Hawks
College: Iowa
Major League Team: St. Louis Cardinals


Player: Kavin Keyes
Pick: Round 39, Pick 6
Position: 3B
Cape League Team: Falmouth Commodores
College: Oregon State
Major League Team: Seattle Mariners


Player: Kyle Ruchim
Pick: Round 39, Pick 30
Position: 2B (SS and RHP on the Cape)
Cape League Team: Falmouth Commodores
College: Northwestern
Major League Team: St. Louis Cardinals
And another Falmouth player to close it all out.


I’m curious how many 2013 Cape League players were drafted this year as well, but that’s a question for another day. For now, though, congratulations to all of these Cape League alumni!