Late last month the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League held their annual All-Star game, undoubtedly my favorite scouting event each summer.  Unfortunately for the third consecutive year I was unable to make the trek to Massachusetts, but luckily Fox College Sports televised the game, allowing me the chance to evaluate the top prospects on Cape Cod.  This year’s contest was a surprising 8-0 bludgeoning by the West over the East – these are my scouting notes on several prospects that stood out during the game.

Kevin Smith        SS           University of Maryland                 Yarmouth-Dennis

Perhaps my favorite prospect in next summer’s draft, Smith has rebounded from a disappointing sophomore campaign (.259/.308/.409) to make the All-Star team representing Yarmouth-Dennis.  Smith was impressive in this game, making several nice plays defensively and flashing above-average arm strength.

Offensively he showed good speed in his first at-bat, going home-to-first in 4.22 seconds in nearly beating out a grounder to shortstop.  Later in the contest he pounded a 90mph fastball opposite field for a long line drive out, easily one of the hardest hit balls in the game.  In his final two at-bats he struck out both times, showing the biggest present weakness in his game.  Nevertheless, Smith shows 4 easy average or better tools, and if a team believes in the hit tool, he projects as a potential Day 1 selection in the 2017 draft.

Gunner Leger     LHP        University of Louisiana-Lafayette             Wareham
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Entering the game in the Bottom of the 2^nd, Leger immediately caught my attention for his “80” name and prototypical 6-3 200lbs pitcher’s frame.  Leger retired the side 1-2-3, needing only 10 pitches to get those 3 outs.  In this brief outing, Leger showed his entire 3-pitch arsenal, featuring a 90-93mph fastball with arm-side movement, a 79mph changeup with excellent arm speed and a sweeping 77mph slider with some tilt.  With excellent size and the potential for 3 average or better offerings, Leger profiles as an easy top-100 selection next summer.

Garrett Cave      RHP        Florida International      Hyannis

Cave entered the game in the 7^th and quickly caught my attention with his simple delivery, impressive 6-3 200lbs projectable body and how easy the ball left his hand.  Cave pitches exclusively from the stretch, portending a future as a reliever.  Cave needed 17 pitches to strike out all three batters he faced, showing off a 94-98mph fastball with movement and a hammer 81-82mph curveball with plus potential.  The fact that he profiles purely in relief is the only knock I see, as he has a simple motion and the potential for two plus or better offerings.  Cave is another intriguing collegiate pitcher in the 2017 draft class.

Short Hops

Old Dominion rising junior SS Zach Rutherford (Hyannis) stood out during the game, making several highlight-worthy plays.  Defensively he showed a solid arm and quality range, making several nice plays deep in the hole.  Also, in the 2^nd inning, Rutherford took a low-and-away fastball deep to right field for an opposite field home run.  Later in the 4th inning Rutherford showed above-average speed in beating out an infield single.  A middle infielder with obvious tools, Rutherford has a chance to be a top-5 round pick next year.

It was a pleasant surprise to see two George Washington Colonials playing in the event, their first CCBL All-Stars since 2005. Senior RHP Eddie Muhl (Cotuit) entered the game in the 4^th inning and looks ominous on the hill with a thick 6-4 225lbs frame.  Muhl was clearly struggling with his command, but showed an 89-91mph fastball with excellent arm-side movement and one 81mph changeup with heavy sink.  He is a pure reliever, but with the way seniors are presently valued in the draft, Muhl could be a top-10 round pick next year.  Later junior 2B/P Robbie Metz (Wareham) entered the game but was unfortunately hit by a pitch in his only at-bat, though he did come around to score for the West.

Saturday afternoon, in an effort to avoid this oppressive heatwave, I stayed indoors to watch the Under Armour All-America Game to begin preparing for the 2017 MLB Draft.  Under Armour partners with Baseball Factory to bring 40 of the best prep prospects in the country to play this annual exhibition contest at Wrigley Field in Chicago.  Many of these players will be selected early next summer, making this a must-watch for any draft nerd.  Unfortunately intense lightning halted the game twice and terminated it after only 7 innings – Nevertheless, several prospects still stood out during the contest.

Hans Crouse      RHP       California HS

Serving as the starting pitcher for Team National, Crouse immediately passes the eye test at 6-4 185lbs with significant projection remaining.  He was obviously struggling with the big stage early, needing 31 pitches to complete the 1st inning: fortunately Crouse rebounded in the 2^nd, needing only 9 pitches to retire the side.

Crouse features an active delivery with plenty of extraneous movement, which likely hinders his command and control.  Over these two innings, Crouse flashed a 91-94mph fastball with excellent life and arm-side movement, which he located to both sides of the plate.  In addition Crouse showed a low-70s curveball with depth and impressive 12-6 action.  He only threw 1 curve in the 1st, instead relying on his fastball, but dropped a few hammers in the 2^nd inning.  He did not throw a changeup in this outing, but reports have him possessing a credible cambio as well.

Committed to USC, it would be a bigger surprise than Omar’s death in The Wire if a major league team did not sign him away from college.

Hunter Greene  RHP       California HS

The starting pitcher for Team American, Greene is a well-built 6-4 200lbs right-handed pitcher with a powerful, well-developed upper body.  Greene needed only 7 pitches to record three outs, giving a quick glimpse into his abilities.  He owns a fast, almost spastic, delivery with plenty of movement above his waist.  Greene’s fastball was sitting 96-98mph with late life, along with a 77-80mph breaking ball with impressive downward movement.  Committed to UCLA, his lightning-quick arm and immense potential gives him little chance of escaping the 1^st round next June.

Jordon Adell      CF           Kentucky HS

Perhaps the top 2017 prep position prospect, Adell is an sleak-looking athlete, listed at 6-3 185lbs with projection remaining.  A right-handed hitter, Adell has noticeably fast hands, obvious bat speed, and the ability to recognize spin.  He has home run power, as evidenced in the home run derby, although his swing currently has some excess length.

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There are some questions on his hit tool, but Adell has obvious five-tool potential and profiles as a potentially above-average 2-way center fielder.  Committed to the University of Louisville, Adell is yet another player unlikely to play collegiate baseball.

Heliot Ramos    OF          Puerto Rico HS

Easily the most impressive hitter in this year’s event, Ramos is a thick 6-2 185lbs athlete and one of the few players in the event without a college commitment.  A right-handed hitter, Ramos has healthy bat speed, lithe wrists and a mature approach in the batters’ box.

His first at-bat immediately caught my attention, as he patiently worked a 2-2 count before punishing a changeup to deep right field for a triple.  He showed easy raw power, nearly hitting an opposite field home run , along with above-average speed running the bases.  Next in the 4^th inning he ripped a 95mph fastball into center field for an RBI single, showing he can handle professional velocity.

In his final at-bat, Ramos worked back from an 0-2 count to get to 2-2 before pounding a 92mph fastball over the left-center field wall for a home run.  Sure the wind and humidity aided the distance, but it still easily cleared the 368 foot marker.  Ramos finished the day 3-3 with 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored and a double short of the cycle.

Unfortunately I did not see him do anything noteworthy defensively, meaning I cannot judge two of his five tools.  That said the three tools I did observe (hit, power, speed) all looked to have above-average potential.  The brother of Boston Red Sox catcher Henry Ramos, I expect Heliot to join him in professional baseball next summer.

Short Hops

Although the results were lacking, Georgia HS DL Hall possesses a live left-handed arm with a solid 3-pitch mix, showing a 91-94mph fastball, an upper-70s changeup with fade and a mid-70s curveball with above-average potential.  A Florida State commit, Hall would be an impact freshman for the Seminoles if he reaches campus.

Catcher MJ Melendez showed off a cannon-like arm in the 2^nd inning, posting a 1.87 second pop time on a perfect throw to second base on a stolen base attempt.  Just that throw in front of dozens of scouts should get him drafted inside the top-5 rounds next year.