It’s been six seasons since Cotuit took the title in the Cape League, and with a strong and deep squad the Kettleers are certainly poised to take a run at the title this year. Last year’s squad boasted Rockies first-round pick Michael Toglia, Creighton’s Will Robertson, and Ole Miss’ Thomas Dilliard. This season’s squad features a strong outfield group, a deep pitching corps, and one of the top statistical performs in division one in New Mexico State’s Nick Gonzalez. I only caught Cotuit twice last summer, but my hope is to see a lot of this talented squad. Here’s what I have to look forward to.

Pitchers

Patrick Fredrickson, RHP Minnesota

Bo Hofstra, RHP Purdue

Drey Jameson, RHP Ball State*

Bryce Jarvis, RHP Duke

Reid Johnston, RHP NC State

Evan Justice, LHP NC State

Zach McCambley, RHP Coastal Carolina

Matt Moore, LHP Purdue

Kyle Nicolas, RHP Ball State

Holden Powell, RHP UCLA

Jason Reynolds, RHP Lehigh

Daniel Ritcheson, RHP San Diego State

Ethan Smith, RHP Vanderbilt

Nick Swiney, LHP NC State

Chris Troye, RHP UC Santa Barbara

Jackson Wolf, LHP West Virginia

Summary: The Cotuit staff has very solid depth, with six potential top ten round arms in 2020 between Patrick Fredrickson, Bo Hofstra, Zach McCambley, Kyle Nicolas, Ethan Smith, and Chris Troye. The rest of the staff is littered with solid arms from power conferences, with three NC State products in Reid Johnston, Evan Justice, and Nick Swiney. The Diamondbacks comp round pick Drey Jameson is listed on the roster, but I’d be shocked if he doesn’t sign. Overall it’s a strong group, with the potential for a few arms to pop over the summer.

Standout: Ethan Smith, Vanderbilt - A strong bodied Freshman at Vandy this season that’s 2020 draft eligible. He features a fastball that sits 93-94 touching 96, with big armside run. He pairs the fastball with a mid-80s slider, and a high-70s curveball. He pitched in relief for Vandy this season, but looks to have the body and stuff to convert to a starting role.

Sleeper: Patrick Fredrickson, Minnesota - A lanky 6-foot-6 righty with excellent extension and an excellent changeup. His fastball is a sinker that sits 89-91, touching 92 and generates a lot of ground balls and weak contact. He struggled with control early in the season, but rebounded and a strong showing would help him regain some of his draft status.

Catchers

Coltyn Kessler, Kentucky

Summary: Only Kessler is listed under contract with the Kettleers at the moment, meaning he earns all superlatives for the group. He had a solid year at the plate this year slashing .297/.384/.473 with five home runs for the Wildcats. His approach leaves something to be desired as he struck out 27 percent of the time, while walking just under nine percent.

Infielders

Nick Gonzalez, New Mexico State

Joey Loperfido, Duke

Adam Oviedo, TCU

Casey Schmitt, San Diego State *two-way player

Summary: A solid group led by 2019 standout Nick Gonzalez, but littered with players that produced this season. Not much star power, but outside Gonzalez, but Schmitt, Oviedo, and Loperfido all produced strong season, though the trio lacks the pop of Gonzalez.

Standout: Nick Gonzalez, New Mexico State - One of the standout statistical performers of the 2018 season, Gonzalez hit .438/.537/.781 with 15 home runs and more walks (42) than strikeouts (29). His competition in the WAC leaves some questions surrounding his numbers, meaning Gonzalez has a point to make this summer.

Sleeper: Casey Schmitt, San Diego State - A two-way standout for the Aztecs this season as he slashed .315/.415/.450 while tossing 43 innings split between the rotation and pen, with a 9.3 K/9 and a 3.77 ERA. On the mound he features a low-90s sinker, and a nasty split-finger offering. At the plate his contact skills and plus approach are his carrying tools.

Outfield

Joe Casey, Oregon State

Parker Chavers, Coastal Carolina

Cam Hill, Kentucky

Robby Martin, Florida State

Christian Robinson, Stanford

Donta Williams, Arizona

Summary: A very talented group headlined by two of the top outfielders in the next pair of drafts in Coastal Carolina’s Parker Chavers and FSU’s freshman phenom Robby Martin. The entire group comprises standout performers and contributors via power conference programs. It’s a well balanced group and arguably the strongest outfield core in the circuit.

Standout(s): Robby Martin, FSU - The Marlins selected Martin 1107th overall in the 2018 draft, but he chose to hit campus at Tallahassee, and hit campus is what he did, as Martin slashed .345/.426/.503 with four homers and an 11.9 BB%. At the moment he’s considered to be the front-runner to be the first college position player selected in the 2021 draft.

Parker Chavers, Coastal Carolina - Coastal’s center-fielder, Chavers displays a well-rounded game with the ability to impact on both sides of the ball. Chavers possesses multiple plus tools including his running, contact, power and approach. Took a big step forward in the power department this season as he bumped his isolated slugging year over year by over a hundred points. A true five tool player with some flare.

Sleeper: Christian Robinson, Stanford - All hit tool, but we’ve seen hitters like this add power after leaving Stanford, should be interesting to see if Robinson adjusts his approach down the Cape to hit for more power. Strong improvements year over year in terms of approach and bat to ball skills, shows the ability to make adjustments.