Welcome to the first live look from Cape Cod this summer. Every few days, a new look should be posted so check back in for those. For this review, performances from games between Falmouth, Harwich, and Cotuit will be examined.
Noah Dean, LHP, Old Dominion, Harwich Mariners
Game Line (6/12): 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 3 K
On Sunday, Dean had an uneven outing where he primarily used a two-pitch mix of his 4-seam fastball (92-94/t96) and slider (82-84), occasionally mixing in a change-up (86). He features a quick, loose arm action from a three-quarter arm slot, but had trouble repeating his release point which led to command issues. At his best, Dean was filling the zone with the four-seamer at the top of the zone with hitters struggling to time it up. In the first inning, he flashed the live fastball with arm-side run, getting two swinging strikeouts on the pitch.
However, in the second, his velocity dipped, sitting 92, which could have been a product of him pitching out of the stretch essentially the whole inning. On top of the decreased velocity, he lost his command. His front side flew open, causing the fastball to miss high and away, and his slider consistently missed the zone. After giving up a single on the slider and then walking the bases loaded, he gave up his sole run on a bloop single to left field.
Throughout the game, he didn’t generate any swing and misses on his slider, which right now is fringy at best. For him to be successful at the next level, he will need to develop his slider further so that hitters cannot just sit on the fastball, far and away his best offering. The 6-foot-1-inch athletic lefty’s velocity will be enticing early in day two of the draft, especially because if a team believes he can refine his command and create stronger secondary offerings, he will be a strong option at the back end of a bullpen.
Hunter Hodges, RHP, Transfer Portal (Prev. UNC Willmington), Harwich Mariners
Game Line (6/12): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 3 K
Hunter Hodges impressed against Falmouth throwing two perfect innings. Hodges featured three pitches; a 4 seam fastball (92-93), change up (87-89), and curveball (82-84). The 6-foot-3-inch reliever, who racked up 15 K/9 and held opponents to a .100 BA this season, pitches with a high-effort delivery with short arm action.
His main offering, a high-spin curve, was his best weapon featured in Sunday’s matchup. He pitched in all counts with it, starting one hitter off with three straight curves and throwing it consecutively on a three-ball count. All three of his strikeouts came on the breaking ball, two swinging and one looking. Throughout his appearance, hitters struggled to square him up, getting three weak groundouts. His fastball seemed to get on hitters fast and his change up which has the same vertical break but more arm-side horizontal run played well off of it.
This year, he ran into issues when he would lose command and walk batters, leading to a BB/9 of almost 10. However, this outing showed peak Hodges. At times, he was missing with the curve, but for the most part, was able to command it which is key for his success. If he can continue to locate his devastating curve, he will open eyes in the Cape this summer and build up his stock in the transfer portal.
Ben Hess, RHP, Alabama, Falmouth Commodores
Game Line (6/13): 3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 ER, 5 K
Hess, an imposing 6-foot-5-inch hurler, started for Falmouth on Monday night showing an impressive arsenal of pitches. Throughout his three scoreless innings, he mixed a fastball (92-94), a change (84), and multiple sliders. His slider took two forms: a more traditional breaker at 85, and one that was more similar to a slurve at 74-77. Hess showed good feel for all of his offerings, throwing each of them when in need of outs.
His change-up flashed plus movement and accounted for 2 of his 5 strikeouts, both swinging. At times he lost his command, but for the most part, he was able to locate his fastball. Going forward, his four-seamer needs a little more consistency; it varied between an average pitch and one that had good arm-side run. In this outing, he cycled between his two sliders. A few times he unleashed sharp breaking balls, getting two strikeouts on the slurvy slider. Out of both of his sliders, his slurve worked best and could develop into a strong offering alongside his fastball and change.
The righty with polished mechanics still has room to add mass and has a projectable frame. If he adds a couple of ticks of velocity and establishes one of his breaking balls, preferably the slurve, Hess could be picked in the early rounds of the 2024 draft.
Alex Mooney, SS, Duke, Falmouth Commodores
Game Lines (6/12 and 6/13): 3 hits in 9 ABs, 2 doubles, 1 stolen base, 3 strikeouts
Mooney, who was projected to go early in last year's draft, has played an impressive shortstop for Falmouth. His swing is quick to the ball and he consistently makes solid contact. His double into left field on Monday was the hardest hit ball of the night, and earlier in the night, he had a sharp single up the middle. Once he gets on base, he uses his plus speed, stealing bases and tagging up with ease.
Defensively, he has played a smooth shortstop despite making an error in game one. He’s shown the ability to make deep plays in the hole (one in which he nabbed a runner who was clocked at 4.33 to first) and to charge in quickly to turn weak grounders into outs. Also, his smooth hands were evident on two quick double plays. Overall, he offers plus defense at short, where he will have no problems sticking.
Mooney profiles well all around and at a premium position. In the Cape, he’s had no problems switching to the wood bats, though I would like to see him cut down a little on the swing and miss. When he enters the draft, he will once again find his name pop up as a potential top pick.