Welcome to the final edition of Live Looks from the Cape Cod League. For this review, I’ll look at OF Enrique Bradfield Jr., LHP Wyatt Evans, RHP Cam Brown, RHP Drew Conover, and RHP Cam Brown.
Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF, Vanderbilt, Cotuit Kettleers
Game Lines (7/25 and 7/27): 3 hits in 9 at bats, 2 walks, 1 strikeout
In the just released Prospects Live top 150 prospects for the 2023 draft, Enrique Bradfield Jr. checked in at number 7, and though he’s been off to a slow start in his first week with Cotuit, he has shown tools that’ll help put him in the first round next year. Bradfield turns heads with his speed, a tool that positively impacts all phases of his game. At the plate, he makes consistent contact, usually on the ground, and can turn any ball into a single. Also, he has incredible vision and knowledge of the strike zone, leading to nearly equal walks and strikeouts. In his cold streak, he’s been rolling over the ball a lot and looks to try to be pulling the ball. Rather than trying to unlock what little power that may be there, an approach that sprays the ball all over the field may be better for him. One of his better at-bats this week was when he broke the shift against Y-D, singling to the left side.
On the bases, Bradfield poses a huge threat to pitchers. Unlike some other runners out here, he seems to be more methodical about when he chooses to steal, which has led to him having 48 straight successful steal attempts going back to his start of the season at Vanderbilt. The speed also allows him to cover more ground than just about anyone in the Cape in center field. He chases down balls that look like no doubt hits and is not afraid to lay out to track one down. His below-average arm acts as the only drawback of his defensive play. If he continues to hit consistently enough to allow his speed to shine, Bradfield will be one of the first names off the board next year.
Wyatt Evans, LHP, Tennessee, Chatham Anglers
Game Line (7/19): 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 0 ER, 9 K
After a late scratch for the scheduled starter, Wyatt Evans got the nod for Chatham’s Tuesday night game and dominated. The 6-foot-6-inch lefty picked apart hitters with the following three-pitch mix: fastball (89/92), a slurvy breaker (79/82), and change-up (86/87).
Though Evans got off to a rocky start in the Cape, this outing began his current 7.1-inning scoreless streak. In his earlier outings, Evans struggled with command, but in this start, he located all three pitches well and was ahead of hitters for the most part. He mostly attacked hitters with his fastball, which he worked really well on his arm-side. The pitch had good carry and not much horizontal movement and elicited five whiffs. Outside of the fastball, he mainly threw a breaking ball which he manipulated the depth of at times. He located this pitch more to the glove side, and it played well off the fastball. He had an almost even distribution of strikeouts coming on the fastball and breaker. He occasionally mixed in the change-up, which he did not have the same feel for as the other pitches– it will need more development.
Evans, who will not be eligible until 2024, only appeared in relief this year at Tennesse. With his mostly two-pitch mix, he may profile better there; however, he deserves some run as a starter. His velo and stuff held up well through his 5.1 innings of work, which points to his potential in that role. With his frame, there may be more velocity to unlock as well, which would make him even more effective.
Cam Brown, RHP, Texas Christian, Chatham Anglers
Game Line (7/22): 3.1 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 4 ER, 3 K
In the first inning of his start, Cam Brown was lights out with a fastball that touched 97 miles-per-hour. However, as the outing went on, Brown’s command and stuff trailed off. The 6-foot-3-inch righty with a good frame worked with a fastball (93/96/t97), change (89/90), curveball (81/82), and slider (84/85).
Brown’s best two offerings are his fastball and change-up. With its high velo, the fastball also has late arm-side life. He played the change off of the heater throughout the game, and it was extremely effective. He kills spin really well on the pitch, making it fall off a table as it tails. All three of his strikeouts and 4 of his 6 whiffs came on it. After the first inning, he began to yank his pitches to his glove side and struggled to find the zone. This was especially true for his breakers. In regards to those two pitches, the curveball landed for more strikes, and he seemed to have little feel for the slider. Both of the pitches have good movement and high spin, so the potential exists.
With his current consistency issues, Brown is more suited for the bullpen where his velocity will play up and his poor command will be less of an issue. However, with his build and his potential to have four strong offerings, Brown has the makings of someone who can break into a rotation. If he improves his command, the core issues should subside, allowing him to make that jump.
Drew Conover, RHP, Rutgers, Harwich Mariners
Game Line (7/26): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 2 K
In last week’s draft, the Detroit Tigers selected Drew Conover in the 20th round, but he just announced he will not sign. In Tuesday night’s game, he came in and shut the door for a five-out save against Falmouth. The side-winding righty throws a turbo sinker that sat 93/96 paired with an extremely high spin slider at 81/82 miles-per-hour.
Conover stands far on the third base side of the rubber and throws with a crossfire delivery from his low slot, making him a tough at-bat for right-handed hitters, especially when he jams them inside with his sinker. His sinker gets a ton of arm-side run and induces a lot of weak contact on the ground. He mixes in his breaking ball about equally with the sinker, so hitters have to be ready for two pitches that dart in opposite directions and have about 10 miles-per-hour of separation. The breaker, which has good depth alongside its run, generates a high number of whiffs. This summer, Conover has thrown more strikes, limiting the walks that plagued him at Seton Hall last season. In 17 innings, he’s only walked 4 compared to 25 walks in 33 innings in the spring.
Next year for Rutgers, he will serve as a reliable back-end option, especially if he continues to keep the number of free passes he hands out in check. From his arm slot, it is hard to find a pitcher who throws as hard, making Conover a very intriguing reliever.
Rikuu Nishida, 2B, Oregon, Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Game Lines (7/28): 2 hits in 3 at bats, 1 double
Rikuu Nishida has become a fan favorite over the summer because of the joy that he brings onto the diamond; however, on top of the energy, he’s also won the appreciation of fans with his skills at the plate, on the field, and on the bases. In the box, the 5-foot-6-inch lefty works extremely pesky at-bats; he constantly fouls off balls, wearing pitchers down. On top of that, he has an extremely good feel for the zone, rarely extending it, which has resulted in him having only 2 more strikeouts (16) than walks (14). He consistently puts the ball in play though not with the hardest exit velocities or power. Most of his contact comes on the ground, but he has been able to turn it into hits with an average of .276 this season.
The reason he can turn the grounders into hits is his quickness. Nishida moves extremely well, and when he gets on base, he’s always a threat to steal with 22 in 39 games. In the field, he uses the quickness to his advantage playing an extremely rangy second base. After impressing at Mount Hood Community over the past two years, he’s now set to play in the Pac-12 for Oregon. With his high contact approach and speed, he should be a strong contributor for them.