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PLAYOFF PERFORMERS: 24 Cape Cod Baseball League players to watch in the playoffs

andré simms, cape cod times
·10 min read

The 2023 Cape Cod Baseball League regular season is coming to an end this week. The playoffs are set to begin on Friday, and with all the teams set, here are some of the premier names are to watch.

The list features players from blue-blood college baseball programs, and schools you may not have heard of. But rest assured, these players have proven themselves among the best of the best this summer and will be looking to continue that into the postseason.

Here are 24 players to keep a close eye on this postseason.

West Division

Cotuit Kettleers

Cole Mathis of Cotuit launches a Bourne pitch for a bases loaded triple in the second inning.
Cole Mathis of Cotuit launches a Bourne pitch for a bases loaded triple in the second inning.

Cole Mathis, College of Charleston

Mathis has a strong case for the Cape League MVP Award. Mathis has only gotten better as the summer has gone on, and now is helping anchor the top-seeded Kettleers offense into the postseason. Mathis is currently slashing .333/.388/.699 and only has one hitless game since July 13. Mathis leads the league in RBIs (42), and is second in the league in home runs (11). Mathis has been on a heater as of late. Since the All-Star game, he's gone 13-36 (.361) with four home runs, and 14 RBIs. Mathis has also seen time on the hill for the Kettleers this season.

More: Cotuit native Danny Crossen goes from Cotuit Kettleers bat boy to assistant coach

West starter Cam Hill of Cotuit and Georgia Tech delivers in the Cape League All Star game.
West starter Cam Hill of Cotuit and Georgia Tech delivers in the Cape League All Star game.

Camron Hill, Georgia Tech

Camron Hill has had no shortage of success this year, and could be the Kettleers second consecutive winner of the Russ Ford Outstanding Relief Pitcher Award. Teammate Cam Schuelke took home the honor for the 2022 season. HIll has led the Cape League in strikeouts through most of the season (he currently has 45), and his ERA sits at a league leading 1.09. His record is a perfect 3-0, and he even picked up the win for the West in the All-Star game.

Sean Keys of Cotuit gets hold of a Bourne pitch for a solo homerun.
Sean Keys of Cotuit gets hold of a Bourne pitch for a solo homerun.

Sean Keys, Bucknell

Keys has done nothing but rake since he arrived on Cape. The Bucknell product is hitting .419 (13-31), and has already hit three home runs, three doubles, and driven in 15 runs in just eight games since being activated on July 23rd. He's reached base in every single game, and drove in a run in each of his first six games to start his summer.

Hyannis Harbor Hawks

Cam Smith of Hyannis and Florida St. breaks up a double play attempt by Davis Diaz of Brewster and Vanderbilt in the Cape League All Star game.
Cam Smith of Hyannis and Florida St. breaks up a double play attempt by Davis Diaz of Brewster and Vanderbilt in the Cape League All Star game.

Cam Smith, Florida State

Simply put, Smith has been the Harbor Hawks' best hitter this summer, and has emerged as one of the best hitters in the league. Smith's 56 hits leads the league, as does his 36 runs scored. He's hitting .352, which is tied for fourth best across the Cape. The Florida State product also leads the Harbor Hawks in doubles (12), home runs (6), RBIs (25), and triples (4). He's played every game this season, and has also made just one error at third base.

More: Confidence is key: Hyannis Harbor Hawks gearing up for postseason

Brody Donay of Hyannis and Virginia Tech arrives home on a wild pitch covered by Jonathan Gonzalez of Orleans and Stetson in the Cape League All Star game.
Brody Donay of Hyannis and Virginia Tech arrives home on a wild pitch covered by Jonathan Gonzalez of Orleans and Stetson in the Cape League All Star game.

Brody Donay, Florida

Don't let the .233 average fool you, Donay has been a threat for the 2023 Harbor Hawks all summer long. His four home runs, and 11 doubles are second on the team only to Smith, and his 19 RBIs are tied for second on the team. Two-thirds of Donay's hits this season have gone for extra bases.

Jonathan Gazdar of Hyannis turns a double play as JC Colon of Wareham slides into second.
Jonathan Gazdar of Hyannis turns a double play as JC Colon of Wareham slides into second.

Jonathan "Jon Jon" Gazdar, Austin Peay

They say correlation doens't equal causation, but it's hard to ignore the relationship between Gazdar's arrival with the Harbor Hawks, and their late season surge. Hyannis went 16-7 in the month of July, and Gazdar debuted on July 5. Since then, he's slashed .338/.403/.400. He has two doubles, a triple and 10 RBIs so far this summer, and has already scored 14 runs in 17 games.

Falmouth Commodores

Falmouth shortstop Travis Bazzana make a diving stop that keeps the Brewster runner on second. Cape League Baseball.
Falmouth shortstop Travis Bazzana make a diving stop that keeps the Brewster runner on second. Cape League Baseball.

Travis Bazzana, Oregon State

Bazzana also has a case for Cape League MVP this year. Bazzana has had some monster individual games this season, including a 6-for-7, two-home run, two-double, eight-RBI, six-runs-scored performance in the Commodores 27-2 rout of Cotuit on July 28th. Bazzana is tied for the league lead with a .380 batting average, and leads the Commodores in both home runs (6, T-3rd in the league), and RBIs (31, T-3rd in the league). Throw in an additional 14 steals, and you have one of the most complete seasons on the Cape.

Braden Davis, Sam Houston State

Davis has been a great arm for the Commodores this season. He is tied for fifth in the league with 37 strikeouts in just 26.1 innings, and his 2.73 ERA is good for sixth in the league. Davis is coming off of his best start of the season. He went five innings, only allowed a run, and struck out seven in the 27-2 win over Cotuit.

Taylor MacGregor, Northeastern

MacGregor has done a little bit of everything this summer for the Commodores. The senior is batting .310 on the season, and is second on the team in both hits (31), and RBI's (21). MacGregor is nothing player enjoying his best stretch of the summer as the season closes. In his last four games, he's gone 11-20 with nine RBIs.

Bourne Braves

West MVP Derek Bender gets hold of an East pitch to bring in a run in the Cape League All Star game.
West MVP Derek Bender gets hold of an East pitch to bring in a run in the Cape League All Star game.

Derek Bender, Coastal Carolina

Derek Bender has been electric for the Braves this season offensively. He's tied with Bazzana for the league's highest batting average (.380), and paces the Braves with his four home runs, and 21 RBIs. Bender was the MVP of the All-Star game this summer for the West Division, and also has stolen 18 bags this summer.

Bryce Eblin of Bourne dives into second ahead of the tag by Trevor Haskins of Cotuit.
Bryce Eblin of Bourne dives into second ahead of the tag by Trevor Haskins of Cotuit.

Bryce Eblin, Alabama

Eblin is one of a few returning players from last year's Cape Cod Baseball League Championship winning team. This season, he's put that experience to good use. Eblin is riding a seven-game hitting streak since the All-Star game, including four three-hit games. In that stretch, he's raised his average from .305 to .363, which now has him sitting fourth in the league.

Bourne starter Tristan Smith delivers against Cotuit in a game they won 14-3 in Cape Cod League Baseball.
Bourne starter Tristan Smith delivers against Cotuit in a game they won 14-3 in Cape Cod League Baseball.

Tristan Smith, Clemson

Smith has emerged as one of the Braves most consistent arms this season. The lefty from Clemson has an ERA of 1.56 this season, and leads the Braves in wins (3) and strikeouts (33). Primarily operating as a starter this summer, Smith has struck out 33 in just 23 innings, and has only allowed 10 hits all year, and no more than three in any appearance.

East Division

Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox

Hunter Hines, Mississippi State

The home run title this season has ran through Red Wilson Field, by way of Starkville, Mississippi. Hines has led the league in home runs for most of the season, and is currently holding off the surging bat of Cole Mathis for the title. His 41 RBIs are second in the league behind Mathis, and he has driven in nearly 20% of the Red Sox total runs this season. Hines is hitting .255 this season, but has been walked 20 times, and has an OPS of .894.

The Y-D teammates Smith Pinson (with water) Brady Neal (5) and Landon Belchides (34) celebrate with Dub Gleed (right) after his hit that scored the walk-off run in the 10th inning for a 4-3 victory over Bourne in Cape Cod Baseball League.
The Y-D teammates Smith Pinson (with water) Brady Neal (5) and Landon Belchides (34) celebrate with Dub Gleed (right) after his hit that scored the walk-off run in the 10th inning for a 4-3 victory over Bourne in Cape Cod Baseball League.

Smith Pinson, Kennesaw State

Pinson announced himself to the league earlier this season by winning Cape Cod Baseball League Pitcher of the week, in early July. The acknowledgement came after a scoreless six inning start against the Bourne Braves. Pinson currently sits fifth in the league in strikeouts with 37, and has a 2.68 ERA, which is also fifth. He's only given up 11 earned runs in seven starts.

Y-D starter Finnegan Wall delivers against Bourne.
Y-D starter Finnegan Wall delivers against Bourne.

Finnegan Wall, UC Irvine

Wall is another arm that has helped the Red Sox boast one of the best, and deepest pitching staffs in the league this season. The junior has 38 strikeouts in 34 innings, across seven starts. He's won two games this summer, has an ERA of 2.91, and opponents are only hitting .194 against him.

Orleans Firebirds

East MVP Jo Oyama of Orleans and UC-Irvine throws over to first in the Cape League All Star game.
East MVP Jo Oyama of Orleans and UC-Irvine throws over to first in the Cape League All Star game.

Jo Oyama, UC Irvine

Jo Oyama has been one of the most dynamic players this season for the Firebirds. He claimed the East Division MVP at the All-Star game, and has quietly put up one of the best all-around seasons in the league. He's hitting .364, which is third in the Cape League, leads the league in triples with six, and has hit five home runs. Oyama is second only to Hyannis' Cam Smith with his 51 hits this year, has driven in 17, and scored 32 runs this season.

Orleans starter Derek Clark high steps in his wind up against Harwich Cape Cod Baseball League.
Orleans starter Derek Clark high steps in his wind up against Harwich Cape Cod Baseball League.

Derek Clark, Northwood University

Clark has put together a really strong season for Orleans. He's thrown two seven-inning starts, has struck out 38 hitters, good for second in the league, and has amassed five wins, which is also second in the league. His ERA sits at 1.80 (third in the league), across a Cape League high 40 innings of work.

Sean Matson, Harvard

Matson established himself as one of the premier high leverage arms in the league this summer. The Harvard product has yet to give up an earned run in 16 appearances out of the bullpen, and has struck out 26 in 21.2 innings pitched. He's totaled five saves this summer, and also has a league high six wins.

Harwich Mariners

Daniel Obee, Duke

Obee has gone under the radar this season with five home runs, and 21 RBIs. He's shown what kind of offense he's capable of producing. Those totals both lead the Mariners this season, and he's also hit four doubles.

Kevin Keister, Maryland

Keister has been a shot in the arm for the Mariners offense since his arrival. In just six games, he's hitting nearly .500 (11-for-23, .478), and has already scored six times. He's also already chipped in with seven RBIs, and will be looking to continue to boost his team in the postseason.

Sean Hard, Boston College

Hard has arguably been the Mariners best reliever this season. He leads Harwich in strikeouts with 31, and has a 2.34 ERA. He's given up only six earned runs in 23 innings this summer, half of which came in one outing. Opponents are only hitting .188 off of him in his eight appearances (one start).

Brewster Whitecaps

ames Tibbs of Brewster brings in a run with a single against Falmouth.
ames Tibbs of Brewster brings in a run with a single against Falmouth.

James Tibbs, Florida State

This summer, Tibbs has shown he can hang with the best when it comes to power hitters in the league. He leads his team in home runs with six, RBIs with 21, and has six doubles. Tibbs claimed the Home Run Derby crown at this summer's All-Star game, hitting 12 across the two rounds. However, he's not a one-trick pony and can hit for average as well, slashing .303/.393/.475.

Patrick Forbes, Louisville

Forbes has flexed some two-way muscle for the Whitecaps this year. On the mound, he's been one of Brewster's top arms. The sophomore righty has only given up four earned runs all summer across his seven appearances, and has an ERA of 2.20. His performances on the mound earned him a nod to the All-Star game. He has one save, one win, and has struck out 18 in 16.1 innings. At the plate, he's also hit two home runs, and is hitting .256, which is exactly 60 points higher than opponents are hitting off him on the mound.

Jonathan Vasine of Bourne and Vanderbilt shares a moment with Brewster shortstop Davis Diaz also of Vanderbilt as he arrives at second in the Cape Cod Baseball League All Star game.
Jonathan Vasine of Bourne and Vanderbilt shares a moment with Brewster shortstop Davis Diaz also of Vanderbilt as he arrives at second in the Cape Cod Baseball League All Star game.

Davis Diaz, Vanderbilt

Diaz is a second year Whitecap, and is hitting his stride at the perfect time. He's recorded six hits, two home runs, and six RBIs over his last three games. His 15 RBIs has him tied for second on the team, as do his three home runs, and he's hitting .286.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: 24 Cape Cod Baseball League players ready to shine in the playoffs