Chin Music: Unknowns to Knowns

This week I’m going to briefly take a look at the players who have impressed thus far in the Cape Cod Baseball League, and if history tells us anything, some of these players are already on your radar, or will be for years to come. Most of these players don’t have the pedigree of being big names before coming to the Cape League, but they are all helping their own causes with impressive seasons thus far.


Cody Hawn - The Hyannis first basemen was drafted in the 41st round out of high school but the impression he made at Walters State CC (.401, 23 HR, 71 RBI) gave him a shot to play at Tennessee next year. His Cape League numbers prove that his juco stats were no fluke. He’s hitting .382 with 4 HR and 11 RBI in just 34 at bats. The Cape League could put Hawn on the map much in the way it did with Tim Lincecum, who was also a 40+ round draft pick out of high school.

Kyle Roller – Another first basemen with similar numbers to Hawn, Roller is hitting .323 with 3 HR and 11 RBI in his 62 at bats. Roller was taken in the 47th round of this year’s draft by Oakland. While he is having an impressive offensive season this summer for the Bourne Braves, his defense remains a question with his 250 pound frame.

Chris Sale – The Florida Gulf Coast sophomore boasts a 1.29 ERA with 30 strike outs in 28 innings pitched. Sale was taken in the 21st round by Colorado out of high school but the left hander looks to have increased his draft stock going into the 2010 MLB Draft.

Ryan Cuneo – Originally signed a temporary player until players from the College World Series arrived, Cuneo impressed in Hyannis that he was signed on for the full season. Sharing first base and DH duties with Cody Hawn, Cuneo is hitting .308 with 2 HR and a league leading 13 RBI through just 17 games. Cuneo plays college ball under the radar at Delaware and was undrafted out of high school.

Eric Cantrell – The George Washington sophomore pitcher has a 2.25 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched for the Bourne Braves. Cantrell has won the Pitcher of the Week Award and is in line to win another this week.

Austin Wates – The Y-D outfielder is hitting .387 and, despite no home runs, has an OPS of .966. He has 10 RBI and 7 extra base hits. The Virginia Tech sophomore was undrafted out of high school.

Jack Armstrong – Wareham’s starter threw a 2-hitter against one of the top offensive teams in Hyannis in a shortened 7 inning complete game earlier this week. The Vanderbilt pitcher is the son of former Cincinnati Red’s pitcher of the same name. He has a 3-0 record with a 1.47 ERA and 15 strikeouts through 18 innings pitched thus far. Armstrong was drafted in the 36th round by the Rangers out of high school.

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