The 2022 MLB Draft begins on Sunday, June 17th. The Cotuit Kettleers are expected to hear the names of many current and former players called over the three-day period. As part of the All-Star weekend, Sunday’s draft calls will include Round 1 picks, Competitive Balance Round A, Round 2, and Competitive Balance Round B. The day 2 picks begin at 2:00 p.m. on Monday for rounds 3-10, and rounds 11-20 will begin at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
The proceedings will be streamed on mlbnetwork.com, and live updates will be posted in real-time on the draft tracker. A preview of Cotuit’s potential draft picks can be found here.
UPDATE @ Sunday, July 17 at 9:06: Cam Collier, 3B – Round 1, Pick 18 to the Cincinnati Reds
Cam Collier was the first Kettleers player to be selected in the 2022 MLB Draft. Collier came to the Cape after spending one year at Chipola Junior College. As the youngest player in the league, he held his own against some of the nation’s top collegiate players. The third baseman had a .597 OPS, landing five hits and walking 5 times. His on-base percentage was 0.379, and he was a consistent glove at third base for the nine games that he played for the Ketts.
With the 18th pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Cincinnati Reds selects Cam Collier! Congratulations, Cam! #kettlehoforever pic.twitter.com/1H493zBOKF
— Cotuit Kettleers (@CotuitKettleers) July 18, 2022
UPDATE @ Sunday, July 17 at 9:52: Eric Brown Jr., INF — Round 1, Pick 27 to the Milwaukee Brewers
2021 Kettleers alum Eric Brown Jr. was the second first-round pick for Cotuit. Brown played three years for Coastal Carolina, and he played 33 games for the Ketts last summer. In 117 plate appearances, he landed 33 hits and slugged 5 home runs, with a OPS of .811, rotating through second base, third base, and shortstop throuout the season. After returning to Coastal Carolina last year, he batted .330, slugging 28 extra-base hits on the season.
With the 27th pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Milwaukee Brewers select Eric Brown! Congratulations, Eric! #kettlehoforever pic.twitter.com/EUAPOHYBjm
— Cotuit Kettleers (@CotuitKettleers) July 18, 2022
UPDATE @ Sunday, July 17 at 10:24: Dylan Beavers, OF — Competitive balance round A, Pick 33 to Baltimore Orioles
Dylan Beavers had a host of experiences both with wood bats and playing against competitive batters in the PAC12. He was named All-Pac12 First Team in 2021 and 2022, and he was on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team in 2021. Beavers came to Cotuit in 2021 and played 8 games for the Ketts. In 30 at-bats, he landed 7 hits and brought in 5 runners.
With the 33rd pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Baltimore Orioles select Dylan Beavers! Congratulations, Dylan! #kettlehoforever pic.twitter.com/hGsNSNgmFA
— Cotuit Kettleers (@CotuitKettleers) July 18, 2022
UPDATE @ Monday, July 18 at 12:04 a.m.: Chandler Simpson, INF — Round 2, Pick 70 to the Tampa Bay Rays
Chandler Simpson was one of the most consistent bats in the Ketts lineup over his time in Cotuit in 2022. His bat control combined with his eye at the plate made him a deadly leadoff hitter. In twelve games, he landed twenty hits and also stole eight bases. His batting average was .455, and he manuevered on-base during more than half of his at-bats. Simpson played second base, and he concluded his season with a .935 fielding percentage.
With the 70th pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Tampa Bay Rays select Chandler Simpson! Congratulations, Chandler! #kettlehoforever pic.twitter.com/mm99YIQpdC
— Cotuit Kettleers (@CotuitKettleers) July 18, 2022
UPDATE @ Monday, July 18 at 2:21 p.m.: Dalton Rogers, LHP, — Round 3, Pick 99 to the Boston Red Sox
Two-year Ketts veteran Dalton Rogers was the first Monday afternoon pick. The lefty reliever pitched 13 innings for the 2021 team, registering a 2.77 ERA and only allowing four earned runs. In 2022, he returned for only two games, but he made an immediate impact during his second appearance, helping the Ketts register a tie against Harwich. In 6.1 innings pitched, he only allowed one hit.
With the 99th pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Boston Red Sox select Dalton Rogers! Congratulations, Dalton! #kettlehoforever pic.twitter.com/iZEmzKbvA0
— Cotuit Kettleers (@CotuitKettleers) July 18, 2022
UPDATE @ MONDAY, July 18 at 2:34: Ryan Ritter, SS — Round 4, Pick 116 to the Colorado Rockies
Ryan Ritter had a long list of accolades at the University of Kentucky, including the 2022 Rawlings Golden Glove winner at shortstop, and he continued his stellar defensive play in his time on the Cape. Ritter played shortstop, acting as a stopgap for a Kettleers defense that only registered five total errors during the first ten games. In 21 games during the 2022 season, he hit three home runs, slugging .492.
With the 116th pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Colorado Rockies select Ryan Ritter! Congratulations, Ryan! #kettlehoforever pic.twitter.com/YWlsWvvhBC
— Cotuit Kettleers (@CotuitKettleers) July 18, 2022
UPDATE @ Monday, July 18 at 2:38: Kenya Huggins — Round 4, Pick 123 to the Cincinnati Reds
Kenya Huggins was one of the first pitchers who debuted on the mound for the Ketts, pitching an early scrimmage inning against the Lexington Blue Sox. After struggling a bit with command during the early season, Huggins turned into a trusted reliever. During his second appearance against Y-D, he was credited with the win in 3.0 innings pitched, allowing only one hit and no earned runs.
Huggins relished his experience in the Cape League after pitching at Chipola Junior College along with first-round pick Cam Collier. “I’ve had opportunities to play with guys who have been in college baseball for three plus years,” he said. “It’s been different fitting in, but it’s been really awesome.”
Now, both Huggins and Collier will move into the next stage of their careers together as they both start their professional careers with the Reds.
UPDATE @ Monday, July 18 at 2:54: Luke Gold — Round 5, Pick 147 to the Detroit Tigers
Three-year Boston College Eagle Luke Gold was a consistent presence in the infield for Cotuit during the 2021 season. He played games at first, second, and third base, and after returning to Boston College in 2022, he played 53 games and batted .309 on the season with nine home runs.
UPDATE @ Monday, July 18 at 2:46: Nathan Martorella — Round 5, Pick 150, San Diego Padres
PAC12 competitor Nathan Martorella played 28 games for the Kettleers on 2021 ahead of his junior year at California. Martorella batted .264 in Cotuit, and in his 2022 season for the Bears, he hit .333 for an aggressive presence at the plate.
UPDATE @ Monday, July 18 @ 3:00: Victor Scott — Round 5, Pick 157 to the St. Louis Cardinals
Victor Scott showed his unstoppable speed and sharp fielding in his time in Cotuit. After his time in the Big12 with West Virginia, where he had an on-base percentage of .403, he came to Cotuit and showed stellar defensive skills alongside a patient eye at the plate. He was also aggressive on the basepaths, stealing eleven bases in 20 games.
One of his biggest takeaways from the Cape League was head coach Mike Roberts’ baserunning technique. “He definitely taught me new ways to steal bases,” Scott said. “He taught me a different way, which is that his little shuffle thing helps you kind of get a better jump.”
He also said that the intensity of the summer ball in Cotuit helped him prepare for the scheduling of the minor leagues. “[The Cape League experience] was definitely more than what I would expect it to be, and it got me ready for Pro Ball. Definitely good preparation.”
UPDATE @ Monday, July 18 at 3:26: TJ Brock — Round 6, Pick 188 to the Blue Jays
In his second summer in the Cape, TJ Brock dominated with his high octane fastball and wipeout slider. The right-handed reliever went as the 166th pick in the draft. In 2021, he pitched in only 3 games and had an ERA of 3.86. This summer, he took on larger role and served as the closer, shutting the door in 4 games. In 8 innings this season, he struck out 15 batters with an ERA of 2.16.
In addition to being a reliable arm during later innings, he also was a dedicated teammate both in the bullpen and outside of it. His shoes personified his dedication to the the Ketts’ culture and team, with custom cleats decorated with maroon pinstripes and the Ketts ‘C’. “I got ‘Only the Family’ on the side of the cleat, because, you know, Cotuit is family to me and I love everything about it,” he said in a sideline hit with Jenna Meyer that highlighted his choice of footwear.
UPDATE @ Monday, July 18 at 3:54: Peyton Williams, Round 7 pick 218 to the Toronto Blue Jays
Peyton Williams wasted no time showcasing his power to Cape League scouts. The fourth pitch he saw in a regular season CCBL game was scorched over the right field fence for a 2-run homer against Chatham on June 12. It wound up being his only hit on the Cape this summer in just three games for Cotuit. Williams went 1-for-10 with three RBIs, 3 Ks and a walk. Standing at a firm 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, Williams will turn 23 in September and looks to deal more damage in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system before possibly showing off his power in the big leagues.
Although he only played three games with Cotuit, he said that he enjoyed his experience with the Ketts. “It’s a lot of good guys, and I’ve learned a lot here in just a week or two,” he said. “I feel more comfortable hitting than I almost ever have, and I’m seeing better pitchers.”
UPDATE @ Monday, July 18 at 3:55: Mark McLaughlin, Round 7, pick 221 to the Chicago White Sox
Mark McLaughlin pitched in the midseason rotation for the 2022 Kettleers out of the bullpen after an exceptional year in the SEC at Tennessee. In his 2022 college season, McLaughlin registered a 2.01 ERA and only allowed seven earned runs in 31 innings pitched. He threw 4.1 innings of work for the Ketts.
UPDATE @ Monday, July 18 at 5:15: Zach Cole, Round 10, pick 313 to the Houston Astros
Zach Cole was a staple in left field for the Kettleers this season. In 16 games for Cotuit, Cole made just one error out in left, fielding over 97 percent of balls hit to him perfectly. While he went 9-for-64 for an average of .161, Cole was known for stepping up to the plate in big moments. For just having 9 base knocks, Cole drove in 6 guys. Cole bats left, throws right and will turn 22 on August 4 of next month.
“One thing I would definitely say with Coach Roberts is just being a polished player, and being able to compete every single day and every single pitch. The game just gets faster and faster the higher up we go,” Cole said. “Obviously this is the highest level ball I’ve ever played in my life,so it was a great opportunity. With the draft coming up, Lord willing, I get selected by a team. It gave me some good insight and what to expect at the next level, so the experience to play with these types of players and be coached under someone as experienced as coach Roberts – It was a blessing for sure.”