Top 2011 Ky Collegians: No. 25 Tyler Fisher

Tyler Fisher; Georgetown College photo

Beginning today BluGrass Baseball will begin counting down the top 25 returning Kentucky college baseball players. The list will not include freshmen or junior college transfers. We’ll begin the list at No. 25 and reveal a new player each day finishing just before the start of the 2011 college baseball season. The rankings are based on a combination of college performance and professional promise. We’ll start with a little small-college love with our No. 25 player:

No. 25 — OF Tyler Fisher — Georgetown College

Fisher, a senior outfielder, was named the New York Collegiate Baseball League most valuable player this summer after batting .366 with five home runs, 25 RBI and 30 runs scored in 26 games for the Allegany County Nitros. Fisher finished the NYCBL season with a .577 slugging percentage and .436 on-base percentage. As a junior at Georgetown Fisher batted .350 with 10 home runs, 43 RBI, 58 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. Fisher boasted a .570 slugging percentage and .422 on-base percentage in 2010. If Fisher carries his promising summer into the 2011 season, he might be able to follow former Bellarmine infielder and 2010 Seattle Mariners draftee Patrick Brady as Kentucky small-college players selected in the MLB draft.

Georgetown College outfielder named NYCBL MVP

College Baseball

For the second consecutive season a Kentucky collegian has been named the New York Collegiate Baseball League player of the year. The league announced Monday that Georgetown College outfielder Tyler Fisher was selected as the 2010 most valuable player. Fisher batted .366 with five home runs, 25 RBI and 30 runs scored in 26 games with the Allegany County Nitros. Fisher boasted a .436 on-base percentage and .577 slugging percentage for the summer.

Fisher batted .350 with 10 home runs and 43 RBI as a junior for Georgetown in 2010. The outfielder wasn’t the only Kentucky standout in the NYCBL as University of Kentucky right-handed pitcher Sean Bouthilette was also named to the second-team All-NYCBL. UK first baseman/right-handed pitcher Braden Kapteyn was selected as the 2009 NYCBL MVP. (Read more)

Wright selected to USA national team; Ketucky collegians named summer league all-stars

College Baseball

Links from around Kentucky college baseball:

University of Louisville sophomore infielder Ryan Wright has been selected to the 22-man 2010 Team USA Collegiate National Team.
University of Kentucky and Lexington Hustlers right-handed pitcher Joe Devine was named an all-star in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League.
Lexington native Wes Wilson (Indiana), Morehead State University outfielder Cameron Flynn, Morehead St. and Hustlers infielder Travis Redmon, and Lexington native and Hustlers outfielder Justin Riddle were also named GLSC all-stars.
Georgetown College outfielder Tyler Fisher was named a New York Collegiate Baseball League all-star.
UK catcher Michael Williams was named a all-star in the New England Collegiate baseball League.

Kentuckians in the NYCBL

College Baseball

We’ll continue our look at where Kentucky collegians are playing summer leauge baseball with the New York Collegiate Baseball League. Check out the list of Kentuckians below with their college and NYCBL teams:

RHP Kyle Williams — Morehead State University — Allegany County Nitros
RHP Shane Stancill — University of Cumberlands — Albany Dutchmen
OF/RHP Sam Kidd — University of Kentucky — Amsterdam Mohawks
C Luke Maile — UK — Amsterdam Mohawks
RHP Sean Bouthilette — UK — Amsterdam Mohawks
C T. J. Daugherty — UK — Mohawk Valley Diamond Dogs
3B Tyler Townsend — UK — Mohawk Valley Diamond Dogs
OF Jared Clarkson — University of Louisville — Oneonta Outlaws
OF Tyler Fisher — Georgetown College — Allegany County Nitros
C Brian Erie — Northern Kentucky University — Elmira Pioneers
RHP Matt Atkins — Kentucky Wesleyan University — Geneva Red Wings

Baseball America Unveils Summer League Top Prospects

College Baseball

Wes Cunningham

Baseball America is unveiling its top ten prospect lists from each of 17 different collegiate summer leagues over the next week to subscribers, but the magazine has released its top prospect in each league for free. Baseball America named Murray State first baseman Wes Cunningham the top prospect in the Jayhawk League and UK INF/P Braden Kapteyn the top prospect in the New York Collegiate Baseball League.

BA has also released the top ten lists for five leagues. Kentucky Native Tyler Blandford was named the second best prospect in the California Collegiate League and Wes Cunningham wasn’t the only Murray State Racer crack the top ten in the Jayhawk League. BA also ranked Murray State RHP Chris Craycraft as the ninth best player in the league.

Summer Leagues Top Prospects

College Baseball

Braden Kapteyn; Photo: UK Athletics

With the conclusion of the collegiate summer leagues, rankings of the top prospects in each league are starting to emerge. As I head about them I’ll pass them along. Earlier today we already told you that UofL’s Tony Zych had been named the 17th best prospects on the collegiate Team USA by Baseball America.

According to UK Athletics, RHP Logan Darnell has been named the third best prospect in the Alaska Collegiate Summer League by PGCrosschecker.com. PGCrosschecker also selected Kentucky native and Seattle Mariners’ draft pick Tyler Blandford as the top prospect in the California Collegiate Summer League.

The New York Collegiate Baseball League has also released its own list of top prospects from the summer. UK outfielder and pitcher Braden Kapteyn was named the top prospect in the league after a summer that saw him take home all-league and MVP honors.

UofL Summer League Wrap Up

College Baseball

Tony Zych Yesterday we looked at the UK players summer league summary. Today we head west on I-64 to check out the rival UofL Cardinals summer league results, including a World Championship.

Team USA

RHP Tony Zych — Zych was UofL’s summer star, contributing to the Team USA’s World Challenge Championship with an 0-1 record and 2.93 ERA in six games. Tony struck out 17 batters in 15.1 innings and held opponents to a .224 batting average. UofL coach Dan McDonnell also served on the Team USA coaching staff.

Coastal Plain League

Stewart Ijames — Thomasville HiToms– Ijames was named a mid-season All Star for the National League squad and finished the season tied for league lead in home runs with 12. Ijames batted .282 in 48 games on the season and drove in 37 runs.
Drew Haynes — Florence RedWolves — Haynes batted .235 in 28 games with 12 RBI and 12 runs scored for Florence. Drew was a perfect 7-7 in stealing bases.
Continue reading →

UK Baseball Summer League Wrap-Up

College Baseball

Photo: UK Athletics

With the Cape Cod League championship in the book, the UK summer league action has concluded for the season. Braden Kapteyn’s MVP performance in the New York Collegiate Baseball League highlighted the summer, but his performance wasn’t the only one worth noting this summer.

UPDATE 1:25 P.M. — ADDED NAVARRO HALL/ NYCBL ALL-LEAGUE INFO

New York Collegiate Baseball League

INF/RHP Braden Kapteyn — Amsterdam Mohawks — Kapteyn led the Mohawks in homeruns (4), batted .319 on the season and posted a 2.47 ERA on the mound. Had a singled, double and home run in the NYCBL finals to lead Amsterdam to the title. Named league MVP after leading league in strikeouts on the mound (72) and ranking third in total bases at the plate (66). Braden was named the utility player on the NYCBL first team all league.
RHP Sean Bouthilette — Amsterdam Mohawks — 4-3 with a 2.02 ERA in nine starts with two complete games. Sean had 42 strikeouts and 14 walks in 49 innings. Sean was named to the NYCBL second team all league at pitcher.
OF Cory Farris — Amsterdam Mohawks — Farris batted .280 with two home runs and 15 RBI in 34 games. Cory started 32 games for Amsterdam.
RHP Chase Green — Amsterdam Mohawks — 3-0 with a 0.71 ERA in 15 games with 25 strikeouts in 25.1 innings. Started one game for Amsterdam and held opponents to a .128 batting average. Green was named NYCBL first team all league at relief pitcher.
INF Neiko Johnson — Watertown Wizards — Johnson batted .343 with two home runs and 24 RBI in 39 games for Watertown. Neiko stole 21-22 bases, but had 13 errors in the field. Johnson was named NYCBL second team all-league at second base.
OF Navarro Hall — Mohawk Valley — Sophomore outfielder Navarro Hall batting .289 with one home run and nine RBI in 39 games for Mohawk Valley. Hall started 38 games and scored 28 runs.
Continue reading →

Thursday Links: Cotuit Kettleers Eliminated

College Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Chris Bisson; Photo: UK Athletics

Wednesday was a losing night for Bluegrass Baseball teams, and Kentucky connections. Check out the Cape Cod League finals and other storylines in Thursday morning’s hot links.

UK infielder Chris Bisson and the Cotuit Kettleers lost in game two of the Cape Cod League finals, giving the title to the Bourne Braves. Bisson was 0-3 with a walk in the 5-1 loss.
Phillies top prospect Michael Taylor hit for the cycle to lead the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to their first win in seven games against Louisville this season with a 10-9 victory Wednesday.
Pirates first round pick Tony Sanchez and the West Virginia Power defeated Lexington 9-2 in the series opener.
“Cat Scratches” reports on Braden Kapteyn’s NYCBL MVP, which was first reported here and on the BluGrass Baseball twitter.
Baseball America named Louisville outfielder Drew Stubbs best baserunner, best defensive outfielder and best outfield arm in the International League in a survey of IL managers. (Subscriber only)
EKU Alum Christian Friedrich and Lexington Legend Jordan Lyles both received votes in the South Atlantic League best pitcher poll conducted by Baseball America to SAL managers.
Will Graves (Former Kernelite) at the Associated Press reports on UK Athletics 15x15x15 plan.
Jason Stella profiles Louisville Bat Kevin Barker at Examiner.com.

Summer League News: Kapteyn NYCBL MVP

College Baseball

Braden Kapteyn; Photo: UK Athletics

UK rising sophomore Braden Kapteyn was named the MVP of the New York Collegiate Baseball League Wednesday. Kapteyn batted .319 with four home runs and 24 RBI for the NYCBL champion Amsterdam Mohawks. Braden also starred on the mound with 2.47 ERA in 47 innings for the Mohawks. Kapteyn came a triple shy of the cycle in the NYCBL championship clinching game and drove in six runs. Braden was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2008 and contributed to UK as a two-way player during his freshman season.

In other UK related Summer League news, second baseman Chris Bisson was 1-4 with a run scored in the Cotuit Kettleers’ 15-5 loss in game one of the Cape Cod League finals Tuesday. Cotuit will try and even the series against the Bourne Braves in game two tonight. The Cape Cod League championship series is a best of three contest.