NECBL prospect reports

Official league website: www.necbl.com
2015 Summer Collegiate Top Prospect Index
New England Collegiate Baseball League Top Prospect List (30)


The NECBL has continued to produce players who go on to shine the following spring with their respective schools before hearing their names called in the MLB draft. With plenty of young talent scattered throughout the rosters, and the subsequent top prospect list, the 2015 NECBL was a treasure trove of names baseball fans will continue to hear over the next couple of seasons.

Lefthander Willie Rios (Mystic Schooners) was a near consensus pick amongst those polled as the league’s top professional prospect, while outfielder Brent Rooker (Plymouth Pilgrims) had a season to remember, just missing out on winning the league’s triple crown on his way to being named the Most Valuable Player.

Like the talent, the championship series between the eventual champion Vermont Mountaineers (31-18) and runner-up Mystic Schooners (31-18) provided thrills until the final out of the best-of-three series. After falling to the Schooners 14-6 in game one, the Mountaineers took the next two games, including a 3-2 10-inning game to capture their third NECBL championship, and their first since 2007.


Year Established: 1993
States Represented: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
No. of Teams: 12
Regular Season Champion (best overall record): Newport Gulls (27-15)
Postseason Champion: Vermont Mountaineers
No. 1 Prospect, 2014: Jordan Sheffield, rhp, Newport (Vanderbilt)
First 2014 Player Selected, 2015 Draft: Josh Graham, c/rhp, Valley (Oregon/Braves, 4th round)

Most Valuable Player: Brent Rooker, of, Plymouth (Mississippi State)
Starting Pitcher of the Year: Tim Viehoff, lhp, Laconia (Southern New Hampshire)
Relief Pitcher of the Year: Sam Delaplane, rhp, Vermont (Eastern Michigan)

BATTING LEADERS

Batting Average: Dalton Thomas, c, Sanford Mainers (Arkansas Little Rock) (.380)
Slugging Percentage: Brent Rooker, of, Plymouth Pilgrims (Mississippi State) (.604)
On-Base Percentage: Drew Lugbauer, c, Newport Gulls (Michigan) (.453)
Home Runs: Brent Rooker, of, Plymouth Pilgrims (Mississippi State) (10)
RBI:Brent Rooker, of, Plymouth Pilgrims (Mississippi State) (33)
Stolen Bases: Garrett Copeland, 2b, Vermont (Austin Peay) (24)

PITCHING LEADERS

Wins:Perry Kulaga, rhp, Valley (Merrimack); Tim Viehoff, lhp, Laconia (Southern New Hampshire); Michael Mertz, rhp, Newport (Oklahoma State); Josh Garran, rhp, North Adams (Pace) (5)
ERA:Dakota Edwards, rhp, North Adams (Bridgeport) (1.16)
Saves:Sam Delaplane, rhp, Vermont (Eastern Michigan) (10)
Strikeouts:Tim Viehoff, lhp, Laconia (Southern New Hampshire) (58)

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Jovan Afenir, of, Newport (Kansas)
Best Hitter: Mandy Alvarez, 3b, Plymouth (Eastern Kentucky)
Best Power: Brent Rooker, of, Plymouth (Mississippi State)
Best Speed: Derek Jenkins, of, Mystic (Seton Hall)
Best Defender: Aaron Hill, ss, Mystic (Connecticut)
Best Velocity: Willie Rios, lhp, Mystic (Florida SouthWestern)
Best Breaking Ball: Rich Loveland, lhp, Ocean State (Kennesaw State)
Best Command: Michael Mertz, rhp, Newport (Oklahoma State)


TOP 20 PROSPECTS

1. Willie Rios, lhp, Mystic (Florida SouthWestern State/SO in 2016)
Had Rios of stayed in College Park for the 2016 season then Maryland would have back-to-back top ranked prospects in the NECBL with Alex Robinson taking the honor last summer. Instead, the lefthanded Rios decided to transfer to Florida SouthWestern State for the 2016 season after a productive summer, which in turn deems him eligible for next June's draft. Rios took a majority of his reps out of the bullpen in 2015 for Maryland but spent his time with Mystic in a starting role where he was able to dominate while showing an increase in command on the mound in the regular season. Voted as the “Top Pro Prospect” in the league, Rios showed a fastball that worked steadily in the 90-93 mph range with the ability to bump it a tick or two higher on occasion. A competitor on the mound, the 6-foot, 200-pound Rios put together a remarkable summer, ending the season with a 1.80 ERA over 35 innings with 41 punchouts. Though he can attack hitters with his heater and miss bats, Rios is able to take a game over once he establishes his mid-80s slider, a pitch that features short and late bite down in the zone while also flashing a changeup.