2016 MLB Draft Prospects: 2015 Cape Cod League Week Three

The Cape Cod League recently completed it's third week of play. Here are where the standings currently sit:

The Orleans Firebirds continue to be the class of the Cape Cod League this summer, with the highest winning percentage and the best run differential - an easy feat when you both score the most runs and allow the fewest runs. Their 47 run differential is over twice that of the next-best team, the West Division-leading Hyannis Harbor Hawks.

Let's also check in on the top contributors for each team. And just for you all, this includes OPS+ and ERA+, a minorleagueball.com exclusive resource.

In week two, the Harbor Hawks' Devin Smeltzer was named the Pitcher of the Week, thanks to no-hitting the Harwich Mariners. On the season, the 6'3", 175 pound lefty has a 2.36 ERA and 128 ERA+ over 26.2 innings, with a 1.05 WHIP, a 6.4 K/9, and an impressive 9.5 K/BB ratio. That K/BB ratio is the highest among any Cape Code pitcher with at least 12 innings pitched.

Smeltzer was drafted in the 33rd round by the San Diego Padres last year, but chose to attend college at Florida Gulf Coast University. He finished with a 6.97 ERA in fifteen games and eight starts totaling 41.1 innings. He gave up way too many hits - 13.7 H/9 - thanks to a .354 BAA, but he also had a very solid 3.1 K/BB ratio. The herky-jerky delivery from the port side draws Chris Sale comparisons, so of course he decided to attend Sale's alma mater.

Smeltzer currently sits in the 89-91 mph range, with a sweeping slider. He will always be tough on lefties thanks to the mechanical funk and throwing across his body. The larger questions that remain are how will he progress against right-handed hitters, and if he can maintain a starters workload. Again, similar to the questions about Sale in college. But if anyone doubts his mental fortitude, Smeltzer is a survivor of cancer that attacked him as a nine year old boy. He has two years to solidify his draft stock, but the early returns in his first Cape Cod summer are promising.

The week two Player of the Week was Donnie Walton, the middle infielder for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. The Oklahoma State Junior was just drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 23rd round. However, he is seen as a tough sign, given his father Rob is the pitching coach for Oklahoma State. He's hit a solid .306/.396/.407 over his three year college career, including a robust .326/.410/.481 line in 2015.

So far in the Cape, he's hitting .321/.352/.383 over 81 PA, good for a 118 OPS+ and 10.9 runs created. He's actually only the second-best hitter on the YD Red Sox, behind fellow middle infielder Tommy Edman, a Stanford SS who's hit .299/.373/.418 with a 127 OPS+ to date. Walton is a scrappy player who profiles best as an utility guy in pro ball, but sometimes those guys break out. Look at San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Duffy, for example. He will likely go as a cheap senior sign in the top ten rounds next June, assuming he doesn't sign with the Brewers.

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