Below Article was written and released today by the Perfect Game website.
Just when it appeared the Far West League was about to bring order to the vast collection of summer-college teams in northern California, and become the elite league in the region, the eight-team alliance was suddenly torn apart at the seams by the defection of two one-and-done teams that helped to significantly raise the league’s profile in 2013.
Petaluma-based Top Speed Baseball, which has an enviable track record of success in its brief, but nomadic existence and narrowly missed out on a Far West League title in its first and only year in the league, and the California Warriors, who fielded a competitive team with a number of elite-level high-school prospects, both defected to the year-old Golden State Collegiate League at the conclusion of the season, pulling up stakes after just a single season.
Even as Top Speed and the Warriors injected new blood in the league, and otherwise factored prominently into the accompanying list of the league’s top prospects, it was one of the old guard, the Arcata-based Humboldt Crabs, who were left standing again at league’s end. The Crabs rallied with three straight wins in the league’s post-season tournament, subduing Top Speed twice on the final day, to capture their third championship in the league’s brief three-year existence.
The Crabs have been the standard bearer for summer baseball in northern California—if not the entire West Coast—for years, and recently completed their 69th season of operation They’ll remain the flagship franchise in the Far West League going forward, with the likelihood that the league will be re-tooled with six clubs.
FAST FACTS
Year League Established: 2011
States Represented in League: California
No. of Teams in League: 8
Regular-Season Champion (best overall record): Humboldt Crabs (25-8; 42-14 overall)
Post-Season Champion: Humboldt Crabs
Teams, Perfect Game Summer 50/Final Ranking: No. 26 Humboldt Crabs, No. 36 Top Speed Baseball
No. 1 Prospect, 2012 (per PG CrossChecker): Brad Zimmer, of, Humboldt Crabs (San Francisco; played for Team USA college-national team, Cotuit/Cape Cod League in 2013)
First 2012 Player Selected, 2013 Draft: Grant Nelson, c, Menlo Park Legends (Saint Louis; Diamondbacks/9th round)
Most Valuable Player: Tyler Mautner, 3b, Top Speed Baseball (Buffalo)
Most Outstanding Pitcher: Chad Hodges, rhp, Humboldt Crabs (North Dakota State)
BATTING LEADERS (league games only)
Batting Average: Tyler Mautner, 3b, Top Speed Baseball (.389)
Slugging Percentage: Tyler Mautner, 3b, Top Speed Baseball (.690)
On-Base Average: Sergio Sanchez, 3b/c, Humboldt Crabs (.465)
Home Runs: Tyler Mautner, 3b, Top Speed Baseball (8)
RBIs: Tyler Mautner, 3b, Top Speed Baseball (33)
Stolen Bases: Aaron Knapp, of, California Warriors (13)
PITCHING LEADERS (league games only)
Wins: Adam Cline, rhp, Top Speed Baseball; Chad Hodges, rhp, Humboldt Crabs (6)
ERA: Thomas Peterson, rhp, California Warriors (1.55)
Saves: Matt Davis, rhp, Top Speed Baseball (5)
Strikeouts: Adam Cline, rhp, Top Speed Baseball (48)
BEST TOOLS
Best Athlete: Michael Peterson, rhp, California Warriors
Best Hitter: Francis Christy, c, California Warriors
Best Power: Tyler Mautner, 3b, Top Speed Baseball
Fastest Base Runner: Aaron Knapp, of, California Warriors
Best Defensive Player: Jonathan Hovis, 3b/ss, Redding Colt 45s
Best Velocity: Tyler Cyr, rhp, Top Speed Baseball
Best Breaking Ball: Matt Krook, lhp, California Warriors
Best Command: David Hearne, rhp, Reddimng Colt 45s
TOP 15 PROSPECTS
1. MATT KROOK, lhp, California Warriors (Oregon/FR in 2014)
Krook’s stock soared as a lefthanded pitching prospect at a California high school through the spring like almost no player in the 2013 draft, but unfortunately he failed his physical in late June and went unsigned by the Miami Marlins, who had selected him with a supplemental first-round pick. Krook had initially agreed to terms on a contract that was to provide a $1.6 million bonus. Rather than agree to a reduced bonus offer of $600,000 from the team, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound lefthander elected to not sign, and turn his attention to playing in college at Oregon. In the interim, he agreed to pitch for the Warriors, a team with several other recent high school graduates. The Warriors were overly cautious in their use of Krook, never allowing him to throw more than 30 pitches in any outing, and though he ended up working in only four innings overall on the summer, he was everything as advertised to those who saw him. He flashed a solid three-pitch mix, and his stuff was electric when his delivery was in sync, though he struggled to throw consistent strikes. Krook’s fastball routinely touched 95 mph in the weeks leading up to the draft, though he typically worked in the 91-93 range for the Warriors, while combining it with a dominant 12-to-6 curve in the low-80s. His changeup is still a relatively new pitch, and will be a key in his development as a starting pitcher, though he clearly has the size, athleticism and raw stuff to emerge as a front-of-the-rotation starter.
2. TREVIN HASELTINE, rhp, California Warriors (California/FR in 2014)
Though the 6-foot-5, 210-pound Haseltine was passed over in the draft in June out of a California high school, it had little to do with talent, and more with a strong college commitment to Cal-Berkeley. Haseltine has a live, very loose arm and generally held his own against Division I hitters for the Warriors while going 1-2, 4.36 in 10 appearances, with 17 walks and 40 strikeouts in 33 innings. His fastball was a steady 88-92 mph, got good action in the strike zone and peaked at 93 when he needed to reach back for a little extra, but he tended to struggle when he couldn’t command his changeup, his best secondary pitch, and normally a firm offering with late diving action. Haseltine has the makings of a power curve that could be a swing-and-miss pitch for him in time, but his high arm slot may be more conducive to him incorporating a slider or split-finger over time. More than anything, he worked on some of the more subtle aspects of pitching on the summer, like holding runners, and he already is capable of generating good downhill leverage with his big frame. Haseltine’s older brother Jordan, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound lefthander, also played in the Far West League, for Neptune Beach, and has similar upside potential with his big frame and a mid-90s fastball.
3. TYLER MAUTNER, 3b, Top Speed Baseball (Buffalo/RS-SO in 2014)
Mautner was the dominant hitter this summer in the Far West League, officially winning a Triple Crown in regular league action (.389-8-33), but also leading all Far West players over the course of the summer in batting (.390), homers (13) and RBI (57), while also slamming 26 doubles. His breakout season was partly a factor of a short left-field porch at his home field, but it also came on the heels of modest success at the plate in two seasons at Buffalo, where he was red-shirted as a freshman in 2011 after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury after 11 games, then hit .295-2-35 with 23 doubles in a do-over of his freshman year last spring. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Mautner comes by his power naturally with his big, powerful frame, but has a short, compact, effortless swing with very quick hands through the hitting zone. With plenty of juice in his bat, he hit all kinds of pitches out of the yard to different parts of any park. Though Mautner appears to have the arm strength to remain at third base, though he may be a better fit at first base, or even left field, at the next level.
4. FRANCIS CHRISTY, c, California Warriors (Central Arizona CC/FR in 2014)
Ability to swing bat with authority from left side is 6-2/215 Christy’s biggest strength; has strong, compact stroke, plenty of bat speed, made strides on summer driving balls to all fields, learning to hit lefthanded pitching; hit .309-2-24, led league with five triples; biggest improvement may have come behind plate, learned how to catch/block, move his feet, control a game; slipped to 37th round of 2013 draft out of California HS because of commitment to Oregon, but later had change of heart, elected to go JC route as freshman.
5. MIKE THEOFANOPOULUS, lhp/of, Neptune Beach Pearl (California/SR in 2014)
Friday arm in Cal rotation at start of 2013, projected as solid draft with 87-91 FB, hammer curve, solid change; legit 2-way option, started to swing bat for Bears, but fractured wrist after 27 ABs diving back into first base, out for balance of college season; resumed career on summer, earned all-star utility role as command returned, went 1-1, 2.00 on mound (27 IP, 12 BB/22 SO) working short role initially, eventually stretched out as starter, hit .314-3-11 at plate, has decent LH power, capable of playing all 3 OF positions.
6. CAMERON OLSON, c, Humboldt Crabs (UC Davis/SO in 2014)
Key force offensively for league-champion Crabs; has powerful LH bat, compact swing, ball jumps off bat, hit .322-8-47, drilled 20 extra-base hits, impressive upgrade from .274-1-16 FR season at UC Davis, still needs work on hitting breaking balls, using all fields; not as advanced defensively after suffering elbow injury last fall, causing him to DH much of spring, but made solid strides on summer in receiving/blocking skills, improved throwing, still needs to work on footwork to improve pop times.
7. MANNY RAMIREZ JR., 1b, California Warriors (Central Arizona CC/FR in 2014)
Manny’s son; had expectations of being a significant draft in June out of Florida HS; began summer for Warriors hitting line drives, going opposite way, but light suddenly went on when hit 6 HRs in five games, including three in one contest; soon began driving balls consistently to pull side with power, was one of most-improved players in Far West League, start to finish, hit .323-6-18 in 62 ABs, before leaving early to visit dad in minor leagues; bears little physical resemblance to his father at 6-foot-4, 215-pounds, but flashes same big power potential and bat speed.
8. DAVID HEARNE, rhp, Redding Colt 45s (Notre Dame/SO in 2014)
6-4/190 RHP had acceptable debut in 21 appearances (8 starts) as FR at Notre Dame, walking 14, striking out 36 in 44 IP, while going 1-2, 4.70; improved on that performance in five starts in Far West League, going 2-1, 2.79 (29 IP, 5 BB/33 SO); has plenty of room to grow into tall/lanky frame, fastball already at 89-92 mph, has upper-70s curve that is solid complement, can throw both pitches for strikes in any count.
9. MICHAEL PETERSON, rhp, California Warriors (West Valley, Calif., JC/SO in 2014)
Michael, twin brother Thomas are both long/lean RHPs who pitched at same California JC in spring, same summer club; 6-6/190 Thomas (No. 17 prospect in league) considered more polished of two, has better slider/splitter, while 6-7/195 Michael is more athletic, definitely the superior prospect and a two-time draft pick, including Rangers in June; has quick/live arm, FB at 90-95 (Thomas’ fastball normally at 86-88), still learning to pitch, needs to control strike zone better.
10. AARON KNAPP, of, California Warriors (California/FR in 2014)
Knapp comes by his baseball talent honestly as father Mike and brother Andrew Knapp (second-round pick of Phillies in 2013 draft) are former catchers at Cal; Andrew a different kind of player as games revolves around speed, excels at putting ball on ground, running bases, chasing balls down in CF; undrafted in June after missing SR year at Granite Bah HS with shoulder injury, spent summer in DH role; led Granite Bay to CIF state title in football last fall as strong safety, knocking down potential game-winning pass in team’s 21-20 victory.
11. GREG KUHLMAN, lhp, Top Speed Baseball (Indiana State/RS-JR in 2014)
Replaced injured Indiana State ace lefty/first-rounder Sean Manaea in Sycamores rotation late in 2013 on way to 3-2, 4.88 record as red-shirt sophomore; undrafted in June, but showed power arm on summer in projectable 6-3/180 frame, FB at 90-94, also has plus curve, can be very tough on LH hitters, inconsistent with 2-0, 4.97 record in 12 appearances (5 starts) for Top Speed, with 23 BB/35 SO in 25 IP, has whip-like arm action, lean frame, could throw in mid-90s one day.
12. DANNY MILLER, 1b, Menlo Park Legends (Chico State, Calif./JR in 2014)
Made big strides with bat on summer, hitting .340-9-41 with 23 extra-base hits after spending spring at Mission (Calif.) JC; undersized 1B at 6-0/185, but has very fast hands, impressive raw pull-side power from left side, can hit to all fields with disciplined approach, takes violent hack, but rarely extends hitting zone; needs work on going the other way, hitting off-speed stuff; can play OF in pinch; moves on to D-II Chico State as JR.
13. TYLER CYR, rhp, Top Speed Baseball (Embry-Riddle, Fla./JR in 2014)
Flashed best raw arm strength in league with FB at steady 93-95, topping out occasionally at 97; needs to work on command with all pitches while honing consistent break on slider, improving changeup which shows promise in bullpen sessions; went 1-0, 5.87 with 2 SV in late-inning role for Top Speed, along with 17 BB/20 SO in 15 IP; transferring from Skyline (Calif.) to NAIA power Embry-Riddle (Fla.) as JR, future in game all hinges on harnessing raw stuff, throwing strikes.
14. JUSTIN HOVIS, 3b/ss, Redding Colt 45s (Michigan State/SO in 2014)
Solid defender on left side of infield, was starter at 3B much of FR season at Michigan State, hit .215-0-14 in 130 ABs, but carried his weight with excellent actions in field, strong/accurate arm, superior instincts; improved numbers on summer to .317-1-11 in 63 ABs, made easy transition to SS before suffering season-ending injury on play at plate; has modest power potential in 6-1/200 frame.
15. MATT GLOMB, 3b, Menlo Park Legends (Santa Clara/RS-SO in 2014)
Career on upswing after promising summer in Great Lakes League in 2012, but missed SO season at Santa Clara because of academic issues; a little slot to find rhythm with bat when returned to action with Legends, hit .229-3-20; has tools/skills, athletic 6-2/200 frame to easily regain prospect status by 2014 draft; ball flies off bat in BP, has easy raw power, solid actions at 3B, plenty of arm strength for position.
