Edenton Cashes in on Outfielders
Published on April 8, 2013 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
EDENTON, NC - The Edenton Steamers of the Coastal Plain League announce the signing of three outfielders, Dominic Fratantuono (Frat-an-tony-o), Trent Miller and Chase Harris will compete for a Petitt Cup this summer with the teal and black. Fratantuano comes to Edenton as a junior; he suits up at Towson University in the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association as their everyday middle-of-the-order bat and corner outfielder. The 6-0, 175-pound lefty hitter hails from Linthicum, MD and spent his 2012 summer playing for the Youse Orioles in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League.
He hit .304, had on-base percentage of .442 and slugged .572 for a 1.014 OPS a summer ago. He added 15 doubles, five triples, four home runs, walking 31 times to 27 strikeouts and never made an error in 76 chances in the outfield. He finished tied for second in the league with 42 runs scored, tied for second in doubles, tied for first in triples, tied for fifth in walks and was named first- team all-league and the 28th top prospect in the Ripken League by Perfect Game CrossChecker. Fratantuano was marked in the preseason as a "player to watch" in the CAA and this spring for the Tigers he is hitting .383 to go along with a .493 on-base percentage, a .583 slugging average and a 1.076 OPS. He's smacked nine doubles, four home runs, walked 21 times and swiped seven bags in nine attempts. He is another great fit for the Clams program because he is a white-collar hitter that plays the game with blue-collar determination and brings a complete left-handed threat to the plate. He has the ability to hit for a high average combined with excellent extra-base production and a quality walk-rate.
He is more athletic than most hitters with his production profile; he moves well on the bases and the field and should occupy a key spot in the top-five of the Edenton lineup this summer.
A junior at Middle Tennessee State University in the NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference, Miller is an outfielder and first baseman for the Blue Raiders. The righty is the clean-up hitter and so far this spring has split time at first base and the outfield. The 6-0, 215- pound Kansas City, MO native spent last summer with the Lake Erie Monarchs in the Great Lakes Collegiate League. He hit .318, slugged .550, had a .335 on-base percentage and an .885 OPS. He doubled nine times, finished tied for second in home runs with eight and fifth in RBI's with 31 in 39 games. So far Miller is off to a slow start this spring, batting only .220. In 118 at-bats he has a .309 on-base percentage, .356 slugging average and a .665 OPS to go along with 10 doubles, two home runs and 14 walks. He likely has the most raw power of any 2013 Steamer signee and recently has rediscovered his offensive groove. The Edenton coaching staff is encouraged by his improved walk rate (%5 in 2012 to %12 so far in 2013) and he offers the power and aggressiveness that should lead to ample run production when he is swinging the bat well. Harris is a junior outfielder from the University of New Mexico in the NCAA Division I Mountain West Conference. He serves this spring as the leadoff hitter and starting right fielder for the Lobos and calls Boise, ID home. He stands at 6-0, weighing in at 205- pounds and he earned the Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Year at College of Southern Idaho in 2012.
This spring at New Mexico he's hitting .306, reaching base at a .372 rate, slugging .395 for an OPS of .767. He's eight for 11 in stolen bases and has 72 errorless chances in right field with a 2.48 range factor. The reigning MVP of the wood-bat JUCO SWAC at College of Southern Idaho, who produced 2012 Steamer and Minnesota Twins draft pick Travis Huber, is a spark-plug incarnate who offers a lot of the things the Steamers like in a leadoff hitter. His plus-speed, bunting ability, plate discipline, good power, and the overall production required to hit at the top of the order has allowed Harris to fit nicely in that role. He has the range of a center fielder and can truly play all three outfield positions, which will benefit coach Pirillo as he fills out the lineup card each night and his football physicality and play style should remind tenured Steamer fans of Lauren Randall of the 2008 team.
The Edenton Steamers are a proud member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 17th season in 2013, the CPL features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 1,000 alumni drafted and 57 alums - including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander - make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as cplbaseball).
Coastal Plain League Stories from April 8, 2013
- Edenton Cashes in on Outfielders - Edenton Steamers
- Jimmie Davis Returning to SwampDogs for Third Season - Fayetteville SwampDogs
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