Edenton Gets Versatile
March 28, 2016 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
EDENTON, NC - The Edenton Steamers are happy to announce that Aaron Aucker, Ben Prada and Andrew Hinckley will join the Clams this summer.
Aucker, a redshirt-sophomore out of Middle Tennessee State University, serves as an infielder and mid-order bat for the Blue Raiders this spring. The 6'0", 185-pound Knoxville, TN native spent the past summer with the Lake Erie Monarchs of the Great Lakes League, where he slashed .375/.440/.588/1.028 in 136 at bats. Aucker was a midseason all-star, and he finished the summer with 10 doubles and six homers with 15 walks to 16 strikeouts, ranking in the top 10 across multiple offensive categories. For his impressive showing, the right-handed stick was ranked the number-five prospect in the circuit by Perfect Game CrossChecker. He is an offensive-oriented and versatile infielder, coming into his own right now with MTSU. Aucker is batting cleanup and manning the hot corner primarily, but he has also appeared at first base this spring and saw some time at second base last summer with the Monarchs. This positional versatility could benefit the Steamers and Aucker by allowing Coach Hill the flexibility to mix and match defensive alignments and keep Aucker in the lineup. He should have the chance to drive in a lot of runs from the middle of the order this summer due to a strong compact swing, excellent plate discipline and pure-hit ability with quality slug production. After a slow start , his 2016 spring averages are up to .255/.328/.451 with more extra-base hits (seven) than strikeouts (five).
Ben Prada will come to Edenton from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Standing 5'11" and 180 pounds, the sophomore serves as the Riverhawks' everyday shortstop. Prada spent the 2015 summer in the Hamptons Collegiate League with the Shelter Island Bucks, where the Laurel, MD native maintained a .312/.410/.365/.775 slash line over 170 at bats. En route to mid-summer all-star distinction, Prada racked up more walks than strikeouts (28:27) while successfully swiping a league-high 31 of 32 bags for the Bucks. He was also arguably the best defensive shortstop in the Hamptons last summer, committing only five errors to go with a 5.24 range factor. Prada is a young player about whom our organization is very excited. He will see his baseball universe expand this summer, coming south and making the adjustment to the CPL from the Hamptons. Prada, apropos to his namesake, is a natural defender at short and smooth with the leather, and he has the chance to make some noise offensively, as a left-handed hitting middle infielder with good speed and a great feel for stealing bases. Prada could be the Steamers most productive base-stealer this summer. Roughly one third of the way through 2016, he is six of seven in steals and posting a .962 fielding average at short with a range factor close to 4.5.
Andrew Hinckley joins the Steamers as a junior from Central Connecticut State University. The East Haven, CT native serves as a weekend starter for the Blue Devils, as well as designated hitter. Standing 6'0" 200 pounds, Hinckley is a legitimate two-way threat, who could rival 2013 Teal and Black MVP Nick Miller with his dual impact this summer. He is a former transfer from University of Connecticut-Avery Point, who has transitioned directly into the Blue Devils' weekend rotation and flourished thanks to a quality three-pitch mix, plus command and an aggressive approach that keeps hitters guessing and on the defensive. Strongly built and with some defensive versatility in his own right, Hinckley has positional background behind the plate and at both infield corners. He should help Edenton this summer at designated hitter or first base around his work in the rotation. His production so far in 2016 features a complete game, save, .81 WHIP and .198 batting average against through five appearances on the mound. At the plate, he's hitting .333 with an 889 OPS through 45 at-bats.
This trio of signings represents three potentially huge pieces to the Clams' lineup this summer, with Aucker and Prada as likely dance partners on the left side of the infield while Hinckley's contributions could be substantial if he is able to hit expectations, both on the mound and at the plate.
Coastal Plain League Stories from March 28, 2016
- Edenton Gets Versatile - Edenton Steamers
- SwampDogs Sign Three from Lehigh - Fayetteville SwampDogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
