Steamers Turn Left in Arms Race
March 17, 2014 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
EDENTON, N.C - The Edenton Steamers of the Coastal Plain League announce today the signing of three left-handed pitchers for the upcoming summer season. Gunnar Kines, Brandon Thomas and Jeff Stoddard are officially Clams.
Kines, from the University of Mount Olive (NC) in the NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas, is a junior weekend starter for the Trojans this spring. The 6-4, 220-pounder hails from Murrells Inlet, S.C. and appeared briefly in the 2013 summer, pitching for the Florence RedWolves in the Coastal Plain League. He made two appearances, logging 4.2 innings with a 1.93 ERA, one save and allowed only three bases runners while striking out six.
Kines is an imposing southpaw that joined one of the premiere Division II programs in the country this year after a sparkling sophomore campaign with Florence-Darlington Technical College (SC) where he was named the Region X Pitcher of the Year. He combines quality stuff with good deception and excellent command of a three-pitch arsenal while also being very adept at moving the ball around the plate and changing hitters' eye levels. Kines' well-honed craft has made him the early-season ace in the Trojans rotation. Through his six appearances thus far, he has five starts and 32.1 innings pitched. His record stands at 4-1, including a complete-game shutout, a 3.34 ERA, .93 WHIP, .207 batting average against and 23 strikeouts to seven walks.
Thomas, also a junior, from San Diego State University in the NCAA Division I Mountain West Conference is a set-up man this spring for the Aztecs. At 5-11, 205 pounds, the Palmdale, C.A. native suited up for the Center Moriches Battlecats in the Hamptons Collegiate League last summer. In 18 appearances, all out of the bullpen, he logged 21.1 innings; he notched four saves, a 1.69 ERA, .94 WHIP, .169 batting average against and 35 strikeouts to eight walks. For his efforts during the summer Thomas was tabbed a midseason all-star, finished tied for second in saves and was ranked as the third-best prospect in the league by Perfect Game CrossChecker and seventh-best by Baseball America.
PGC had this to say about Thomas' summer: "He flashed a quick arm and electric, closer-type stuff with a fastball at 92-94 mph, which peaked at 95 at the all-star game and a curve at 82-84 with significant downer action. His command was inconsistent, but it was evident by simply monitoring his mound presence that he grew more confident through the summer with each successful outing."
BA followed up with this report: "A quick arm with a fastball that sits in the low 90s. He also throws a curveball, which can be an out pitch for him. One scout said the pitch has two shapes: a bigger, loopier variation and one that he can throw more easily for a strike. Thomas' command is a work in progress, but he showed strikeout stuff during the summer, including two in an inning of work in the all-star game, and his lefty profile helps his projection as a bullpen arm."
Thomas teams with previously announced Joeanthony Rivera (Barry University) to give Coach Hill two power lefties in the bullpen. He employs an electric fastball/curveball combination that can overwhelm hitters and he should feature prominently at the back end of the Clams' pen.
A junior from Sacred Heart University (CT) in the NCAA Division I Northeast Conference, Stoddard is a weekend starter for the Pioneers this spring. The Branford, C.T. native is 6-2 and weighs in at 210 pounds. A summer ago he suited up for the Mystic Schooners in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, logging seven appearances, including six starts. In 29 innings he sported a 1.86 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 29 strikeouts with only nine walks.
Stoddard developed for two summers up in his native Connecticut with the NECBL's Schooners. While there he went from effective swingman in his 2012 freshman summer to rotation stalwart in his second turn. He should be fully seasoned to flourish in the Edenton rotation following a junior spring as a weekend starter. He is very effective at blending his starter's arsenal, including a mid to upper 80s fastball, with high poise and solid command. Stoddard has come out of the gym this spring fast with three impressive road starts, the first two in the Bayou State against Tulane and Southeastern Louisiana. In 18.2 innings pitched he has logged a 2.41 ERA, allowing only 16 base runners without an extra-base hit and 11 strikeouts.
The Coastal Plain League is the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 18th seasons in 2014, 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. The CPL has had over 1,100 alumni drafted and 65 of those - including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander - make their Major League debut; while another notable alum - Russell Wilson - won Super Bowl XLVIII. For more information on the Coastal Plain League please visit the league website at 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 March 17, 2014
- Steamers Turn Left in Arms Race - Edenton Steamers
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