In 2024, the Whitecaps will embark on a journey to win their third Cape Cod Baseball League championship. Following a 15-27-2 season a year ago, Brewster looks to return the CCBL Eastern Division to glory and take back the crown for the first time since 2021.

With head coach Jamie Shevchik entering his 10th season at the helm, the Whitecaps return multiple players from its 2023 team while adding both young and experienced talent.

“From top to bottom right now it looks like it's a heavy lineup,” Shevchik said Wednesday. “A lot of guys that have put up some absolute sick numbers.”

Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the roster ahead of opening day on June 15.

Pitchers:

With a plethora of reliable options, the Whitecaps currently have 23 pitchers expected to appear in Brewster at some point in 2024. Patrick Forbes (Louisville), Rocco Reid (Clemson) and Darien Smith (Southeastern) return after playing for the team in 2023. Smith is coming off an outstanding spring season at Southeastern, where he won The Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year with a 1.87 ERA.

Following their first collegiate seasons, Parker Detmers (Louisville), Boston Flannery (North Carolina), Francesco Capocci (North Carolina) and Luke Guth (Vanderbilt) will see the Stony Brook Field mound. Guth’s Vanderbilt teammate, Levi Huesman, will also join the team as a strong left-hander.

Out of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Derrick Smith (NC State), Ashton Crowther (Miami), Jacob Marlowe (Florida State), Will Ray (Wake Forest) and Luke Schmolke (Wake Forest) will join the Whitecaps, fortifying the staff after competitive seasons for their universities.

A pair of towering pitchers from Oklahoma State will also be in Brewster this summer: Gabe Davis (6’9’’), who spent time in Chatham last season, and Ryan Ure (6’8’’), who played for the Whitecaps in 2022.

Other notable contributors on the mound will be Jake Clemente (Florida), D.J. Primeaux (Louisiana State), Grant Cunningham (Washington), Kellen Oakes (Oregon State) and Sonny Fauci (Rutgers). Fauci completed his fifth collegiate season in the spring and is the oldest player on the Whitecaps’ roster.

Rounding out the staff are R.J. Sales (UNC Wilmington), Michael Salina (St. Bonaventure) and Seth Tomczak (Cal State Fullerton). Sales posted a 3.41 ERA in 95 innings of work in his second season with the Seahawks.

Catchers:

The Whitecaps have a bevy of talent at the catching position with multiple players coming from Southeastern Conference teams.

Florida’s Brody Donay returns to the Cape after a season with Hyannis last year. Donay has made a large impact with the Gators, slashing an .849 OPS and helping U-of-F to the College World Series in Omaha. Because of Florida’s success, he will be a late arrival in the CCBL.

FSU’s Marco Dinges and Texas A&M’s Max Kaufer will also be late arrivals due to their teams advancing to Omaha. After transferring from Tallahassee Community College, Dinges has a 1.088 OPS with 15 home runs and 66 RBIs with the Seminoles, batting primarily out of the cleanup spot. Kaufer enrolled early at College Station in 2023 and this season as a sophomore he’s been a reliable depth piece helping the Aggies to the College World Series.

Ryder Helfrick, a freshman from Arkansas, will join the Whitecaps and likely serve in a large capacity early on. Gio Cueto from Stetson will also be in Brewster, adding depth to the position. Cueto started 59 games for the Hatters while Helfrick appeared in 31 for the Razorbacks.

Together, the group brings power at the plate and experience behind the dish to lead the Whitecaps throughout the season.

Infielders:

Brewster’s infield could be one of its strongest suits with many options coming off great spring seasons.

Andrew Fischer (Ole Miss) and Daniel Cuvet (Miami) will start the season in Brewster and be key pieces of the infield as Cuvet will play third and Fischer will slot in at second, according to Shevchik. Cuvet had a historic freshman season with the Hurricanes, hitting 24 home runs and driving in 75 RBIs. Fischer, in his sophomore season with the Rebels, recorded a 1.039 OPS while playing in 49 games.

Chase Mora from Texas State has a .282 batting average across his two collegiate seasons. He’ll be a key infielder as he recorded a .950 fielding percentage in 2024. Despite primarily playing second with the Bobcats, Shevchik expects to use Mora at shortstop to start the season.

Tyler Pettorini from Ohio State will add depth to the infield with many players participating in the College World Series. Pettorini played for the Whitecaps briefly in the summer of 2023 and batted .307 in his junior season with the Buckeyes.

“Right now it looks awesome, but you just don't know if you're gonna get that entire team on the field at the same time throughout the course of the summer,” Shevchik said of the roster's expected turnover.

Kaeden Kent is battling at Texas A&M in the College World Series but will come to the Whitecaps after being a CCBL All-Star with Chatham a year ago. Kent brings fielding flexibility and is batting .302 with the Aggies in 2024.

Drew Faurot, Colby Shelton and Brandon Butterworth are all in Omaha for the College World Series but will contribute in Brewster this summer. Faurot (Florida State) is batting .275 for the Seminoles while being a mainstay at second base. Butterworth is in his first season with NC State, posting a .373 OBP. Shelton is a left-handed slugger who has 45 home runs across two collegiate seasons while playing shortstop.

For first base options, Cooper Vest (BYU) and Blake Binderup (Texas A&M) will handle duties. In total, the infield group provides Shevchik with flexibility in the field and production in the batter's box.

Outfielders:

While Vest can see time at first base and in the outfield, Brewster’s roster features multiple outfielders who will chip in. Nolan Schubart (Oklahoma State) was an All-Star in Chatham in 2023 and adds power from the left side.

RJ Johnson Jr. (Rutgers) will play a key role after batting .262 in his junior season. DeAmez Ross (Florida State) brings speed and above-average defense to the centerfield position while Jayden Hylton (Stetson) is a corner outfielder while slugging .433 across two seasons.

Completing the outfield, Vanderbilt’s J.D. Rogers and California Baptist’s Nick Dumensil will play for the Whitecaps. Both will be in the CCBL for the first time after successful seasons in the spring.