The Falmouth Commodores had 12 players selected in the 2022 MLB Draft, which was held from July 17-19. Two of these players appeared with the ’Dores this summer, as pitchers Drew Sommers and Ike Buxton were selected by the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins, respectively.
Out of the 616 players drafted this week, 197 of them appeared in a Cape Cod Baseball League game. Manager Jeff Trundy said he is thrilled for each of his former players that took the next step in their baseball careers, especially for the hurlers that were on the mound at Guv Fuller Field earlier this year.
“I’m happy for them,” Trundy said. “I’m sure that’s all part of what they were hoping for and part of their dream. … Anytime a kid has a chance to do something that they’ve dreamed about, I’m ecstatic for them.”
Sommers was drafted by the Rays with the 344th overall pick in the 11th round, coming off of an impressive 2022 season in Falmouth. The southpaw appeared in six games this summer, striking out 20 batters without allowing a run. Sommers’ most dominant outing came against the Bourne Braves on June 30, allowing just one hit in five shutout frames.
The Marlins then drafted Buxton with the 442nd overall pick in the 15th round. The Lipscomb University product took the mound for the ’Dores twice this season, fanning five batters during five innings of work.
There were also nine former Commodores chosen by professional clubs – Anthony Hall, Doug Hodo III, Brennan Milone, Michael Turner, K.C. Hunt, Jack Jasiak, Mason Pelio, Michael Curialle, Aidan Maldonado and Alec Sayre.
Trundy said he is happy that he was a part of the journey for these players, as they worked towards achieving their dream of having a career in professional baseball.
“I’m pleased to be able to witness what they do while they’re here,” Trundy said. “Hopefully when they get done with a summer for the ’Dores, they can look back and say they had a great summer and it was the summer of their lives and they had a chance to improve.”
Here is the complete list of former Commodores that were selected in the 2022 MLB Draft:
Outfielder Anthony Hall ’21 – New York Yankees (Round 4, Pick 130 Overall)
Hall was the first former player that got his name called, being drafted by the New York Yankees with the 130th overall pick in the fourth round. The University of Oregon product manned the outfield for the ’Dores in 2021, posting a .283 batting average with four home runs and 13 runs driven in.
Hall was hitting just .200 through the first month of the season, but he recorded a hit in 11 of his last 12 games, raising his batting average to .283. Trundy said he was proud of the outfielder’s progression last summer, and he thinks it played a key role in him getting drafted this week.
“To his credit, [Anthony Hall] made some adjustments and finished really strong,” Trundy said. “I’ve got to believe that made a big difference with him going where he did. The Cape carries a lot of weight in the draft room, how these guys do up here with wood bats [and] against good pitching. That always makes a big difference.”
Outfielder Doug Hodo III ’21– Baltimore Orioles (Round 6, Pick 167 Overall)
Doug Hodo III appeared in just 10 games for Falmouth during the 2021 season, spending time at each of the three outfield positions. The University of Texas Austin product recorded six hits and stole a base during his time with the ’Dores.
Infielder Brennan Milone ’21 – Oakland Athletics (Round 6, Pick 184 Overall)
Brennan Milone’s first stop in the Cape Cod Baseball League was with the Falmouth Commodores. The infielder played in 13 contests for Falmouth, driving in three runs while stealing a base. Milone would then go on to play for the Brewster Whitecaps and Bourne Braves in 2022.
Catcher Michael Turner ’19 – Chicago White Sox (Round 9, Pick 281 Overall)
Michael Turner appeared in four games for the ‘Dores in 2019, posting a .267 batting average. The catcher also drove in four runs during his time with Falmouth.
Pitcher K.C. Hunt ’21 – Pittsburgh Pirates (Round 12, Pick 350 Overall)
Before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, K.C. spent the summer of 2021 with the Commodores. Hunt joined the ’Dores after winning the NCAA Division I title with Mississippi State University, appearing in five games with Falmouth. The right-hander struck out 14 batters in 11.1 innings while picking up a save.
Pitcher Jack Jasiak ’21 – Cleveland Guardians (Round 12, Pick 361 Overall)
Jack Jasiak impressed in his four starts for the Commodores last summer, logging a 2.89 ERA while fanning 16 batters. The University of South Florida hurler’s most dominant outing came in his last start on Cape Cod, allowing just two hits in six shutout frames against the Bourne Braves on July 21, 2021.
Pitcher Mason Pelio ’21 – Cincinnati Reds (Round 12, Pick 363 Overall)
Mason Pelio took the mound for Falmouth six times in 2021, striking out 17 batters in 17.2 innings. The Boston College hurler picked up the victory during the Commodores’ 1–0 victory against the Orleans Firebirds on July 12, 2021, throwing two scoreless frames. Pelio spent the 2022 season with the Bourne Braves.
Infielder Michael Curialle ’21 – St. Louis Cardinals (Round 12, Pick 367 Overall)
Michael Curialle was a key part of the Commodores’ lineup in 2021, appearing in each of the club’s 35 games. The UCLA Bruin left the yard three times and drove in 20 runs, while also swiping three bags. Curialle hit the team’s first home run of the 2021 season, launching a grand slam during Falmouth’s matchup with Bourne on June 23, 2021.
Pitcher Aidan Maldonado ’19 – Milwaukee Brewers (Round 14, Pick 432 Overall)
Aidan Maldonado was solid for Falmouth during the 2019 campaign, recording a 3.11 ERA during the regular season. The hurler from the University of Illinois Champaign struck out a total of 30 batters in just 17.1 frames on the hill.
Outfielder Alec Sayre ’21 – Minnesota Twins (Round 17, Pick 504 Overall)
Alec Sayre appeared in eight games for the ’Dores in 2021, recording three hits while driving in three runs. Sayre also spent time with the Cotuit Kettleers last summer.
Note: Featured image by Anders Saling.
Tommy Mumau can be reached at tmumau@ithaca.edu. Follow him on Twitter @tommymumau13.
