The 2026 Brewster Whitecaps have had a special season. They clinched the playoffs with 11 games left, the quickest clinch manager Jamie Shevchik has experienced in his 12 years at the helm of the team. They’re locked into the No. 2 seed in the East Division, and sport a winning percentage just south of .700.
What’s made this iteration of the team so special is the players. Fifty-seven players have donned the navy blue and seafoam this summer, and while all of them played a part in the Whitecaps getting to where they are, a select five were honored with awards before the team’s final regular season home game on Aug. 1, against the Orleans Firebirds.
Here are the award winners:
Most Valuable Player – Jacob Lee
Jacob Lee (Virginia Commonwealth) came to Brewster with goals and expectations. Being named the Whitecaps Most Valuable Player wasn’t necessarily among them.
“(I) just (wanted to) see if I could hit six homers, bat .250, hold my own,” Lee said. “I think I’ve done that and more.”
Lee indeed has done more than just hold his own. As of Aug. 1, Lee’s OPS (.940) and home runs (seven) are second in the Cape Cod Baseball League. His 24 RBIs are good enough for fifth in the league, and his .301 batting average ties him for 10th place. Lee has stuck around all season — something no other members of the team can say — operating as Brewster’s primary catcher, and his production, as well as his character, made it an easy choice for the organization to name him its MVP.
“He’s a team leader,” Shevchik said. “I don’t care if his batting average was 30 points lower, he’s still our most valuable player. To me, it’s not just about the numbers, it’s about the character of a kid, and he’s an A+ human being.”
Lee admitted that his previous summer ball seasons haven’t quite gone the way he’s wanted them to, but he proved his potency with a wooden bat this year on the Cape against the best pitching any collegiate summer league has to offer.
The backstop will remain with the Whitecaps throughout their playoff run, and looks to carry the momentum back to campus, where he’ll be entering his draft-eligible junior campaign.
“It’s been a great summer,” Lee said. “I love the town of Brewster, and I love playing up here.”
Pitcher of the Year – Zach Kmatz
Oftentimes, starting pitchers hog the spotlight, but right-handed reliever Zach Kmatz (Oregon State) made himself impossible to overlook when the organization had to decide a Pitcher of the Year.
As of Aug. 1, Kmatz’s 13 appearances are tied for the second most on the Cape, and his 30.0 innings pitched slot him in fourth place. He hasn’t just eaten innings out of the bullpen, though, he’s delivered dominance. His ERA (1.20), strikeouts (30), WHIP (1.07) and batting average against (.183) are all inside the top 10 in the league.
“There wasn’t a lot of low-leverage innings over those 30 innings,” Shevchik said. “He’s a guy that we went to all the time in the biggest moment, and he just kept delivering and delivering and delivering.”
Kmatz has found success with his entire arsenal from the right side, but it’s his low-to-mid 90s sinkerball that’s become his bread and butter.
“Zach’s a great pitcher,” Lee said. “Especially when you have a wood bat in your hand, the sink he has is (an) outlier.”
It’s not just natural talent when it comes to Kmatz, however. The Beaver exhibits a work ethic and drive to get better every day that’s noticeable by his teammates.
“He works hard,” Lee said. “(I) see him at the gym sweating every day. He's out here running his sprints, doing everything, getting treatment. Zach's a true professional, and he's going to play the game for a long time.”
Offensive Player of the Year – Jay Abernathy
Jay Abernathy (Oklahoma) made his Whitecaps debut on June 18 against the Hyannis Harbor Hawks and hit the ground running, picking up his first hit of the summer the very same day.
The utility player would go on to collect 21 more hits in 21 more games, tying him for fifth, as of Aug. 1, on Brewster’s team hits board. His .293 batting average is third highest on the squad for players with at least 75 at-bats, and his .419 on-base percentage is second.
For all of Abernathy’s success at the plate, his most lethal tool is his speed, which he used to swipe 14 bases. The only other Whitecap to reach the double-digit mark is Terrence Kiel II (Texas A&M), who has 12.
Abernathy departed the team after its July 20 win over the Falmouth Commodores, but his impact is still felt weeks later as the team prepares for its postseason gauntlet. There’s no question that without Abernathy, Brewster wouldn’t be in the position it’s in now as the No. 2 seed in the East Division.
“The offensive MVP means it’s not just about home runs,” Shevchik said. “If I can pick one guy to come back here next year and build a team around, it would be Jay Abernathy.”
Defensive Player of the Year – Michael Torres
Center fielder Michael Torres (Miami) was instrumental in the Whitecaps' success from the very beginning until he departed the team on July 28.
Torres hit .277, got on base at a .400 clip, and recorded 15 RBIs in 30 games. Near the end of his tenure with the team, he was a constant near the top of the lineup. The most intriguing part of his game, however, was his glove.
Torres made center field his undisputed home during the season, making everything from the routine play to superhero-like diving grabs. He also unleashed his cannon of an arm on multiple occasions.
The rising junior’s most impressive moment was one that many in the organization expected to make an appearance on SportsCenter Top Ten. On July 4, on the road against the Harwich Mariners, Torres sprinted from center field into right, diving at the last moment to rob a hit from Colin Larson and save multiple runs.
“Mikey Torres saved runs this year,” Shevchik said. “Guys like that don't get a lot of credit because everybody looks at offensive numbers … but he probably saved us 10 to 12 runs this year throughout the course of the year. He changed the outcome of a handful of games by being able to cover gap to gap. … He’s a big league center fielder right now.”
The Heart of Brewster – Dane Harvey
If Lee is the Whitecaps’ undeniable most valuable player and leader, first baseman Dane Harvey (Ohio State) is the undoubted heart and soul of the team.
Harvey was a mainstay in the lineup from the start of the season until he left right before the MLB Draft. After not hearing his name called, he returned to Brewster and did more than just pick up where he left off. Harvey has hit .304 with two home runs since his July 22 return, raising his slash line to .229/.299/.446 with five home runs as of Aug. 1.
“He wants to play baseball,” Shevchik said. “Those guys that leave, they very rarely ever come back.”
Harvey’s lighthearted yet serious character has endeared him to his teammates and fans over the course of the summer. His clutch hits have only boosted those feelings.
The first baseman’s best moment of the season arguably occurred on June 29, against the Chatham Anglers, when he sent a walk-off single into center field, completing a nine-run comeback.
“He’s been Mr. Clutch,” Shevchik said. “He’s come up with some big moments. He’s a happy-go-lucky guy. Everybody loves being around him.”
