The Brewster Whitecaps are off to a historic start in 2025. A franchise-best 6-0 opening stretch set the tone, and at 7-3, they currently sit second in the Cape League standings—trailing only the red-hot Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, who are riding a six-game win streak of their own.

The early-season “Comeback ‘Caps” made headlines by rallying from behind in each of their first three games, quickly building a reputation for late-inning heroics. They've also made statements against top-tier competition, including Hyannis—the league leader in OPS, OBP, stolen bases, walks, RBIs, hits, and runs. Brewster has defeated them twice, holding the potent offense to just three runs across both matchups, the latest ending Hyannis’s own three-game win streak. The crown jewel of the season so far? A 14-0 rout of Bourne, where the Whitecaps piled up 10 hits, drew 11 walks, and gave up just five hits in a dominant showing.

That success hasn’t come without standout performances. Here are three early-season impact players who have helped power Brewster’s promising start through the first quarter of the season.

JOSIAH RAGSDALE (Boston College)

A list of early-season standouts for the Whitecaps wouldn’t be complete without spotlighting Josiah Ragsdale—arguably the Cape Cod League’s top performer through the first ten games. The Boston College outfielder earned Cape League Player of the Week honors thanks to a blistering start. Despite hitting eighth on Opening Day and only pinch-hitting in game two, Ragsdale went 3-for-4 with 3 stolen bases and 2 RBIs across those appearances—including the game-winning knock in the season opener.

He’s held the leadoff spot ever since.

Though he’s cooled off slightly—hitless in his last two games—Ragsdale still leads the Cape in RBIs (9), stolen bases (10), batting average (.370), and on-base percentage (.500), a clear reflection of how dominant he was out of the gate. Through his first seven games, he slashed .476 with a 1.196 OPS, 3 doubles, and 10 steals—absurd numbers in any league, but especially on the Cape, where offense is typically limited due to the adjustment to wood bats and the elite pitching out of the jump.

Ragsdale’s true breakout came during Brewster’s 14-run offensive explosion against Bourne. He went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch—reaching base five times before finally being retired in his last at-bat. At the time of that third hit, his season average had risen to a clean cut .500.

Ironically, some of Brewster’s rare losses have come when Ragsdale has struggled. Two of Brewster’s three losses have come in games where Ragsdale went hitless, underscoring just how central he is to their success. Head coach Jamie Shevchik even called him a “one-man show” when reflecting on the offense’s struggles during Ragsdale’s quiet stretch—a fitting testament to the impact he brings both at the plate and as the tone-setter atop the lineup.

Ragsdale is draft-eligible this year, and if his .915 OPS at Boston College wasn’t already enough to attract serious attention, his explosive start with the Brewster Whitecaps has only strengthened his stock. As the season rolls on, Ragsdale’s bat will remain a crucial piece of Brewster’s offensive engine.

BLAKE CYR (Florida)

If there’s one thing Shevchik has drilled into this team, it’s the relentless energy he expects every day. That spark has fueled their biggest wins and often swung the momentum in tight losses. At the center of that fire is Blake Cyr, the team’s unstoppable “energy bunny” whose infectious enthusiasm lights up both the dugout and the field.

Cyr made an immediate impact in just his first game with Brewster. Arriving fresh that day against Falmouth, he found himself in a high-pressure spot in the ninth—down a run with a runner on second and the game hanging in the balance. Then, with one swing, he crushed a go-ahead home run to left field. It was the eventual game-winning swing and an early sign that Cyr was someone Brewster could trust when the stakes were highest.

Of the few offensive categories Ragsdale doesn’t lead, Blake Cyr has staked his claim to one—slugging percentage. Cyr tops the Cape with a .552 SLG%, an impressive feat in a league where extra-base hits and home runs are tough to come by. He’s collected four extra-base knocks so far—one home run and three doubles.

Two of those doubles came in a recent statement win over Hyannis, snapping the Harbor Hawks’ three-game win streak. With Brewster’s offense in need of a spark, Cyr delivered in full: he ripped an RBI double down the left-field line in the first, walked and scored in the fifth, doubled and scored again in the seventh, then capped things off with an RBI single and another run scored in the ninth. In total, Cyr either scored or drove in five of Brewster’s six runs, reaffirming his status as the heartbeat of the lineup.

Shevchik has emphasized the importance of having leaders who bring energy and passion—even when they’re not performing at their best. Cyr has certainly proven he can lead when he's playing well, but as for what it looks like when he’s not? That might remain a mystery—because so far, we haven’t seen it.

JACOB DUDAN (NC STATE)

Brewster has received solid contributions from several pitchers out of the bullpen, but when it comes to starting arms, one standout has clearly separated himself from the pack: NC State’s star right-hander, Jacob Dudan.

Primarily known as a dominant reliever, Dudan is now navigating a crucial transition in his career as he prepares to move into a starting role next season. He’s used his time with Brewster as a bridge to develop and fine-tune his new routines, earning the opportunity to make his first start of this change on Opening Day for the ‘Caps.

Dudan demonstrated his growth right from his season debut, delivering four innings of one-run ball while allowing just four hits and striking out five. He credits much of his success to his sinker and fastball, which he aims to throw nearly 80% of the time—a strategy that was clear from the very first pitch. Batters struggled with sinkers darting back in and fastballs elevated high in the zone, a deadly combination that helped him rack up strikeouts and set the tone early for Brewster’s pitching staff.

He followed that with a dominant outing in Brewster’s shutout over Bourne, tossing five scoreless innings while giving up just four hits. Though he recorded only two strikeouts, it was the soft contact he induced that kept Braves hitters frustrated, helping to maintain momentum as the offense piled on run after run. His three induced double plays this season—including two in that outing—are the most by any pitcher in the Cape so far.

Most recently, Dudan made his shortest outing of the season against Hyannis, limited by a prior inning cap before joining Team USA. Brewster wisely maximized their ace’s effectiveness, as Dudan struck out three in the first inning—stranding a runner on second—and added a fourth strikeout in the second while allowing just one run, continuing to limit any consistent offensive trail.

All in all, Dudan’s 11 innings pitched rank second in the Cape, while his 1.64 ERA is the lowest among pitchers with double-digit innings. Coupled with 11 strikeouts, Brewster has secured a win in each of Dudan’s starts, proving him to be the rock of their pitching staff and a dependable arm whenever the ‘Caps have needed a win.

Honorable Mentions:

• Haiden Leffew (Texas): 9.1 IP, 1.93 ERA, 6 H, 2 BB, 12 K
• Daniel Cuvet (Miami): .289 AVG, .357 OBP, 11 H, 4 2B,
• Dalton Wentz (Wake Forest): .310 AVG, .808 OPS, 3 2B, 4 RBI

Title photo credit: Kayla McCullough.