Wright will be busy with Waves Freshman expected to pitch, play first for Ocean State
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — The Ocean State Waves were blistering-hot last summer, jumping out to their best start ever, an 11- 2 record. Then a laundry list of injuries decimated the team's roster. The Waves limped their way to a 21-24 final record, missing out on the playoffs altogether after they looked to be in contention for their first NECBL championship.
“You can't really control injuries, but it was really unfortunate that with how balanced we were playing, we got hit with the injury bug,” said Waves general manager Matt Finlayson. “It was starting pitching, which really dictates a lot at every level of baseball. It was tough to get hit like that, losing three of our six starters in eight games. That would knock most teams down.”
The Waves, who use wooden bats and stock their roster with college baseball players from around the country, have reloaded following last year's disappointing finish.
The team will feature three Rhode Islanders this year and five total players from local Division I programs.
“We're fortunate that there are guys like Chris Hess, who's a phenomenal player,” in this area, Finlayson said. “If there's a talented guy locally, and we can get on him early, that's awesome. Doesn't always work that way every year, but this year we have three great Rhode Island guys.”
Hess joins the team for his second straight summer, fresh off another monster season at the plate with URI. The North Kingstown native posted career-best marks in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, stolen bases, RBIs and home runs this season as a redshirt junior.
Hess was one of the few Waves players last season to make it through the full summer. He played in 42 of the team's 45 games, but had somewhat less gaudy numbers than usual: he batted .279 to go along with two home runs and seven doubles.
Bryant's sole representative on the team this summer also doubles as one of the native Rhode Islanders opting to spend his summer close to home. Chris Wright – an All- Stater at Cumberland High School – heads south to Wakefield for the summer after doing a little bit of everything for the Bulldogs in his freshman season.
“Really impressed with Chris Wright,” Finlayson said. “Thought he was going to come here as a pitcher, but he ended up hitting really well at Bryant.
“I think he's going to do both. We're going to use him more as a reliever that throws two or three times a week. His defense is really good at first base and he might even see some time in the outfield, he's so athletic.”
Wright was Bryant's starting first baseman and a sometimes starting pitcher. Offensively, he hit .273 and
“I think he's going to do both. We're going to use him more as a reliever that throws two or three times a week. His defense is really good at first base and he might even see some time in the outfield, he's so athletic.” – Ocean State general manager Matt Finlayson
hit four home runs. In eight starts and three relief appearances, he went 1-4 with a 9.45 ERA. While the results may not have quite been there yet on the mound, Wright showed great promise by averaging 10 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
In Wright, Finlayson sees a unique challenge that the Waves staff will have to keep a close eye on.
“I don't know if it's what one do we focus on more, or it's more how do we do both in the best interest of the player, Bryant and the Waves,” he said. “We want to make sure he's not going through infield/outfield in front of scouts a day after he throws 35 pitches. It's fun to see him do everything, he's such an athletic kid.”
The college baseball teams in Rhode Island have experienced quite the surge as of late, and the Waves hope to benefit from it. Both Bryant and URI made the NCAA tournament last year, and the Rams upset regional host South Carolina before being eliminated. Neither team managed to repeat the feat this season, but that could also help out the Waves.
“It gives you a head start,” Finlayson said. “With Southern Miss losing both games [in the NCAA tournament] last night, all of our guys are out. There's other clubs that are really struggling, that have some schools that are playing in Super Regionals. You have to do a lot as a GM when that happens. Getting and hosting temporary players.”
With the Cape Cod League teams also looking to fill out their rosters with temp players and the MLB draft right around the corner, it can be difficult for the NECBL teams to put out a competitive product at the very beginning of the summer. The Waves will be at full strength right from the get go, giving them an early edge.
Rounding out the list of local players is Dom Grillo, who like Hess plays for URI and is an NKHS graduate. Grillo struck out 27 batters in 27 innings of relief work for the Rams this year. It's also Grillo's second summer donning a Waves uniform. The team gets a high number of returning players from summer to summer.
“Our host families are incredible,” Finlayson said, on why players opt to come back. “South County is an awesome community. Players from all over the country get to see Rhode Island at the nicest time of year.
“Resource-wise our sponsors are amazing at taking care of our players. Our coaches have done a really good job and we've had some consistency there.”
Fellow Rams Taso Stathopoulos and Cam LaFleur will eat up some innings for the Waves. Stathopoulos returned from Tommy John surgery this season and worked his way into the Rams weekend rotation quickly. LaFleur made 21 relief appearances for URI in his first year of college baseball.
“Really good balance,” pitchingwise, said Finlayson. “We have good starting pitchers. We'll work a sixman rotation for the first 30 games, and reduce it to five going into the playoffs.
“Pitching is that one part of the roster that is most susceptible to injury. You want to make sure you have good depth. That was a major focus for me personally after how last year went.”
The Waves hope to avoid a repeat of last season. Opening Night was scheduled for Tuesday, but wind and rain caused the game to be postponed to late July. The Waves now open their season on Thursday when they host New Bedford for a 6:30 game.