2022 Volume 14 Issue 1

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 HOME OF THE CAPTAINS BOBBLEHEAD
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Volume 14 Issue 1 aptainsbaseball.com
6 CONCESSIONS GUIDE
7 DICENZO CAPTAINS THE SHIP
10 GAME SCHEDULE
13 COACHING STAFF
14 PLAYER PROFILES
18 SCOUTING REPORT

7 Dicenzo captains the ship

18 SCOUTING REPORT

CLUB NAME: Lake County Captains

CLUB AFFILIATION: Cleveland Guardians
STADIUM CAPACITY: 6,157
FIELD DIMENSIONS: LF - 320’ CF - 400’ RF - 320’
35300 Vine Street, Eastlake, OH 44095
440-975-8085 | www.captainsbaseball.com

Peter Carfagna Chairman/Secretary/Treasurer Chris Scruggs Manager, Ticket Sales

Rita Carfagna Vice Chairman Jakob Hites Manager, Merchandise
Ray Murphy Vice President Nathan Richard Manager, Food & Beverage
Jen Yorko General Manager Tyler Allison Manager, Food & Beverage
Drew LaFollette Assistant General Manager Morgan Mattimore Manager, Social Media & Corp. Partnerships
Drew Maskey Director, Turf Operations John Vicari Radio Broadcaster
Morgan Rowe Director, Finance Jim Carfagna Office Assistant
Trevor Lakins Director, Sales Dr. Kim Stearns Team Physician
Izzy Farmwald Director, Game Entertainment & Promotions Heather VonSpeegle Program Design
Jason Schwab Manager, Stadium Operations Tim Phillis Team Photographer

The Lake County Captains proudly employ members of CMRJB Workers United Local 10, IATSE Local 160 and
IATSE Treasurers and Ticket Sellers Union 756.
5
 concessions guide

DiCenzo Captains
the Ship
BY DAVID S. GLASIER
Greg DiCenzo was eager County Captains.
1
2
LAKE EFFECT ICE CREAM
PORTSIDE PIZZERIA ORDER CONTACTLESS to go anywhere the Cleveland "I'm happy, fortunate and
3 MIDSHIP GRILL CONCESSIONS Guardians were sending him thankful to be coming back
4 STARBOARD SNACKS
5 THE GALLEY this season to manage in their to Lake County," DiCenzo
6 CAPTAINS CANTEEN minor-league system. said. "The fans are great. The
7 BEER WALL DiCenzo was beyond owner and his family are so
8 SHIPYARD SNACKS
9 HOFBRÄU BIERGARTEN pleased to learn he'd have a supportive. It's different from
10 BUD LIGHT PORTABLE return engagement in 2022 as other places we go. You can tell
L LABATT BLUE manager of the High-A Lake this is a business with a family
CAPTAINS QUARTERS BAR
6C CORONA CASTAWAYAS BAR iPhone Android 7

touch."
The 46-year-old native of
Massachusetts was hired by the
Indians in January 2020 after a
successful, 12-year run as head
baseball coach at Division I
Holy Cross.
His minor-league managerial
debut was put on hold for one
year when the entire 2020
season was lost to the COVID
pandemic.
In 2021, he guided the
Captains to a 65-55 finish, best
in the High-A Central.
"It's a unique situation,"
DiCenzo said. "In 12 months,
I went from 45-year-old rookie
who was new to this area to the
seasoned vet trying to help the
8 9
players and coaches who are
new to this place get acclimated
as quickly as possible."
DiCenzo feels much more
at ease now in Eastlake and
Northeast Ohio as a whole.
"The unknowns last year
now are the knowns," he said.
"Knowing the area better really
helps. All the trivial stuff is out
of the way."
DiCenzo also senses a
connection between his outlook
on life and that of the fans and
everyday people in Northeast
Ohio.
"It's a blue-collar place full
of people who work hard and
appreciate hard work," he said.
"The proximity to Cleveland is
great, too. I try to take advantage
of every opportunity to get to
Progressive Field to watch the
Guardians."
It matters, too, that DiCenzo's
wife, Klio, and four-year-old
daughter Nikoletta, enjoyed
their visits last year from the
family home in Massachusetts.
"They loved it here," DiCenzo
said, smiling. "My daughter just
wants to see (Captains mascot)
Skipper. That's part of my pre-
game routine when she's at the
ballpark."
There is one new feature at
Classic Park this season that
caught both of DiCenzo's eyes.
In the days leading up to
the home opener, work was
completed on a $700,000
upgrade of the ballpark's
lighting system that featured
installation of 117 LED bulbs.
"I see everything and it's
great," DiCenzo said. "The
players are so appreciative.
It levels the playing field. It
replicates what you see at
Progressive Field.”
Schedule a campus
visit at jcu.edu
 GAME SCHEDULE AND TICKET INFORMATION

10 11
COACH ING STAFF
GREG DICENZO Manager
DiCenzo joined the system to manage Class-A Lake County in 2020, having spent the
12 years as the Head Base-ball Coach of Holy Cross (2008-19). Led Lake County to a
65-55 record in 2021, T-1st in the H-A Central East and was named High-A Central
top managerial prospect (Baseball America) ...Holy Cross went 137-109 in Patriot
League regular season play during DiCenzo's tenure, posted 20-win seasons in 10 of
his 12 years and captured the first Patriot League Championship in program history
in 2017.

CALEB LONGSHORE Pitching Coach

In his first season in the organization after spending the previous four years as an
Assistant Coach and Pitching Coach at Belmont University in Nashville, TN, 2018-21.
Belmont's pitchers earned five All-OVC honors during his tenure. Came to Belmont
after spending time as the pitching coach at Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee
State. Joins Cleveland with 10 years of collegiate experience, including 7 at the NCAA
Division I level and has coached 15 All-Conference selections, four All-Americans, two
MLB players and 15 draft picks since 2015.

CHRIS SMITH Hitting Coach

Begins his fourth season as a professional coach, his first in Lake County...joined
organization in 2019 as the HC for the DSL 1 club from Hillsborough Community
College (FL)...served as an assistant coach at St. Petersburg College (FL) from 2016-
18 before joining the Pittsburgh Pirates as an Minor League operations intern...began
his coaching career as an assistant coach at Central Florida from 2015-2016.

YAN RIVERA Bench Coach

Is in his first season in the Guardians organization. Following his graduation in 2018
from La Salle, he worked in the Athletic Department at Springfield College (MA) as a
graduate associate for the school’s baseball team. Also served as a graduate teaching
fellow in the Physical Education Department at Springfield as well as an athletic
counselor to athletes at the college that focused on mental skills.

MATT BEAUREGARD Athletic Trainer

Beauregard returns to the Captains for the 2022 season, marking his sixth season as
the team’s athletic trainer. He spent the interim seasons in Arizona as an athletic trainer
for Cleveland’s Rookie level clubs and now enters his 12th year in the organization.
Beauregard received his M.S. degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Alabama
at Birmingham in 2010 and graduated from Iowa State University in 2007 with a B.S. in
Athletic Training.

KIM L. STEARNS, MD Head Team Physician

Dr. Stearns has been the head team physician for the Lake County Captains since
their inaugural season in 2003. He is a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon with the
Cleveland Clinic and specializes in sports medicine and joint reconstruction.

13
 P L AY E R P ROF ILES P L AYER PROFILES
RHP 8 RHP 43 LHP 31 LHP 38 RHP 40 RHP 28

A laska Tanner Raymond Doug Cade Hunter

ABNEY BIBEE BURGOS NIKHAZY SMITH STANLEY
Height: 6’1” Weight: 205 Height: 6’2” Weight: 190 Height: 6’5” Weight: 170 Height: 6’0” Weight: 205 Height: 6’5” Weight: 230 Height: 6’0” Weight: 190
Acquired: Rd. 15, 2021 Acquired: Rd. 5, 2021 Acquired: Rd. 18, 2016 Acquired: Rd. 2, 2021 Acquired: Signed by CLE 6/20 Acquired: Rd. 11, 2021
Resides: Lawrenceville, GA Resides: Mission Viejo, CA Resides: Luquillo, PR Resides: Burlington, NC Resides: Vancouver, BC Resides: Hammond, LA

RHP 35 RHP 9 RHP 37 RHP 41 LHP 34 RHP 26

Aaron Zach Mason Lenny Mat t Gavin

DAVENPORT HART HICKMAN TORRES TURNER WILLIAMS
Height: 6’0” Weight: 185 Height: 6’4” Weight: 235 Height: 6’6” Weight: 228 Height: 6’1” Weight: 190 Height: 6’4” Weight: 180 Height: 6’6” Weight: 238
Acquired: Rd. 6, 2021 Acquired: Rd. 10, 2019 Acquired: Rd. 5, 2020 Acquired: 2018-CB-A, 41st Pick Acquired: Rd. 11, 2017 Acquired: Rd. 1, 2021
Resides: Kirkland, WA Resides: Hartford, CT Resides: Salt Lake City, UT Resides: Poughkeepsie, NY Resides: Miami, FL Resides: Fayetteville, NC

RHP 36 LHP 49 RHP 44 C 16 C 7 INF 17

Jordan Randy Tommy Mike Micael Aaron

JONES LABAUT MACE AMDITIS RAMIREZ BRACHO
Height: 6’2” Weight: 195 Height: 6’1” Weight: 202 Height: 6’6” Weight: 230 Height: 5’11” Weight: 190 Height: 5’11” Weight: 170 Height: 5’11” Weight: 175
Acquired: Rd. 16, 2019 Acquired: Rd. 35, 2019 Acquired: 2021-CB-B, 69th Pick Acquired: Rd. 21, 2019 Acquired: Signed by CLE 5/17 Acquired: Signed by CLE 7/17
Resides: Seattle, WA Resides: Havana, Cuba Resides: ATampa, FL Resides: Boca Raton, FL Resides: Guatire, VE Resides: El Tigrito, VE

14 15
 PL AY E R P ROF ILES P L AYER PROFILES
INF 11 INF 15 INF 13 OF 33 OF 32

Christian Raynel Angel A lexfri Johnat han

CAIRO DELGADO MARTINEZ PLANEZ RODRIGUEZ
Height: 5’8” Weight: 170 Height: 6’2” Weight: 185 Height: 6’0” Weight: 165 Height: 6’2” Weight: 180 Height: 6’3” Weight: 180
Acquired: Rd. 4, 2019 Acquired: Rd. 6, 2018 Acquired: Signed by CLE 7/18 Acquired: Signed by CLE 8/17 Acquired: Rd. 3, 2017
Resides: Bakersfield, CA Resides: Havana, Cuba Resides: Santo Domingo, DR Resides: Caracas, VE Resides: Toa Baja, PR

INF 10 INF 29 INF 12

Joe Jhonkensy Gabriel

NARANJO NOEL RODRIGUEZ
Height: 5’8” Weight: 198 Height: 6’1” Weight: 180 Height: 6’2” Weight: 162
Acquired: Rd. 3, 2019 Acquired: Signed by CLE 7/17 Acquired: Signed by CLE 7/18
Resides: Whittier, CA Resides: San Pedro de Macoris, DR Resides: Maturin, VE

OF 4 OF 24 OF 22

Petey Korey Connor

HALPIN HOLLAND KOKX
Height: 6’0” Weight: 185 Height: 5’11” Weight: 170 Height: 6’1” Weight: 200
Acquired: Rd. 3, 2020 Acquired: Rd. 14, 2018 Acquired: Rd. 12, 2021
Resides: San Mateo, CA Resides: Houston, TX Resides: Aliso Viejo, CA

16 17

Scouting report:
Guardians righty Williams
Patience seems to be paying off for Cleveland’s No. 7 prospect
BY GERARD GILBERTO - MILB.COM
MiLB.com's Scouting
Report series spotlights
players who are just starting
their professional careers,
focusing on what the experts
are projecting for these young
phenoms. Here's a look at
seventh-ranked Guardians
prospect Gavin Williams.
It took four years of college walks while striking out six.
ball for Gavin Williams to fit
his new mold and only two
starts in the Minors to show
18
how special he can be.
The Guardians No. 7
prospect opened the season
with a pair of very strong
outings for High-A Lake
County. Williams tossed
four hitless innings in his
professional debut against
Lansing, allowing just two
He returned to collect 11
strikeouts in his next start
against Dayton, giving up
three runs on three hits and a
walk over 4 2/3 frames.
The Williams that
appeared in those games is
a very different pitcher from
the North Carolina high
schooler selected by the Rays
in the 30th round of the 2017
Draft. It was the dominant,
well-rounded Williams who
emerged as a senior at East
Carolina University and
turned heads all throughout
camp this March.
Although he didn’t pitch
in any Cactus League games,
plenty of Cleveland batters
claimed Williams was their
toughest opponent during
intrasquad games and live
batting practice.
"It definitely makes me
smile a little bit when people
are already talking about
me," Williams told MLB.com
during Spring Training, "but
I'm gonna try not to let that get
to my head early. I still have a
job to do; I haven't even gone
through my first year, so I
haven't really proved anything
[to] anybody."
There was plenty for the
Fayetteville native to prove
when he first arrived at ECU.
Coming out of Cape Fear
High School, he seemed
destined for a future reliever
role as a lanky 6-foot-6 righty
with a fastball that touched
triple digits and not much else
in terms of complementary
offerings. His first three years
with the Pirates did little to
change that perception. But
he bulked up to nearly 240
pounds and earned a spot
in the club’s rotation for his
senior season.
Williams’ final season at
ECU solidified his status as
a first-round talent. He went
10-1 with a 1.88 ERA and
struck out 130 batters over 81⅓
innings. He was a semifinalist
for the Dick Howser and
Golden Spikes Awards and
earned the American Athletic
Conference Triple Crown.
Williams was outdueled by
Vanderbilt’s Kumar Rocker in
their Super Regional matchup
last year, but he still carved
through one of the better
lineups in the NCAA with 13
punchouts over 7⅔ frames.
It was during that season
that scouts got to see an
19
 expanded repertoire from
Williams. His fastball
remained his best pitch and
he also maintained velocity
on the heater after a few
innings – which could have
been a cause for concern after
three years in the bullpen. But
Williams also showed new
life to a power curve and mid-
80s slider while displaying
some feel for a developing
changeup.
The now-Guardians
established a relationship with
Williams when he was first
Draft-eligible in high school.
Cleveland director of amateur
scouting Scott Barnsby
was elated to see Williams
available when it was their
turn in the Draft at No. 23.
“We had a recent
conversation w i t h
[Gavin], and he shared a few
examples of where he always
wants to be the best player on
the field,” Barnsby told MLB.
com after the Draft. especially in the rotation.
“He always wants to
compete against the best. Just
talking to him, you can tell
there's that inner drive there. I
think it speaks to the person
20
he is, but then also that work this spring. "Enhancing pitch be patient with Williams’
ethic in terms of maintaining characteristics is our bread and development.
his throwing program, butter. We make guys more of He doesn’t currently profile
maintaining his workouts, themselves and it's allowed us as a frontline starter, but by the
maintaining hits routines in- to have that consistency with time he lands in the Majors,
between starts. He's done a our pitching." Williams could once again
great job with that all season. Williams has gotten off change perceptions.
“Just a physical right-hander, to a strong start and seems Here’s what the experts at
power arm, up to 100 mph,” to be developing in the right MLB Pipeline have to say
Barnsby added. “He's held environment. His next test about Williams:
his velocity all spring. Two will be maintaining his recent Scouting grades (20-80 scale)
different breaking balls, both form – if not necessarily this FASTBALL: 70
power breaking balls. We feel level of dominance – for a CURVEBALL: 55
like he's gonna get swing- longer professional season. SLIDER: 50
and-miss with his fastball, his Cleveland has plenty of arms CHANGEUP: 55
curveball and his slider. Hasn't to work with, including No. CONTROL: 50
had to use the change as much, 52 overall prospect Daniel OVERALL: 50
but we feel like there's gonna Espino, and can afford to
be a feel there as well.”
While the 22-year-old has
already begun to validate
Barnsby’s excitement, the
Guardians’ recent track record
for developing pitchers should
be uplifting for Williams
as well. An overwhelming
majority of Cleveland’s
pitching staff is homegrown,
"We're really excited
about what we have when
we dig in on those guys,"
Cleveland assistant GM
James Harris told MLB.com
21
 “Williams hit 95 mph as a
North Carolina high school
senior and 100 mph as an
East Carolina freshman, but
he couldn't grab a rotation
role in his first three years of
college. Then he dramatically
improved in 2021, earning
American Athletic Conference
pitcher of the year honors
and finishing fifth in NCAA
Division I in strikeout rate
(14.4 per nine innings). The
23rd overall pick in the Draft,
he signed for an under-slot
$2.25 million and will make
his pro debut in 2022.
Williams still can light up a
radar gun, holding 94-97 mph
fastball velocity for several
innings and tickling triple
digits. After showing little
feel for spin before last year,
he suddenly added power and
22
shape to his curveball, which Proudly Serving:
now sits in the upper 70s with
outstanding metrics. He also
turned a mediocre slider into
a mid-80s offering that shows
flashes of becoming solid
while retaining his aptitude for
throwing a mid-80s changeup
with fade.
In addition to improving
his breaking pitches, Williams
also upgraded his strike-
throwing, cutting his walk rate
from 4.2 per nine innings in
his first three college seasons
to 2.3 in his fourth. He cleaned
up his delivery during his time
at East Carolina and began
repeating it better last spring.
If his breakout is sustainable,
he won't need much time in
the Minors before becoming a
mid-rotation starter.”
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