WVU's Ben Hampton to build off Cape Success
When WVU LHP Ben Hampton arrived in Chatham this past summer for the Anglers of the Cape Code Baseball League I'm sure he expected to have success, but whether it was the "All-Star" level of success which he garnered, no one probably knows except for him... he has been very effective for WVU but the Cape Code Baseball League is certainly a step up in terms of competition. Hampton did not back down from the challenge as he ultimately put up significantly better numbers in the prestigious Cape Code Baseball League ending the summer with 42.2ip, 32H, 11er, 2hr, only 4 bb and 49k. His upper 80s fastball combined with a high 70s slider and low 80s change-up was enough to send hitters back to the dugout without getting a chance to run it out hence the 49ks over 42.2ip. Bigger fella at 6ft1 205lb... smooth, repeatable delivery that should be able to handle a velocity jump in the future. What makes this young man special is not his spin rates and vertical/horizontal break but his true feel as a pitcher with the ability to mix pitches in any count and keep hitters off balance. The ability to throw strikes on any count with all his pitches coupled with the changes in speed from the various offerings allows him to really challenge the hitter's ability to adjust.