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Ricky Ojeda (Photo by Tracy Proffitt/Four Seam Images)

The Cape Cod League continues to dominate the spotlight each summer, but it’s far from the only place where college baseball talent shines. Across the Northwoods League, Appalachian League, NECBL, West Coast League and more, players at every stage of their careers—from breakout transfers to redshirt freshmen to incoming recruits—turned in eye-opening performances that could shape the trajectory of their 2026 seasons. 

This list highlights 10 of the most impressive summer showings from players who did their damage outside of the Cape, with one exception: UC Irvine lefthander Ricky Ojeda, whose brief Cape stint and dominant run with Team USA were too good to ignore. Whether making up for lost time, previewing a potential breakout or simply building momentum, these players made the most of their summers.

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Ethan Surowiec, OF/1B, Florida

Few players have elevated their stock this summer quite like Surowiec. After a quiet freshman season at Ole Miss, where he logged just 16 at-bats across 11 appearances, the 6-foot-1 righthanded hitter has exploded offensively for Duluth in the Northwoods League. Through 49 games, Surowiec is slashing .389/.476/.805 with 17 home runs, 22 doubles, three triples and 14 stolen bases, and has posted a 37-to-27 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His 17 home runs are tied for the second-most by any Northwoods League player since 2021, a testament to the strength and barrel accuracy that have made him one of the most dangerous hitters in the country this summer. 

Set to join Florida’s roster this fall as a transfer from Ole Miss, Surowiec brings plus raw power, fast hands and an increasingly refined approach to the plate. His improved feel for the strike zone has been a steady trend from the fall through the summer, and he enters Gainesville with a real chance to crack the Gators’ 2026 lineup—likely at first base or DH. Florida already boasts one of the most potent young bats in the country in Brendan Lawson, but Surowiec’s arrival gives the Gators another impact slugger with legitimate middle-of-the-order upside.

Ethan Surowiec had himself a day at the plate! 💣💣 Tripled up the power, going 4-for-5 with 2 home runs, a triple, 4 RBIs, and 2 runs scored 🔥⚾💥 pic.twitter.com/0LymFxGZbB

— Northwoods League Baseball (@NWLbaseball) August 4, 2025

Larry Edwards, OF, McNeese State

Edwards has been quite disruptive on the bases this summer. The McNeese State outfielder has been a model of on-base consistency and speed for Waterloo in the Northwoods League, slashing .297/.433/.401 with 15 doubles, three home runs and a staggering 63 stolen bases in 65 games. A 6-foot-1, 185-pound righthanded hitter, Edwards has walked more times (49) than he’s struck out (47). 

Though not the flashiest name among summer standouts, Edwards’ production has been impossible to ignore. With one year of college eligibility remaining, he heads into his senior season as a potential catalyst atop McNeese State’s lineup. If his improved plate discipline and base-stealing prowess carry over to the spring, Edwards could emerge as one of the more valuable table-setters in the country. His performance is a reminder that summer ball isn’t just for future draft picks—it’s also a proving ground for players poised to elevate their games and impact their programs in meaningful ways.

56 was record breaking. 57 proves it wasn’t luck- it’s greatness. LARRY EDWARDS! pic.twitter.com/KbZUMJ7g4Z

— Waterloo Bucks (@waterloobucks) August 2, 2025

JP Robertson, RHP, Ole Miss

After a redshirt season at Ole Miss in which he didn’t throw a single inning, Robertson has reasserted himself as a name to watch with a standout summer for St. Cloud in the Northwoods League. The former two-way standout at Pearl River (Miss.) CC has posted a 2.63 ERA with 59 strikeouts to 26 walks over 48 innings, and notably has yet to surrender a home run in a regular-season game (he allowed one in his all-star game appearance).

A 6-foot righthander with a budding arsenal, Robertson attacks hitters with a lively fastball that sits in the low-to-mid 90s and has touched 97 mph. His low-80s slider flashes promise as a swing-and-miss secondary, though continued refinement in his command will be key to unlocking his full potential. While the control is still coming along, Robertson has the raw tools and competitive presence of a potential contributor out of the Ole Miss bullpen in 2026. His strong summer showing, especially after a year on the shelf, is an encouraging step forward for a pitcher with SEC-caliber stuff.

Ricky Ojeda, LHP, UC Irvine

Ojeda’s inclusion here bends the rules—he opened his summer with a brief stint in the Cape Cod League—but his dominant performance across multiple high-level stages was simply too good to leave out. After the Cape, the UC Irvine lefthander joined USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team for its series in Japan and combined to throw 10 scoreless innings between the two stops, striking out 20 and walking seven without allowing a run. 

Ojeda is a fastball-heavy pitcher, relying on a low-90s heater he throws 78% of the time. While it tops out at 96 mph, its real effectiveness comes from running and riding life that plays especially well up in the zone. The pitch generated a 26% overall miss rate and a 22% in-zone miss rate in the spring—outstanding marks given the volume. He complements it with a big, loopy curveball in the upper 60s to low 70s, a short, upper-70s slider he uses mostly against lefthanded hitters and a tumbling changeup.

With slightly above-average control and a repeatable delivery, Ojeda’s polish and performance this summer have put him firmly on the 2026 draft radar. He’s expected to anchor Irvine’s rotation as its Friday night starter next spring.

Brayden Ricketts, C, Indiana

After redshirting as a freshman at Indiana and going the entire spring without logging a game, Ricketts has used the summer to announce himself as a name to watch. The lefthanded-hitting catcher was a consistent offensive force for the Pulaski River Turtles in the Appalachian League, slashing .333/.477/.500 with four home runs, 10 doubles, 35 RBIs and an impressive 33-to-29 walk-to-strikeout ratio. While not a pure power bat, Ricketts shows a smooth, quick swing and strong feel for using the whole field, paired with sharp swing decisions that suggest he’s more than just a hot summer performer. 

Defensively, he moves well behind the plate and brings reasonable athleticism to the position, though his inexperience still shows at times through raw receiving. Still, his all-around progress and performance indicate real upside—and the kind of summer that can precede a breakout. Ricketts has positioned himself for a shot at earning meaningful playing time next spring.

Donte Lewis, OF/RHP, Kansas State

Lewis turned heads this summer with his two-way impact for the Elizabethton River Riders in the Appalachian League, showing the kind of athleticism and versatility that could make him a key piece for Kansas State in 2026. At the plate, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound righthanded hitter slashed .299/.378/.448 with two home runs, three doubles, two triples and 15 stolen bases, flashing gap-to-gap potential and real table-setting ability. His quick swing lacks big-time power but plays well with his speed and aggressive baserunning. Defensively, Lewis fits in center field thanks to above-average range and a lively arm. 

Yet he might be even more intriguing on the mound. His fastball touches 96 mph and is backed by a high-spin slider that flashes plus. He also mixes in a mid-90s sinker and a well-executed changeup that gives lefties fits and induces soft contact. Across 11.2 innings this summer, Lewis posted a 4.63 ERA with 17 strikeouts and just five walks. With a real chance to contribute on both sides of the ball again next spring, Lewis is one of the more electric and projectable two-way talents in the Big 12.

Freddy Beruvides, LHP, Pittsburgh

After bouncing from Virginia to Chipola College, Freddy Beruvides reestablished his stock this summer with a dominant showing in the Appalachian League. Pitching for the Greeneville Flyboys, the lefthander logged 21.2 innings with a 0.83 ERA and 29 strikeouts to 11 walks, making four of his seven appearances as a starter.

Beruvides showed the same swing-and-miss traits that made him an intriguing arm out of high school, attacking hitters with a lively fastball in the low 90s that occasionally reaches 95. He pairs it with a high-70s curveball that features solid depth and a promising changeup to keep hitters off balance.

Now set to transfer to Pittsburgh, Beruvides brings with him a skill set that could play in multiple roles—either as a starter in the weekend rotation or as a high-leverage reliever capable of missing bats in big spots. After an uneven start to his college career, he used the summer to reset and remind evaluators of his upside. With his return to Division I just around the corner, Beruvides enters the fall as one of the more intriguing additions to Pitt’s roster.

Brock Ketelsen, OF/LHP, Stanford

Summer ball isn’t just for returning college players—it’s also a proving ground for incoming freshmen looking to make early impressions. Few have done more with that opportunity than Brock Ketelsen, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound lefthanded hitter and pitcher set to join Stanford this fall. 

Playing for the Corvallis Knights in the West Coast League, Ketelsen has showcased advanced tools and maturity well beyond his age. Offensively, he slashed .328/.467/.458 with two home runs, five doubles, three triples and 34 stolen bases, while drawing 29 walks against just 19 strikeouts. His combination of size, athleticism and plate discipline has made him a steady producer and a dangerous threat on the bases. 

Ketelsen’s talent extends to the mound, where he’s worked exclusively in relief and posted a 1.04 ERA with 19 strikeouts to five walks over 8.2 innings. He just turned 18 in late July, but his presence and production suggest he could make an immediate impact for the Cardinal, who are looking to reestablish their winning ways after back-to-back down seasons. Ketelsen enters with ample early buzz.

Dominic Cadiz, INF, UCLA

While much of the attention around UCLA’s incoming class centered on second-round pick Angel Cervantes honoring his college commitment, the Bruins landed another major win when 15th-round selection Dominic Cadiz also chose Westwood over the pros. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound righthanded hitter put together a stellar summer with the Walla Walla Sweets in the West Coast League, slashing .345/.454/.628 with nine home runs, 14 doubles and a 25-to-21 walk-to-strikeout ratio.

Cadiz brings loud tools, starting with a powerful swing and quick bat that produce real damage to all fields. Defensively, he’s expected to handle third base thanks to a strong arm, though a move across the diamond to first remains a possibility down the line. Regardless of where he lands, Cadiz’s bat should give him a chance to contribute early. 

UCLA has made a concerted effort to return to national prominence by investing in prep recruiting, and Cadiz could be the next in a growing line of high school success stories under John Savage. His upside and polish give him early-impact potential on a team with national-title aspirations.

Ben Dean, RHP, Duke

Dean showed flashes of big stuff as a freshman at Dayton but couldn’t consistently harness it, finishing the spring with a 7.71 ERA and a 32-to-23 strikeouts-to-walk ratio over 25.2 innings. This summer, though, he took a significant step forward. Pitching for the Keene Swamp Bats in the NECBL, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound righthander dominated in a relief role, logging a 1.50 ERA with 28 strikeouts and nine walks across 18 innings. 

Dean’s fastball sits in the mid 90s with explosive carry through the zone, and he pairs it with a hard, top-down curveball in the mid 80s and a changeup that flashes real tumble. Command remains a work in progress, but the quality of the stuff gives him some margin for error. Now set to transfer to Duke, Dean will join a program under new coach Corey Muscara, whose track record of pitcher development—most notably at Wake Forest—makes this pairing one to watch. If Dean’s summer performance is any indication, he could be a breakout bullpen weapon in Durham next spring.