Any successful summer team is made up of a combination of proven veterans and ambitious, talented underclassmen. After welcoming back three returning players into the fold, the Dutchmen are also excited about pairing them with a crop of tremendously talented young players. Two of Albany’s high upside freshmen arms come from opposite ends of the country, St. John’s Mitch Cavanagh and Baylor’s Blake Allen.
An Oneida, New York Native, Mitch Cavanagh is a strong, physical pitcher who has enjoyed past success both as a hitter and on the mound. He’ll likely do both for the Red Storm, but his pitching is what has garnered him the majority of his accolades. Rated as Perfect Game’s 5th best pitcher in the state of New York, and the 312th best high school senior in the country last year, the right-hander packs an upper 80s fastball with a sharp curve and the mental toughness to succeed at the college level. A four-year letterwinner and two-time captain, Cavanagh was also a three-time first team All-Tri-Valley League honoree, a 2014 honorable mention Perfect Game Preseason All-American and first team All-Northeast Region honoree, Tri-Valley League Player of the Year as a senior, and a second team all-state selection that same year. With a tremendous pedigree, and the coaching at a top collegiate program, Cavanagh figures to come into the summer ready to make an immediate impact for the Dutchmen. Cavanagh's Player Profile
Joining Cavanagh on the hill will be another talented freshman, Blake Allen, from Austin Texas. The 6’4”, 215 pound Allen has a ton of upside thanks to his strong build, clean arm action and arsenal of power pitches. A Perfect Game Top 1,000 player, and a Top 200 player in the state of Texas, Allen was named 2014 second-team All-District and was a Perfect Game Preseason All-Texas honorable mention while recording a 1.76 ERA with 65 strikeouts. In 2013, he was named unanimous first-team All-District while setting a team record with a 0.18 district ERA. Perhaps more importantly, Allen has also proved to be highly successful off the field, receiving Academic All-District honors five times (three for football, two for baseball). A competitive player, Allen looks to continue a long line of successful Baylor Bears that have made their way to Albany for the summer. Allen's Player Profile
