Twenty-six Commodores players were chosen in this year’s Major League Baseball draft, which came to a close on July 11.
Of the 614 total picks chosen in the 20 rounds of the 2023 MLB draft, 17 were former Falmouh Commodores who played during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Eight players from the current season’s roster were also selected in the draft, making an early exit from the Cape League to begin their professional careers. A full list of this year’s drafted Dores can be found directly below.
Brayden Taylor (‘21 and ’22) was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays as the 19th pick overall, making him the single Falmouth alumnus to be drafted in the first round. The former TCU infielder made it to the CCBL All-Star roster during the 2021 season, representing Falmouth on the West Division team alongside three of his Dores teammates, and left the Cape for Team USA in the summer of 2022 after a short-lived return to the Commodores.
Juaron Watts-Brown (‘22) was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round. A right-handed pitcher who attended Oklahoma State, Watts-Brown pitched 40 innings for the Commodores last summer, compiling a 3.83 ERA.
Andrew Pinckney (‘22) went to the Washington Nationals in the fourth round. Pinckney, who red-shirted his junior year at the University of Alabama, was a starting outfielder in the 2022 CCBL All-Star game, along with teammate Colby Halter.
Joe Redfield (‘23) was taken in the fourth round, heading to the Los Angeles Angels. A former Sam Houston State Bearkat, Redfield left for California after a short stint in Falmouth this summer.
Grayson Hitt (’22) was chosen by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth round. Hitt, a left-handed pitcher, previously played for the University of Alabama.
Maui Ahuna (‘21) went to the San Francisco Giants in the fourth round. Although he began his college career at Kansas University, he ended up transferring to the University of Tennessee. In the summer of 2021, he played shortstop for the Dores for a brief time before joining Team USA.
Levi Wells (‘21 and ‘22) was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth round. A two-season Commodores veteran, the former Texas State pitcher was a 2022 CCBL All-Star and served as one of Falmouth’s most reliable relievers during both of the summers he spent on Cape.
Camden Minacci (‘22) was picked by the Los Angeles Angels in the sixth round. The right-handed pitcher played for the Wake Forest Deacons during his college career.
Philip Abner (‘22) was chosen by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth round. Formerly a Florida Gator, Abner was one of the six Commodores to make the CCBL All-Star Roster for the 2022 season.
Jace Bohrofen (‘21 and ‘22) went to the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth round. Bohrofen, an outfielder, was one of two University of Arkansas players on the Dores’ 2022 roster.
Lucas Gordon (‘21) was taken by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth round. The southpaw pitcher, who attended the University of Texas, developed a wicked breaking ball during his time in Falmouth.
Izack Tiger (‘23) was selected by the Texas Rangers in the seventh round. Tiger attended Butler Community College, and compiled 15 strikeouts while recording a 7.29 ERA during the handful of games that he pitched for the Commodores this summer.
Scott Bandura (‘23) was picked by the San Francisco Giants in the seventh round. An outfielder who attended Princeton University, Bandura’s batting average ranked in the Ivy League’s top five for the 2022 season.
Alex Mooney (‘22) was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the seventh round. Mooney, who attended Duke University, was named to the 2022 CCBL All-Star Roster and hit five home runs during his time playing shortstop for the Dores.
Charles Harrison (‘21) was chosen by the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh round. A former UCLA Bruin, Harrison was a steady presence in the Falmouth bullpen during the 2021 season and had several solid relief performances.
Bryson Ware (‘21) was taken by the Philadelphia Phillies in the eighth round. Ware, who played third base for Auburn, tried his hand at first base as well while he was in Falmouth.
Logan Van Treeck (‘23) went to the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth round. Van Treeck pitched at Lipscomb University during his collegiate career, and recorded 14 strikeouts over the course of 14.1 innings pitched for the Commodores this summer.
Jake Peppers (‘22) was selected by the Chicago White Sox. Peppers, who previously pitched for Jacksonville State University, has more to celebrate right now than just the start of his big league career—he recently got engaged to girlfriend (now fiancée) Maggie Woodall.
Jack Payton (‘22) was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the eleventh round. Although he caught for Louisville during his college career, Payton played both catcher and designated hitter for the Commodores.
Carson Montgomery (‘23) was picked by the San Diego Padres in the eleventh round. A former Florida State Seminole, Montgomery was a familiar face in the Dores’ pitching rotation this summer, starting seven games for Falmouth.
Paul Bonzagni (‘23) went to the Texas Rangers in the twelfth round. Bonzagni, who previously pitched for Southern Illinois University, threw an immaculate inning during his brief career as a Commodore.
Will Johnston (‘22) was taken by the Oakland A’s in the thirteenth round. A left-handed pitcher, Johnston finished all four years of his college career at Texas A&M.
Michael Forret (‘23) was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the fourteenth round. Forret, who pitched at the State College of Florida, recorded more than eight shutout innings for Falmouth this season.
Mikey Tepper (‘21 and 22) was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the fifteenth round. The former Liberty University Flame played in Falmouth for two seasons, using major league hurler Walker Buehler as his pitching inspiration.
Rio Britton (‘23) was chosen by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fifteenth round. A southpaw who pitched at NC State during his college career, Britton picked up a Player of the Game nod this season, racking up six strikeouts and allowing just one hit in five innings of pitching against the Cotuit Kettleers.
Colby Halter (‘22) was chosen by the Oakland A’s in the seventeenth round. Formerly the starting third baseman for the University of Florida, Halter was named to the 2022 CCBL All-Star roster and recorded a .307 batting average during the regular season. He also led the league in home runs, hitting seven over the course of the summer.
Shane Telfer (’23) signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as an undrafted free agent. Telfer, who previously pitched at Pepperdine University, recently celebrated his marriage to Kelly Telfer (née Martinez).
KC Hunt (’23) signed with the Milwaukee Brewers, also as an undrafted free agent. A former Mississippi State Bulldog, the right-handed pitcher recorded more postgame selfie videos for the Commodores’ social media than any other player this season.
The players on this list join more than a thousand other Cape League alumni who made it to the big show. The Commodores organization extends congratulations to all 28 players, and looks forward to following their stories and celebrating their future successes. They may not be household names yet, but this year’s major league draftees show, once again, that the Cape Cod Baseball League is truly where the stars of tomorrow shine the brightest.
The Commodores Corner 