Many 20-year-old college kids have summer jobs. However, few make the amount of money former Greenbrier High star Brandon Cumpton is earning this summer -- though his work won't pay right away.
Cumpton, a rising junior at Georgia Tech, is spending his summer pitching in the Cape Cod League. The Cape is the most prestigious of all college baseball summer leagues, and it is the best way to improve your stock when it comes to the draft.
Cumpton's former Greenbrier teammate, Rich Poythress, was a Cape Cod League All-Star last year and rode that wave to a tremendous junior campaign at Georgia and a second-round spot in June's Major League Baseball draft. Poythress likely will earn a signing bonus between $700,000 and $900,000 when he and the Seattle Mariners come to terms.
Don't think about borrowing any money from Cumpton just yet. He isn't earning a salary for his efforts this summer, but if he keeps up his solid performances on the mound, next June could be very profitable for the righthander.
So far this summer, he has two starts and a 1-0 record. He has worked 12 innings and allowed only one run. He has yielded only three hits and three walks while striking out five for the Cotuit Kettleers.
Cumpton was 4-3 with a 4.76 ERA in 12 starts for Georgia Tech last season. He struck out 63 batters and walked just 22 in 64Q innings. He will enter the 2010 season as the Jackets' No. 2 starter behind All-American Deck McGuire, who was 11-2 with 118 strikeouts in 100Q innings.
Cumpton isn't alone this summer. His Georgia Tech and ex-Greenbrier teammate Jeff Rowland also is playing for the Kettleers. Rowland was drafted in the 21st round by the Cleveland Indians as a draft-eligible sophomore.
Rowland is projected to be selected between the fifth and 10th rounds next year, so he is likely to return to Georgia Tech for his junior season. If he heats up this summer, he could get an offer much larger than the average for a 21st round pick, but he would have to get fifth- or sixth-round money to consider signing.
Rowland has struggled a bit this summer, hitting .229 with three RBI. He has six stolen bases and an on-base percentage of .386. He had a huge sophomore season for Georgia Tech, hitting .343 and earning First Team All-ACC honors.
The duo of Cumpton and Rowland has helped move Cotuit into the lead in the West Division with a 6-4-1 mark.
Former Augusta Christian star Josh Whitaker also is going to be drafted next June. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound infielder had an injury-plagued sophomore campaign for Kennesaw State, which is unfortunate because few teams had more pro scouts attending their games this season.
Kennesaw had two pitchers taken in the top 50 picks and six players taken in all.
When he did play, Whitaker was outstanding. He hit .379 with four homers and 25 RBI in just 22 games (15 starts) for the Owls.
For the second consecutive summer, Whitaker is playing in the Coastal Plains League. Through 27 games, he is leading the first-half champion Outer Banks Daredevils with 18 RBI. He also has swiped nine bases in nine chances -- not bad for a 230-pounder. The Daredevils are 18-9 so far this summer.
Whitaker should be primed for a huge junior year for Kennesaw State, and if so, he too will be looking to cash in with a nice contract next June.
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