Sept. 5, 2008

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -

Junior Ryan Wheeler was named to Baseball America’s Top-30 Prospects list from the Cape Cod Summer Baseball League, it was announced on Thursday.  Wheeler, No. 29 on the list, spent his summer playing for the Brewster Whitecaps, where he patrolled first base throughout the season.

The native of Torrance, Calif. finished the season batting a team-best .285 over 42 games played in the Cape.  Wheeler also posted 24 runs scored, seven doubles, a team-high 67 hits, five home runs and 18 RBI.  He slugged .424 while reaching base at a .347 pace.  Wheeler and Lion right-hander Martin Viramontes were named to the 2008 East-Division Cape Cod League All-Star team, while LMU outfielder, and leading home run hitter from last season, Angelo Songco won the annual home run derby.  LMU was just one of two schools to have three players participate in the Cape Cod All-Star festivities.  Wheeler, who was voted to be the starting first baseman for the East Division, earned a spot on the team after posting a .336 batting average through 30 games played for the Whitecaps.

Wheeler batted .345 (70-for-203) in 2008 for LMU, starting every game for the Lions on the season. The team-leader in batting average for much of the campaign, he finished with 36 runs scored, a team-best 20 doubles, one triple, six home runs, 45 RBI and 110 total bases. He slugged .542 and reached base at a .405 clip. In conference games alone, he batted .372 (29-for-78) with 15 runs scored, 11 doubles, three home runs and 24 RBI. He slugged .628 and recorded an on-base percentage of .440. Wheeler claimed WCC Player of the Week for the week ending March 31, batting .545 (12-for-22) over the five games played and serving a crucial role in the Lions' 5-0 week. The selection was the first of Wheeler's career and the sole selection for the Lions in 2008.

Below is a list of all 30 prospects named to Baseball America’s Cape Cod Top-30 list.

Cape Cod
1. Grant Green, ss, Chatham (Jr., Southern California)
2. Dustin Ackley, of, Harwich (Jr., North Carolina)
3. Matt Harvey, rhp, Chatham (So., North Carolina)
4. Ben Tootle, rhp, Falmouth (Jr., Jacksonville State)
5. Brandon Workman, rhp, Wareham (So., Texas)
6. D.J. LeMahieu, ss, Harwich (So., Louisiana State)
7. A.J. Pollock, of, Falmouth (Jr., Notre Dame)
8. Brett Jackson, of, Cotuit (Jr., California)
9. Jeff Inman, rhp, Yarmouth-Dennis (Jr., Stanford)
10. Brad Stillings, rhp, Orleans (Jr., Kent State)
11. Ben Paulsen, 1b, Hyannis (Jr., Clemson)
12. Robbie Shields, ss, Cotuit (Jr., Florida Southern)
13. Matt Thomson, rhp, Orleans (Jr., San Diego)
14. Bryce Stowell, rhp, Bourne (signed with Indians)
15. Shawn Tolleson, rhp, Yarmouth-Dennis (So., Baylor)
16. Rich Poythress, 3b, Orleans (Jr., Georgia)
17. Kevin Patterson, 1b, Cotuit (So., Auburn)
18. Craig Fritsch, rhp, Yarmouth-Dennis (So., Baylor)
19. Mike Bianucci, of, Cotuit (signed with Rangers)
20. Brad Boxberger, rhp, Chatham (Jr., Southern California)
21. Chad Bettis, rhp, Falmouth (So., Texas Tech)
22. Tim Wheeler, of, Orleans (Jr., Sacramento State)
23. Dusty Coleman, ss, Bourne (signed with Athletics)
24. Evan Danieli, rhp, Falmouth (So., Notre Dame)
25. Sean Black, rhp, Harwich (Jr., Seton Hall)
26. Nick Hernandez, lhp, Cotuit (Jr., Tennessee)
27. Marc Krauss, of, Harwich/Bourne (Jr., Ohio)
28. Matt Bashore, lhp, Wareham (Jr., Indiana)
29. Ryan Wheeler, 1b, Brewster (Jr., Loyola Marymount)
30. Chris Dominguez, 3b, Hyannis (Jr., Louisville)