07/21/2023 5:44 PM Article By: Brian Butler
One of the most entertaining events of any All-Star celebration is the Home Run Hitting Contest, presented by Del Mar Vacation Rentals. For every home run hit this Saturday, Del Mar Vacation Rentals will be donating to the Live and Work Cape Cod Fund.
This Saturday afternoon, some of the Cape League’s most prolific sluggers will showcase their prodigious power at Whitehouse Field in Harwich. With All-Star Saturday on the horizon, let’s preview the big bats that will be on display this weekend.
Hunter Hines, 1B, Y-D/Mississippi State
Hunter Hines has been punishing baseballs all summer long for Y-D. The Mississippi State slugger comfortably leads the league in homers with 10, and also holds the RBI lead with 34. The Y-D first baseman, who will also be starting the All-Star Game for the East, has frequently demonstrated insane pop. One of his biggest homers of the season was a monstrous blast in Cotuit earlier in the summer that hit halfway up the tree line behind the right field bullpen. Hines has extraordinary power, and will likely put on a great show for all in attendance.
James Tibbs, OF/1B, Brewster/Florida State
James Tibbs is another strong contender in the Home Run Hitting Contest. Tibbs is currently tied for second in the league with six home runs, and has great power to all fields. The Florida State product also demonstrates his penchant for driving the ball with his five doubles. Like Hines, Tibbs will also be starting the All-Star Game for the East Division, and is sure to put on a show throughout the entire day Saturday.
Jared Jones, C, Brewster/Louisiana State
The final contestant for the East Division is Brewster catcher Jared Jones. The Freshman All-American has yet to homer for the Whitecaps this summer, but for good reason: he was a late arrival following winning a national championship at LSU. Although Jones hasn’t yet gone yard on Cape, his power is undeniable. Jones homered once every 11.5 at-bats for the Tigers this spring, and is a strong dark horse pick for this weekend’s Home Run Hitting Contest.
Cameron Smith, 3B, Hyannis/Florida State
The West’s first contestant this Saturday is Hyannis’s Cameron Smith. Smith will be the second Seminole product to appear in the contest this year, and he currently ranks fourth in the league in homers with five. The Hyannis infielder has shown off his incredible power on several occasions this summer, including the day he was announced for this contest. Following the announcement of the participants, Smith celebrated by hitting a massive homer for the Harbor Hawks to state his case as the favorite in this competition.
Brody Donay, C, Hyannis/Florida
Hyannis will be well-represented in the Home Run Hitting Contest, as catcher Brody Donay will also be taking part. Donay loves to absolutely obliterate baseballs, and this contest will surely be no exception. The Hyannis backstop has three long balls so far this summer, and he’s gotten every stitch of each of them. The lowest exit velocity on a Donay bomb this summer is 109.1 MPH, with his other two both coming in the same game and both leaving the bat at over 110 MPH. Brody Donay will be a very fun name to watch in this competition.
Rene Lastres, C, Wareham/Charlotte
Last, but certainly not least, is Wareham catcher Rene Lastres. Lastres only has one homer so far this summer, but it’s easy to see why he is in this contest. Measuring in at 6’3” and 225 pounds, the Wareham backstop is an absolutely huge human being, and has incredible power to go with it. He has only appeared in eight games so far for the Gatemen, but his batting practice showcases have left fans in awe. The Charlotte catcher frequently pulverizes baseballs into parts of the park that nobody else can dream of reaching, and makes it look all too easy. Rene Lastres should absolutely put on a show on Saturday afternoon.
