South Milwaukee Preseason ID: Statistical Analysis
March 9, 2022
On March 6 the PBR Wisconsin team hosted the annual South Milwaukee Preseason ID, at Hitters Baseball Academy in Caledonia, Wis. This was an open event for all high school classes (2022-25) and gave our staff an ample look at the area's top players.
If you missed us in Caledonia, check out our showcase page to see when we’re in the neighborhood next.
On Tuesday, we published our biggest takeaways and highlights from Sunday’s showcase within our Quick Hits story. Today, we’ll dive right into the statistical side of things, analyzing Sunday’s top performers from several different statistical categories. Throughout the rest of this week, we’ll be diving deeper into all of the data we collected, too, with the help of our Blast Motion and TrackMan devices.
TOP 60-yard dash TIMES
+ Leading this group were two of the top-ranked players in the state: INF Alex Alicea (St. Thomas More, 2023; Louisville commit), ranked No. 10 in our state 2023 rankings, No. 420 nationally; and OF JT Kelenic (Catholic Memorial, 2023; Grand Canyon), ranked No. 11 in-state. Both ended up running the same time, a 6.52, an excellent time we expected Alicea to run in the vicinity of, but seeing Kelenic race to that mark is especially notable. Right behind these two was another high-end athlete but a member of the 2025 class, Braylen White (Brown Deer). A recent PBR Junior Future Games participant, White’s athletic gait is something that truly sets him apart from other athletes in his class and should only improve as he matures throughout his high school years.
MAX FASTBALL VELOCITY
+ Recent Arizona State commit RHP Adam Behrens (Warren Township, IL, 2023) led all pitchers on Sunday, throwing his hardest bullet at 91.6 mph. This past summer, Behrens represented Team Illinois during the PBR Future Games and has clearly put in work over the offseason, as he had one of the cleanest ‘pens during our time in Caledonia. RHP Thomas Burns (Hortonville, 2023), who's nestled in at No. 4 overall in our class of ‘23 rankings and No. 337 nationally, recorded the second hardest fastball of the event. Like Behrens, Burns also played in the 2021 Future Games, but represented Team Wisconsin and he remains one of the top uncommitted players in Wisconsin. Right behind Burns is another righty, RHP Nolan Buss (Arrowhead, 2024) who currently sits at No. 2 in our state ‘24 rankings and No. 214 nationally. On Sunday, Buss showed an uptick in velocity on his fastball along with major horizontal movement, something that we have become accustomed to seeing from him. That coupled with a deceptive delivery, makes him a very tough at-bat for opposing hitters.
MAX EXIT VELOCITY
+ Teammate of the aforementioned Burns during the 2021 Future Games, JT Kelenic had the hardest-hit ball of the day. At a physical 6-foot-4 210 pounds, Kelenic possesses some of the easiest pop in the whole state, driving the ball hard to all fields with what seemed like little effort. We have long known of Kelenic’s offensive prowess and he only added to it with a loud showing on Sunday. The second hardest-hit ball from our time in Caledonia came from INF Jason Adix (University School, 2023). At the plate, Adix doesn’t try to do too much, taking controlled hacks with a quick toe-tap trigger. The top player in the states ‘24 class, INF JD Dix (Whitefish Bay, 2024; Alabama), is ranked No. 57 nationally, and he recorded one of the best rounds of BP in the entire event. Hitting from both sides of the plate, Dix’s offensive skill set was on full display evidenced by his batted ball number via TrackMan and seems poised to be the next premier infielder churned out from Wisconsin, something that the Badger State has become known for.
MAX INFIELD VELOCITY
+ We have seen Alicea display his elite defensive skill set countless times in front of our staff throughout the past few years and on Sunday, he did exactly that. Alicea reached an 89 mph high on his throws to first, showing a live arm in an athletic 5-foot-8, 150-pound frame. LHP/1B Jackson Brewer (Homestead, 2024) was another prospect who caught our eye throughout the event showing off his arm strength from the first base bag, reaching an 89 mph high on his throws to third. His arm strength translated to the mound, where the southpaw hit an 88 mph high. INF Boston Halloran (Franklin, 2023; Oakland), who currently holds the No. 28 spot in our rankings, had the third hardest throw from the infield at 88 mph.
MAX OUTFIELD VELOCITY
+ Currently uncommitted, OF Cade Palkowski (Oak Creek, 2024) had a quality all-round showing. From the outfield, Palkowski’s arm strength is something that caught our staff’s attention, topping at 91 mph, which tied as the best from the event. Tying with Palkowski was another Illinois product, OF Ben Flerlage (Latin School of Chicago, 2023). While in the outfield, the uncommitted Flerlage's clean footwork coupled with his impressive arm strength makes him a viable outfield defender.
MAX CATCHER VELOCITY
+ RHP/C TJ Schuyler (Antioch, IL, 2023; Indiana) had the hardest throw down to second by a wide margin. Schuyler is a defensive-minded catcher whose sheer arm strength sets him apart from others. We have seen Schuyler’s defensive abilities multiple times as he is considered a top catcher in the Midwest. Another prospect from Illinois; C Michael Clarkson (Loyola Academy, 2023), came away a winner from Sunday’s event. Behind the plate, Clarkson topped at 79 mph on his throws to second. Right behind Clarkson was C Carter Kutz (Hartford Union, 2025) who was a member of Team Wisconsin during the Junior Future Games back in July. Kutz is a young prospect who has impressed our staff a number of times and someone who we will keep tabs on throughout the next few years.
TOP POP TIMES
+ Three catchers had pop times in the 2.00-2.09 range. The aforementioned Clarkson was one of them whose quick actions behind the plate allowed him to have some of the quickest times of the event. Kutz was another in that range whose throws had noticeable carry to the bag. The last catcher in that range was C Julian Torres (Sun Prairie, 2023) showing improved times since the last time we saw him last year.
+ For a complete look at all the statistics from this event, CLICK HERE.