Last month, our staff traveled to the Appleton area to host the annual Fox Cities Preseason I.D. at Players Choice of the Fox Cities. This year, we saw the biggest roster in event history with more than 150 prospects in attendance. For additional insight on this showcase, make sure to check out our Quick Hits and Statistical Analysis, published days after the event.

Our first positional breakdown takes a look at the catching crop, highlighted by 2022 Louisville commit Will Vierling (Homestead). Vierling is a high-end left-handed bat at a premium position, which helped him secure an early verbal commitment to the Cardinals. This crop also unveiled another 2023 prospect to keep tabs on: Maxwell Kalk (Kimberly). Kalk is an obvious athlete with a strong body composition and showed an advanced skill set across the board for his age. Kalk’s high school teammate Cameron Miller emerged as a follow junior in his debut at a PBR event, too.

Here’s a look at the top-10 backstops at the event, as well as reports on all of the catchers who made it out to Appleton last month:

Top Catcher Prospects

1. Will Vierling, Homestead (WI), 2022 - Louisville
Positional Profile: C/3B Premium prospect in Wisconsin's 2022 class. High-end left-handed hitter.
Body: 6-foot-0, 180-pounds. Sturdy frame.
Hit: LHH. Tall open setup, quiet and relaxed pre pitch, subtle repeatable loading action, strong lower half and balance. Path is short to the baseball, advanced bat speed, contact jumps off the bat at times. Advanced hitter.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Left handed bat with pop.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short, loose arm action with efficiency; improved arm strength.
Defense: 2.03-2.12 pop times. Consistent quick, direct footwork, present athleticism. Increased efficiency in actions through transfer.
Run: 7.17 runner in the 60. 

2. Maxwell Kalk, Kimberly (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/INF; Strong follow athlete in the 2023 class.
Body: 5-foot-11, 170-pounds. Strong physical build, athletic frame and actions.
Hit: LHH. Wider setup, balanced and quiet pre pitch, short lift and replace stride, hands load back, slight bat wrap load. Above average bat speed, strong hands at contact, uphill plane, hits in rhythm. Creates consistent hard contact with strength and bat speed.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. INF - 81 mph. Short loose arm action, high 3/4 slot on infield, plays athletic from multiple slots when necessary, flashed carry. As a catcher, short and over-the-top arm action; throws flash carry.
Defense: 2.07-2.28 pop times. Infield actions are athletic and plays through the baseball, fluid footwork, profiles at third base on the infield. From behind the plate, deliberate, fluid, and efficient actions. Feet are fluid and direct to target, exchanges are consistently quick and clean.
Run: 7.45 runner in the 60. 

3. Cameron Miller, Kimberly (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Lean wiry frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, reverse lift stride, loads hands and weight back, good balance through contact. Level path, loose hands, in rhythm swing, slight pull side approach.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Flashed occasional pop to pull side.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. Short, loose arm action from an over-the-top slot; present arm strength with carry and some accuracy to target.
Defense: 2.06-2.33 pop times. Natural actions; soft block, above-average footwork, athletic feet. Actions are quick throughout.
Run: 7.02 runner in the 60. Above average runner for the position.

4. Cade Milton, Notre Dame Academy (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C/INF
Body: 5-foot-11, 180-pounds. Strong throughout, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, tall setup, relaxed setup, moderate stride, hands load back, arm bar load. Strong hands create above average bat speed, level path, gets extension through contact, produces gap to gap contact. In rhythm hitter.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short, loose arm action from an over-the-top slot; throws carry to target.
Defense: 2.03-2.16 pop times. Feet work quick and true to target. Consistent quick actions, transfers, with present athleticism. Repeats actions well and in control.
Run: 7.45 runner in the 60. 

5. Will Johannes, Mukwonago (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-foot-0, 180-pounds. Carries some overall strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, solid wide base, short lift and replace stride, maintains solid balance through contact. Short path, above average bat speed, strong hard contact in BP, ability to find the barrel, in rhythm.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short arm action from a high 3/4 slot. Throws showed some accuracy, above-average carry to target.
Defense: 2.13-2.33 pop times. Quick footwork with deliberate, clean actions through transfer and release.
Run: 7.73 runner in the 60. 

6. Charlie Bogue, Mount Horeb (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-11, 185-pounds. Sturdy frame with proportional strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced and athletic setup, smooth loading action with short stride, maintains good balance through swing. Gap to gap approach, level path gets extension, showed bat speed with rhythm.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. INF - 82 mph. Short arm action, uses over-the-top slot. Same arm slot from out of the crouch.
Defense: 2.14-2.21 pop times. Defensively profiles at C/3B, infield actions are reliable and hands played softly out front. From behind the plate, direct actions work toward target; some quickness through transfer and release.
Run: 7.90 runner in the 60. 

7. Nicholas LaVigne, Appleton West  (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-0, 185-pounds. Lean athletic body.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, reverse toe tap stride with bat wrap load, lower half works and maintains balance. Above average bat speed on short repeatable plane, gap to gap approach, creates line drive contact.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Bat strength, flashed occasional pop.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot; stiff.
Defense: 2.15-2.33 pop times. Controlled footwork out of crouch and to target. Strength in forearms helps him receive pitches well.
Run: 7.34 runner in the 60. 

8. Jason Van Den, Seymour (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-11, 160-pounds. Lean, lanky build; some wiry strength.
Hit: RHH. Tall, balanced setup; subtle hand load, short stride. Long path off a flat plane; repeated hard line-drive contact.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short, over-the-top arm action. Throws carry.
Defense: 2.00-2.14 pop times. Quick and clean transfers; feet work fluidly and athletically.
Run: 7.52 runner in the 60. 

9. Elijah Jenkins, West Bend East (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C/INF
Body: 5-foot-9, 150-pounds. Wiry lean build.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open stance, short stride, deliberate lift and gets down quickly, solid balance through contact. Compact swing, short to the baseball, repeatable swing, line drive type hitter.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Short arm action from an over-the-top slot. Consistent accuracy and above-average carry.
Defense: 2.03-2.20 pop times. A little tall in setup but is especially quick out of the crouch and through transfer and release.
Run: 7.14 runner in the 60. 

10. Grant Gill, Bay Port (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-9, 160-pounds. Strong compact build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, heel lift trigger, solid balance. Compact swing with above average bat speed and effort. Flashed quick twitch swing and produced line drives.
Power: 73 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Short arm action from an over-the-top slot with some accuracy.
Defense: 2.28-2.43 pop times. Long swing from reception to transfer and release. Fluid lower half actions.
Run: 7.87 runner in the 60. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Ethan Bennett, Oshkosh North  (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-8, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Slight crouched setup, narrow base, moderate stride length as hands load back. Uphill swing plane with pull side contact.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short, over-the-top arm action; consistent accuracy with average arm strength.
Defense: 2.26-2.37 pop times. Consistent, fluid transfers and actions; two-handed receiving.
Run: 8.23 runner in the 60. 

Evan Calderon, Oak Creek  (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-foot-9, 135-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Crouched open setup, short stride to even. Path works uphill plane, some length, aggressive approach.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. INF - 70 mph. Long high 3/4 arm action on the infield. As a catcher, short action from a high 3/4 release.
Defense: 2.27-2.45 pop times. Infield actions showed above average active footwork for his age. From behind the plate, lower half actions work well, quickly. Consistency and efficiency in transfers through release.
Run: 7.61 runner in the 60. 

Bryce Duszak, Menasha (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-7, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Weight loaded on back side, short stride with heel lift. Path is short and level through contact, in rhythm. Developing bat speed and strength.
Power: 77 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Short arm action from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.40-2.57 pop times. Deliberate actions, controlled from the crouch.
Run: 8.43 runner in the 60. 

Bryce Gorzelanczyk, Bay Port (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-foot-11, 186-pounds. Wiry strength, sturdy lower half; carries some projection.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, reverse toe tap stride, bat wrap load. Path works slightly uphill, works with length, lifted contact.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Short arm action from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.34-2.50 pop times. Controlled, clean actions out of the crouch.
Run: 8.04 runner in the 60. 

Sawyer Hau, Laconia (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot-1, 180-pounds. Tall frame with lanky levers.
Hit: RHH. Tall, balanced setup, long leg kick stride. Path is long to contact, works uphill, shoulder initiates swing.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short, over-the-top arm action; some looseness.
Defense: 2.25-2.59 pop times. Low, flexible in crouch; controlled footwork.
Run: 7.73 runner in the 60. 

Gage Hilbelink, Oostburg (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/C
Body: 6-foot-0, 150-pounds. Slender build, lanky frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, short stride, hands drop into load.  Path works with length, uphill plane.
Power: 75 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 62 mph. Short arm action from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.50-2.62 pop times. Gets tall to transfer; deliberate actions.
Run: 7.79 runner in the 60. 

Logan Hochevar, Pulaski (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. Lean wiry frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, loads weight back, short stride. Flat path, level through contact, average bat speed.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 65 mph. Short arm action from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.51-2.60 pop times. Low setup with deliberate actions. Receives with two hands.
Run: 8.09 runner in the 60. 

Tyler Lawson, Escanaba Area (MI), 2021
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-foot-7, 130-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced stance, short leg lift stride, solid balance through contact. Opposite field contact, short to the baseball, slight uphill through contact.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short arm action from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.15-2.30 pop times. Quick, direct actions from the crouch; fluid feet.
Run: 7.10 runner in the 60. 

Jaeden LeCapitaine, Freedom  (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 165-pounds. Lean frame.
Hit: RHH. Slight open setup, short stride and loads hands back into arm bar load. Path has length, on uphill plane, slight pull side approach.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Short, over-the-top arm action.
Defense: 2.45-2.64 pop times. Direct, controlled footwork. Above-average blocker.
Run: 7.69 runner in the 60. 

Michael Maloney, Pulaski (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: 3B
Body: 5-foot-8, 188-pounds. Compact body type/
Hit: RHH. Slight open stance, hands load back with moderate stride. Gets to front side to hit, slight uphill path, flashed pull side pop.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short, over-the-top, loose arm action.
Defense: 2.19-2.33 pop times. Consistent clean exchanges/transfers; soft, fluid feet.
Run: 7.38 runner in the 60. 

Ian Merry, Sheboygan North (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, narrow stance, big leg kick trigger. Gets into lower half and looks to lift contact aggressively.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Length to arm circle; short action from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.15-2.38 pop times. Controlled, fluid feet; low and flexible in crouch.
Run: 7.81 runner in the 60. 

Evan Olson, Kimberly (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-9, 145-pounds. Small frame wiry build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance with hands held high, short lift and replace stride. Path is short, opposite field approach, makes line drive contact.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 65 mph. INF - 72 mph. Arm action plays short and loose, high 3/4 slot, played accurate across the diamond. As a catcher, some length in arm circle from a 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.20-2.38 pop times. Footwork plays through the baseball on the infield, efficient release for age, profiles best on the infield. From behind the plate, direct footwork to target; repeats actions well.
Run: 7.59 runner in the 60. 

Jake Olszewski, Germantown (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-8, 145-pounds. Lean frame, slender build.
Hit: LHH. 
Power:  mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short, loose arm action from a high 3/4 window. Above-average carry on throws.
Defense: 2.14-2.20 pop times. Actions are quick throughout; fluid feet, quick transfers.
Run: 7.32 runner in the 60. 

Dan Reddin, Brookfield East (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-foot-0, 205-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide, back loaded stance, reverse lift stride, hands loaded high with bat wrapped. Bat path is flat, level through contact with length, creates line drive in BP.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short action from a low 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.25-2.80 pop times. Deliberate actions, long transfers.
Run: 7.90 runner in the 60. 

Logan VanLaanen, Bay Port (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-foot-11, 245-pounds. Large, stocky build, strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, open stance, loads into leg kick trigger, subtle hand load. Uphill path looks to hit with pull side power approach.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average bat strength.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Short arm action from an over-the-top slot. Average arm strength.
Defense: 2.28-2.46 pop times. Deliberate actions, controlled from the crouch.
Run: 7.83 runner in the 60.

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