Prep Baseball Report

Fox Cities Preseason I.D.: Statistical Analysis


By Andy Sroka
Staff Writer, Associate Scout

On Sunday, the PBR Wisconsin team made its annual trip north to the Appleton area to host the Fox Cities Preseason I.D. Every year, this event helps us identify some of the state’s top prospects residing in Oshkosh, Green Bay, Hortonville, Sheboygan and everywhere in between. This year, the Players Choice facility was packed for this sold-out event, where 160 prospects gathered to participate, many of them for the first time at PBR showcase.

We began our post-event analysis on Monday, breaking down the top highlights from the day inside of our Quick Hits post, and today we’re taking a greater look at the statistics gathered from Sunday’s showcase. Stay tuned in for the next month or so as we load videos taken at the showcase into profiles, and publish scouting reports broken down by position shortly after.

For now, here’s a deeper dive into the measured data collected in Appleton.

MAX FASTBALL VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos Max FB
1 Gavin Rusch WI Bay Port 2021 RHP 88 mph
2 Colin Dailey WI Cedarburg 2021 RHP 87 mph
^ Gradin Taschner WI Neenah 2022 RHP 87 mph
^ Wilson Zuck WI Appleton North 2021 OF 87 mph
3 Presley Wachowiak WI Brookfield East 2023 RHP 86 mph
^ Tucker Bouche WI Oconto Falls 2021 RHP 86 mph
4 Wyatt Fischer WI De Pere 2021 LHP 84 mph
^ Eli Zollar WI Ashwaubenon 2023 1B 84 mph
^ Thomas Burns WI Hortonville 2023 RHP 84 mph
^ Benjamin Lee WI Amherst 2022 RHP 84 mph
^ Easton Vertz WI Pulaski 2021 RHP 84 mph
^ Matthew Perry WI Bay Port 2021 SS 84 mph

The Bay Port program was a big winner on the day, but especially from the mound. Towering 6-foot-5, 190-pound junior RHP Gavin Rusch (uncommitted) topped the velo board with an 88 mph fastball high, and his size and slot helps create a steep plane to home, making it an even tougher pitch to square up. Three more uncommitted prospects reached an 87 mph high: RHPs Colin Dailey (Cedarburg, 2021), Wilson Zuck (Appleton North, 2021), and Gradin Taschner (Neenah, 2022). Dailey has two-way upside and will appear all over the day’s leaderboards; Zuck does, too, but might offer a little more appeal from the batter’s box; and of the three, the sophomore Taschner makes this mid-to-upper-80s velo look easiest. Oconto Falls junior RHP Tucker Bouche (uncommitted) was one of the pop-up winners on Sunday, with his 84-86 mph fastballs. That 86 mph high tied Presely Wachowiak, a freshman from Catholic Memorial, who has burst onto the follow scene with his live bullpen. Freshmen RHPs Thomas Burns (Hortonville) and Eli Zollar (Ashwaubenon) reached 84 mph highs, which tied junior Wyatt Fischer (De Pere; uncommitted), whose 84 topped the southpaws in attendance.

TOP 60-YARD DASH

Rank Name State School Class Pos 60-yard
1 Adam Bretsch WI Marquette University 2021 3B 6.77
2 Luke Wroblewski WI Sussex Hamilton 2021 OF 6.85
3 Wolfgang Kalz WI Appleton West 2021 OF 6.87
4 Zac Jurmu WI Shawano 2022 OF 6.90
5 Wilson Zuck WI Appleton North 2021 OF 6.96
6 Landon Behringer WI North Fond du Lac 2022 OF 6.97
7 Jacob Kleemann WI Bay Port 2021 OF 6.98
8 Marcus Jens WI Seymour 2021 OF 6.99
9 Parker Knoll WI Fox Valley Lutheran 2021 SS 7.01
10 Cameron Miller WI Kimberly 2021 OF 7.02
11 Owen Sullivan WI Oak Creek 2023 OF 7.06
12 Riley O'Connell WI West Bend West 2022 RHP 7.07
13 Cameron Sullivan WI Oak Creek 2021 OF 7.08

Marquette University High’s Adam Bretsch (2021; uncommitted) had a pretty interesting statistical performance on Sunday, pacing this group here with a 6.77 low. Hamilton’s Luke Wroblewski (2021; uncommitted) has an interesting toolset in the making, and he recorded a 6.85 mark in the 60 on Sunday. Appleton North’s Wolfgang Kalz (2021; uncommitted) was a fraction behind for third best here. Zac Jurmu (Shawano) led the sophomores in attendance with a 6.90 mark in the 60.

TOP EXIT VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos Exit Velo
1 Colin Dailey WI Cedarburg 2021 RHP 97
^ Wilson Zuck WI Appleton North 2021 OF 97
^ Eli Zollar WI Ashwaubenon 2023 1B 97
2 Alex Windey WI Wrightstown 2021 RHP 94
^ Anthony Rieck WI Catholic Memorial 2023 1B 94
^ Wendell Waukau Jr. WI Menominee Indian 2022 1B 94
^ Joey Nerat WI Campbellsport 2022 OF 94
3 Logan VanLaanen WI Bay Port 2021 C 93
^ Elijah Frank WI Bay Port 2021 3B 93
^ Adam Bretsch WI Marquette University 2021 3B 93
4 Ryan Blanchard WI Kettle Moraine 2021 SS 92
^ Brandon Black WI Bay Port 2022 1B 92
^ Payton Wright WI Winneconne 2021 3B 92

Three prospects tied for the top spot in this category, all of whom are still uncommitted: Zuck, Dailey, and Zollar. All three appeared on the Max Fastball leaderboard, but it’s evident they bring more to the diamond than just arm strength, it clearly plays from the batter’s box, too. Zuck is a compact athlete who also ran a 6.96. Dailey can also do a little bit of everything and is especially interesting for his legitimate two-way upside. Zollar is a huge 6-foot-3, 225-pound freshman with innate strength that shows itself all over the field. Sophomore Joey Nerat (Campbellsport; uncommitted) emerged as a follow in the class and also recorded a 94 mph high from the tee. This was another area that the aforementioned Bretsch showed himself, with a 93 mph top.

TOP INFIELD VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos INF Velo
1 Colin Dailey WI Cedarburg 2021 RHP 92
2 Gradin Taschner WI Neenah 2022 RHP 89
3 Anthony Lausten WI Hartford 2022 SS 87
^ Will Mattheis WI Laconia 2021 3B 87
4 Matthew Perry WI Bay Port 2021 SS 84
^ Elijah Frank WI Bay Port 2021 3B 84
^ Ryan Blanchard WI Kettle Moraine 2021 SS 84
5 Benjamin Lee WI Amherst 2022 RHP 83
^ Nolan Gawrych WI West Bend East 2022 SS 83
^ Tucker Bouche WI Oconto Falls 2021 RHP 83
^ Cole Rodriguez WI Oak Creek 2022 3B 83

As expected, Dailey’s big arm helped him record the highest velocity across the infield, with a 92 mph best. Taschner’s arm strength helped him reach the No. 2 spot on this board, too, at 89 mph. Laconia junior Will Mattheis (uncommitted) also has some intriguing arm strength from both the mound and on the infield, and he reached an 87 mph high, tied with sophomore Anthony Lausten (Hartford), who had a productive day in Appleton. Bay Port’s Elijah Frank is a 6-foot-2 junior to know who appears on a couple leaderboards, including this one. Same goes for Kettle Moraine junior Ryan Blanchard, who was 84 mph across the infield with a 92 mph top off the tee. Another Bay Port junior to watch: RHP/INF Matthew Perry (uncommitted) showed well in multiple areas, sitting 82-84 mph on the mound while reaching the same high in the infield.

TOP OUTFIELD VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos OF Velo
1 Wilson Zuck WI Appleton North 2021 OF 89
2 Joey Nerat WI Campbellsport 2022 OF 87
3 Bennett Spaeth WI De Pere 2021 OF 86
^ Derek Weber WI De Pere 2021 OF 86
4 Ryan Drumm WI Edgewood 2023 OF 85
5 Easton Vertz WI Pulaski 2021 RHP 84

Zuck, again, lands at the top of a leaderboard, recording the top velocity to home with the actions to keep roaming the outfield, too. Nerat’s 87 mph high helped him land the No. 2 spot. De Pere’s Bennett Spaeth (uncommitted) is a really interesting junior follow in the state, and he reached an 86 mph max to home, tied with high school teammate Derek Weber. Freshman Ryan Drumm (Madison Edgewood) also showed above-average arm strength, topping 85 mph from the outfield.

TOP CATCHER VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos C Velo
1 Cameron Miller WI Kimberly 2021 OF 79
2 Jason Van Den Langenberg WI Seymour 2021 C 78
^ Will Vierling WI Homestead 2022 C 78
^ Will Johannes WI Mukwonago 2022 C 78
3 Bryce Gorzelanczyk WI Bay Port 2021 C 76
^ Logan VanLaanen WI Bay Port 2021 C 76
^ Elijah Jenkins WI West Bend East 2022 C 76
4 Cade Milton WI Notre Dame Academy 2022 C 75
^ Maxwell Kalk WI Kimberly 2023 C 75

Kimberly had a pair of backstops show well on Sunday: Cameron Miller (2021; uncommitted) and Maxwell Kalk (2023; uncommitted). Miller’s 79 mph high out of the crouch led the group of catchers. A trio tied for second with a 78 mph high: sophomore Will Vierling (Homestead, 2022; Louisville commit), Jason Van Den Langenberg (Seymour, 2021; uncommitted) and Will Johannes (Mukwonago, 2021; uncommitted).

TOP POP TIMES

Rank Name State School Class Pos Pop Time
1 Jason Van Den Langenberg WI Seymour 2021 C 2.00-2.14
2 Will Vierling WI Homestead 2022 C 2.03-2.12
3 Cade Milton WI Notre Dame Academy 2022 C 2.03-2.16
4 Elijah Jenkins WI West Bend East 2022 C 2.03-2.20

Van Den Langenberg was quickest from the crouch on Sunday, fractionally in front of the rest of the group. Vierling is better known for his left-handed bat, but he showed improvements on defense over the weekend. Fellow 2022s Cade Milton (Notre Dame Academy; uncommitted) and Elijah Jenkins (West Bend East; uncommitted) both showed above-average actions from behind the plate, so too did Kimberly’s Miller and Kalk.

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