Green Bay Preseason ID: Preview
February 23, 2023
This Saturday, Feb. 25, the PBR Wisconsin team is hosting the Green Bay Preseason ID at the Impact Sports Academy in De Pere, Wis. This is an open event for all high school classes (2023-26), and gives our staff an ample look at the area's top players.
For a closer look at the showcase details and the technologies we'll have on-site to assist our in-person evaluation for all in attendance, click here. For a complete look at those registered to attend this event, view the most up-to-date version of the roster by clicking here.
EVENT HISTORY
This is our second year hosting the event, and it's provided us a look at prominent players who've later gone on to receive invitations to select events, like the PBR Future Games. Among the players in attendance at this event in 2022, there are already 23 commitments among them.
Last year, RHP TJ Hauser (Appleton East, 2023; Cowley County CC) had one of the better bullpens at the event with a max fastball of 89 mph and a slider with a max spin rate of 2,553. Hauser committed to Cowley County shortly after the event in De Pere. Another name who impressed at the event was INF Garrett Hietpas (Appleton North, 2023; Northern Colorado). He proved to be an all-around player and competitor at the event with a max exit velocity of 92.1 mph, a max infield velocity of 83 mph, and a 7.26 60-yard dash. LHP/1B Eli Retzlaff (Fox Valley Luthern, 2023; Wisconsin-Oshkosh) provided one of the loudest rounds of BP at the event with a max exit velocity of 98.4 mph; he showed well in his bullpen, too.
We're looking forward to checking in on the next crop of talent from this event to earn next-level attention in the coming weeks, months, and years.
2023 ROSTER
This year's roster is already shaping up nicely, just like in last year's event.
A plethora of high-follow 2024s will be in attendance on Saturday, starting with RHP/OF Brennen Grams (Kimberly, 2024). Grams, a PBR Future Games alum and current-holder of the No. 25 in Wisconsin’s class of 2024 has shown to be a high-level athlete running 6.71 in the 60-yard dash. Grams has recorded a max fastball velocity of 89.1 mph with late life through the zone, and he has shown an above-average changeup with fading action that is thrown like his fastball. He has shown that he can hit, too, where he has reached a max exit velocity of 93 mph from the right side.
Brennen Grams (7/27/22)
INF Javin Gauthier (De Pere, 2024; Illinois State) is one of the two committed prospects that will be in attendance on Saturday. Currently ranked No. 18 in the class of 2024, Gauthier has added tremendous strength over the years adding nearly 10 ticks to his max exit velocity from 2021 to 2022 (max 94.5 mph). He has shown a gap-to-gap approach at the plate and athleticism in the infield.
Three other 2024s to know before Saturday’s event are RHP/INF Avery Duncan (Notre Dame Academy, 2024) is currently ranked No. 40 in Wisconsin’s class of 2024. Duncan has shown high projection on the mound with a fastball that has topped out at 85.9 mph and features 13 inches of arm-side break. He also throws a splitter that he consistently has spotted at the bottom of the zone and a short sweeping slider with quality spin. RHP/OF Easton Arendt (De Pere, 2024) is a current rank in Wisconsin’s class of 2024. On the mound, he has shown a fastball that has topped at 85.6 mph with carry through the zone, and he has some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the state from the left-handed batter’s box. LHP/1B Brady Koester (Kimberly, 2024) is a big lefty that has been up to 85 mph on the mound out of a high slot. His breaking ball features a late 12/6 break, and it plays well off of his fastball.
Avery Duncan (7/2/22)
Rounding out the group of 2024s is RHP/OF Tavian Ramos (Neenah, 2024). Ramos is a name that put together an eye-opening performance during one of our few events during the fall, and he earned a spot inside our 2024 rankings board as result. Listed at an athletic, 6-foot-2, 180-pounds, Ramos has been up to mid-80s in our looks but possesses some high upside from a metric standpoint. As for his offspeeds, he features a curveball that flashed sharp 12/6 action and a changeup with fade/run movement.
Two ranked members of the state’s 2025 class will also be in attendance on Saturday, starting with OF/RHP Trevor Vande Hey (Wrightstown, 2025). Vande Hey is a toolsy prospect who is currently ranked No. 7 in our class of 2025 rankings. Listed at an athletic 6-foot, 195-pounds, Vande Hey is a 7.03 runner, and has a max outfield velocity of 84 mph. He has noticeable strength when hitting where he has reached a max exit velocity of 97.6 mph and a max batted ball of 356 feet.
Trevor Vande Hey (7/3/22)
INF/RHP Brayden Steinbecker (Manitowoc Lincoln, 2025) has a projectable build at 6-foot-3, 170-pounds. He has shown well in batting practice with a balanced swing and quick hands that recorded a top exit velocity of 90 mph. Defensively, he has shown athleticism with soft hands fielding the ball out in front. Steinbecker also features a fastball that has reached a top velocity of 82 mph.
The freshman class in Wisconsin is certainly a talented one and on Saturday we will get the opportunity to get updated looks at multiple high-follow names in the class. 1B/RHP Brett Biondich (Kettle Moraine Luthern, 2026; Texas Christian) is a name our staff is certainly excited to see in a showcase setting on Saturday. Biodich burst onto the scene this summer at the PBR at The Rock Summer Championships where he shined on both sides of the ball. After his performance there, Biondich firmly planted himself as a name-to-know in the state's ultra-talented 2026 class and earned a No. 7 spot in the first-edition of our 2026 rankings. Biondich is listed at an advanced 6-1, 185-pounds and while his metrics on both sides of the ball have impressed in the past, we are expecting them to be much higher after this full off-season of gains.
OF/RHP Carson Hawley (Bay Port, 2026) is currently ranked No. 10 in the class of 2026, and is a former PBR Junior Future Game participant. Hawley is an athlete who runs a 7.04 in the 60-yard dash, and was also clocked at 87 mph from the outfield. His swing generates consistent line-drive contact through the middle of the field. On the mound, his fastball has been clocked at 81 mph.
Carson Hawley (7/26/22)
OF/INF Matthew Hietpas (Appleton North, 2026) is another PBR Junior Future Games alum attending the event on Saturday. Hietpas is ranked No. 12 in Wiscosin’s class of 2026. From the outfield, he has recorded a max velocity of 91 mph, and he delivers the barrel to and through the ball allowing him to drive the ball to all fields. He can bring it on the mound, topping out at 83 mph during one of his performances at The Rock this past summer.
Matthew Hietpas (7/26/22)
Perusing the event roster, we’re set to meet a majority of players who’ve not yet attended a PBR showcase, and we’re eager to add more names to our follow lists.
EVENT CHECK-IN PROCESS
ITINERARY
POSITION GROUPS
+ Catcher and Pitcher Only's:
- Check-in: 8:00 am
- Catchers will be counted on to stay for all pitching sessions.
+ Two-way Players:
- Check-in: 9:30 am
+ Position Players:
- Check-in: 11:30 am
MORE EVENT DETAILS
Click here to learn more about our tech partners that have enhanced our players showcase experience. Partners like TrackMan, Vizual Edge, and Blast Motion have helped both our in-event evaluation process, as well the compilation of our post-event scouting reports – and they're also a tool for our players to learn more about their measured and collected data, that can be applied to improve upon their game. Finally, wear baseball clothes; assigned and numbered PBR jerseys will be provided.