By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois

We covered the ins and outs of the updated 2017 rankings, from the top ten to the biggest risers. Today we take a look at the new additions to the rankings, players who have burst onto the scene or risen to the likes of the top 125 in the state.

Arrowhead leadoff hitter Tanner Williams is the top new addition to the 2017 rankings, cracking the top 40. A long lean athlete at 6-foot-3, 165-pounds, Williams was a table setter for much of the Warhawks offense this season. Hitting over .450 on the year and leading the team in triples, all in route to an all-district honorable mention. Williams has continued to impress this summer with his projectable athleticism and left-handed bat that can spray the baseball to all fields. His rangy athleticism and well above average speed may end up projecting best in the outfield long term, but likely to be the starting shortstop for the Warhawks next year.

Talking about lean athletes, Peter Ahn (Marquette University HS) fills that criteria. A 6.78 runner with a left-handed bat, Ahn is back in the rankings in the top 50. His 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame is intriguing to go along with his advanced run tool.

Another top 50 addition is LHP Austin Wagner (Fond du Lac) who has seen his fastball reach 84 mph this summer from a 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame.

More additions in the top 75 include a pair of all-state selections in INF Zac Stange (Eau Claire North) and OF Payton Nelson (Wausau West). Stange, a second-team selection hit .468 on the season and helped lead the Huskies to the state tournament. He’s a left-handed bat with a compact approach and excellent barrel control that likely projects as an offensive second baseman at the next level. Nelson, a third-team selection hit .407 for Wausau West this season and shows a big arm from the outfield, while a 7.11 runner in a strong compact 5-foot-9, 185-pound frame.

Infielders Nick Gile (Menomonee Falls) and Tyler Flamme (Wisconsin Heights) also made the top 75. Flamme is a 6.95 runner with a strong arm across the infield (82 mph) and an all-district honorable mention. Gile is a physical athlete at 5-foot-11, 185-pounds with above average tools across the board.

Here’s a quick take on more newcomers in the top 100:

RHP Eliot Turnquist (Columbus) – Two-way player with an 85-85 mph fastball.

OF Carson Lemnski (Eau Claire North) – Speedster (6.82) who can defend CF and handle the bat.

SS Griffin Summers (Green Bay Preble) – LHH infielder with good actions.

SS Jonathan Dominguez (Catholic Memorial) – Rangy infielder, projectable frame and soft hands.

1B Peter Go (Heritage Christian) – Big bodied 1B with strength and pop to all fields, power bat.

OF Eric Modaff (Oregon) – 5-foot-8, 175-pound L/L OF with arm strength (84 mph) and speed (7.06).

OF Cullen Weiss (Kettle Moraine) – Carries a good left handed bat, 7.03 runner.

C Hunter Milbrath (Jefferson) – 5-foot-10, 155-pound receiver, 7.28 runner, handles bat.

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