The final showcase of our preseason circuit was held on March 10 in Windsor at GRB Academy: the Madison Preseason I.D. It’s annually one of the most heavily attended events on our calendar and typically gives us a look at some of the top talent in the entire state in the process. Over 180 prospects made it out and reiterated the fact that the state of Wisconsin baseball is better than ever.

Today, we’ll start dissecting this event in depth, position by position, beginning with the day’s catchers. Previously, we offered rapid analysis on the Madison I.D. inside our Quick Hits post and took a look at all of the measured data gathered with our Statistical Analysis.

This group of backstops is led, expectedly, by the Jacksonville-committed Jake Berg, from Bay Port. He was just the best bat among this group, he put together one of the best BPs of any prospect in attendance back in March. Berg is a left-handed hitter with some above-average pop and quick and natural actions behind the dish, making him one of the top talents in the 2020 class.

The top-10 below is primarily made up of 2020 prospects, but Anthony Vivian (Dodgeville) has proven himself to be one of the best sophomore follows in Wisconsin. With a physical right-handed bat with strength in the barrel, he has real power potential. He’s also improved his catch-and-throw skills since we saw him last, boosting his chances of sticking behind the plate, where he looked much more efficient, earning sub-2.00 pop times at GRB Academy.

Continue on below for full scouting reports on each of the catchers who took the crouch at the Madison Preseason I.D. back in March. Stay tuned tomorrow for the next group of position players to go under the microscope.

TOP PROSPECTS

1. Jake Berg, Bay Port, 2020 (Jacksonville)
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 185-pounds. Athletic proportional shape.
Defense: 1.98-2.08 pop times. Quick actions and transfer, athletic actions get rid of the baseball quickly. Target sets low and hands showed ability to play soft.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Short arm action, over the top slot, occasional accuracy.
Hit: LHH. Balanced athletic setup, quiet and confident in the box, maintains strong balance. Loose hands creates easy bat speed, short path gets gap to gap hard contact.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Controlled pop, gets to it easily, projects.
Run: 7.07 runner in the 60. Well above average runner at position.

2. Thomas Otto, Appleton North, 2020
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-foot-2, 200-pounds. Large build, durable strength.
Defense: 1.94-2.03 pop times. Quick release, exchange is clean, hands play soft, loose lower half, sets low quiet presentation.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Over the top arm action, some length, showed carry.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, leg kick trigger, quiet hands. Athletic aggression in the box, swing is loose and violent, creates hard contact with intent, slight uphill path.
Power: 101 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average present power, ball jumped off the bat at times.
Run: 7.44 runner in the 60. 

3. Anthony Vivian, Dodgeville, 2021
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-foot-11, 195-pounds. Advanced strength, broad shoulders.
Defense: 1.93-2.01 pop times. Efficient and direct out of the crouch, solid block. Hands play quiet. In the outfield works through the baseball in stride, corner outfield projection.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. OF - 83 mph. Over the top slot, played accurate out of the crouch.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, leg lift hang and load stride, excellent balance through contact. Strong compact swing, easy bat speed, hard middle of the field contact in BP.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity from the tee. Power potential bat, present easy bat strength.
Run: 7.10 runner in the 60. Above average, power runner, better underway.

4. Matthew DePrey, Sun Prairie, 2020
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 6-foot-0, 180-pounds. Athletic build, lean shape that projects.
Defense: 1.93-2.04 pop times. Athletic out of the chute, feet are quick and efficient, exchange is clean. Hands play soft and showed excellent block, well above average athlete behind the dish.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short loose arm action, high 3/4 slot, played accurate and showed carry.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, narrow stance, slightly open. Short path, slight uphill plane, hits in rhythm with line drive contact. Athletic hands create bat speed.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Average gap to gap, projects with strength.
Run: 7.22 runner in the 60. Above average runner at the position.

5. Kaden Kosobucki, West De Pere, 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-8, 175-pounds. Compact frame, strong build.
Defense: 2.07-2.17 pop times. Quick clean exchange, feet work short and quick.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short loose arm action, high 3/4 slot, some accuracy to target, flashed carry.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, smooth loading action, short stride gets to square, lower half works, strong balance through contact. Hands generate swing with above average bat speed. Path is short and repeatable, compact swing with feel for the barrel.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Line drive gap to gap contact.
Run: 7.21 runner in the 60. Above average for position, athletic gait.

6. Blake Carey, University School of Milwaukee, 2020
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-2, 195-pounds. Advanced frame, athletic and strong.
Defense: 2.19-2.26 pop times. Actions are athletic but get long at times, base sets up wide, feet work wide, strong block.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Long over the top slot, firm action.
Hit: LHH. Balanced stance, slight leg lift trigger, drift to front side. Path is loose, stays on top, above average approach, middle of the field contact.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Strong hands.
Run: 7.07 runner in the 60. Above average runner, strong lower half.

7. Brigs Richartz, Menomonie, 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-9, 155-pounds. Athletic frame with strength.
Defense: 2.09-2.19 pop times. Footwork gains ground out of the crouch, quick exchange.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Accurate arm, short arm path.
Hit: LHH. Open stance, slightly narrow, tall setup, short stride to even, solid balance through contact. Loose hands, creates bat speed, slight uphill path hits in rhythm, upside bat.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Hard contact to pull side.
Run: 7.14 runner in the 60. Above average runner.

8. Kyle Murphy, Madison Memorial, 2020
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-11, 190-pounds. Strong athletic build, advanced physically.
Defense: 2.08-2.15 pop times. Feet work quick out of crouch, athletic actions. Exchange is clean.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short, over the top slot, flashed carry.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, short lifted stride, quiet load, good balance. Level path with bat strength, short to the baseball, occasionally works around.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.29 runner in the 60. Quiet easy runner.

9. Vinnie Fonti, Stevens Point, 2020
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 175-pounds. Athletic shape, some strength.
Defense: 2.01-2.08 pop times. Quick clean transfer, footwork is quick and direct. Athletic catcher with ability to bounce, agile out of the crouch.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short arm action, played accurate to target.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, leg lift stride, bat wrap load. Aggressive approach, bat strength present, gap to gap contact with above average bat speed.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.48 runner in the 60. 

10. Caden Crawley, Wauwatosa East, 2020
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 175-pounds. Strong lower half.
Defense: 2.15-2.22 pop times. Stays low into transfer, feet tend to work third base side and gain little ground.Hands work and showed confidence.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Short arm action, over the top slot.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, weight stays balanced, smooth loading action, stride to even, maintains balance through contact. Slight length to swing, gets occasional hard line drives, above average bat strength.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.60 runner in the 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Justin Baehler, Mineral Point, 2020
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-11, 190-pounds. Sturdy build.
Defense: 2.11-2.22 pop times. Solid block, exchange works deliberate out of the crouch. Sets up low, appealing target, hands played soft at times.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Over the top slot, short draw, long exchange.
Hit: RHH. Wide stance, open setup, arm bar load, short stride to even. Long path, slight uphill, lifts contact. Ability to hit in rhythm.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity from the tee. Generates bat strength over bat speed.
Run: 7.45 runner in the 60. 

Charlie Bogue, Mount Horeb, 2021
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-10, 174-pounds.
Defense: 2.11-2.18 pop times. Showed best at catcher, natural actions with soft hands, quiet receiver. Infield action profile at a corner, hands work and shows occasional body control, works through the baseball.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. INF - 77 mph. High 3/4 slot, short arm action.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, long reverse tap stride. Path is long, uphill path, fluid rhythm.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity from the tee. Occasional hard contact.
Run: 7.84 runner in the 60. 

Caleb Bowers, Whitefish Bay, 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-0, 178-pounds.
Defense: 2.28-2.36 pop times. Showed ability to quietly receive, occasional mis-direction out of the crouch.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Loose arm action, 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, short stride, slight hand load. Path works uphill, some length.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.86 runner in the 60. 

Adam Casali, Middleton, 2020
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-0, 190-pounds. Solid lower half with strength.
Defense: 2.04-2.19 pop times. Sets up low, agile out of the crouch, footwork gains ground.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short arm action, over the top slot, slight pause to release. Played online to target with carry.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, smooth loading action, short stride. Path has some length, gap to gap contact at times.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.38 runner in the 60. 

Colby Davis, Verona Area, 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-0, 170-pounds.
Defense: 2.11-2.22 pop times. Quick exchange, feet work, athletic hands.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Long arm action, over the top slot, occasionally accurate.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, balanced stance, hands load back,Long path, pull side approach, uphill path looks to lift contact.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.54 runner in the 60. 

Conor Diedrich, Ripon, 2021
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-foot-11, 175-pounds.
Defense: 2.17-2.26 pop times. Feet worked quick out of the chute, average hands, athletic actions.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot, some accuracy to target.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, short stride, drops hands into load. Path is level, front foot hitter at times.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.07 runner in the 60. Above average runner, loose athletic gait.

John Ferguson, Verona Area, 2021
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-foot-2, 190-pounds. Large frame.
Defense: 2.20-2.35 pop times. Long exchange, misdirection out of the crouch. Stays low through receive.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. 3/4 slot, long arm action.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, wide base, short lifted and replace stride. Level path, rotates on back side, showed middle of the field contact.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity from the tee. Flashed bat strength.
Run: 7.49 runner in the 60. 

Mason Fink, Verona, 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Athletic shape, trim waist.
Defense: 2.05-2.16 pop times. Quick clean exchange, feet work. Solid block.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short loose arm action, high 3/4 slot, occasionally accurate.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, leg lift load, in rhythm pre pitch. Short path, line drive contact, hits off back side, cuts off finish at times.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.14 runner in the 60. Quick first step, athletic quick runner.

Ethan Graham, Wausau West, 2022
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-foot-4, 125-pounds. Smaller frame, slender wiry build.
Defense: 2.00-2.13 pop times. Feet play through the baseball on the infield, above average footwork. Feet also showed athleticism out of the crouch, quick exchange and transfer.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. INF - 77 mph. Arm played accurate, uses more length across the diamond, shorter action out of the crouch. High 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, hands load back and in rhythm, short leg lift trigger. Slight uphill path, loose hands and swing.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.49 runner in the 60. 

Caleb Lorbecki, Hartland Arrowhead, 2020
Positional Profile: C/INF
Body: 5-foot-11, 190-pounds. Compact strong frame, muscle bound build.
Defense: 2.26-2.37 pop times. Clean exchange, shuffle through transfer on the infield. Profiled best behind the plate, comfortable actions, firm at times.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. INF - 77 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot, showed better accuracy across the infield.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, slightly wide, leg lift stride. Aggressive effort swing, flashed line drive contact, varied repeatability.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Bat strength present.
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60. 

Andrew Niaves, Oregon, 2022
Positional Profile: C/CIF
Body: 5-foot-8, 158-pounds. Solid build, sturdy lower half.
Defense: 2.25-2.36 pop times. Infield actions play through the baseball, showed body control on the move. Low setup and stays low out of the crouch, hands work, likely profiles best behind the plate.
Arm: RH. C - 64 mph. INF - 62 mph. Short loose arm action, over the top slot, showed ability to play accurate.
Hit: SH. Balanced setup from both sides, looked equally comfortable pre pitch. Right handed swing shows slight more bat speed, and strength. Left-handed wing is short and compact to the baseball.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.41 runner in the 60. 

Bailey Nickel, Milton, 2019
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-2, 215-pounds. Thick large build, natural strength.
Defense: 2.15-2.22 pop times. Short draw out of the glove, feet work directional, average hands.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. High 3/4 slot, long action our front.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, longer stride lands heavy on front side, jumps the baseball. Pull side approach, long path with some occasional hard line drives.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Flashed raw pop.
Run: 7.60 runner in the 60. 

Nick Nowak, Waukesha South, 2021
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-foot-10, 145-pounds. Thin lanky frame.
Defense: 2.00-2.08 pop times. Athletic feet, quick and clean, efficient transfer.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short loose arm action, showed accurate.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, short stride, loads on back side, good balance throughout. Short path in rhythm, average bat speed, loose hands.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.33 runner in the 60.

Andrew Palmer, Oregon, 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-11, 135-pounds. Thin wiry frame and build.
Defense: 2.69-2.76 pop times. Long actions and footwork out of the crouch.
Arm: RH. C - 65 mph. Long arm action, over the top slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, short stride, hands drop into load. Path is level, low two-handed finish.,
Power: 68 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60. 

Kase Reierson, Rio, 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/C
Body: 5-foot-8, 140-pounds. Proportional build, sturdy.
Defense: 2.15-2.22 pop times. Plays through the baseball on the infield, raw athletic actions. Stays low in the crouch, exchange gets long. Soft hands, solid block.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. INF - 80 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot, showed carry, above average arm strength at age.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, hands load back, can get more out of lower half. Path is level, some length, confident presence in the box.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.56 runner in the 60. Ball of foot runner, athletic gait.

Aidan Ripp, Sun Prairie, 2022
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-foot-0, 185-pounds. Long lanky frame.
Defense: 2.25-2.36 pop times. Taller setup, receive/exchange with two hands at times, feet worked direct.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot, occasionally accurate.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, balanced stance, short stride. Uphill path and two-handed high finish. Lifted contact.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.71 runner in the 60. 

Auston Sigfrids, Webster, 2022
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 180-pounds. Long projectable frame.
Defense: 2.25-2.35 pop times. Glove hands reaches at times, exchange can get long, footwork is direct and gains ground.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot,
Hit: RHH. Tall open setup, comfortable in the box, toe tap to long stride. Path has some length, shows loose hands, line drive contact.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Should develop as frame fills out.
Run: 7.95 runner in the 60. 

Austin Stuessel, Sparta, 2020
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-8, 190-pounds. Compact frame, stocky build.
Defense: 2.32-2.39 pop times. Exchange has length, reaches to receive. Tends to play tall out of the crouch.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Short over the top slot, firm action.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, sets hands high, toe tap timing, hands load back and drop into swing. Level path through the zone, flat through finish.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.40 runner in the 60. 

Ethan Thombs, Pewaukee, 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/C
Body: 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. Wiry frame.
Defense: 2.32-2.38 pop times. Plays tall on the infield, deliberate actions through exchange, glove pat to release. Narrow base catching, slight mis direction out of the chute. Showed best on the infield.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. INF - 68 mph. Short firm arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, loose, narrow stance, long stride. Hands worked, short path, slight uphill plane.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.24 runner in the 60.

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