Another year and yet another talented crop of Madison-area players to sift through following Sunday’s showcase at GRB Academy in Windsor. Nearly 200 players packed the facility and we got a chance to see some new faces, high risers, and uncommitted juniors who might not be uncommitted for long. In particular, this 2020 class in Wisconsin continues to intrigue, as evidenced by the number of high-level athletes among them.

Keep an eye out the rest of this week for a complete statistical breakdown of the event with further positional breakdowns to follow in the near future.

2019s on the Market

• Marcus Cline (Fall Creek) brings a super utility profile to the next level, the uncommitted junior improved his 60 time to a 7.01 and showed advanced arm strength across the infield and from the outfield.

• Kyle McKinnon (Bradford) again showed potential on the mound. He has an above average arm that played 88 mph from the outfield and topped at 85 mph on the mound. Keep an eye on McKinnon this spring.

• Cooper Holewinski (Middleton) and Kaden Lehman (Portage)  put together strong stat lines on the day. Holewinski ran a 6.95 in the 60, 87 mph from the outfield, and 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Lehman nearly matched the line of Holewinski running a 6.91, 86 mph across the infield and 91 mph exit velocity, also touching 85 mph on the mound.

• RHP Jacob Arndt (Oconomowoc) has been poised to make a velocity jump on the mound and showed it this weekend. The 6-foot-1, 160-pound junior touched 87 mph, sitting 85-86 mph. Arndt is a high interest uncommitted arm.

• SS Andrew Sweetalla (Appleton East), already an established arm on the mound, showed his arm strength translates to the field throwing 89 across the infield. Sweetalla also improved his 60 time, running a 7.10.

• C/3B Connor Handel (Morona Grove) continues to show improvements in all facets of his game. At 81 mph out of the crouch with accuracy, Handel posted one of the top pop times of the day at 1.94. On the diamond he was 86 across the infield and ran a 7.07 60.

• Zachary Guenther (Waterford) is a RHP to follow this spring. Guenther has a running fastball at 81-83 mph and hard 12/6 curveball up to 77 mph that projects. Guenther is 6-foot-3, 185-pounds.

• Jake Karll (Madison West) was one of the surprises of the day. Lanky with wide-shoulders, the 6-foot-2 190-pound outfielder impressed with his bat speed at the plate, 90 mph exit velocity, and a short, quick arm action from the outfield, topping out at 88 mph.

• Bubba Thompson (Appleton West), fresh off basketball season, posted personal bests in infield velocity (78 mph) and exit velocity (91 mph). Thompson impressed most on the infield though, with smooth, athletic actions and a soft glove. Thompson is one of the best available glove men in the state.

• Joe Georger (Appleton West) looked vastly improved in all facets. His actions looked looser and more in sync with his body and made huge gains across the board - 85 mph across the infield, 90 mph exit velocity, and ran a 7.61 60.

• Physical 6-foot-3, 222-pound 1B Tyler Brandenburg (Lake County Lutheran) possesses advanced strength at the plate, posting an event-best 103 mph exit velocity.

• Trey Tennessen (Kimberly) is a pitchability right hander with excellent secondary stuff including a plus potential curveball at 72-75 mph, arguably the best curveball of the day. The Papermaker right-hander pounded the zone with three pitches and showed ability to command an 82-83 mph fastball.

Committed and Still Rising

• 2019 prospect Nathan Stevens looked stronger than ever as he appears to have added significant strength this offseason. He ran his best 60 at. 6.90 and showed plus arm strength from the outfield and out of the crouch. His bat still remains his calling card with loose athletic hands that creates hard contact to all fields.

• Jack Haufle (Oregon, 2019) also showed improvements in the 60 running a 6.98. Haufle is committed to Lindenwood.

• Xavier commit Jack Krumbach (Madison Memorial, 2019) had one of the best day’s we’ve seen out of the junior outfielder. Krumbach took one of the better BP rounds of the day from the left-side using a short quick stroke and repeating hard contact. For icing on the cake he ran an event best 6.66, and threw it 89 mph from the outfield.

• Vanderbilt commit LHP Ryan Stefiuk (Green Bay Preble, 2020) looked back to form. He frame looked long and athletic at 6-foot-4, 215-pound and showed plus stuff from the left side. His fastball is hot and finishes hard at 87-89 mph, with a sharp breaking ball and deceptive changeup.

Premium 2020s Continue to Climb

• OF Alex Ryan (Lakeside Lutheran) had a huge day on Sunday. Ryan grabbed everyone’s attention in BP with a locked in, workman’s like approach that sprayed hard gap to gap contact. Ryan profiles as a top of the lineup centerfielder, running a 6.78 and showing above average arm in the outfield.

• Taiten Manriquez (Waunakee) had a breakout day. Already a top 20 prospect in the state, Manriquez has a long projectable frame and showed legitimate two-way potential at the next level. His fastball reached 86-87 mph at the end of his session and made his position player workout look easy. His defensive actions are advanced and has the range and arm to stick at shortstop, he draws similar comparisons to Owen Miller (Ozaukee, 2015, Illinois State) at that age with steady reliable hands. Offensively the approach is consistently easy and up the middle from the right side.

• One of the top uncommitted prospects in Wisconsin’s 2020 class is LHP Luke Fox (Catholic Memorial). Fox has one of the easiest arms you will see, touching 87 mph, he has feel for three pitches, with his changeup being his best second offering.

• Max Wagner (Green Bay Preble) solidified himself as a as one of the better right-handed bats in the 2020 class. Wagner projects as a sturdy third baseman with easy actions and a plus arm (91 mph) that should be able to hit in the middle of the order at the next level.

• Tyler Chadwick (Marshall) has one of the more electric arms in the 2020 class. Its long loose and quick, matching his 6-foot-4, 175-pound frame and topped out at 88 mph on the mound and 91 mph from the outfield. Chadwick showed improved breaking ball as well, with hard 11/5 action.

• Brady Renfro (Antigo) is a left-handed arm on our radar with a loose easy arm action that sat 80-82 mph, touching 83 mph. Renfor looks like there is still more in the tank.

Sun Prairie Underclassmen SHINE

The Cardinals may have lost the title game last year, but they sure are reloading at the younger age levels. Here’s a quick look at several standouts from the Big Eight powerhouse:

• Spencer Bartel (Sun Prairie, 2020) burst onto the scene this weekend. A 5-foot-11, 175-pound outfielder with easy natural action and a plus arm for his age from the outfield. The ball jumps off his bat in BP with loose easy hands.

• RHP Carson Fluno (Sun Prairie, 2020) showed continued progress on the mound, he’s got a high ceiling with above average fastball (82-83 mph) and hard breaking ball at 75-76 mph.

• INF Liam Moreno (Sun Prairie, 2021) possess a big right-handed bat that may be ready to play sooner rather than later. Moreno profiles as an offensive second or third baseman.

• Carson Shepard (Sun Prairie, 2021) looks to put his name in the hat of some of the top freshman infielders. Shepard has above average actions and shows bat speed at the plate.

• Durlin Radlund (Sun Prairie, 2021) is another bat that projects with loose easy hands.

• Carter Wambach (Sun Prairie, 2021) is an advanced 3B type defender with loose actions, a soft glove hand and a left-handed bat.

Sophomores Popping Up

• Carter Endisch (Arrowhead) showed one of the better breaking balls on the day. It showed sharp action on 11/5 plane and a fastball that topped at 84 mph.

• RHP Connor Kurki (Iola-Scandinavia) has a huge ceiling. He’s 6-foot-3, 165-pounds and sat 83-84 mnph from a ¾ slot, and advanced slider. Kurki will clearly be a high follow this spring/summer.

• L/L outfielder Dylan Nevar (Wisconsin Dells) is another name to emerge from our last Preseason I.D. of the year. Nevar has a loose swing that projects out of a lanky upside frame.

Keep an Eye on These Freshman

• RHP Vincent Trapani (Eau Claire Memorial) is a premium arm in the 2021 class. Trapani sat 85-88 mph with life through the zone, but his hard biting curveball is clearly a separator for him. He already shows confidence in it and plus 12/6 action for his age.

• RHP/OF Liam Stumpf (Mineral Point) showed a big arm topping out at  85 mph on the mound and from the outfield.

• RHP Andrew Brockwell (Brodhead) also looks to be an intriguing follow on the mound. Brockwell is 6-foot-1, 145-pounds and works easily at 79-81 mph, topping at 82 mph.

• Just a 2021 grad, Andrew Chapman (Waterford) was one of the more tooled out prospects at the event. At 5-foot-10, 185-pounds he’s physically advanced, ran a 6.94 60, with an 82 mph arm across the diamond and an 87 mph exit velocity. Chapman is a high follow in the 2021 class.

• C Anthony Vivian (Dodgeville) posted one of the better pop times of the day at 2.03 and topped at 80 on the mound.

• Jackson Acker (Verona) is an impressive 6-foot, 185-pounds and displayed a big right-handed bat with power potential. Even more impressive was his 6.89 60 yard dash.

• Grant Gerber (Eau Claire Memorial) is a physical corner guy with advanced raw power to pull side. Gerber posted a 91 mph exit velocity.

• INF Jacob Hartlaub (Martin Luther) is a loose, long limbed prospect at 6-foot, 150-pounds. He’s a natural infield defender with soft hands and an arm that flashed carry.
  
  

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