Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 8 Hudson

KEY PLAYERS LOST

+ INF Wylie Baumer (2022)
+ INF Braden Ducharme (2022)
+ OF Brennan Ducharme (2022)
+ C Kyler Hove (2022; McKendree)
+ LHP Brody Von Berge (2022; Augustana, SD)
+ RHP Logan Von Berge (2022; Augustana, SD)
+ LHP/1B Owen Weadge (2022; St. Cloud State)

X-FACTOR

+ SS/RHP Jake Busson (2023; Iowa Central CC commit) has been this team's shortstop for the past two years and now going into his senior season, the Iowa Central commit will anchor the infield one last time. A top-40 player in the state’s senior class, Busson returns a .326 batting average from last year and will be leaned on more than ever to provide for this Hudson offense – and he'll be increasingly important as a high-leverage relief arm. He's always shown big arm strength on the left side of the diamond, and it translates effectively to the mound. With a handful of underclassmen and inexperienced players set to debut on this Hudson roster, Busson will be a name that is looked to as a senior leader and will offer consistency for this everyday Hudson offense. 

SS/3B Jake Busson (Hudson, 2023) is a very interesting uncommitted player in the state’s incoming senior class. He generates substantial bat/hand speed and produces hard RH contact often; also has left side arm strength and actions.#TPMKE | ? PROFILE: https://t.co/hb6q3aQ1H7 pic.twitter.com/tEr4m7uMfL

— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) July 14, 2022

IMPACT UNDERCLASSMAN

+ RHP/3B Sam Abrahamson (2026) has already shown as an interesting member of the state's freshman class. It appears as if he's already expected to take on a large role in his very first season on varsity, projected to earn the majority of innings as the team's third baseman, and he's shown us equal upside from the mound. Listed at 6-foot, 175-pounds, Abrahamson has impressed our staff across a handful of looks, and most recently at the Madison ID. There, he took a clean round of BP and was also one of the better defenders on the infield of the day, and then he really shined on the mound. He was up to 85 mph from a loose and repeatable delivery, and he also spins in a low-70s curveball, and he kills spin on a quality changeup, too. Despite this being the young prospect’s first prep season, head coach Brent Blegen is confident in him to perform and contribute to the Raiders on both sides of the ball.

Sam Abrahamson (6/28/22)

OUTLOOK

In 2022, the Raiders battled to a 19-8 record and a regional championship but ultimately fell short to a conference foe, Eau Claire North. While Hudson did graduate a talented 2022 class, they weren’t the only team in the Big Rivers Conference to do so and with talent scattered up-and-down this team, they are our pick to take home a BRC title, but it won’t be easy in the one of the states most competitive ones. 

Hudson graduated quite a bit of its pitching staff in 2022, though they do bring back two experienced southpaws, LHP Ben Berkhof (2023; North Dakota State) and LHP Bradyn Bezanson (2024). Berkhof is year removed from an absolutely dominant junior year in which he logged a 3-1 record, with an ERA of just 0.68 which earned him a spot on our PBR Wisconsin All-State: Honorable Mention list. Now going into his senior year, Berkhof will take on an even larger role than he had in 2022 and he certainly has the talent to meet and even exceed expectations.

Ben Berkhof (3/20/22)

As just a sophomore, Bezanson earned some valuable varsity experience in 2022, and he appears prepared to fill in some of the major innings lost to graduation. In our looks, Bezanson has been up 84 mph with a hard running fastball and showed feel for a sweeping slider and changeup. He delivers all these pitches from a lower ¾ slot that makes him even tougher to barrel up. Like Berkhof, Bezanson’s workload is expected to rise going into the 2023 season and he also going to be a contributor offensively as well.

Bradyn Bezanson (7/12/22)

RHP/INF Nick Hirsch (2025) is another underclass prospect who will contribute on both sides of the ball throughout the spring. Hirsch is built at an projectable 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, is currently a top-50 player in the state's sophomore class and he's shown intriguing athleticism in our looks. He has a smooth right-handed swing, and his athleticism makes him particularly interesting on the mound, where we haven't seen him ourselves in some time. Count him among the other candidates capable of handling the innings up for grabs in 2023.

SS Nick Hirsch (Hudson, 2025) walked away a winner after a solid showing at the #EauClaireID.

6-foot-1, 165-pound frame.

Registered a max EV of 92 mph. Fluid defender up the middle with quality actions - T84 on his throws across the diamond.

?: https://t.co/ePNTrR5F03 pic.twitter.com/1Zz0cSGiUw

— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) February 14, 2023

C Hunter Carlson (2024) was a member of Team Wisconsin at the PBR Future Games back in July 2022. There, Carlson was stellar defensively behind the plate, and he was also all over the barrel during BP and live gameplay. Now going into his junior season Carlson will be the everyday catcher for the Raiders and will look to contribute even more offensively. He was a popular name throughout the week to onlookers, and another offseason under his belt should help him break out as a key offensive piece for Hudson this spring, on top of his day-to-day duties at catcher.

C Hunter Carlson (@Hud_BaseballWI, 2024) was one of the winners of the weekend. A clean catch-and-throw, advanced receiver, loose/accurate throws T78 mph to the bag. Also swings an easy LH bat with barrel feel.#PBRFG22

? PROFILE: https://t.co/tufrTf1uAT pic.twitter.com/53oFXTqltD

— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) July 30, 2022

Other names expected to take over starting roles in the Raiders offense are MIF/RHP Landon Zeuli (2024), 1B Elijah Rambo (2023), OF Payton Lawrence (2023), Jack Solheid (2024)  and OF Wyatt Gavin (2023). Zeuli is a ranked member of the state's junior class and he features a simple right-handed swing that showed barrel feel during last July’s Top Prospect MKE event, and he's also due to take on a Nos. 2 or 3 role inside the rotation. Rambo is expected to add some pop in the middle of this Raider lineup inside his strong 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame. As for Lawrence he looks to improve on a .260 batting average from last year and he returns as one of the senior leaders inside this Hudson offense. Gavin is another physical presence that will provide some thud in the lineup, too. 

While many of the names above will pitch in some capacity during the season, LHP Aaron Schwechler (2024), RHP Eli Ramthun (2023), and RHP/1B Jack Jensen (2023; McHenry County JC commit) are each also worthy candidates to eat valuable innings this season, making up for the depth lost and served as a strength for the team in 2022, in which they won 19 games and a Regional title. Schwechler has a loose arm and was up to 80 mph late last summer, and he's late-bloomer type who might click as a junior now. Jensen's an intriguing senior to monitor, as a huge 6-foot-7, 230-pound two-way player with a heavy fastball that could turn him into a pop-up name to know as soon as this spring.

So, initial concerns of the amount of innings the team graduated are quickly quelled once you determine how many arms are waiting and eager to fill in the blanks on this roster.

BOTTOM LINE

The Big Rivers has been one of the most fun and competitive conferences to cover in the state, though it's typically a race that's won by Eau Claire North, as winners of four of the last six conference titles, including last year's. With that being said, both Eau Claire programs, North and Memorial, are under new head coaching management and both teams graduated quite a bit of their key talent from a year ago. That's flung the door open for Hudson and rival River Falls to insert themselves back into the BRC title race.

Our staff is confident in Hudson's talented roster led by a strong collection of seniors, and they're backed by gifted members of the state's junior, sophomore, and even freshman classes. 

Make sure to follow @PBRWisconsin on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2023 season.

Find more information on the 2023 Raiders below:

+ Team Website
+ Team Twitter

PRESEASON POWER 25 COUNTDOWN