West Milwaukee Preseason ID: Statistical Analysis
February 23, 2022
On Feb. 19, the PBR Wisconsin team hosted its third event of 2022, the West Milwaukee Preseason ID, at STiKS Academy in Waukesha, Wis. This was an open event for all high school classes (2022-25) and gave our staff an ample look at the area's top players.
If you missed us in Waukesha, check out our showcase page to see when we’re in the neighborhood next.
On Tuesday, we published our biggest takeaways and highlights from Saturdays’s showcase within our Quick Hits story. Today, we’ll dive right into the statistical side of things, analyzing the day's top performers from several different statistical categories. Throughout the rest of this week, we’ll be diving deeper into all of the data we collected, too, with the help of our Blast Motion and TrackMan devices.
TOP 60-YARD DASH TIMES
Leading this group of speedsters was the lone senior that attended the event, OF Logan Des Lauries (Oconomowoc). Currently, Des Lauries is ranked at No. 135 overall in our class of ‘22 rankings and his stock is on the rise as he remains uncommitted. Closely trailing Des Lauries was INF Keith Williams (Catholic Memorial, 2023). Despite his imposing stature, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing a strong 220 pounds, Williams moves athletically, with a powerful gait, and he was able to record an attention-grabbing 6.70 time. Right behind Williams was sophomore INF/RHP Cooper Kamlay (Franklin), a top-25-ranked player in the state's 2024 class. Kamlay showed off above-average quickness, especially for his age, both in the 60 and later during his turn at infield defense reps.
MAX FASTBALL VELOCITY
RHP Camden Broske (West Bend East, 2023) led all pitchers on Saturday in max fastball velo, showing an uptick over the offseason. An athletic mover on the mound, Broske impressed our staff with his above-average control and he paired the fastball with a 12/6 type breaking ball and a quality changeup. Making his PBR event debut, RHP Ben Moser (Sussex Hamilton, 2024) recorded the second fastest pitch of the event, a notable takeaway as a sophomore equipped with obvious arm strength. Moser’s large frame instantly caught our attention and it will be interesting to see how he develops throughout the next couple years. Rounding out the top-three is RHP EJ Kuster (Greendale, 2023), another projectable righty who's trending in the right direction headed into the spring. He's currently nestled in at No. 77 overall in our Class of 2023 rankings, but may be due for a bump up the board following this performance.
MAX EXIT VELOCITY
During the BP portion of the event, INF Keith Williams stole the show in somewhat expected fashion. At a Preseason ID event in 2021, his inherent strength propelled him to one-of-a-kind batted-ball data, and he replicated that ability in Waukesha. His raw strength from the left side allowed him to generate an average exit speed over 97 mph, as well as his 102.4 max. Williams showcased authentic power-hitting potential, and we'll see how he's able to unlock his pop in-game this spring. In his PBR event debut, INF Hayden Reich (Sussex Hamilton, 2023) was able to connect for an 99.9 mph max, sending it 310 feet, according to our TrackMan unit. INF Connor Olson (Arrowhead, 2023) struck the third-hardest hit ball of the day, and continues to put together some of the best all-around tools in the class, ranked No. 56 in the state.
MAX INFIELD VELOCITY
One of the top prospects in attendance on Saturday, INF/RHP Adam Switalski (Westosha Central, 2023; Indiana commit), has long wielded advanced arm strength and athleticism that's helped him reach huge highs across the diamond, as well as from the outfield. Saturday, Switalski recorded a 93 mph high to first, which led the event by four big ticks, ahead of fellow junior Connor Olson. Olson caught our scouts’ eye with his fundamental skills while on the infield, which followed a loud round of BP, mentioned in the section above. As another top-20 player within his class, INF Jack Bauer (Greendale, 2024) left our staff impressed across the board on Saturday. Bauer is a quick-twitch athlete who showed sure-handed actions while on the infield, and his muscular, compact build allows him to tap into more strength than you might expect for a player his age and size. Bauer led all 2024s with an 87 mph max across the infield, though fellow athlete Cooper Kamlay (Franklin, 2024) trailed by just a tick. The two are among the most intriguing and athletic members of Wisconsin's sophomore class.
MAX OUTFIELD VELOCITY
OF/LHP Braydn Horn (Muskego, 2024) led all outfielders with the hardest throw of the event, only adding to his already impressive day. Although he may have not led in every category, Horn still impressed our scouts while showing off true two-way potential, though his athleticism and potential to occupy center field, coupled with his terrific round of right-handed BP, might keep him away from the mound long-term. Regardless where Horn winds up positionally, he broke out Saturday to become one of Wisconsin's top sophomore prospects, another member of the '24 group we're eager to see this spring. A three-way tie spread between three classes occupies the second spot on this board: OF Josh Bunyer (Pewaukee, 2023), OF Ryan Berghauer (Brookfield East, 2024) and Logan Des Lauries each topped at 83 mph from the outfield.
MAX CATCHER VELOCITY
Leading this group of catchers was C Eli Goldstein (Grafton, 2023), topping at 77 mph from behind the plate. At second we have three players tied at 76 mph, the first being recent PBR Future Game participant, C Dominic Kibler (New Berlin West, 2023; Kent State), who was among the day's top overall performers. C Peyton Ryback (Nathan Hale, 2024) caught our staff’s eye at the PBR at The Rock Fall Championships, both at the plate and behind it. Ryback has the tools and athleticism to continue to monitor as he progresses; another worthy sophomore to monitor in Wisconsin. C Hunter Szymborski (Brookfield Central, 2023) has time and time again demonstrated his catch-and-throw aptitude, and he's also a reliable receiver – and his left-handed bat only enhances his overall prospect stock.
TOP POP TIMES
Szymborski’s quick, fluid actions are apparent in his pop times, as he led all catchers even without recording the highest velocity to the second base bag. Right behind Szymborski was C Brady Johnson (St. Thomas More, 2024) and Dominic Kibler. Johnson looks to have put in some work over the offseason, demonstrating improved catcher actions, as well as a more rhythmic and on-time right-handed bat that should complement his 6-foot-1 stature as he gains strength. Kibler's defensive improvements are also a worthwhile takeaway from Saturday, as his left-handed bat is no doubt one of the tops in the state's 2023 class. It's also worth noting C Chris Schaefer (Catholic Memorial, 2023) here, who was particularly efficient and impressive from the chute on Saturday, looking like a long-term backstop.