Western Wisconsin Open: Pitcher Analysis

September 27, 2023
By. Wisconsin Staff

On July 18, PBR Wisconsin hosted the Western Wisconsin Open at Carson Park, in Eau Claire WI. Around 30 players made it out to this event, providing us with updated looks and a new list of prospects to follow in an area of Wisconsin that regularly produces some of the state’s top talent.

Below is a look at all of the position players from the event with a few standouts that deserve a mention.

TOP PITCHING PROSPECTS

Giles Groothousen RHP / SS / Flambeau, WI / 2024

Rankings StateRank: 53 / POS: 18

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Athletic build with some strength throughout.
Delivery: Kick out into leg lift, upright through landing, intentful delivery, open foot land.
Arm Action: RH. Quick arm action, gets around the ball, full arm arc, 3/4 arm slot.
FB: T88, 87-88 mph. Life out of the hand with feel for the zone. T2521, 2387 average rpm.
CB: 75-77 mph. Tight break with depth, flashes sharp. T1758, 1352 average rpm.
KN: 75-77 mph. Thrown at arm speed with tumbling action.

Aaron Schwechler LHP / OF / Hudson, WI / 2024

Rankings StateRank: 74 / POS: 9

Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-3, 170-pounds. Lanky, athletic frame that projects well.
Delivery: Stretch only, medium leg kick, up and out delivery, works around front leg.
Arm Action: LH. Short arm action, short through arm arc.
FB: T85, 83-85 mph. Works straight through the zone. T2631, 2590 average rpm.
CB: 64-67 mph. 12/6 action, developing feel for placement. T2502, 2437 average rpm.
SL: 64-66 mph. Slurve action, developing feel for the zone. T2507, 2142 average rpm.
CH: 71-75 mph. Plays with some fade. T2287, 2207 average rpm.

Cooper Jesperson RHP / OF / Eau Claire Memorial, WI / 2025

Rankings StateRank: 35 / POS: 9

Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-3, 165-pounds. Lean, wiry frame with long levers.
Delivery: High leg kick that extends out, drives through extension, slightly drop and drive.
Arm Action: RH. Whippy, fluid arm action, quick through forward motion, controlled action.
FB: T85, 82-85 mph. T2669, 2517 average rpm.
SL: 75-77 mph. Tight break, break throughout, feel for pitch. T2737, 2392 average rpm.
SPLT: 71-75 mph. Developing feel, some depth present.

Carter Gunderson RHP / Eleva-Strum, WI / 2024

Rankings StateRank: 80 / POS: 26

Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-2, 150-pounds. Lean, long-levered build that projects.
Delivery: Hybrid delivery, methodical tempo, athletic drop and drive online to home.
Arm Action: RH. Fluid, whippy arm action into a 3/4 slot.
FB: T85, 82-84 mph. Plays with life out of the hand and carry through the zone, heavy. T1951, 1872 average rpm.
CB: 66-70 mph. Sharp 10/4 shape flashed sweeping action. T2013, 1933 average rpm.
CH: 75-78 mph. Thrown with intent, plays with depth. T1418, 1252 average rpm.

Jake Bjerke 3B / RHP / Eleva-Strum, WI / 2024

Rankings StateRank: 121 / POS: 10

Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-2, 205-pounds. Broad shoulders, thick lower half, strength throughout.
Delivery: Stretch only, high leg kick.
Arm Action: RH. Short through arm arc, compact.
FB: T84, 81-84 mph. Plays with ride through zone, power FB. T2244, 2210 average rpm.
CB: 71-74 mph. Developing feel for pitch, occasional placement, some break. T2250, 2105 average rpm.
SL: 72-74 mph. Feel for pitch, sharper break. T2686, 2560 average rpm.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Jude Anderson, Holmen (WI), 2025
Positional Profile: 2B/SS
Body: 5-11, 155-pounds. Lean, wiry frame with room for added strength.
Delivery: Stretch only, medium leg kick, short extension, works over front leg, slight drop and drive.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm arc, compact, quicker through action.
FB: T75, 73-75 mph. Some life, straight through zone, feel for placement, downhill placement. T2299, 2122 average rpm.
CB: 66-67 mph. Developing feel, occasional placement, some break. T2278, 2147 average rpm.
SL: 65-68 mph. Developing feel, some later break. T2199, 2060 average rpm.

Bennett Burke, IMG Academy (WI), 2025
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-10, 191-pounds. Athletic build with a thick lower half and strength throughout.
Delivery: Quick through motion, higher leg kick.
Arm Action: LH. Short, compact arm action.
FB: T80, 77-79 mph. Plays with some ride through the zone, thrown with intent. T1801, 1701 average rpm.
CB: 65-67 mph. 11/5 action, solid amount of break, feel for the pitch. T2309, 2244 average rpm.
CH: 71-73 mph. Developing pitch, some feel for placement, occasional fade. T1409, 1298 average rpm.

Blake Haun, Tomah (WI), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-10, 165-pounds. Well-proportioned build with a some strength throughout.
Delivery: Medium leg kick, controlled body actions.
Arm Action: LH. Shorter arm action, pushes through.
FB: T73, 72-73 mph. T2197, 2048 average rpm.
CB: 67-68 mph. Relatively tight. T2279, 2221 average rpm.
CH: 70-71 mph. T1914, 1846 average rpm.

Brady Johnson, Memorial (WI), 2025
Positional Profile: RHP/RHP
Body: 6-2, 185-pounds. Tall, athletic frame that projects.
Delivery: Rhythmic, athletic drop and derive delivery.
Arm Action: RH. Full arm action, fluid, low 3/4 slot.
FB: T78, 75-78 mph. Plays with run and sink through the zone, life out of the hand. T1803, 1677 average rpm.
SL: 61-64 mph. Jumps out of the hand, plays with sweep. T2054, 1868 average rpm.
CH: 62-66 mph. Plays with depth, thrown with intent. T1896, 1825 average rpm.

Caden Pierzina, Onalaska (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 5-11, 155-pounds. Medium, well-proportioned build with broad shoulders.
Delivery: Methodical tempo, high leg kick, tall and fall, online land to home.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action into a 3/4 slot.
FB: T79, 76-78 mph. Plays with life out of the hand, some armside movement. T2363, 2278 average rpm.
CB: 69-71 mph. Gradual downer movement, feel for the lower part of the zone. T2321, 2277 average rpm.
SL: 68-69 mph. Tight sweeping action, developing feel for the zone. T2263, 2229 average rpm.
CH: 71-72 mph. Cutting action, with depth, feel for the zone. T1402, 1313 average rpm.

Brody Roach, Hayward (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-1, 175-pounds. Lean, high-waisted frame that projects well.
Delivery: Medium leg kick, controlled body through delivery.
Arm Action: RH. Short, compact arm action.
FB: T77, 76-77 mph. Rides straight through zone. T2113, 2063 average rpm.
CB: 65-67 mph. Feel for pitch, 2/8 action. T2034, 1985 average rpm.
CH: 68-70 mph. Depth and fade, feel for pitch. T1224, 1195 average rpm.

Brady Schmidt, Stratford (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-2, 170-pounds. Lean, well-proportioned frame with some strength.
Delivery: Tucked medium leg kick, works over front leg.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm arc, quick through movement.
FB: T82, 80-82 mph. T1824, 1723 average rpm.
CB: 70-73 mph. T1879, 1796 average rpm.
CH: 65-68 mph. T1342, 1159 average rpm.
CUT: 79-81 mph.

Kellen Smith, Altoona (WI), 2025
Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds. Athletic, broad-shouldered build with good proportions.
Delivery: Stretch only, drop and drive lower half, inline finish to home.
Arm Action: RH. Full arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T81, 74-81 mph. Life out of the hand, thrown downhill, developing feel for the zone. T2158, 2078 average rpm.
CB: 70-71 mph. Thrown downhill, 11/5 shape, developing feel for the zone. T2487, 2250 average rpm.
CH: 70-73 mph. Developing feel, similar movement profile to the fastball. T1672, 1526 average rpm.

Owen Treanor, Onalaska (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 150-pounds. Lanky, lean build with long levers.
Delivery: Controlled tempo, high leg kick into a drop and drive lower half, in-line land to home.
Arm Action: LH. Full arm action, continuous into a 3/4 slot.
FB: T73, 70-72 mph. Plays with carry through the top part of the zone, some armside movement. T1894, 1845 average rpm.
CB: 58-62 mph. Short, tight downer movement, feel for the zone. T1895, 1812 average rpm.
CH: 62-63 mph. Plays with fade and depth, some feel for the zone. T1387, 1348 average rpm.

Chase Watkins, Eau Claire North (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-2, 185-pounds. Lean, well-proportioned frame with room for added strength. Broad shoulders.
Delivery: Side step windup, tucked leg kick, up and out delivery, closed stride.
Arm Action: RH. Full arm arc, loose, some whip, stock slot.
FB: T83, 81-83 mph. Rides through the zone. T2194, 2133 average rpm.
CB: 68-70 mph. 11/5 action, shorter, feel for placement. T2353, 2267 average rpm.
SPLT: 75-78 mph. Depth, feel for the pitch.

Chase Williams, Eau Claire North (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 5-9, 240-pounds. Thick, compact frame with some strength.
Delivery: Medium-high leg kick, short extension, relatively upright through landing.
Arm Action: RH. Compact arm action.
FB: T69, 68-68 mph. Plays with occasional life, straight through zone. T1916, 1882 average rpm.
CB: 58-59 mph. Developing feel for pitch, 12/6 action. T2127, 2036 average rpm.
CH: 63-65 mph. Occasional fade and depth, developing feel. T1526, 1462 average rpm.