Western Wisconsin Open: Infielder Analysis

On July 9, the PBR Wisconsin team made the trip from the Badger State Battle in Mauston, Wis., westward to Eau Claire, the site of the annual Western Wisconsin Open showcase. Immediately following the event, we published our Quick Hits and Statistical Analysis posts, but this week is reserved for our position-by-position analysis. 

On deck today is the event’s infielders, after we broke down the day’s catchers and outfielders earlier in the week. Check out the complete scouting reports on the 11 outfield prospects listed below. Stay tuned tomorrow when we evaluate the infielders who made it to Eau Claire.

ALL PROSPECTS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Noah Alford, INF, Oshkosh West, 2020
6-foot-3, 170-pound right/right prospect with wiry/strong, lanky frame. Tall/balanced setup, quick toe-tap stride, arm bar load, long and level bat path, some extension through contact; 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, fields deep, active feet, long arm action from ¾ slot, topped 71 mph to first. A 7.41 runner in the 60.

Austin Baker, RHP/SS, Eau Claire Memorial, 2022
5-foot-9, 150-pound two-way prospect with lean/athletic frame with projection. On the mound, smooth motion, low knee lift, coil at balance point with hip turn, level shoulders, extends down mound, lands square and athletically. Easy effort, arm is quick, clean, loose from a high ¾ slot. Fastball, slight natural run, 77-78 mph, touched 80 mph. Curveball, feel to spin, 10/4 plane, 64-66 mph. Changeup, mostly maintains arm speed, flashed fade action, 68-70 mph. Offensively, tall/upright setup, open front foot, hands set high, leg kick and long stride, bat wrap load. Fast bat works off a long and uphill plane; 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, plays with bounce, fluid footwork, smooth exchanges. Arm works athletically, varies arm slot with accuracy, loose; topped 70 mph across the infield. A 7.37 runner in the 60.

Mason Bauer, 2B/SS, Regis, 2020
5-foot-10, 160-pound infielder with a thin/lanky build. A left-handed hitter, tall/open setup, small stride back to even, low effort swing with natural feel for the barrel. Short bat path on a slight incline, pull-side approach. Defensively, fluid feet, long and loose arm action from a high ¾ slot, accuracy to first; topped 76 mph to the bag. A 7.41 runner in the 60.

Mason Beining, 3B, Homestead, 2022
5-foot-10, 190-pound infielder with strong frame, thick lower half. Offensively, wide base, balanced setup, weight shift load back with small leg lift stride. Above-average bat strength and bat speed, short and direct path to the ball with an uphill finish; 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, fluid and confident actions, athletic defender, arm action is long and loose, ¾ slot with accuracy; topped 71 mph to first. A 7.98 runner in the 60.

Will Boeckman, C/3B, Big Lake, 2021
5-foot-11, 180-pound catcher/infielder with some strength in high-waisted frame. At the plate, right-handed, balanced set-up, long toe-tap stride, minimal load in upper half. Bat path is short, direct to the ball, level plane, middle-of-the-field/line-drive approach; 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. At catcher, long exchange, short arm action from an over-the-top slot, throws topped 72 mph to second; pop times ranged between 2.35-2.45. In the infield, tall gather, average hands, arm action is short and over-the-top, 74 mph high to first. A 7.47 runner in the 60.

Logan Brahm, 3B/SS, Oak Creek, 2020
6-foot, 195-pound, right/right infielder. At the plate, tall/open setup, arm bar load, short stride with a tendency to stay open, bat path is long and mostly level with some extension through contact; topped 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. On defense, a solid defender with actions, deliberate footwork, clean transfers with long and loose arm action from a high ¾ window, with accuracy and some carry across the infield; a high of 81 mph to first. A 7.88 runner in the 60.

Tru Dupee, OF/INF, Ladysmith, 2020
5-foot-10, 165-pound outfielder/infielder with strength in lower half. On offense, balanced/open setup, some pre-pitch rhythm, arm bar load. Bat path is short and direct to the ball, level plane, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ran a 7.38 in the 60. In the infield, fields it deep, long arm action from high ¾ window, 79 mph high to first. From the outfield, two-hand gather, long arm action, high ¾ slot, topped 80 mph.

Jackson Falkner, RHP/INF, Mondovi, 2020
6-foot-2, 165-pound prospect with wiry/athletic, thin frame, projection. On the mound, side rocks into pronounced leg kick and high knee lift, drops and drives with a slightly high front side, lands square with toe slightly open. Works in some rhythm with fluid actions. Arm action is loose, quick, and easy from a ¾ slot. Fastball, mostly straight, some natural steady run, 83-85 mph, touched 86 mph, an event-best. Curveball, decelerates arm action slightly, gradual action off a 10/4 plane, 68-70 mph. Changeup, arm-side run, fade, 73-76 mph. Slider, better feel than curve right now, later break with more vertical tilt, 71-75 mph. At the plate, right-handed, tall setup, pigeon-toed front foot, minimal load back, short stride. Bat path is long, level with some extension in finish, some barrel feel; 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. On defense, can stay a little tall, two-hand gather, arm action is long and loose from a ¾ slot; 81 mph high to first. A 7.19 runner, athletic gait.

Joe Kroeger, 1B/RHP, Rice Lake, 2021
6-foot, 198-pound two-way player with strength in lower half. At the plate, right-handed, tall setup with pre-pitch rhythm, dips into arm bar load and long stride. Long and uphill swing path met the ball with authority regularly, hard leveraged contact into the gaps, power potential; 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, moves well laterally, feel for the base, fluid feet; topped 71 mph across the infield. A 7.27 runner in the 60. On the mound, side rock into high knee, long draw, high front. Long arm action from the ¾ slot. Fastball, straight, 74-77 mph. Curveball, 10/4 shape with above-average action, 61-62 mph. Changeup, decelerates arm speed, slight fade, 67-68 mph.

Ryan Krumenauer, 2B, Chippewa Falls, 2020
5-foot-9, 132-pound second baseman. A 7.06 runner in the 60. Offensively, right-handed, wide base, balanced setup, hands set high in bat wrap, brief load back into short stride. Bat path is long and level with an opposite-field approach; 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, short arm action from a high ¾ slot; topped 66 mph across the infield.

Kaleb Miller, 1B, Menomonie, 2020
5-foot-11, 175-pound, left/left first baseman with proportional strength in lean build. Offensively, tall/open setup, hands set shoulder height and away from body, bar load back, leg kick stride to even. Above-average bat speed, long and level path, middle-of-the-field approach; 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, smooth footwork, soft hands, quick and clean transfers, arm action is long, loose and from a high ¾ slot; 70 mph across the infield. A 7.24 runner with an easy, athletic gait.

Niall Olson, SS/2B, Oregon, 2021
5-foot-9, 165-pound, right/right middle infielder. At the plate, balanced setup, hands set low, leg hang stride. Bat path is short to the ball, long through the zone; 73 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, active feet, short arm action from a high ¾ slot, topped 68 mph to first. A 7.70 runner in the 60.

Tyler Penny, RHP/INF, River Falls, 2020
6-foot-1, 165-pound two-way prospect with tall/lean frame, long levers. On the mound, rhythmic rock into high knee/hip turn, drop-and-drive, level shoulders, some extension down mound, lands open. Long arm action from high ¾ slot, loose. Fastball, straight, 75-79 mph, touched 80 mph. Curveball, somewhat maintains arm speed, 11/5 action, some feel and depth, flashed late/sharp spin, 65-69 mph. Changeup, thrown at arm speed, straight, firm, 72-75 mph. At the plate, right-handed, balanced setup, pigeon-toed, brief load back into stride. Bat path is short, level plane; 85 mph exit velocity off the tee. On defense, fluid feet, athletic gather, clean transfers with long, loose arm action from high ¾ slot featuring some carry; 80 mph across the infield. A 7.37 runner in the 60.

Ragan Pinnow, 3B/RHP, River Falls, 2022
6-foot, 175-pound two-way prospect with athletic/lean build, projection. Right-handed hitter, wide base, athletic/balanced setup, minimal load, short stride. Fast bat, hard and aggressive hacks, level bat path produced hard line-drive contact, some gap-to-gap, bat strength for age; 85 mph exit velocity off the tee. On defense, defends a little tall but the hands and feet work together, fluid and clean transfers. Arm action is long from high ¾ slot with some carry; 76 mph across the infield. A 7.40 runner in the 60. On the mound, works quick, drop-and-drive type, coils at balance point, level shoulders, square landing. Arm action is long, high ¾ window, quick and loose arm speed. Fastball, some heaviness to it, 77-80 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, breaks early but with above-average depth, 65-66 mph. Changeup, mostly maintains arm speed, straight, slight fade, 66-68 mph.

Anthony Pogodzinski, 1B/C, Eau Claire North, 2020
5-foot-11, 225-pound first baseman and catcher with thick, strong frame. Left-handed hitter, athletic/balanced set-up, slightly open, leg kick stride to even. Fluid, fast bat path with bat speed on a compact and uphill path through the ball. Premium bat strength on contact, pull-side pop, an event-best 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. At first base, moves well for size with some feel for the bag, throws are short and over-the-top, topped 77 mph across the infield. At catcher, short arm action from a high ¾ slot with some accuracy; topped 69 mph to second base. Pop times ranged between 2.14 and 2.33, A 7.63 runner in the 60.

Gabriel Richardson, 3B, Eau Claire North, 2022
6-foot, 180-pound third base prospect with a strong, athletic build and a thick lower half. Right-handed hitter, balanced/athletic setup, quiet. Weight-shift load, small stride, tilts bat head forward. Aggressive swing with plus power potential, bat path is uphill, innate barrel feel, natural leverage; topped 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. On defense, soft and reliable hands, smooth actions, controlled footwork. Arm action is long and loose, topped 80 mph to first. A 7.75 runner in the 60.

Connor Sempf, RHP/2B, Boyceville, 2021
5-foot-11, 165-pound two-way prospect. 5-foot-11, 159-pounds. Side rocks into a high knee lift at balance point, drops and drives with level shoulders, works on line to home and lands square. Arm action is long and over-the-top. Fastball, straight, some downhill tilt, life in zone, 77-80 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, breaks early, 68-69 mph. Slider, tighter spin than curve, downer action, 69-71 mph. Changeup, thrown at arm speed, fade action, 69-72 mph. At the plate, right-handed, balanced/open setup, wide base, wrap load, small leg lift stride. Bat path is long and level, pull-side approach; 76 mph exit velocity from the tee. On defense, controlled and athletic footwork, some rhythm, hands work well together; long and loose arm action, high ¾ slot, topped 79 mph to first. A 7.58 runner in the 60.

Lucas Smith, 2B/SS, Menomonie, 2022
5-foot-11, 160-pound right/right infielder. Tall/open setup, hands set low, minimal load, short stride, bat path is level, long, some looseness in hands/wrists; 79 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, two-hand gather, arm action is long from a low ¾ slot; topped 74 mph to first. A 7.49 runner in the 60.

Griffin Spindler, INF/RHP, Chippewa Falls, 2020
5-foot-10, 145-pound two-way player with lanky frame. Left-handed hitter, tall setup, weight shift load back, small leg kick into stride. Bat path is long and level; 79 exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, clean and deliberate transfers, long arm action from a ¾ slot; topped 71 mph across the infield. A 7.54 runner in the 60. On the mound, side steps into high knee lift and athletic balance point, high front side, short stride, lands closed. Long arm action with high ¾ slot, works in some rhythm. Fastball, cuts at 71-72 mph; dialed up 76-77 mph on his final two pitches. Curveball, decelerates, early break, 60-63 mph. Changeup, decelerates, straight, 61-63 mph.

Preston Viens, INF/RHP, Beloit Turner, 2020
5-foot-11, 155-pound two-way prospect with thin/athletic frame. At the plate, right-handed, wide base, balanced/athletic setup, quick load back, no stride. Short, level path to the ball with bat speed, able to repeat line-drive contact up the middle; 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. On defense, athletic actions and footwork, plays with some bounce, arm action is long and loose with above-average arm strength; topped 81 mph to first. A 7.57 runner in the 60. On the mound, a methodical motion, slow/fluid rock into high knee and hip turn, works level and online. Short arm circle, quick arm speed, loose, some jump from hand, high ¾ slot. Fastball, straight, slight downhill tilt, 80-82 mph, touched 83 mph. Curveball, decelerates, gradual 11/5 break, 67-68 mph. Changeup, mostly maintains arm speed, straight-type with some fade, 74 mph.

Kale Weisenberger, RHP/INF, Stratford, 2021
5-foot-9, 155-pound two-way prospect. On the mound, fluid motion and rhythm, side rock to high knee and athletic balance point, arm swing draw, long stride, toe-open landing. Arm action is long, quick, and loose from high ¾ slot. Fastball, two-seam type, slight run, 80-81 mph, touched 82 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape with a feel to spin, flashed sharp, kept beneath the zone, 67-71 mph. Changeup, at fastball arm speed, arm-side run, 71-73 mph. At the plate, right-handed, balanced/crouched setup, loads back short stride, short path to the ball; 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, can get a little tall, long and loose arm action from a high ¾ slot; topped 73 mph across the infield. A 7.51 runner in the 60. 

Tyler Zarnstorff, 1B/LHP, Mukwonago, 2020
6-foot-3, 190-pound two-way prospect with tall/strong build, some proportional strength. Left-handed hitter, tall/open setup with some pre-pitch rhythm, slight leg lift stride back even. Bat path is long and uphill with above-average bat speed, loud off the barrel with pull-side power potential; 83 mph exit velocity. Defensively, solid first base actions, hands work, big target; 74 mph across the infield. A 7.83 runner. On the mound, slow rock into high knee lift, early draw, high front side, open landing. Long arm action, quick arm speed, loose from a high ¾ window. Fastball, arm-side run, flashed hard action, 78-79 mph. Slider, aggressive, thrown at arm speed, slight downer action, 71-72 mph.

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