Prep Baseball Report

Wisconsin 2019 Rankings: Newcomers


By Steve Nielsen
Illinois & Wisconsin Scouting Supervisor

After taking a closer look at the names quickly climbing this list on Wednesday, we’ll turn our attention to the juniors who crashed this list for the first time entirely.

Previously, we covered the top-10 prospects of Wisconsin’s 2019 class here and the board's on-the-rise prospects here

Our staff added 20 names to the 2019 rankings in our most recent update. The offseason between these players’ sophomore and junior seasons is a critical one and we got the chance to see a ton of growth and development this past winter. Some impressed us so much that they’ve earned themselves a place on our fresh, new top-100 board.

One of those names is Erik Sutton, who not only cracked the rankings for the first time, but leaped all the way into the top 40.

Homestead’s Sutton is a 6-foot-7, 195-pound right-handed pitcher who has a lean frame with upside. He looks like he’s only just scratching the surface of his potential, too. His arm is loose and easy and he gets good downhill tilt out of his 6-foot-7 frame, sitting 86-87 mph this winter. His secondary stuff may still need polish but he throws his curveball with authority in the 73-75 mph range and has average feel for a changeup with arm-side action. Sutton’s best days are clearly ahead of him and he possesses one of the higher ceilings in the class.

Erik Sutton (2.25.18)

Catcher Riley Hughes is one of several prospects from Kenosha Bradford who showed particularly well this past winter. Hughes is a strong catch-and-throw prospect whose arm plays up due to its carry and accuracy from behind the plate. His defense is his calling card and, in addition to his stinginess on the basepaths, he’s displayed excellent receiving skills with his soft hands.

Outfielder Alex Salerno (Westosha Central) showed off a dynamic toolset this winter, highlighted by his plus arm strength in the outfield. He shows present bat speed and an above-average run tool that makes him a strong outfield prospect at the next level.

Alex Salerno (1.27.18)

Fletcher Dallas (Valders) burst onto the scene this winter as well. Dallas is an intriguing third base prospect who carries a big bat that looks to project well as a possible middle-of-the-lineup slugger with some pop. Dallas also ran a 7.17, above average for his size and position.

A trio of notable arms broke into our top 60: RHP Jacob Arndt (Oconomowoc), RHP Grant Ver Voort (Appleton North) and LHP Christopher Barnes (Hamilton Sussex). Arndt is an upside arm who showed a spike in velocity when we saw him last, and topped out at 87 mph. Ver Voort saw similar gains as well, and possesses an arm attached to a stronger frame -- he was also up to 87 mph. Barnes is a left-handed arm who has a sneaky fastball in the 80-83 range with natural cut action.  

MORE NEW ADDITIONS

  • Spencer Hans (Lake Mills): Soft-handed middle infielder; above-average arm and runner

  • Beau Schumacher (Kimberly): Strong bat; sophomore starting catcher for state champs

  • Evan Henry (Wilmot): Left-handed hitting catcher; soft-handed receiver

  • Trey Tennessen (Kimberly): Low-80s, right-handed arm with plus potential curveball

  • Riley Garczynski (Marquette): All-around infield prospect; aggressive bat strong arm

  • Zachary Guenther (Waterford): 6-foot-3, 187 pounds; low-80s righty with three-pitch feel

  • Joe Georger (Appleton West): Strong, physical corner infield prospect; power left-handed bat

  • Connor Chitko (Kimberly): Offensive outfielder, .424 as a sophomore for state champs

  • Nick Brazelton (Oconomowoc): Intriguing INF/RHP with some arm strength and feel

  • Sam Rogers (New Lisbon): Physical catcher with bat speed; strong catch-and-throw skills

  • Nevin Wall (Holmen): 83-84 mph right-hander

  • Jack Perinovic (Menomonee Falls): Smaller RHP with quick arm; sits low 80s and touched 87

  • Darren Dionne (Peshtigo): 6-foot-4, 175-pound RHP; 81-84 mph with hard breaking ball

  • Max DeMario (Franklin): 81-83 mph RHP; deceptive and sharp breaking ball

  • Ryan Hubley (Marquette): 6-foot-4, 185-pound LHP with long levers; 80-82 mph, sinking fastball

  • Ethan Toone (Brookfield East): Athletic catcher; 6.96 runner, 2.00 pop time

  • Quin Henwood (Appleton North): Third baseman with soft hands; flashed pop in bat

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