Wisconsin 2019 Rankings Updated

With Top Prospect - Milwaukee right around the corner, the summer showcase season is clearly in full swing and we’re due for a Class of 2019 rankings update. We’ve had the opportunity to see plenty of these players in the past couple of months – whether it was at the Badger State tournament or at previous events – and their rankings will reflect our latest findings.

CLICK HERE for the complete Class of 2019 rankings.

It isn’t so frequent to have a player leap three spots all the way into the No. 1 spot, but given how commanding LHP Connor Prielipp (Tomah; uncommitted) has been this summer, he’s the class’ new top prospect. Prielipp had spent the past three rankings iterations in the No. 4 spot but he explodes to No. 1 after showing electric stuff all summer. The rumblings of a velo jumpy from the Tomah southpaw came about back in May, and then his stuff just took off this summer. We first saw it live in mid-June after reaching 92 mph with a plus breaking ball striking out 13 in a summer circuit matchup for Hitters Baseball in the Chicago area. Our National Crosschecker Shooter Hunt saw similar stuff again at the MPL at Grand Park. Then he put it on display again in a heavyweight showdown with the former No. 1, RHP Jack Washburn (Webster; Oregon State), under the lights on July 7. The uncommitted lefty carved through a normally potent GRB Rays lineup and struck out a whopping 17 batters and was nearly untouchable in any count for seven innings. On that day, Prielipp was regularly touching 90-91 mph with ease and a knee buckling slider. The display of dominance was ultimately enough to declare him Wisconsin’s new top prospect and one of the Midwest’s most fascinating uncommitted arms.

As for Washburn, who had spent the past two rankings updates as the No. 1, slips just one spot to No. 2 in the state. His short fall was more about Prielipp’s emergence and less about Washburn’s performance. He’s still working on his immense upside on the mound as a righty who sits in the upper 80s and consistently pings 90 mph, to go along with a plus curveball. Washburn received PBR Player of the Year honors for his astounding numbers this spring both on the mound and with the bat. 

Elsewhere amidst the latest top-10 ranking, C Nathan Stevens (Waunakee; Arkansas) assumed his role as a top-three-ranked player in the state. He’s been within the top three ever since the first edition of the 2019 rankings were released back in 2016 and he has successfully and repeatedly done enough to continue to maintain those lofty expectations. His bat is on another level then the rest of his skill set making him a potential 2019 MLB Draft interest. Another catcher, Drake Baldwin (Madison West; Missouri State), makes his way onto this list. He’s up a spot, too, to No. 4 which is the highest he’s ever been ranked. Baldwin's left-handed bat is keeping pace with the top hitters in the Midwest, and he continues to improve behind the dish. 

Xavier-committed OF Jack Krumbach (Madison Memorial) pulls in at No. 5, up a whole three spots from April’s update. The lean, athletic outfielder is coming off a breakout showing after last week's Midwest ProCase, where he raised the eyebrows of every scout in attendance. At the high-profile event, Krumbach slugged two of the day's hardest hit balls, including a rocket home run over the right field fence off an 89 mph fastball, and a double to the wall in a similar spot, confirming what he showed in BP. On top of that Krumbach posted the fastest 60 yard dash of the day at a blistering 6.49. If his bat continues to trend in this direction, with that plus-plus speed, Krumbach's ascension up the rankings isn't done.  

Jack Krumbach (3.11.18)

Three infield prospects fill the last four slots on the top 10: No. 7 Xavier Watson (South Milwaukee; Illinois), No. 8 Paul Toetz (Greendale; Indiana), and No. 10 Dan Blomgren (Janesville Craig; Michigan). All three had been on previous editions of the ranking updates so there are no real surprises among them.

We do have one top-10 debutant, however. OF Drew Lechnir (Kimberly; uncommitted) is up four spots to No. 9 in the state. His twin brother, Zach, is a shortstop who actually narrowly missed out on the top 10, too. The brothers are high-motor athletes with baseball IQ that puts them at the top of their class. Both remain uncommitted with several suitors and provide the type of spark that is fun to watch at any level.

Drew Lechnir (8.2.17)

Stay tuned in the coming days for additional coverage regarding the latest 2019 rankings update where we'll cover some of the highest risers and the newcomers to the 2019 list.

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