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Wisconsin Class of 2023 Rankings: Risers

September 8, 2021
By Andy Sroka & Diego Solares
Wisconsin Staff

With the summer circuit officially coming to an end and the fall transition beginning, it’s time for our staff to update the state’s player rankings, starting with the 2023 as they begin the start of their junior year – a critical campaign from a recruiting standpoint. 

We expanded the class rankings quite a bit, growing our board from 50 prospects to 80, as we continue to build off the knowledge we’ve collected throughout the calendar year for this group. You can find the full up-to-date rankings list by clicking HERE.

Today we’ll shine some light on prospects that were already on our board that rose a few spots, including some players that really propelled themselves up the rankings after consistently impressing our scouting staff throughout the spring and summer seasons.

RISING IN THE TOP-50

+ We already covered the top-10 in our official update story, which you can find by clicking here. There were several players that leaped up our board and into the top-10, like RHP Dylan Questad (Waterford Union; uncommitted), INF Ethan Hindle (Arrowhead; Kentucky), C Evan Gustafson (Altoona; uncommitted) and OF/C Caleb Karll (Madison West; uncommitted), and we covered them extensively within that aforementioned link. Below, we’ll be breaking down the players who propelled themselves up inside the top-50 beginning with left-handed hitter who sparked Team Wisconsin down in Georgia back at the start of August…

+ The left-handed-hitting MIF/OF Max Hennemann (Oak Creek; uncommitted) made a significant jump after a strong showing at the PBR Future Games in August. That dynamic, all-around performance at LakePoint boosted Hennemann up to No. 12 overall on the rankings, up 16 spots. The 5-foot-10, 145-pound Oak Creek product has long been one of the state’s most athletic follows with savvy, smooth defensive actions on the infield and he’s been comfortably roaming the outfield as of late, too. Hennemann’s run tool aids him in a big way on offense and his ability to impact the baseball on the barrel combined with a natural all fields approach has slowly solidified a competitive profile offensively that could see him contribute from the top of a lineup long-term.

(7/28/21)

+ C/INF Dominic Kibler (New Berlin West; uncommitted) is another standout who performed at a high level while representing Team Wisconsin at the Future Games. Up nearly 20 spots in this update, Kibler is now situated inside the top-15. His left-handed bat has done the heavy lifting, as he’s done nothing but hit all summer. That fact was punctuated at the PBR Future Games against tremendous competition, and he responded accordingly. Built at a strong, compact 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, Kibler’s barrel has real impact potential and it looks to be his carrying tool moving forward as one of the top pure hitters in the class. While it remains to be seen where he’ll fit best defensively, Kibler’s proven to be one of the class’ top uncommitted left-handed hitters, thus far.

(7/28/21)

+ Uncommitted right-handers Brayden Olson (St. Croix Falls) and RHP Presley Wachowiak (Catholic Memorial) each jumped up five spots in this most recent update, with Olson occupying the No. 17 spot and Wachowiak ranked at No. 19 overall. The pair are another couple prospects to have earned roster spots on Team Wisconsin, and both impressed our scouting staff in their own respective ways. Olson’s listed at a long-limbed 6-foot-1, 170-pound, and he featured a fastball up to 87 mph and a hard-running changeup that flashed true out-pitch potential. His loose, clean arm action and lean build suggest there’s a velocity jump in Olson’s future, and it should complement his advanced feel to pitch nicely.

(7/28/21)

As for Wachowiak, he’s built differently, at a more compact and strong 6-foot-1, 195 pounds. He’s been on the radar for a couple of years now, showcasing a biting breaking ball and early arm strength, and he’s simultaneously begun to increase his feel to pitch while adding more velocity in the process. In his lone inning pitched at the Future Games, Wachowiak sat 87-89 mph with his fastball and paired it with his trademark 12/6 breaking that plays off his fastball well. We’ve also seen Wachowiak flaunt a tumbling changeup that looks like more than just a third offering to keep batters off balance. 

(7/28/21)

+ We’ve gotten a handful of positive reports this spring and summer regarding OF Chris Calico (West Salem; uncommitted), who climbs nine spots up our board to No. 20 overall in the state. The 5-foot-10, 150-pound Calico is a quality athlete with top-of-the-order future upside and short, consistent bat path that regularly produces line drives to all fields, including some sneaky juice off a heavy barrel. His athleticism plays up on the outfield too, where he can certainly be an asset defensively as he continues to progress.

+ After a monster spring season helped lead Jefferson to a WIAA D2 state championship berth, 1B Tyler Butina (uncommitted) jumped up 16 spots on this update, up to No. 22 overall. He’s listed at a physical 6-foot-2, 218 pounds, and he’s molded his large stature into a stronger, leaner build while he’s maintained one of the most impactful batted-ball profiles, especially from the left-handed batter’s box. We saw him comfortably handle advanced velocity at the state playoffs – as only a sophomore – and the ball really explodes off his barrel. Butina looks suited to occupy the middle of an order at the next level. 

+ RHP/INF Camden Kuhnke (Hortonville; uncommitted) has upside athleticism attached to a strong 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame that makes him stand out physically as a prospect. While Kuhnke ranges around the infield well for his size – underscoring his natural athleticism – his future appears brightest from the mound. He has a very quick and clean arm action that produces projectable velocity with ease. Kuhnke reached an 87 mph high in the offseason at our Appleton-area showcase, and hit the mark again in-game during July’s Badger State Battle. While the secondary stuff is presently raw, Hortonville’s latest prospect has the inherent characteristics that should be capable of rounding out a quality, swing-and-miss arsenal as he continues to develop. 

+ MIF Joseph Pflug (Westosha Central) is a lanky middle infielder with an upside glove. He projects physically, as a long-levered 5-foot-11, 150-pound prospect, and his defense is his best trait, currently. He exhibits a bounce and rhythm in his lower half that allows him to meet ground balls fluidly at funnel, and he gets rid of the ball at a quick tempo with accuracy. Offensively, Pflug swings a loose right-handed bat that lives in the zone for a long time, allowing him to spray line-drives to all fields – and an increase in strength would enhance his batted-ball profile, too, which is something to monitor this fall and over the offseason.

(1/31/21)

+ INF Marco Falletti (Wilmot; uncommitted) swings loud and authoritatively. While it’s crystal clear to the naked eye that Falletti generates a substantial amount of force when he swings, the numbers are backed up by Blast Motion, as well. Back at the start of the year, Falletti generated top-scale bat and hand speed scores, and it led to high-end exit velocity working off an uphill path that maximizes on those traits. Falletti connects often enough in-game to make use of his vicious swing right now, too, and it warranted a move up the rankings, where he now sits at No. 41 overall.

To view the Wisconsin's Class of 2023 Rankings in full, click here.

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