Wisconsin Class of 2026 Rankings: Update
September 6, 2023
Today, as part of Prep Baseball Report’s rankings week, our PBR Wisconsin staff is unveiling our updated Class of 2026 rankings after a busy spring and summer, establishing an updated list of names heading into the fall.
Highlighted in the analysis below is the updated top-15 prospects within this loaded class of athletes in Wisconsin. A new No. 1, along with numerous risers and newcomers summarize the action that has taken place throughout the Badger State. Stay tuned for the rest of the week, as our staff will continue to spotlight athletes who stood out from the spring and summer.
AT THE TOP
Dominic Santarelli 1B / St. Joseph, WI / 2026Rankings, PBR Wisconsin: No. 1
Louisville Commit. Not too many prospects can match the level of production and power that Santarelli presents at the plate, as the 6-foot-1, 190-pound athlete was a standout in the spring and all throughout the summer. After taking one of the best BP’s of the winter, Santarelli came out in the spring for Kenosha St. Joseph and was a staple in the middle of their order, finishing the season with an OPS of 1.028. His effortless power produces EVs in the upper-90s (98.5 mph max) from the left side, translated even more to the summer where Santarelli showed well in multiple looks. A quick bat, paired with flawless timing allowed Santarelli to launch six home runs over the course of the summer, a foreshadowed trait from an excellent spring and last summer where we got our first look at his offensive capabilities. His confidence translates to the defensive end of the ball as well, where Santarelli is a nimble and sure-handed defender at the first base position. His actions are smooth and done with ease, as the Louisville commit has repeatedly shown to slow the game down. Overall, Santarelli’s time on the diamond was significant and noteworthy, as the three-sport athlete enters his sophomore year as the top prospect in the Badger State.
Dominic Santarelli (3/5/23) |
Ben Kuglitsch SS / RHP / Muskego, WI / 2026Rankings, PBR Wisconsin: No. 2
Florida State Commit. Kuglitsch is a 6-foot-2, 165-pound athlete who boasts some of the Midwest’s best tools. Offensively, he swings a quick and simple right-handed bat that already has mid-90s pop to it and certainly projects to add more as he continues to tack on strength. Due to his high offensive output, Kuglitsch was a key piece for a solid Muskego squad during the spring, where despite it being his first year at the prep level, he excelled. He is also an exceptional mover on the infield, with athletic, sure-handed actions and he is equipped with a big arm that has been up to 89 mph across the diamond, in our looks. His athleticism, paired with the arm strength are certainly noteworthy, especially for someone his age and he has all the tools to stick on the left-side of the infield at the next-level, too. Kuglitsch is also a premium talent on the mound as well, as he is an athletic mover and pairs it with aforementioned arm strength that should only continue to progress. Kuglitsch is certainly a premium talent inside of the state’s sophomore class and he has continued to create enormous buzz on the national level as well. |
Calvin Moreau SS / RHP / Monona Grove, WI / 2026Rankings, PBR Wisconsin: No. 3
Uncommitted. Moreau is another two-way prospect inside the top of our updated 2026 rankings, and he too possesses an advanced toolset. Listed at a upside 6-foot-3, 170-pounds, Moreau’s athleticism is noteworthy as he is a 6.61 runner, an advanced number, especially for his age. Offensively, Moreau swings a simple right-handed bat that he repeats and pairs it with quick hands, roughly 22 mph hand speed on average. As just a freshman, Moreau got it done on the varsity level for a Monona Grove squad that was inside of our Power 25 for a number of weeks in the spring. Not only is Moreau a noteworthy prospect with the bat in his hands, his ceiling may ultimately be higher on the mound. In our looks, Moreau has run his fastball up to 85 mph from an easy and athletic delivery. He also has an advanced feel for a low-70s curveball, too, which he spins at an above-average rate, roughly 2,300 RPM on average. His changeup complements his two other offerings as it plays with fading action and is used at a quality change-of-pace pitch. Moreau’s two-way talents are certainly notable, especially for someone his age, and he maintains his top-three spot in this rankings update after a standout freshman campaign.
Calvin Moreau (3/12/23) |
ROUNDING OUT THE TOP-5
+ 3B/RHP Caleb Johns (New Berlin Eisenhower) maintains his spot at No. 4 in this newest update, coming off of a successful stretch of play between the spring and summer. Our staff witnessed the 6-foot-1, 170-pound athlete dominate during his start on the mound for New Berlin Eisenhower, striking out 12 batters and reaching 84 mph. Despite dealing with some injuries that limited his time on the mound, Johns didn’t stop his production at the plate, emerging as the cleanup hitter for his Lions’ team in his freshman season. He followed that up by manning the middle of the order for his travel team in the summer, hitting .406 in 64 at bats. His natural feel for the barrel, paired with added strength from when we saw him at the 2022 PBR Junior Future Games was noteworthy. Johns’ competitive mentality and above average actions, both on the bump and in the batter’s box, separates him as one of the top prospects in this loaded class, who now head into their sophomore seasons.
Caleb Johns (4/22/23)
+ Jumping up one spot in the rankings update is SS Jake Cummins (Milton), one of the top defenders in the state, regardless of class. The slick-fielding shortstop advances to No. 5, defining himself as a top-of-the-order bat and staple on the middle infield. Cummins was another representative at the 2022 PBR Junior Future Games who found success, and followed it up with another strong year of baseball. He earned the starting role at Milton at the shortstop position, the 2022 Division 1 State Champions, filling some big shoes in the process. After earning varsity experience in a tough conference, Cummins was dominant in the summer as a pesky two-hitter, reaching base numerous times and flashing some power. As the young prospect adds onto his 5-foot-9, 160-pound frame, his game will continue to elevate. His defensive prowess and consistent barrel at the plate are noteworthy traits and high-follow characteristics as Cummins progresses in his prep career.
RISERS IN THE TOP-15
+ RHP/1B Brett Biondich (Kettle Moraine Lutheran; Texas Christian commit) climbs up one spot to No. 6 in this update, providing advanced tools as one of the top two-way prospects in the 2026 class. Our staff saw it on the varsity stage to begin the spring, after a quality showing in the winter. Biondich, in a physical 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame, showcased the ability to string together multi-hit games from the middle of the order for a Kettle Moraine Lutheran team that finished one game away from the state tournament in 2023. As he developed more strength, power followed in the summer, as Biondich launched a long home run at LakePoint at the 15U PBRT National Championships. It summarized a successful campaign in 2023 for Biondich, who has also seen an uptick in velocity on the mound. The right-hander features a mid-80s fastball, which is complemented by a sharp, high-spin curveball and fading changeup. A complete arsenal, as Biondich looks to continue to polish all aspects of his game heading into the offseason.
Brett Biondich (7/11/23)
+ OF Ezra Liggon (Madison Memorial) is a long and lean 6-foot-4, 175-pound prospect that performed well during the winter circuit, and maintained his hot streak throughout the summer. Liggon presents an easy swing from the left side of the plate, extending and getting the bat head out in front of the plate, resulting in pitches being elevated. The lefty features natural power, earning extra base hits with ease. Defensively, Liggon glides in the outfield with an over-the-top arm motion that reached 85 mph this past February, rounding out his overall game. As a top basketball prospect in the state too, Liggon presents athleticism and a high ceiling as an athlete, maturing as he develops into his prep career.
+ 3B/OF Winston Alonso (Reedsburg) enters the top-10 as one of the biggest risers due to his advanced production at the plate and on the defensive end of the ball in the spring and summer. Alonso, continuing to grow and add strength to a 6-foot, 170-pound frame, put on a show for Reedsburg, a Division 2 team that made an appearance in our Power 25 rankings toward the end of the season. From the top of the order, Alonso presented no fear at the varsity stage, hitting .338 with three home runs, all from the leadoff spot. With the glove, he’s a sure-handed defender with smooth actions on both the infield and outfield, a trait that has followed him early in his career. The production did not slow down in the summer, with Alonso standing out at numerous tournaments at the plate. It summarized a huge year for the incoming sophomore, as the left-handed batter emerged as an under-the-radar follow over the past couple of months, taking that into the fall and offseason.
Winston Alonso (7/10/23)
+ Another prospect who found success at the varsity level as just a freshman was RHP/OF Cade Minatto (Indian Trail), who shoots up to No. 10 in our newest update after finding success at a consistent level. It starts on the mound with Minatto, where the right-hander rushed his fastball up to 87 mph down in Georgia this past summer, ranging in the mid-80s with life throughout his start. His quick arm allows him to snap off a quality breaking ball, ranging in the upper-60s. He kills spin on a changeup to round out his three-pitch mix; as he continues to develop his command, the arsenal has showcased the ability to get outs at a high level. Minatto’s athleticism plays in his approach at the plate too, where the right-handed batter provides power to the opposite field and quick hands, producing max EV’s in the low-90s. The sophomore’s game continues to improve with every look, as we’re interested to see where the next couple of months takes him in his prep career.
‘26 Cade Minatto (WI) @hittersbaseba11 | @PBRWisconsin
— PBRT Scouting (@pbrtscouting) July 9, 2023
Impressive in relief thus far. Attacking hitters, commanding the zone for the most part. Heavy dose of FB, FB plays up with run
FB: 84-86 T 87
CB: 71#15Nat23 pic.twitter.com/nenl2yy8pO
+ Listed at a projectable 6-foot-3, 190-pounds with a strong lower half, RHP/3B Tyson Grulkowski (Muskego) may boast some of the biggest upside inside of the states sophomore class. On the mound, Grulkowski is a simple mover and pairs it with a live arm from a lower ¾ slot that creates a deceptive delivery. In our looks he has reached highs of 83 mph in front of our staff with his fastball and has also flashed a sinker in the same velocity range, too. As for his offspeeds, his go-to secondary is a 2,700 RPM slider in the low-70s which plays with tight sweep. He also has shown feel for a slurvey curveball and a changeup in the past as well. Offensively, Grulkowski is also a notable talent as he swings a well-sequenced right-handed bat with natural lift and pairs it with bat-to-ball skills that certainly are noteworthy, especially for someone his age. With the glove, Grulkowski is an impressive defender on the infield too, where he features clean footwork and arm strength which allows him to project as a lockdown defender at the hot corner at the next-level. After earning some valuable experience at the varsity level as just a freshman, Grulkowski looks primed to add even more to his talented Muskego squad during his sophomore campaign.
Tyson Grulkowski (6/1/23)
+ Click here to view Wisconsin's Class of 2026 rankings in full.
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