Wisconsin Rankings Class of 2025: Update
November 20, 2024
Wisconsin's Class of 2025 will be remembered for its depth of talent, and healthy stock of pitching talent (which we'll elaborate on soon), even though it doesn't currently have the type of prospect that projects as a Day One selection at the 2025 MLB Draft.
That doesn't mean it's short of breakout candidates and impact college performers though.
As the years have gone on, more names have revealed themselves to be quality follows as they head into their final spring of high school baseball, before one more important offseason. And while we stated that there isn't yet a player that currently projects as a first- or second-rounder, there's a handful of players who could still earn a selection in July without it being a surprise. Those names come from, mostly, the class' top right-handed pitching prospects. While the prep righty is not the most popular demo inside MLB Draft rooms, Wisconsin has quite a few unique ones that should light up some analytical models, as well as area scouts' radar guns.
+ View Wisconsin's Top-225 Here
On Thursday, we're going in-depth on this class' deepest position group, analyzing the differences among these right-handers and what has them individually gaining momentum ahead of the winter, so be on the lookout for that piece.
A RESHUFFLED TOP-10
As we alluded to in our intro, while there's been some shake-up inside of this top-10 this collection of talent has always been very closely evaluated. The separation between this group from No. 1 to 10 is pretty narrow, especially as it compares to the classes in recent memory. Within the top-5 especially, a case could be made for any of these five to leap to No. 1 overall. For now, RHP Peter Kussow (Arrowhead; Louisville commit) owns the top overall spot, grabbing it after bouncing back from an inconsistent 2023.
Thursday, we're publishing some insight on this memorable collection of right-handed pitching prospects, led off by Kussow himself, as well as each of the other righties inside of the top-20.
Below, we're breaking down the rest of the members of this revised top-10.
+ No. 2, 3B Carter Kutz (Hartford Union; Nebraska)
Despite some reshuffling that happened inside the top-5, Kutz stays at No. 2 overall. Kutz saw his stock improve this fall after his performance with the bat, improving his status as a bat in the ‘25 class. Looking to have gained some physicality this fall, the 6-foot-2 right-handed hitter unlocked some more power as someone who already has the innate ability to drive the ball in the air with authority. Defensively, Kutz has taken strides over in the hot corner and he continues to improve across our looks. The bat is the carrying tool for Kutz and it certainly seems to be trending in the right direction heading towards his final prep season.
+ No. 3, LHP Ryan Brennecke (Oconomowoc; uncommitted)
The 6-foot, 198-pound left-hander recently reopened his recruiting and has been a target by many top schools, and he remains the No. 1-ranked southpaw in the class. The left-hander has feel for the zone with all three pitches, especially his fastball which he consistently commands the zone at an above-average rate while sitting in the low-90s. His mid-70s curveball is the better of his two secondaries, playing with tight late break and finding the zone often. The changeup is thrown into the mid-80s playing with hard fading action in the zone. Brennecke is an advanced lefty with some projection remaining, and he has no shortage of next-level interest, underscoring the skill set here.
+ No. 7, MIF Jack Lutz (Whitnall; South Florida)
Lutz is a wiry athlete standing at 5-foot-10, 145 pounds with visible room left in his frame for physical development. Advanced skillset with tools, Lutz is one of the top defensive shortstops in the area with twitch, range and fluidity on top of enough arm strength to stick on the left-side long term – and while it always seemed within reach that he'd elevate his defense, he proved himself to be a shortstop in 2024. At the plate from the left side, he's confident, under control and fluid with innate feel for the barrel, which makes Lutz one of the top bat-to-ball middle infielders in the Midwest. The athletic left-handed-hitting shortstop is a high-floor, high-ceiling prospect in the state.
+ No. 8, MIF Preston Yaucher (Edgewood; Penn State)
Yaucher is one of the top performers in the Badger State regardless of class this past year. Constantly on the barrel when in front of our staff, the right-handed hitter repeatedly makes consistent loud contact with the power production to show for it. Defensively, Yaucher can really pick it up the middle, fluid and athletic actions with range and easy arm strength. An exciting player inside the top-10 and one our staff will keep eye on as he completes his prep career. His performance this fall at a tournament at The Rock Complex sticks out, as Yaucher launched a couple homers and even more loud barrels. He entered the year as a reliable middle-infielder with right-handed contact skills, and he's leaving it with us wondering if he can somehow continue gaining more and more game power.
+ No. 9, OF Trevor Vande Hey (Wrightstown; Iowa)
Vande Hey stands at 6-foot, 199-pounds and he is one of the toolsiest prospects in the region. A physical athlete, Vande Hey runs a 6.57 in the 60-yard dash and that speed translates in-game. Defensively, Vande Hey plays a steady center field and could play all three outfield spots in college easily with a strong arm that has been up to 94 mph. At the plate, the right-hander taps into his power often, hitting the ball hard consistently in front of our staff – it's triple-digit EVs and elite bat speed. Vande Hey may have one of the highest ceilings in the class, and should be able to generate more contact, he'll be able to easily maximize on the brute strength he naturally owns.
ROUNDING OFF THE TOP-20
+ No. 11, C Marek Bolson (Oconomowoc; Kent State)
Bolson is a 6-foot-2, 192-pound left-handed-hitting catcher with a ceiling as he continues to develop. Defensively behind the plate Bolson receives the baseball at a high level, and is an athlete with bend that makes accurate throws to the bag with an arm that's been up to 75 mph. At the plate from the left-side Bolson shows the ability to drive the baseball in the air, especially to the pull side.
+ No. 14, C/OF Terek Verhage (Monona Grove; St. Thomas, MN)
Standing in at 5-foot-11, 173-pounds, the left-handed-hitting catcher has room for added strength to his frame. Verhage is a high-level defender behind the plate and in the corner outfield having, behind the plate Verhage has big arm strength and is an overall advanced catch and throw defender. At the plate, Verhage impacts the baseball often, doing most of his damage to the pull side. His offensive gains he made and showed across 2024 has his prospect arrow pointed way up entering the winter, given how his defensive skills already previously raised his floor.
+ No. 15, 2B/OF Jack Zeller (Indian Trail; uncommitted)
Zeller is the top uncommitted bat in the class and it comes with a track record of performing. The recent Senior Future Gamer is a versatile defender that can play multiple spots in the infield and outfield. Offensively from the left-side, Zeller puts the barrel on the ball often and collects hits in bunches. Zeller should start to impact the ball more as he continues to grow in his frame.
+ No. 17, INF Dean Staudacher (Muskego; Wabash Valley JC)
Staudacher is a compact 5-foot-10, 185-pound infielder with sturdy strength throughout. He's a powerful athlete with arm strength up to 97 mph across the diamond, with actions to play on the left side. At the plate, the right-handed hitter drives the ball in the air and has shown the ability to use the entire field. Staudacher is someone our staff will keep an eye on for his final prep season and into his JUCO career.
+ No. 19, LHP Brolan Frost (Elkhorn Area; Iowa)
Projectable 6-foot-5, 180-pound left-hander with a high ceiling. The lanky left-hander operates out of a clean, slightly crossfire delivery with a fluid arm action from a lower slot. Frost routinely shows feel for three pitches, a lively fastball that sits in the mid-80s, a low-70s breaking ball that he throws for strikes and a running changeup. It’s a starters look with three pitches from the left-side, once the velo comes the ceiling is limitless.
+ No. 20, INF Kaden Connor (Monona Grove; North Dakota State)
Connor is a left-handed-hitting infielder standing at a lean 6-foot-1, 172-pounds with obvious room for physical development. At the plate, the left-hander repeatedly drives the ball to the pull side. Defensively in the infield, Connor has steady hands with range and an accurate arm profiling best at either second or third base long-term.