Dominic
Santarelli

6-foot, 208-pound frame. Santarelli looked the part as one of the top prospects in not only Wisconsin, but in the Midwest during tournament play this weekend, as our staff got another look at the No. 2 ranked player in the state after a strong showing at the State Tournament for the Lancers. Santarelli presented an ease to his game, consistently making hard contact at the plate. He wound up being the difference-maker for his team in game one of the weekend, barreling up two singles in a narrow victory. Santarelli is an advanced defender at first base, too. The to-be junior showcased smooth actions with the glove—making difficult picks in addition to throws to second base with tight windows. He continues to show well after a stellar spring, where he garnered First Team All-State honors at the first base position.

Positional Profile: 1B/OF
Body: 6-0, 209-pounds. Athletic build, strong lower half, strong upper half, still some room to add.
Hit: LHH. Slightly open, easy and rhythmic to hitting position on time. Easy, fluid and loose bat speed, short path, tight path, in the zone for days, easy pop to all fields, serious hitability. 73.8 mph bat speed with 15 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 100 max exit velocity, averaged 95.4 mph. 322' max distance.
Arm: LH. INF-77 mph. Carry on his throws from 3/4 slot, accurate.
Defense: Very good glove work and foot work around the bag, can turn the 3-6-3 double play with ease.
ATH: 7.32 runner in the 60. 26.40 max vertical.

Santarelli showed up boasting a more filled out and stronger 6-foot, 209-pound frame. Working from a balanced setup, Santarelli swings a fluid and loose left-handed bat that is short to the ball with a slightly uphill path. Despite his low-effort swing, he still produced the day's top batted ball metrics as he averaged an exit velocity of 95.4 mph with his hardest ball coming off at 100.4 mph. He is also a quality defender at first base that showcased the ability to smother throws in the dirt while working with quality actions around the bag. It was yet another ultra-impressive look at Santarelli who continued to assert the notion of being one of the state’s top prospects, regardless of class.

Positional Profile: 1B/OF
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds. Athletic, proportional frame.
Hits: LHH. Wider base, slightly open. Short to the ball, quick and efficient into the zone, long through the ball, ultra strong hands and easy bat strength, consistently on the barrel with backspin, used the whole field, repeats the swing, special.
Power: 99 max exit velocity, averaged 91.6 MPH. 378' max distance.
Arm: LH. INF-78 mph.Short arc, 3/4 slot, accurate and carry.
Defense: Soft hands, works well around the bag.
Run: 7.38 runner in the 60.
Vizual Edge: 52.57 Edge Score

Santarelli easily took one, if not the most impressive round of BP we have seen in some time. Currently ranked No. 3 in the state and committed to Louisville, it is easy to see why many people regard him as one of the best in the class. The 6-foot, 190-pound left-handed hitter showcased a short, uphill path to the ball with ultra-strong hands and easy bat-strength, consistently working on the barrel with backspin to the whole field and repeating his swing with ease. Santarelli led the entire event in max exit velocity with a 98.5 mph max, averaging 91.6 mph. He also led the event in max batted distance, registering his furthest ball at 377’.

Positional Profile: 1B/OF
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds. Athletic, proportional frame.
Hits: LHH. Wider base, slightly open. Short to the ball, quick and efficient into the zone, long through the ball, ultra strong hands and easy bat strength, consistently on the barrel with backspin, used the whole field, repeats the swing, special.
Power: 99 max exit velocity, averaged 91.6 MPH. 378' max distance.
Arm: LH. INF-78 mph.Short arc, 3/4 slot, accurate and carry.
Defense:
Run: 7.38 runner in the 60.
Vizual Edge: 52.57 Edge Score

Santarelli, a Louisville commit, checks several boxes as a future middle-of-the-order impact bat, and he debuts at No. 3 on this initial rankings. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound first baseman is a natural left-handed hitter with great rhythm and timing in the box. It only takes a couple of at bats to see the innate ability to barrel up balls to all fields with the sweet left-handed swing Santarelli can hit velocity, breaking balls and offspeed pitches all over the field with ease, something we saw at The Rock this summer as he was arguably the best pure hitter of the weekend. A left-handed thrower, he handles himself well around the bag providing reliable quality defense at first base. Santarelli also made the trip to LakePoint to represent Team Wisconsin at the PBR Junior Futures Games, and provided the team with one of the weekend’s most clutch hits, a triple against high-end velocity late in an elimination game. Without even playing a high school game yet, Santarelli has already proved to be a force in the Badger State and with still four more years until he heads off to Louisville, there is no telling what this young prospect could accomplish.

Santarelli is one of the top 2026 bats in the state and his hit tool has been on display all summer in tournament play. Santarelli stands 5-foot-11, 175 pounds and has some strength and size projection left to his frame. Starting from a relaxed upright set up, he hit line drives all fields in batting practice. He has tremendous barrel awareness and natural rhythm and timing to hit balls to all fields and adjust to the different ways pitchers are trying to attack him. Santarelli’s displayed soft hands to both back hand and glove side ground balls with an accurate arm to turn the 3-6-1 double play. Dominic Santarelli will be a presence in the middle of the line up for the Wisconsin team during the Junior Future Games week. 

Legitimate bat with a natural rhythmic feel to hit and feel for the barrel. Sees the baseball and stays on balance and uses explosive hand speed to get barrel to ball. Hits the ball where it’s pitched, stays on the baseball. Reliable hands at first base. Works hard, pays attention, competes. 

Sanatrelli is a physically mature left handed infielder that offered one of the better looks at the plate. Setting up tall and open, with a relaxed and tight handset, he made a hanging leg kick stride to square. Santarelli was quick to the ball off the trigger with vertical adjustability. He battled to stay inside tough locations with loud contact to all fields. While Santarelli was dealing with some arm issues rolling into the event, he also possessed a low to mid-70’s fastball that could be an upper 70’s fastball with health and conditioning. On defense, he showed feel for the movements and the plays demanded at first base, and will mature well as a defender. 

5-foot-6, 150 pounds; left/left two-way player who showed particularly well on the mound over the weekend at our PBR at The Rock Championships. Durable build, sturdy/strong lower half. From the windup, classic overhead rock to hip turn and high knee balance point. Efficient drive down mound, high front side; short draw, loose and clean arm action from a high ¾ slot. Finishes balanced, square to target. Profiles like a strike-throwing left-hander; fastball sat 70-73 mph, up to 74.