By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois

The Madison Preseason I.D. concluded our preseason identification tour with a bang. The biggest event of the three with 140 participants, and easily the best collection of pitchers we saw this preseason. Whether the arms are closer to being in shape for the spring season or just the sheer number of players. This crop of pitchers put up some of the best numbers we’ve seen at an open showcase.

CLICK HERE for the complete statistical spreadsheet.

Top 60 Yard Dash

Ten players ran sub 7.0 60’s on our laser timed track. Ben Carew (Kimberly) and Connor Kimple (Marquette University) tied for the top 60 time at 6.76 while McDonnell Central speedster Zach Gilles and Adam LaRock (Eau Claire North) ran 6.77 and 6.78 respectively.

First	Last	School	Class	POS	60
Ben	Carew	Kimberly	2016	MIF	6.76
Connor	Kimple	Marquette University	2016	OF	6.76
Zach	Gilles	McDonnell Central	2016	OF	6.77
Adam	LaRock	Eau Claire North	2016	SS/OF	6.78
J.T.	Parish	Cambridge	2016	OF/RHP	6.83

Top Infield Velocities

Adam LaRock put up one of the best set of statistical numbers we’ve seen at a showcase event. After running one of the top 60 times LaRock had the biggest arm from multiple positions as well as one of the top exit velocities. Here’s a look at the best infield arms.

First	Last	School	Class	POS	INF Velo
Adam	LaRock	Eau Claire North	2016	SS/OF	91
Nathan	Brown	Arrowhead	2016	RHP/SS	89
Patrick	Sisk	Marquette University	2017	SS/3B	85
Taylor	Borchers	Appleton North	2016	3B/RHP	84
Grant	Frazer	Oconto	2016	SS/RHP	83
Kevin	Hussey	Columbus	2016	RHP/3B	83

Top Outfield Velocities

Next to LaRock, OF Connor Kimple’s statistical numbers are just as impressive. Kimple ran the top 60, had the second best arm from the outfield and posted the best exit velocity from the tee. Here’s a look at some of the other top outfield arms.

First	Last	School	Class	POS	OF Velo
Adam	LaRock	Eau Claire North	2016	SS/OF	96
Connor	Kimple	Marquette University	2016	OF	90
Jacob	Greenberg	Wauwatosa West	2016	LHP/OF	87
Paul	Petit	Regis	2017	RHP/SS	85
Benjamin	Graham	Mukwonago	2017	RHP	85
Nicholas	Elsen	Indian Trail	2017	OF	85
Nate	Sorenson	Eau Claire North	2015	OF	85
Dillon	Nowicki	Stoughton	2018	RHP/OF	85

Top Catchers Pop Times

Unsigned Senior Evan Wick (East Troy) posted the top pop time at 1.94 while freshman Jeff Holtz (Arrowhead) an Indiana commit had the most consistent times sitting at 2.00-2.01.

First	Last	School	Class	POS	Pop Times
Evan	Wick	East Troy	2015	C	1.94, 2.01, 2.08
Jeff	Holtz	Arrowhead	2018	C	2.00, 2.00, 2.01
Kyle	Antos	Indian Trail	2017	C/3B	2.00, 2.08, 2.15
Stephen	Lund	Verona Area	2018	C/3B	2.03, 2.12, 2.14
Jamie	DeWitt	Waukesha South	2017	C	2.04, 2.07, 2.11
Zach	Steuck	Lodi	2016	C/3B	2.04, 2.09,2.16

Top Exit Velocities

Once again Connor Kimple tops the list with a 99 mph exit velocity, while two sophomores Jack Kraus (Neenah) and Cameron Kolbe (Appleton North) impressively hit 94 mph off of the tee.

First	Last	School	Class	POS	Exit Velo
Connor	Kimple	Marquette University	2016	OF	99
Grant	Frazer	Oconto	2016	SS/RHP	95
Jim	Jarecki	Marquette University	2016	RHP/1B	95
Jack	Kraus	Neenah	2017	C/3B	94
Cameron	Kolbe	Appleton North	2017	RHP/1B	94

Top Fastball Velocities

As stated in our intro the crop of pitchers was one of the more impressive showings we’ve seen at an open showcase. 13 of the arms touched 85 mph or better while 42 pitchers broke 80 mph, many of which were underclassmen. Here’s a look at the top fastball velocities, but don’t stop there, make sure to check out the complete statistical spreadsheet HERE.

First	Last	School	Class	POS	Max FB
Nathan	Brown	Arrowhead	2016	RHP/SS	92
Alec	Marsh	Ronald Reagan College Prep	2016	RHP	92
Jack	Eagan	Wautoma	2016	LHP	92
Ryan	Schmitt	Arrowhead	2016	RHP	89
Austin	Mihlbauer	Mukwonago	2017	LHP/OF	89
Taylor	Borchers	Appleton North	2016	3B/RHP	88
Adam	Lukas	Grafton	2016	RHP/3B	88

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