Last month we visited Hitters Baseball Academy to host our longest standing PBR Wisconsin showcase, the South Milwaukee Preseason I.D. Historically this event has brought some of the top talent the Badger State has to offer, and the 2020 version was no different. Throughout the week we will bring you our top ranked prospects, sorted by positions, complete with scouting reports.

For reference, you can always visit our Quick Hits edition, and Statistical Analysis from this event, which were released just days after the event.

Today we'll start our position-by-position analysis with the catchers, a talented crop of receivers led by a pair of committed prospects in Hayden Christiansen and T.J. Schuyler, both hailing from Illinois. Christiansen posted the event’s top pop time at 1.94 and showing a big arm out of the crouch. The top uncommitted prospect comes in the form of Muskego’s Heath Venne (2022). Venne’s game looked improved throughout, especially in the batter's box and will be a strong follow this summer.

TOP CATCHER PROSPECTS

1. Hayden Christiansen, Richmond-Burton (IL), 2022 - Xavier
Positional Profile: C High follow prospect in his class who continues to trend upward.
Body: 6-foot-2, 185-pounds. Athletic frame, lean build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, short stride, loose loading action in rhythm and on time. Short path, stepp to contact at times, gap to gap approach, contact jumps off the bat.
Power: 98 mph exit velocity from the tee. Power potential bat.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. Plus arm for age, carries well, short over the top action, quick release.
Defense: 1.94-2.08 pop times. Advanced actions, athletic out of the crouch with quick agile footwork. Soft receiver, quiet setup subtle actions.
Run: 7.05 runner in the 60. Above average runner, athletic.

2. TJ Schuyler, Antioch (IL), 2023 - Indiana
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-2, 170-pounds. Lean athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, open narrow stance, long leg kick stride, solid balance. Middle of the field approach, loose hands, path worked slightly uphill, showed feel for the barrel with repeatable contact.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short arm action, works out of a high 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Defense: 2.08-2.19 pop times. Athletic out of the crouch, gets tall out of the chute, average hands.
Run: 7.49 runner in the 60. 

3. Heath Venne, Muskego (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 185-pounds. Compact strong build, lean muscle throughout.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, smooth loading action, short stride, lower half works aggressive, good balance through contact. Path is short to the baseball, stays on plane, strong consistent line drive contact throughout his round, hits in rhythm.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ball jumps off the bat, mostly hard line drive contact.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Over the top slot, works with short arm action and efficient release, occasional carry to target and showed accuracy.
Defense: 2.19-2.28 pop times. Athletic receiver, hands works softly with clean exchange, stays low receiving through transfer. Low small setup receiving the baseball, tracks the ball with glove.
Run: 7.26 runner in the 60. 

4. Joseph Ricchio, Tremper (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 190-pounds. Compact frame, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, slightly open stance, short stride, subtle hand load. Compact path with bat speed, stays connected, loose hands are short to contact. Line drive gap to gap approach.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. Short over the top slot, carries to target, quick release.
Defense: 2.11-2.20 pop times. Athletic out of the chute, light on his feet, soft hands and quick transfer.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60. 

5. Noah Berndt, Winneconne (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-1, 210-pounds. Physically advanced, strong throughout.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, slight leg lift stride gets squared. quiet hand load. Strong hands creates advanced bat speed, gap to gap power approach. Ball jumped off the bat at times.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Present bat strength.
Arm: RH. C - 81 mph. Strong arm out of the crouch, arm action plays short and over the top, occasional carry, moderate accuracy.
Defense: 2.15-2.22 pop times. Firm actions out of the crouch, gets tall at times. Sets up tall at times.
Run: 7.48 runner in the 60.

6. Joe Turco, Franklin (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-foot-10, 175-pounds. Typical catcher frame, durable with strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, tal and simple setup, short stride, quiet lower half, simple static pre pitch. Strong hands, average bat speed on short path, steep at times, simple middle of the field approach.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short arm action, over the top slot, flashed carry.
Defense: 2.15-2.33 pop times. Direct footwork out of the crouch, simple and efficient. Quiet receiver, showed soft hands.
Run: 7.61 runner in the 60. 

7. Alec Campbell, Milton (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-2, 180-pounds. Lean frame, long levers.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, short stride, quiet loading action. Path is steep at times, short to the baseball, occasional line drive contact.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. High 3/4 arm slot, draws straight to throwing position, occasional carry.
Defense: 2.09-2.18 pop times. Quiet receiver, soft hands, tracks ball well, active blocker of the baseball.
Run: 7.57 runner in the 60. Long strider, heel strike runner.

8. Joseph Lagina, Freedom Project Academy (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-foot-11, 187-pounds. Sturdy build, strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, minimal to no stride, slight hand load, back and up, simple actions pre pitch, ability to repeat. Path is short, strong hands, showed bat speed and ability to stay compact.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short over the top slot, showed ability to play accurate.
Defense: 2.22-2.33 pop times. Natural actions, proved agile behind the dish, adept blocker, above average hands.
Run: 7.69 runner in the 60. 

9. Brady Katterhagen, Union Grove (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: INF/C
Body: 5-foot-11, 180-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced stance, reverse leg lift load, hands load back with barrel tip. Loose hands, short to baseball with uphill finish, firm front side.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. INF - 80 mph. Short arm action, works out of over the top slot, played athletic when needed.
Defense: 2.15-2.26 pop times. Exchange plays quick, footwork plays direct with some length. On the infield showed above average actions and body control.
Run: 7.90 runner in the 60. 

10. Trevor Rockweiler, McHenry (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-0, 190-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, leg kick trigger, some effort. Strong and creates bat speed, lifted contact.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Over the top slot.
Defense: 2.09-2.19 pop times. Quick exchange and footwork, agile blocking the baseball. Slight offset setup receiving the baseball, reaches with gloveside, sways to stay within body and occasionally goes to one knee.
Run: 7.64 runner in the 60. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Hunter Abitz, Kettle Moraine Lutheran (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-8, 190-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, short toe tap stride, average balance. Rotational swing, pull side approach.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 63 mph. INF - 67 mph. Long arm action, over the top slot.
Defense: 2.49-2.54 pop times. Tall secondary setup in the crouch, gets tall. Infield actions profile at a corner, rolls glove to field.
Run: 8.14 runner in the 60. 

Joshua Cartwright, Iowa Grant (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-0, 174-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, wide stance, short stride to even. Path works long on uphill plane.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Long arm action, firm, out of high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.25-2.50 pop times. Exchange plays with length, footwork direction varies.
Run: 7.49 runner in the 60. 

Riley Emons, Hale (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-5, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall open setup, leg kick stride that gets squared up. Path works with length, fluid through contact
Power: 74 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Short arm action out of a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.37-2.51 pop times. Deliberate exchange, drops hands in transfer, feet work directional.
Run: 8.58 runner in the 60. 

Nicholas Lacson, Barrington (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-foot-0, 165-pounds. Frame has leaned out, gained length.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, short stride, loads weight back, big loading action. Rotational swing, short to contact at times.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Over the top arm action, short arm swing.
Defense: 2.15-2.28 pop times. Short direct footwork out of the crouch, deliberate actions. Quiet receiver, soft hands.
Run: 7.34 runner in the 60. 

Maxamillion Martin, Franklin (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-foot-7, 170-pounds. Compact build, strong.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, slightly wider setup, stable base, minimal stride action, good strong balance through contact. Aggressive swing, shows bat strength, path is short and showed a line drive gap to gap approach.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 66 mph. INF - 74 mph. Short efficient arm action, over the top slot.
Defense: 2.35-2.40 pop times. Quick actions out of the crouch, short quick footwork. Soft hands receiving, quiet actions in primary setup, showed best at catcher. First base actions showed feel around the bag, average defender.
Run: 8.13 runner in the 60. 

Joseph Mendoza, Tremper (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-7, 145-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup with open stance, collapses into lower half. Path works uphill with length.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Long arm action, plays out of high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.40-2.68 pop times. Sets up with flexible lower half, tall in the crouch, deliberate actions.
Run: 8.02 runner in the 60. 

Evan Olson, Appleton East (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-4, 135-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, low hand setup, pre pitch bat waggle, leg kick stride. Path works uphill through contact.
Power: 71 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Short arm action, over the top slot.
Defense: 2.39-2.57 pop times. Tall setup, gets up early out of the crouch, footwork plays direct to second base.
Run: 8.28 runner in the 60. 

Connor O'Reilly, Burlington (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-2, 260-pounds. Sturdy, wide body build, durable catcher's make up.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, short stride, foot is down early, subtle hand load. Path is simple, direct to the baseball, minimal wasted movements.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Naturally strong hands.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short arm action, plays over the top.
Defense: 2.35-2.61 pop times. Deliberate actions out of the crouch, gets tall out of the chute. Wide setup receiving the baseball.
Run: 7.82 runner in the 60. 

Justin Pontow, Wisconsin Lutheran (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/C
Body: 5-foot-7, 135-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Static pre pitch, balanced stance, short stride, loads hands back, minimal lower half. Abrupt swing path, short and uphill through contact.
Power: 75 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 64 mph. OF - 75 mph. Long arm action, 3/4 slot, plays slightly shorter out of the crouch.
Defense: 2.57-2.67 pop times. Square setup, replaces feet out of the crouch, receives with two hands. Outfield actions shuffle through the baseball, aggressively plays through the baseball in stride, profiled best in the outfield.
Run: 7.74 runner in the 60. 

Ryan Santi, Oak Creek (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-11, 195-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Slight open stance, short stride squares back up. Loose hands, slight uphill plane, moderate bat speed.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Long arm action, over the top slot.
Defense: 2.43-2.61 pop times. Low setup, quiet receiver, hands played soft. Long out of the crouch at times.
Run: 8.09 runner in the 60. 

Kyle Smith, Warren (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-foot-0, 205-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, short subtle stride, stays quiet and simple, solid balance. Level path, line drive gap to gap hitter, ability to repeat.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. INF - 81 mph. Short over the top arm action, some effort.
Defense: 2.16-2.32 pop times. Defensive actions showed best at catcher, works direct to target with some effort, quiet receiver, keeps framework still.
Run: 7.83 runner in the 60. 

Sage Stellmacher, Markesan (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-2, 180-pounds. Lean lanky frame.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, smooth loading action with short stride that squares up. Path works uphill, opposite field contact.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short loose arm action out of the crouch, showed some accuracy.
Defense: 2.09-2.18 pop times. Direct footwork out of the crouch, loose release, above average actions.
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60.

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