South Milwaukee Preseason ID: Preview

Alexander Alicea SS / St. Thomas More, WI / 2023

From 12/29/21: "...Committed to Louisville, Alicea is a top-10 player in the state’s junior class and he’s penciled inside the top-500 nationally for the 2023 grads, too. His calling card, for as long as we’ve known him, has always been his up-the-middle defense. Alicea’s savvy actions immediately standout when you watch him play and he’s currently amongst the best infield defenders in the entire state. Offensively, his knack for contact and constant hustle plays to his strengths as a consistently pesky at-bat that looks to take the extra bag out of the batter's box. He boasts the foot speed and quickness to offer upside on the bases as well, featuring an all-around package that can contribute in multiple ways."

Zachary Ausburn RHP / Warren , IL / 2025

From 6/6/21: "6-foot-4, 170-pound, long-limbed, highly-projectable right-handed bat who took a couple quality at-bats and found some barrels for Hitters during the PBR at The Rock Championships. Ausburn stays short to the ball and looks to control the barrel, an impressive feat given his extremely long levers. Ausburn finished 1-for-3 with a walk, RBI single and run scored."

Ethan Bauerschmidt 2B / Tremper, WI / 2025

From 6/6/21: "5-foot-11, 145 pounds; highly projectable frame, long levers, athleticism. Right-handed hitter, went 7-for-18 on the weekend with four doubles during the PBR at The Rock Championships. Swing especially projects; tall/balanced base, hands set low, quiet/calm pre-pitch, open stance. Soft, smooth load, strides to even, hangs to sync timing, quiet and simple swing. Short, easy path to the zone, barrel stays long through it; whippy swing with upside as he adds muscle."

Adam Behrens RHP / Warren Township, IL / 2023

From 3/3/22: "Continues to show an uptick in stuff after coming off a strong 2021 campaign, including a trip to the PBR Future Games. Behrens shows feel for an above-average three-pitch mix, including a fastball that sat 88-90 mph, touched 91, a curveball that averaged 2,300-plus rpm, and a changeup that averaged over 15 inches of horizontal movement. He's a strong-bodied, competitive strike-thrower whose velocity continues to rise."

Jackson Brewer 1B / Homestead, WI / 2024

From 7/2/21: "Was an impact contributor for Homestead in his first season at the varsity level this spring and has started to translate that into the summer season. A 6-foot-3, 185-pound left/left athlete, Brewer went 2-for-2 with two quality barrels and two RBIs"

Thomas Burns RHP / Hortonville , WI / 2023

From 9/21/21: "Burns possesses one of the highest ceilings on the mound in the entire Midwest. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound former PBR Future Games participant got the nod for Hitters 2023 squad on Saturday morning at our PBR at The Rock Fall Championships, when it was roughly 45 degrees outside, and continued to showcase an impressive, high upside arsenal. Burns ripped off a 91 mph fastball in the first inning, sitting anywhere from 86-90 mph with his heater as his outing went on. He showed an improved feel to spin his breaking ball for strikes as well, landing it in the zone to get ahead in counts and even when he was behind a handful of times, too. Burns appears to just be scratching the surface of what he could be, especially as he continues to fill out his frame and physically mature."

Nolan Buss RHP / Arrowhead, WI / 2024

From 9/22/21: "Buss has made big strides in syncing up his release point more regularly, which has translated to more strikes this fall, without sacrificing velocity. At the PBR Midwest Fall Championships, Buss sat 84-86 mph and reached back for 87-88 several times early on, on a fastball that really exploded through the strike zone. Facing a quality lineup, Buss earned plenty of ugly swings and misses on the fastball alone. He has long levers attached to a 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame, and Buss is really only just scraping the surface of his massive potential."

Chris Calico OF / West Salem, WI / 2023

From 1/3/22: "Calico’s a smaller utility man with high rates of force development in the box for his stature. While Calico may be an average runner, he’s pretty dynamic in small spaces. His footwork carries his arm defensively on the dirt, and his coordination plays above his speed marks. In the box, he offers repeated hard contact with low flights – player who understands his profile, and plays accordingly. He's one of the top uncommitted utility defenders in the state, and trending up in offensive capacity and performance measures. Surely, he's a gritty ballplayer to note in Wisconsin’s ‘23 class."

Michael Carpenter LHP / Arrowhead, WI / 2023

From 5/7/21: "Uncommitted. Listed at an athletic, lean 6-foot-1, 165 pounds. Pitched 2.1 highly effective innings against a quality Arrowhead lineup to earn a win; struck out three, allowed one hit, no walks, no runs. Earned seven swings and misses over 25 pitches, predominantly using the fastball alone. Athletic to high knee tuck and hip turn balance point, works closed down mound; lands square to target; efficient energy transfer from draw to release creates clean, quick, loose arm action. Fastball sat 82-84 mph, straight four-seam with some jump from the hand, located well up in the zone. Has previously showed a high-spin, tight, biting curveball, 71-73 mph here, though mostly opted for the changeup. Changeup is mostly straight, flashed late run/sink, located under the zone, 77-78 mph."

Jaxon Clayton 3B / Brookfield Central, WI / 2025

From 6/6/21: "5-foot-11, 175 pounds; compact, strong build. Started on the mound for Hitters Navy on Friday night against Cangelosi Sparks North during the PBR at The Rock Championships. Starts centered on the rubber, tempo’d side-step initiates a controlled tall/fall type delivery, upright posture at balance point, level shoulders to footstrike. Works in line to target, lands square with an athletic follow through release. Short arm circle finishes out of a near over-the-top arm slot. Fastball worked on the corners at 75-78 mph, straight action. Curveball flashed swing-and-miss action with downer spin, spotted it up down in the zone, capable of burying it below barrels at a 2,200-plus rpm average. Right-handed hitter, quiet and simple in the box and creates easy jump off the barrel thanks to his strong/quick wrists"

JD Dix SS / Whitefish Bay, WI / 2024

From 9/10/21: "Dix is the youngest feature in this offensive piece. This switch-hitting youngster has already begun growing into some pop. Although his opportunities at Grand Park provided a lot of topped batted balls, we’ve been seeing balls off the wall in competition, and balls leaving the yard in the practice setting off a three wheel. Both sides of the box offer athleticism, size, and enough bat speed to project big things may arrive. In the right-handed box, Dix offers a very rotational attack with high degrees of intent. When hitting left-handed, he looks to present a more directional barrel path through impact, with bat-to-ball feel, and a tick less intent. If the juice in the box follows the juice in the arm, this’ll be a name to know the rest of the way."

Ryne Dzierzynski SS / Grant , IL / 2025

From 3/1/22: "Dzierzynski looks the part in the right-handed box, standing in with a confident, relaxed setup and repeatable swing that works direct to the ball and flat through the zone. Defensively, he plays with rhythm at times, athletic actions, and sure hands with a quick, clean release and his arm topped at 79 mph across; also ran a 7.19 in the 60."

Grayson Flugaur RHP / Franklin, WI / 2024

From 10/28/21: "Has been on our radar as one of the state’s most athletic 2024 prospects, and the strides he’s taken from a pure pitching standpoint have only solidified his status among this group. Flugaur was a key contributor on a talented Franklin Sabers squad in his freshman season, turning in multiple impressive outing from the mound, including a dominant start against Whitefish Bay at our first-ever invitational event held at The Rock Complex in May. Flugaur owns one of the state’s most analytically friendly fastballs, creating natural vertical ride from a lower average release height on his low-80s heater. His aptitude and confidence to spin a sharp swing-and-miss breaking ball at any point in a given at-bat is the separator and it elevates his arsenal."

Boston Halloran 3B / Franklin, WI / 2023

From 3/7/21:

Positional Profile: 3B/OF
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds. Proportionally strong build.
Hit: RHH. Starts tall in the box with some bend in the lower half, hands start high, bat wraps slightly at load, short stride.  Quick bat, short and level bat path to contact, line drive approach. Works on top of the baseball.
Power: 90.25 max exit velocity, averaged 77.98 mph. 281’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C -  mph. INF - 87 mph. OF -  mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: Lower half works around the baseball, feet defend in rhythm. Steady hands, clean hand transfer, quick to release without much added movement. Corner infield profile.
Run: 7.31 runner in the 60.

Nathan Hanel C / Oak Creek, WI / 2024

From 3/7/21:

Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds. Lean, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Athletic setup, balanced stance, relaxed, short stride, strong balance throughout. Above average bat speed for age, loose hands on slight uphill plane, line drive gap to gap approach that works in rhythm. Showed above average feel for the barrel.
Power: 83.51 max exit velocity, averaged 71.73 mph. 255’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. INF -  mph. OF -  mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot
Defense: 2.29-2.37 pop times. Soft-handed receiver, fluid actions, moves well with above average actions. Strong blocking skills, athletic out of the crouch.
Run: 7.52 runner in the 60.

Payten Jibben OF / Oak Creek, WI / 2024

From 3/7/21: "Jibben is an upside prospect in the state’s 2024 class. He’s 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, with a ton of room to fill out. His right-handed swing already showed one of the best peak hand speeds of the event – measured at 25 mph by our Blast sensor – and as he continues to add strength, he’ll only see his batted-ball metrics go up. Defensively, he showed all the right actions in the outfield with an athletic crowhop and a well-above-average arm for his age. It works from the mound, too, where his arm works fluidly, clean, and there’s likely a huge jump in velocity coming in the near future."

JT Kelenic OF / Catholic Memorial , WI / 2023

From 9/24/21: "Kelenic’s offensive ceiling shined through when he crushed one of the weekend’s hardest hit balls over the left field fence on a line at our PBR at the Rock Fall Championships. Listed at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, Kelenic’s right-handed bat has substantial upside, as he has some of the class’ top raw power. Additionally, he moves especially well for a player his size, having run a 6.78 down in Georgia for the PBR Future Games, where he also averaged an exit speed over 92 mph in batting practice, and he reached an 86 mph high to home from the outfield."

Seth Koci 2B / Indian Trail, WI / 2024

From 3/7/21: "Koci put together one of the more consistent rounds of BP in the class. It's a short stroke on top of the baseball that created repeated backspin contact back up the middle of the field. He’s well-balanced and athletic in the box, which showed on the infield and in his 60-yard dash (7.18)."

Carter Kutz C / Hartford Union, WI / 2025

From 8/1/22: "Kutz continued to assert himself as one of Wisconsin’s top incoming freshmen while at the Junior Future Games. Built at a wiry, athletic 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Kutz started the week off with an impressive round of BP, barreling his best ball up at 96.4 mph. His right-handed swing showcased as his best trait, and it translated seamlessly into gameplay, where he swiftly became Team Wisconsin’s top offensive performer. Kutz’s barrel feel and inherent strength generated multiple extra-base hits, including barreled balls delivered into both gaps – and he also crushed a ball off the top of the left field fence. Defensively, Kutz calls a quality game from behind the dish and captains the defense adequately, serving as an anchor back there for Team Wisconsin each game he caught. He also hopped on the mound against West Virginia, tossing four strong innings and running his fastball up to 83 mph."

Tannis Lange LHP / Waukesha South, WI / 2024

From 10/28/21: "Brings a highly competitive presence to the mound each time he toes the rubber. Built at a sturdy and projectable 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Lange consistently competes and performs, filling up all areas of the zone with strikes. His fastball runs and sinks from a deceptive slot, working in the high-70s, reaching an 81 mph in front of us this fall. He’ll also flip in a high-60s curveball for strikes, spinning off a 1/7 plane with above-average depth and shape."

Brock Lulewicz 3B / Muskego, WI / 2024

From 10/11/21: "Lulewicz, the No. 3-ranked player in the state, demonstrates on-field IQ constantly, and especially on defense. He’s fit for the left side of the diamond, and moves to his forehand expertly and in control. He’s a spray left-handed hitter inside a projectable 6-foot, 175-pound frame that projects to add a more substantial batted-ball profile as he develops."

Ethan Moore SS / Oak Park-River Forest, IL / 2025

From 6/6/21: "Moore has a compact, strong frame and advanced feel for the barrel. The right-handed hitter, who bats at the top of the order, stays short and on top of the baseball and uses the whole field. Moore stays within himself, sees the ball deep into the zone and barreled up everything he saw in the zone. At the PBR at The Rock Championships, Moore finished 3-for-3 with a double to right-center field, single through the left side of the diamond and a hard ground ball back up the middle. Moore scored three runs and drove in one in game one of the day"

Trent Oiler RHP / Brookfield East, WI / 2025

From 8/17/21: "Listed at a physical 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Oiler made his mark from the mound at this showcase. The incoming freshman has previously turned heads for his premium speed for a player his size and age, as he ran a 7.13 in the 60-yard dash back in April. Monday, Oiler took the mound only, and used his long levers well enough to project like a highly interesting prospect to monitor in Wisconsin’s 2025 class. Oiler reached an 80.7 mph high with his fastball, a heavy-type pitch that generates hard arm-side action, and he has an above-average feel for his breaking ball, too. His size, athleticism, and raw stuff are the ingredients for a high-follow ‘25 to know ahead of time in the Milwaukee area."

Zachary Olson RHP / Muskego, WI / 2023

From 1/3/22: "Standing as a strong and projectable right-hander returning from injury, Olson looks to make a splash this spring. Utilizing a patient drop-and-drive delivery with a higher hand break, and releasing from a ¾ slot. Olson has some feel for his fastball release with clear room for velocity upside. While the spin is under construction, it’s easy to be hopeful for the direction this offering can move with time to develop his throwing, and time to mature his spins. An interesting arm to monitor throughout the ‘22 cycle."

Cade Palkowski OF / Oak Creek, WI / 2024

From 10/28/21: "Has been spending the fall behind center at quarterback for the Knights, but he’s also one of the state’s best prospects on the diamond. He’s a compact and strong left/left athlete with a top-of-the-order offensive profile that sparks up the lineup behind. His strength and speed have him ranked inside the state’s best already."

Jack Poellot SS / Lake Country Lutheran, WI / 2025

From 8/1/21: "Poellot was arguably the team’s top two-way asset last week at the Junior Future Games. Poellot demonstrated upside all over the diamond down in Georgia, first during Wednesday’s workout, in which he showcased true shortstop actions while spraying line-drives around the field from both batter’s boxes. Poellot’s glove can be a major asset for him, as the 5-foot-11, 160-pound prospect is a smooth, sure-handed defender with athletic infield actions and adept body control for someone his age, too. During pool play, Poellot was called on to relieve against Team Texas on Saturday morning, and his future from the mound is similarly bright. He attacked the zone with an upper-70s fastball that reached an 82 mph high, and he showed the feel to spin a slurve-type breaking ball in all counts that made for a quality outing against formidable competition. Poellot’s athleticism provides him with multiple routes to success both in high school and beyond."

Aren Robinson 1B / Brookfield Central, WI / 2024

From 9/25/21: "Few players in the region bring the kind of physicality that Robinson offers, listed at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds. He progressed especially well over last offseason and transformed his offensive profile into a more rhythmic hitter who works the middle of the diamond, and that stands to benefit him in the long-term, as he matures. We’ve seen flashes of his immense offensive upside in 2021, including this past September at The Rock Complex, where he smashed a ball off the very top of the big fence in left-center."

Gianni Royer OF / Lake Forest, IL / 2023

From 9/30/21: "Royer hit in the three-hole for Hitters Baseball’s 2023 squad throughout the PBR at The Rock Fall Championships, swinging a competitive right-handed bat with loose hands and wrists that generate bat speed and a line-drive profile – and he didn’t strike out at The Rock, either. He’s athletic and it works well in the outfield, as a steady and reliable prospect to know headed into the offseason."

Luca Royer OF / Lake Forest, IL / 2024

From 10/19/21: "At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, the athleticism Royer contains inside his projectable frame is what stands out most. Royer’s right-handed swing recorded one of the day’s top rounds of BP, as the big-bodied outfielder showcased a loose, short swing that found the barrel on repeat, producing steady line-drive contact to all fields. His max exit speed – a 93.3 mph liner – was measured as the event-high. Royer ran a 7.29 in the 60, a quality time for a player his age and size, and his speed allows him to move around the outfield capably, attached to an arm that reached an 81 mph high to home.

Aiden Schenk 1B / Janesville Craig, WI / 2023

From 9/29/21: "Schenk hit right in the heart of a talented Hitters ‘23 lineup throughout the weekend at our PBR at The Rock Fall Championships and his prowess as a top left-handed corner infielder in Wisconsin was on display. He worked on the barrel throughout, spraying line drives the other way with ease or turning to the pull-side for a handful of base hits, too. Schenk’s power derives from the sturdy strength inside a 6-foot, 200-pound frame and he continues to hit each time we see him."

TJ Schuyler C / Antioch, IL / 2023

From 9/3/21: "Rises a few spots, occupying the No. 12 overall ranking on our Illinois board. He boasts one of the more impressive frames in the class, standing at a proportionally strong 6-foot-2, 205-pounds with crisp, clean actions behind the plate and immense arm strength (83 mph from the crouch) for his age. Committed to Indiana, Schuyler offers noteworthy offensive upside as well and it’s easy to project future power output attached to an effortless right-handed stroke. We’ve also seen him up to 87 mph in the past on the mound with a 2,400+ RPM slider to pair. "

Adison Tevz RHP / New Berlin Eisenhower, WI / 2023

From 3/7/21: "We saw Tevz at the Badger State Battle last summer, sitting 80-82 mph back then, with a tight breaking ball. He’s ticked up since, generating advanced velocity for his compact 5-foot-10, 170-pound build, sitting 84-86 mph on Sunday, touching an 87.1 high, the second highest among sophomores in attendance. Tevz’s curveball is a tight, sharp offering that spins at a high rate, measured at 2,391 rpm on average, and the change features late action, too."

RJ Thomae OF / Hartford Union , WI / 2024

From 3/7/21:

Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-10, 140-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup with short stride. Repeatable, middle of the field contact, above average hand speed create short path, level through contact.
Power: 92.61 max exit velocity, averaged 83.71 mph. 327’ max distance. Flashed above average pop for age.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Over the top slot, clean arm action.
Defense: Athletic feet, big crowhop throw release, plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60.

CJ Trask SS / Oak Creek, WI / 2024

From 3/7/21:

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-9, 155-pounds. Athletic build, some strength in the lower half.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, balanced lower half, hands load back, short stride.  Short path, works uphill at times. Line drive approach.
Power: 84.58 max exit velocity, averaged 76.3 mph. 242’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C -  mph. INF - 85 mph. OF -  mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Accurate across the infield with some carry.
Defense: Active feet that work around the baseball in a fluid, tempo'd rhythm. Soft hands, clean funnels, quick to release on the move, plays through. Showed advanced infield actions for age.
Run: 7.48 runner in the 60.