Eastern Wisconsin Open: Infielder Analysis
October 10, 2018
On Aug. 20, we visited Wildwood Baseball Park in Sheboygan, Wis., to host the Eastern Wisconsin Open. Nearly 50 prospects attended the Sheboygan-area event, and a couple have even committed since. This event is becoming a feature along the tail end of the summer’s busy showcase circuit.
Today, we’ll analyze the group of infielders who came out to perform in this pro-style workout.
Two 2019s emerged from this event as serious next-level talents. We were well-acquainted with SS Brent Widder, who came to Sheboygan already committed to play at Evansville next fall. He certainly showed why he came to the showcase as the highest-ranked prospect among the prospects in attendance. He ran the fastest 60, recorded one of the top exit velocities, threw the hardest across the infield – Widder just looked solid across the board.
The other 2019, INF Jack Koch (Menomonee Falls), marked this event as his first PBR showcase, thus the first time we had seen the 5-foot-10 middle infielder for ourselves. He looked good in the right-handed batter’s box, producing some of the event’s hard contact.
There was also Jamie Praefke (Stevens Point, 2020), a lanky 6-foot-5 two-way prospect who was easy and loose at the plate. Despite his long levers, Praefke was athletic on the move in the infield and his throws carried across the diamond.
Read the reports of Widder, Koch, Praefke, as well as the rest of the infielders who came out to the Eastern Wisconsin Open, by continuing on below. We’ve already published a Statistical Analysis from the showcase, as well as a break down of the day’s catchers and outfielders. Also, keep an eye out tomorrow when we examine the prospects who took the mound.
ALL PROSPECTS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)
Simon Bares, INF, Northern Ozaukee, 2021
5-foot-10, 131-pound infielder, projectable frame. Right-handed hitter, short stride, loose hands. Path is level, line drive contact to pull side. 67 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm plays short and over the top across the diamond, 65 mph. Clean exchange, average actions with playable hands. 8.34 runner in the 60.
Austin Beyer, RHP/INF, Stevens Point, 2020
6-foot-2, 165-pound two-way player, athletic build. Projects best on the mound, works exclusively from the stretch, tall and fall type, repeats on line, little effort. Arm action is loose and easy, high ¾ slot. Fastball is mostly straight, flashed run to arm side, feel for the zone, 79-82 mph. Curveball played 12/6, 63-65 mph. Slider showed sharper action, 69-71 mph. Changeup occasionally sinks, 67-70 mph. Defensively arm played short and ¾ slot, 79 mph across the diamond. Hands work and plays tall at times. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, slight uphill path, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.43 runner in the 60.
Zachary Braunschweig, INF, Slinger, 2019
5-foot-8, 143-pound infielder. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Path is level, line drive contact. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with clean exchange, quick at times, hands showed to be reliable. Arm is short from a lower slot, 70 mph across the diamond. 7.16 runner in the 60.
Alec Danen, 1B, Howards Grove, 2020
6-foot-2, 205-pound first baseman, large frame and build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Strong, hard contact, flashed pop, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. 8.27 runner in the 60. Defensively showed natural actions around the bag, glove pat exchange. Arm action is long from a high ¾ slot, 80 mph across the diamond.
Max Hauser, INF, Marquette, 2019
6-foot, 185-pound corner infielder. Right-handed hitter, tall open stance, leg kick stride. Contact comes off the bat hard at times, path is level and stays on top of the baseball. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played with length, loose, high ¾ slot, 76 mph across the diamond. Exchange is long, profiles best at corner infield. 8.03 runner in the 60.
Nick Herzog, INF, Sheboygan North, 2022
5-foot-9, 133-pound infielder. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Short path abrupt finish, flashed line drive contact. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. 8.08 runner in the 60. Arm action is long across the diamond, over the top slot, 69 mph across the diamond. Actions charged the baseball aggressively, footwork and body control should improve.
Cole Hessler, INF, Germantown, 2019
5-foot-10, 185-pound infielder. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, short stride. Hits off front foot at times with occasional hard contact. Long path slightly uphill, 89 mph exit velocity from the tee, one of the top exit velocities of the event. Defensively arm plays 79 mph across the diamond, short over the top slot, accurate across. Clean exchange plays tall at times. 7.95 runner in the 60.
Brent Hoffmann, INF, Ozaukee, 2020
6-foot-2, 165-pound infielder, lean athletic frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short reverse toe tap stride. Loose quick hands, bat speed present, good balanced approach, path is short and creates line drive contact, in rhythm hitter. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Am plays at 74 mph across the diamond, plays up with accuracy and occasional carry, high ¾ slot. Feet work quick to the baseball, quick exchange. 7.38 runner in the 60.
Jack Koch, INF, Menomonee Falls, 2019
5-foot-10, 185-pound infielder, carries some strength. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, smooth loading action. Short uphill path, 89 mph exit velocity from the tee, top five exit velocity from the event. Hands played well defensively exchange gets long at times. Arm action is short, high ¾ slot, played accurate with occasional carry, 79 mph across the diamond. 7.52 runner in the 60.
Bryce Leedle, RHP/INF, Markesan, 2021
5-foot-10, 155-pound two-way player, lean build. Showed best on the mound, tall and fall delivery with live arm, lands square works directional. Arm action is loose and quick, high ¾ slot. Fastball played with arm side run, showed feel for the zone, 84-85 mph out of the windup, 80-82 out of a slide step stretch. Curveball has 11/5 shape, flashed sharp action, 67-68 mph. Changeup thrown with fastball arm speed, has arm side action, 72-76 mph. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance. 67 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm worked short and loose across the diamond, high ¾ slot. Aggressive actions to the baseball, clean exchange. 7.43 runner in the 60.
Brady Marget, INF, Whitefish Bay, 2021
6-foot-2, 160-pound left-handed hitting infielder, long projectable frame. Tall setup from the left side, loads hands back, slight arm bar bat wrap, stride is short, maintains strong balance. Hands are athletic and loose, projectable swing, path is level through contact, in rhythm with bat speed. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm action plays short from a ¾ slot, 74 mph across the diamond. Hands play well, looks to move through the baseball, feel for levers should improve with age. 7.65 runner in the 60.
Jared Mitchell, INF, Random Lake, 2021
6-foot, 234-pound left/left first baseman. Hits from a tall setup, short stride. Path is short and uphill, some bat strength, flashed pull pop. 76 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm is short and high ¾, 61 mph across the diamond. Showed some natural actions and feel around the bag. 7.55 runner in the 60.
Jacob Modjeski, INF, Port Washington, 2021
5-foot-10, 210-pound corner infielder. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Loose and strong bat path, works uphill, lifted pull side power contact. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm is 69 mph across the diamond, high ¾ slot. Hands field out in front, funnel to long exchange. 8.15 runner in the 60.
Jamie Praefke, RHP/3B, Stevens Point, 2020
Long lean projectable frame, 6-foot-5, 180-pound two-way player. Hits from the left side, tall open stance, short stride. Easy swing, loose levers, natural uphill path, hits in rhythm and finds the barrel. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays short and high ¾, showed carry across the diamond. Showed rangy abilities, clean exchange. 7.30 runner in the 60. On the mound arm action is loose, short draw, ¾ slot, easy effort. Short stride, gets on top and works downhill. Fastball runs to arm side, showed feel for the zone, finished well, sat 78-81 mph, played up with finish and feel, projects for more. Curveball has 11/5 shape, loose at times, 63-66 mph.
Luke Renard, INF, Wrightstown, 2020
5-foot-7, 160-pound infielder, compact build. Right--handed hitter, slightly open stance, short toe tap stride, lower half works, solid balance. Path works uphill, short path, looks to lift the baseball. 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is long from a high ¾ slot, 75 mph across the diamond. Third base profile, hands and feet work together, showed actions, clean exchange. 7.23 runner in the 60.
Eli Syverson, INF, Badger, 2019
6-foot, 165-pound infielder, lean lanky frame. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, slight arm bar load, short stride back to even, good balance. Pull side approach, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm action is loose, accurate across the diamond, occasional carry, 75 mph across the diamond. Hands worked soft and clean, funnels to release. 7.52 runner in the 60.
Carter Stebane, INF, Brillion, 2021
5-foot-10, 165-pound infielder, strong athletic build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short leg kick stride. Bat strength present, opposite field contact, firm bat path. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm plays at 76 mph across the diamond, flashed carry and accuracy, short high ¾ slot. Hands funnel routine ball, some length to exchange, raw footwork and body control. 7.63 runner in the 60.
Kaleb Thiesse, INF/RHP, Kasson-Mantorville, 2020
6-foot, 125-pound two-way player, long thin frame, some projection. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Path has length, occasional cast, pull side contact, 71 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played long and high ¾, 72 mph across the diamond. 8.74 runner in the 60. On the mound delivery works across body, long arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball showed control of the zone, topped at 73 mph, sat 70-72 mph. Curveball plays 11/5, slurve action, showed feel, 56-60 mph. Changeup played 59-63 mph. Splitter showed slight downer action, 58-61 mph.
Trent Van Ess, INF, Two Rivers, 2019
6-foot-1, 170-pound infielder, lanky frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride drops hands and lower half into load. Path has length on uphill path, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays short from a ¾ slot, average arm strength, 77 mph across the diamond. Sits on the baseball, exchange is quick and efficient from glove to hand. 7.35 runner in the 60.
Simon Vanevenhoven, INF, Ripon, 2021
5-foot-10, 155-pound infielder. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance, favors back side. Path is long and uphill, lifted contact, 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm played 68 mph across the diamond, short, ¾ arm action. Exchange works, gets rid of the baseball. 8.05 runner in the 60.
Trevor Wanek, INF, Fennimore, 2019
5-foot-10, 160-pound infielder, strong athletic build. Right-handed hitter, sets up slightly wider, solid balance, lift and load stride. Hands are loose, and showed athletic, occasional bat strength and hard contact. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Hands played above footwork, showed ability to cushion to release. Arm action is long, over the top slot, 73 mph across the diamond. 7.33 runner in the 60.
Brent Widder, SS, Sheboygan Falls, 2019
Evansville commit. 6-foot, 165-pound shortstop, lean athletic frame. Advanced defensive actions, plays fast and through the baseball with soft hands, fluid athletic actions. Arm played with carry, short high ¾ slot, 85 mph across the diamond. 7.08 runner in the 60. Right-handed hitter, open setup, lift and short stride. Path is slightly uphill, pull side contact, loose hands and hard contact. 90 mph exit velocity from the tee.