Eastern Wisconsin Open: Pitcher Analysis
October 11, 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 pitchers who took the mound in this pro-style workout.
This collection of arms was arguably the most talented group out of all the positions who performed in Sheboygan. Among the day’s most notable headlines was just how stacked Stevens Point’s staff is looking in 2019.
Since this event, RHP J.D. Schultz (Stevens Point, 2019) has emerged as one of the top unsigned senior righties in the state. He leveraged his performance in Sheboygan into an appearance at Senior Games in Mequon late last month. He topped 88 mph at the Eastern Wisconsin Open, the hardest fastball at the event.
Joining Schultz from Stevens Point are a trio of upside 2020 arms: RHP Jamie Praefke, LHP Kaden Schulist, and RHP Austin Beyer. Praefke is 6-foot-5, works clean and easy, and was up to 81 mph but certainly projects for more as he matures and develops. Schulist is also 6-foot-5; he touched 80 mph and showed some early feel for two different breaking balls. And Beyer showed feel for the strike zone with a long and loose arm, and was up to 82 mph.
Also worth highlighting is Markesan RHP Bryce Leedle (2021), a sophomore with a live arm who showed feel for three pitches, including a fastball that sat 84-85 mph. It was a breakout performance for the 2021, who placed himself squarely on the prospect map.
Read the reports of the Stevens Point arms and Leedle, as well as the rest of the pitchers 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, outfielders, and infielders. Also, keep an eye out tomorrow when we break down the top overall prospects, class by class.
all prospects (listed alphabetically)
Cade Berendt, LHP, Germantown, 2019
6-foot-1, 160-pound left-handed pitcher, lean build with sloped shoulders. Tall and fall delivery, slightly rotational, finishes to third base side, low effort. Live arm, long and loose, ¾ slot. Fastball plays up, hard running action to arm side, showed control of the zone, sat 84-85 mph. Slider showed control and action, 2/8 shape, fastball arm speed, 68-71 mph. Curveball played 1/7 66-69 mph. Changeup sinks to arm side, above average action, 79-81 mph.
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.
Jack Desing, OF/RHP, Dominican, 2020
5-foot-9, 165-pound two-way player. Right-handed hitter, wide stance, balanced, short stride. Path is long and uphill, pull side approach, 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays at 75 mph from a ¾ slot. Aggressive actions through the baseball. 8.14 runner in the 60. Arm worked similar on the mound. Fastball showed run to arm side, 71-73 mph, topped at 74 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, slurve type action, 64-65 mph. Changeup fades to arm side, 64-66 mph.
Chase Dornfeld, RHP, Appleton West, 2019
6-foot-2, 192-pound right-handed pitcher, strong build. Slight drop and drive delivery, regular effort, uses slide step out of the stretch. Arm action is short and over the top, slight plunge on back side. Fastball played 84-86 mph, velo tends to drop in stretch, arm strength present. Curveball played 12/6, ranged 62-70 mph. Changeup sinks, 73-78 mph.
Seth Dueno, OF/LHP, Cedarburg, 2020
5-foot-10, 154-pound two-way player, lean build. Left-handed hitter, tall open setup, narrow stance, uses leg kick trigger. Path works uphill, 76 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.48 runner in the 60. Arm plays long from a ¾ slot in the outfield, 74 mph from the outfield. Arm plays similar on the mound, regular effort. Fastball showed slight run to arm side, 72-74 mph. Curveball has 1/7 shape, 60-63 mph. Changeup fades, 67-69 mph.
Ryan Koltz, RHP, Green Bay Preble, 2019
6-foot, 185-pound right-handed pitcher, average build. Delivery works to glove side, open stride. Arm action is short, cups back side, over the top slot. Fastball is straight, occasional arm side run, 74-77 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, 64-67 mph. Changeup played 68-71 mph. Flashed knuckleball at 65-68 mph.
Timothy Krohn, OF/RHP, Tremper, 2019
6-foot, 155-pound two-way player. Right-handed hitter, open setup, short lift to even. Path is level, cuts through contact, level finish. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm action play long and over the top, 78 mph from the outfield. 7.48 runner in the 60. Delivery lands square, slight drop and drive, long over the top slot. Fastball is straight, 72-74 mph, topped at 75 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, 64-66 mph. Changeup sinks 68-71 mph.
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.
Trevor Olmsted, OF/RHP, Green Bay Preble, 2019
6-foot-3, 165-pound two-way player, thin lanky frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, loads hands back. Path is short, pull side approach, flashed back spin contact. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm plays long from the outfield, high ¾ slot, 75 mph from the outfield. Actions are clean and long. 7.70 runner in the 60. Tall and fall delivery, down tempo with low balance point. Arm action is long and high ¾. Fastball is straight, 71-74 mph, topped at 76 mph. Slider is 10/4, cutter type action, backs up at times, 65-72 mph. Changeup sinks at 63-66 mph.
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.
Kaleb Schulist, LHP, Stevens Point, 2020
6-foot-5, 180-pound left-handed pitcher, long projectable frame, wide shoulders can carry additional strength. Tall and fall delivery, stays on line with squared landing, low effort, smooth tempo. Short draw arm action, high ¾ slot, works quick. Fastball runs to arm side, showed control, sits 78-79 mph, touched 80 mph. Showed feel for two breaking balls, slider sweeps on 2/8 plane, 68-72 mph. Curveball plays 1/7, 64-65 mph. Straight changeup sinks with fastball arm speed, 74-75 mph. High follow 2020 prospect in Wisconsin.
JD Schultz, RHP/OF, Stevens Point, 2019
5-foot-11, 180-pound two-way player. On the mound delivery works with a short rocker step, high toe lift to balance point, lands square, slightly across his body. Arm action is short and loose, over the top slot. Fastball is straight, four seam carry type action, worked 85-86 mph, touching 87 and 88 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, near fastball arm action, 63-67 mph. Straight changeup showed sink, near fastball arm action, 74-75 mph. Arm carried well from the outfield, 86 mph. 7.26 runner in the 60. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, lacks lower half. Firm bat path works opposite field contact. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
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.
Dakota Wagner, RHP, Plymouth, 2021
5-foot-11, 185-pound right-handed pitcher. Clean balanced delivery, low effort. Loose arm action plays out of ¾ slot. Showed above average feel for his age. Fastball runs to arm side with control, ranged 75-79 mph, touched 80 mph. Curveball displayed above average action for age, 11/5 plane, drops for strikes, 64-65 mph. Changeup sinks, thrown with near fastball arm speed, 67-68 mph.