Future Prospects Showcase - Madison: Statistical Analysis
March 16, 2021
On March 13, the PBR Wisconsin team hosted the first of two Future Prospects Showcase winter events, beginning with this Madison date at GRB Academy in Windsor, Wis. This is an annual event for players in grad classes 2025 and 2026 designed to be a learning experience that, for most participants, will be their first showcase event – an initial step toward achieving a player’s baseball goals.
If you missed us on Saturday, check out our showcase page to learn more about April’s Future Prospects Showcase in Caledonia, as well as information on the final high school showcase on our winter slate, coming this Sunday in Franklin.
Today, we’re highlighting some of the top performers from Saturday’s event, as there were a handful of players who’ve managed to earn some attention even before their high school careers begin. Take a look at the event’s leaderboards below.
TOP 60-YARD DASH
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
60-yard
1
Matthew O'Grady Jr.
WI
Badger
2026
OF
7.20
2
Sam Michaelis
WI
Arrowhead
2025
OF
7.39
3
Kiefer Parish
WI
Cambridge High
2025
OF
7.42
4
Jonah Borchardt
WI
Marquette
2025
SS
7.44
5
Boden Frosch
WI
Sauk Prairie
2025
OF
7.48
6
Bennett Burke
WI
IMG Academy
2025
OF
7.51
^
Preston Yaucher
WI
Edgewood
2025
SS
7.51
7
Jack Welak
WI
Catholic Memorial
2025
RHP
7.53
^
Lucas Papendorf
WI
Fox Valley Lutheran
2024
RHP
7.53
8
Ezra Liggon
WI
Madison Memorial
2026
OF
7.54
9
Yamato Takahashi
WI
Arrowhead High
2025
OF
7.61
10
Luke Baginski
WI
West Salem
2025
C
7.62
^
Alek Southworth
WI
Reedsburg Area High
2025
OF
7.62
11
Mason Gapinski
WI
Waterford
2025
RHP
7.64
^
Eli Bryant
WI
Beaver Dam
2025
SS
7.64
12
Carter Pontius
WI
West Salem
2025
OF
7.65
A member of the state’s 2026 class actually managed to pace this group by a fair margin: OF Matthew O’Grady (N/A). His 7.20 time is highly impressive for a player his age, and he swung a quick right-handed bat on Saturday, too. C/OF Jonah Borchardt III (Marquette University, 2025) is a player who you’ll notice across several leaderboards. He showed versatility across a couple positions and an overall athleticism that helped him run an above-average 60 time, especially for his age and size. INF Preston Yaucher (Edgewood, 2025) has quick feet and is another athlete to watch this summer. A pair of 2026s who look capable of becoming stand-outs within their class: Ezra and Caleb Liggon (N/A). The two are athletic, long-limbed prospects already, and both showed impressive actions and coordination as lanky 6-foot-1 two-way players.
TOP EXIT VELOCITY
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
Exit Velo
1
Dane Vermillion
WI
East High
2025
1B
86
2
Bennett Burke
WI
IMG Academy
2025
OF
82
3
Sawyer Deering
WI
Kimberly
2025
RHP
81
4
Cullen Kirchberg
WI
De Forest High
2025
2B
80
5
Drew Dobberstein
WI
Pewaukee High
2025
OF
79
^
Caleb Liggon
WI
Madison Memorial
2026
SS
79
^
Jonah Borchardt
WI
Marquette
2025
SS
79
6
Matthew O'Grady Jr.
WI
Badger
2026
OF
78
^
Nolan Pierce
WI
Verona
2025
C
78
7
Owen Dobberstein
WI
Pewaukee
2025
RHP
77
^
Nolan Schmidbauer
WI
Waukesha West
2026
OF
77
^
Logan Young
WI
Pardeeville High
2025
RHP
77
Listed at an advanced, strong 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, C/1B Dane Vermillion (Wauwatosa East, 2025) was among the top players at Saturday’s event. His physicality is obvious, but he’s also able to generate bat speed from the right side to better complement his early strength. Vermillion paced this category by 4 mph, and it really translated to live BP, too.
OF/LHP Bennett Burke (West Salem, 2025) has actually shown well in-game in front of our staff, playing an age above his own. He’s a left/left, compact athlete to keep an eye on headed into his high school years.
Sawyer Deering (Kimberly, 2025) and Cullen Kirchberg (DeForest, 2025) are simply more physically advanced than their peers, and it showed across a multitude of categories. Both showed high promise from the mound, as two of the day’s top right-handed pitchers, but the pair were also able to reach the 80 mph threshold at this station. The aforementioned Caleb Liggon and O’Grady were two 2026 players to come close, at 79 and 78 mph highs, respectively.
MAX FASTBALL VELOCITY
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Max FB |
1 | Sawyer Deering | WI | Kimberly | 2025 | RHP | 80 mph |
2 | Clayton Elliott | WI | Brodhead | 2025 | OF | 78 mph |
3 | Cullen Kirchberg | WI | De Forest High | 2025 | 2B | 76 mph |
4 | Liam St. Denis | WI | Wauwatosa East | 2025 | RHP | 75 mph |
^ | Nolan Meis | WI | Lakeside Lutheran | 2025 | SS | 75 mph |
^ | Clayton Kroschel | WI | Wayland Academy | 2026 | OF | 75 mph |
^ | Logan Young | WI | Pardeeville High | 2025 | RHP | 75 mph |
^ | Drew Dobberstein | WI | Pewaukee High | 2025 | OF | 75 mph |
^ | Jack Welak | WI | Catholic Memorial | 2025 | RHP | 75 mph |
5 | Mason Gapinski | WI | Waterford | 2025 | RHP | 74 mph |
6 | Luke Baginski | WI | West Salem | 2025 | C | 73 mph |
^ | Charlie Slawinski | WI | Brookfield East | 2025 | RHP | 73 mph |
Deering stands alone here, after sitting 78-80 mph – he was the only pitcher to reach either the 79 or 80 mark, and he virtually lived in that range. He’s a lean/wiry 5-foot-9, 150 pounds, and demonstrates excellent traits from the mound. Deering has a quick, loose arm that works cleanly and efficiently to his release, and he finishes athletically, in balance. Additionally, Deering showcased a feel to spin a breaking ball well beyond his year, featuring tight/sharp action off a 12/6 plane. This was an exciting look at a member of this 2025 class we’re looking forward to watching develop over his high school career.
RHP/OF Clayton Elliott (Brodhead, 2025) was the only other pitcher in attendance to touch 78 mph, sitting 73-75. He has a quick arm that helps his fastball jump to his target, promoting premium projection as he continues to mature and develop from an upside 6-foot-2, 180-pound stature. Elliott also showed real feel to locate a knuckle-curve, with tight spin and shape, under the zone.
RHP/INF Drew Dobberstein (Pewaukee, 2025) is a lanky, high-waisted athlete with a familiar last name. His loose, quick arm helped him reach a 75 mph high on Saturday, coupled with an advanced feel to spin his slider that flashed genuine bite.
Kirchberg sat 74-76 mph himself, emerging as another name to remember for the future stemming from this showcase. He, too, showed an early feel to snap off a sharp breaking ball.
MAX INFIELD VELOCITY
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
INF Velo
1
Cullen Kirchberg
WI
De Forest High
2025
2B
75
2
Charlie Slawinski
WI
Brookfield East
2025
RHP
74
3
Yamato Takahashi
WI
Arrowhead High
2025
OF
72
^
Jack Welak
WI
Catholic Memorial
2025
RHP
72
4
Nolan Meis
WI
Lakeside Lutheran
2025
SS
70
5
Owen Dobberstein
WI
Pewaukee
2025
RHP
69
^
Aidan Dombrowicki
WI
Brookfield East
2025
RHP
69
^
Eli Bryant
WI
Beaver Dam
2025
SS
69
6
Drew Dobberstein
WI
Pewaukee High
2025
OF
68
^
Preston Yaucher
WI
Edgewood
2025
SS
68
^
Loren Georger
WI
Appleton West
2025
RHP
68
^
Colton Semmelmann
WI
Brookfield Central
2026
LHP
68
Kirchberg’s arm strength allowed him to lead this category, too, showcasing promising all-around upside. OF/INF Yamato Takahashi (Arrowhead, 2025) was responsible for one of the day’s best rounds of batting practice, and his impressive actions on defense helped him land spots near the top of this leaderboard and others. While a little further down the list, no prospect displayed more natural middle infield actions than Yaucher. His quick feet and soft hands helped him range around the infield at a well-above-average rate, and a rapid funnel to release boosted his arm strength, allowing it to play up. INF Jack Welak (Catholic Memorial, 2025) is another player who performed well across the board, and his loose arm placed him near the top of this board.
MAX OUTFIELD VELOCITY
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
OF Velo
1
Sawyer Deering
WI
Kimberly
2025
RHP
84
2
Clayton Elliott
WI
Brodhead
2025
OF
80
3
Ezra Liggon
WI
Madison Memorial
2026
OF
77
^
Liam St. Denis
WI
Wauwatosa East
2025
RHP
77
4
Mason Gapinski
WI
Waterford
2025
RHP
76
5
Yamato Takahashi
WI
Arrowhead High
2025
OF
74
^
Luke Baginski
WI
West Salem
2025
C
74
^
Clayton Kroschel
WI
Wayland Academy
2026
OF
74
No surprise, but Deering’s advanced arm strength produced an 84 mph high to home, and that easily led this group. His throws flashed true carry to his target. Elliott, also mentioned earlier for his work on the mound, managed to reach the 80 mph mark during this portion of the event. Ezra Liggon had one of the best overall performances of the day, regardless of age. He’s a left/left prospect in an advanced, highly projectable frame, and his loose/quick arm produced a 77 mph high to home. RHP/OF Liam St. Denis (Wauwatosa East, 2025) has clear arm strength, as he was able to reach a 75 mph high while on the mound, as well as a 77 mph best from the outfield.
MAX CATCHER VELOCITY
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
C Velo
1
Eli Bryant
WI
Beaver Dam
2025
SS
67
2
Dane Vermillion
WI
East High
2025
1B
66
3
Nolan Pierce
WI
Verona
2025
C
64
4
Jonah Borchardt
WI
Marquette
2025
SS
62
^
PJ Hamel
WI
Arrowhead
2025
C
62
^
Kody Hage
WI
Union Grove High
2025
3B
62
5
Jacob Huff
WI
Delavan-Darien High
2026
C
61
^
Carter Pontius
WI
West Salem
2025
OF
61
^
Ethan Trudell
WI
New Berlin West
2026
C
61
TOP POP TIMES
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
Pop Time
1
Dane Vermillion
WI
East High
2025
1B
2.22-2.38
2
Jonah Borchardt
WI
Marquette
2025
SS
2.30-2.45
3
Eli Bryant
WI
Beaver Dam
2025
SS
2.31-2.58
4
PJ Hamel
WI
Arrowhead
2025
C
2.32-2.59
5
Jacob Huff
WI
Delavan-Darien High
2026
C
2.35-2.49
Vermillion’s robust toolset helped him average the lowest pop time at this event, and his arm stands to add significant velocity in the near future. Borchardt III has quick feet and his athleticism synced up accurate throws to second, helping earn a low average pop. From Beaver Dam, INF/C Eli Bryant (2025) had a quality showcase; he ran well, looked sharp on the infield, and also presented above-average actions from the crouch, too, reaching the top velocity from behind the plate.
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