South Milwaukee Preseason I.D.: Statistical Analysis
March 11, 2021
On March 7, the PBR Wisconsin team hosted the South Milwaukee Preseason I.D., at Hitters Baseball Academy in Caledonia, Wis. This was an open event for all high school classes (2021-24), and gave our staff an ample look at the area's top players.
If you missed us on Sunday, check out our showcase page to see when we’re in the neighborhood next.
On Tuesday, we published our biggest takeaways and highlights from Sunday’s showcase within our Quick Hits story. Today, we’ll dive right into the statistical side of things, analyzing the event’s top performers from several different statistical categories. Throughout the rest of this week, we’ll be taking diving deeper into all of the data we collected, too, with the help of our Blast Motion and TrackMan devices.
TOP 60-YARD DASH
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | 60-yard |
1 | TJ Williams | WI | Racine Horlick | 2022 | SS | 6.70 |
^ | Dylan Mass | WI | Franklin | 2022 | OF | 6.70 |
2 | John Ahler | IL | Marian Central Catholic | 2022 | SS | 6.71 |
^ | Alexander Alicea | WI | St. Thomas More | 2023 | SS | 6.71 |
3 | Josh DeGroot | WI | Union Grove | 2022 | SS | 6.73 |
4 | Jonathan Kim | WI | Brookfield Academy | 2022 | OF | 6.76 |
5 | Mitchell Voit | WI | Whitefish Bay | 2022 | RHP | 6.80 |
6 | Heath Venne | WI | Muskego | 2022 | C | 6.83 |
7 | Ian Choi | WI | Indian Trail | 2022 | SS | 6.87 |
8 | Gianni Royer | IL | Lake Forest | 2023 | OF | 6.92 |
9 | Jack Counsell | WI | Whitefish Bay | 2023 | SS | 7.02 |
^ | Hayden Christiansen | IL | Richmond-Burton | 2022 | C | 7.02 |
10 | Gavin Kilen | WI | Milton | 2022 | SS | 7.04 |
11 | Sam Meidenbauer | WI | Waukesha West | 2022 | 1B | 7.10 |
12 | RJ Thomae | WI | Hartford Union | 2024 | OF | 7.11 |
13 | Owen Bond | WI | Kettle Moraine | 2023 | OF | 7.12 |
^ | Camdin Jansen | WI | Racine Lutheran | 2022 | SS | 7.12 |
14 | Tristan Ellis | WI | Greendale | 2022 | 2B | 7.13 |
Ten players sprinted to a time under 7.00 flat, led by two uncommitted juniors in the state: OF Dylan Mass (Franklin, 2022) and INF T.J. Williams (Racine Horlick, 2022). One of the state’s top-ranked sophomores, INF Alexander Alicea (St. Thomas More, 2023; Louisville commit), comfortably led all ‘23s in attendance, just a fraction off the day’s leaders. More uncommitted juniors make up the next set of names, including INF Josh DeGroot (Union Grove) who is near the top of each of the categories he participated in – similar to OF Jonathan Kim (Brookfield Academy). OF R.J. Thomae (Hartford Union, 2024) led all freshmen with his 7.11 mark.
MAX FASTBALL VELOCITY
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Max FB |
1 | Mitchell Voit | WI | Whitefish Bay | 2022 | RHP | 92 mph |
2 | Luke Klekamp | WI | Oak Creek | 2022 | RHP | 90 mph |
^ | Kendall Lyons | IL | Warren Township | 2022 | RHP | 90 mph |
3 | Adam Switalski | WI | Westosha Central | 2023 | RHP | 89 mph |
^ | Michael Mulhollon | WI | Westosha Central | 2022 | LHP | 89 mph |
^ | Hunter Schmitt | WI | Grafton | 2022 | RHP | 89 mph |
4 | Brady Banker | IL | Carmel Catholic | 2022 | LHP | 88 mph |
5 | Adison Tevz | WI | New Berlin Eisenhower | 2023 | RHP | 87 mph |
^ | Adam Behrens | IL | Warren Township | 2023 | RHP | 87 mph |
^ | TJ Schuyler | IL | Antioch | 2023 | C | 87 mph |
6 | Nolan Buss | WI | Arrowhead | 2024 | RHP | 86 mph |
^ | Austin Kutz | WI | Hartford Union | 2023 | RHP | 86 mph |
7 | Jaxson Easterlin | WI | Franklin | 2022 | RHP | 85 mph |
RHP/INF Mitchell Voit (Whitefish Bay, 2022; Michigan) produced one of the most memorable statistical performances in recent years – topping his own performance at this same last year. Voit started the day by running a 6.80, drew a crowd by reaching an in-stride 97 mph high to first base, and hopped on the mound shortly after to hit a pair of 92 mph highs – and he nearly reached triple digits off the barrel in the batter’s box, too.
A couple other juniors hit the 90 mph mark more than once, and both are still uncommitted: RHP Luke Klekamp (Oak Creek, 2022) and RHP Kendall Lyons (Warren, IL, 2022).
Committed southpaws Michael Mulhollon (Westosha Central, 2022; Wichita State) and Brady Banker (Carmel Catholic, IL; Illinois) led the left-handers with an 89 mph and 88 high, respectively.
One of the top pitchers in the state’s 2023 class, RHP Adam Switalski (Westosha Central; Indiana), led all sophomores with an 89 mph high here. Three other sophomores touched 87 mph: RHP Adam Behrens (Warren, IL, 2023), C/RHP T.J. Schuyler (Antioch, IL, 2023; Indiana), and RHP Adison Tevz (New Berlin Eisenhower, 2023).
Freshman RHP Nolan Buss (Arrowhead, 2024) touched 86 mph twice, three ticks higher than the next highest among ‘24s.
MAX EXIT VELOCITY
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Exit Velocity (max) |
1 | Hayden Christiansen | IL | Richmond-Burton | 2022 | C | 101.8 mph |
2 | Jonathan Kim | WI | Brookfield Academy | 2022 | OF | 99.8 mph |
3 | Heath Venne | WI | Muskego | 2022 | C | 98.5 mph |
4 | Mitchell Voit | WI | Whitefish Bay | 2022 | RHP | 98.5 mph |
5 | Ethan Brown | WI | Waukesha West | 2023 | 3B | 97.0 mph |
6 | Will Vierling | WI | Homestead | 2022 | C | 96.9 mph |
7 | Jack Anderson | WI | Oconomowoc | 2022 | OF | 96.7 mph |
8 | Owen Bond | WI | Kettle Moraine | 2023 | OF | 96.5 mph |
9 | Gavin Kilen | WI | Milton | 2022 | SS | 96.4 mph |
10 | Ian Choi | WI | Indian Trail | 2022 | SS | 95.7 mph |
11 | Camdin Jansen | WI | Racine Lutheran | 2022 | SS | 94.9 mph |
12 | Austin Kutz | WI | Hartford Union | 2023 | RHP | 94.7 mph |
13 | Kyle Smith | IL | Warren Township | 2022 | C | 94.7 mph |
14 | DJ Kojis | WI | Whitefish Bay | 2022 | OF | 94.6 mph |
15 | Jake Petasek | WI | Green Bay Preble | 2022 | SS | 94.4 mph |
16 | Sam Meidenbauer | WI | Waukesha West | 2022 | 1B | 94.0 mph |
C Hayden Christiansen (Richmond-Burton, IL, 2022; Xavier) was the lone batter to pass the 100 mph threshold on Sunday – and he did three times, in one of the day’s pound-for-pound top performances. Fellow backstop Heath Venne (Muskego, 2022) and the aforementioned Kim are two of the strongest players in the class, and they both reached the upper-90s in their rounds of BP as a pair of the top uncommitted players in the state.
3B/RHP Ethan Brown (Waukesha West, 2023) led all sophomores in max exit speed after hitting a 97.0 mph line-drive into the right-center gap on his final swing. Oconomowoc’s Jack Anderson (2022) averaged an exit speed of 92 mph, and topped 96.7. Uncommitted INF Camdin Jansen (Racine Lutheran, 2022) added strength over the offseason and it enhanced his batted-ball profile, as he reached a 94.9 mph here on Sunday, way up from last summer.
MAX INFIELD VELOCITY
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | INF Velo |
1 | Mitchell Voit | WI | Whitefish Bay | 2022 | RHP | 97 |
2 | Gavin Kilen | WI | Milton | 2022 | SS | 92 |
3 | Ian Choi | WI | Indian Trail | 2022 | SS | 91 |
^ | Josh DeGroot | WI | Union Grove | 2022 | SS | 91 |
4 | Alexander Alicea | WI | St. Thomas More | 2023 | SS | 90 |
5 | Grayson Flugaur | WI | Franklin | 2024 | RHP | 88 |
^ | John Ahler | IL | Marian Central Catholic | 2022 | SS | 88 |
6 | Jake Petasek | WI | Green Bay Preble | 2022 | SS | 87 |
^ | Boston Halloran | WI | Franklin | 2023 | 3B | 87 |
^ | Camdin Jansen | WI | Racine Lutheran | 2022 | SS | 87 |
7 | JD Dix | WI | Whitefish Bay | 2024 | SS | 86 |
8 | Paul Nuetzel | WI | Homestead | 2024 | SS | 85 |
^ | CJ Trask | WI | Oak Creek | 2024 | SS | 85 |
^ | Michael Clarkson | IL | Loyola Academy | 2023 | C | 85 |
9 | Tristan Ellis | WI | Greendale | 2022 | 2B | 84 |
^ | Jackson Brewer | WI | Homestead | 2024 | OF | 84 |
Five infielders touched 90 mph or higher on Sunday, and even more impressively, they managed to reach that number while defending in rhythm, fundamentally. We referenced Voit’s 97 mph max earlier, and fellow junior Gavin Kilen (Milton, 2022; Louisville) is next up with a 92 best. Kilen’s round of defense was especially impressive, too, looking like a true shortstop and like the latest Wisconsin shortstop to earn MLB Draft attention this summer and early next.
Consider Alicea the next in line, whose best skill is his elite defense – and his ability to reach a 90 mph high to first inside an athletic 5-foot-7 build is really noteworthy.
Freshman INF/RHP Grayson Fluguar (Franklin, 2024) led all ‘24s with an 88 mph best to first, with athletic up-the-middle actions that look like a long-term fit at shortstop.
MAX OUTFIELD VELOCITY
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | OF Velo |
1 | DJ Kojis | WI | Whitefish Bay | 2022 | OF | 97 |
2 | Adam Switalski | WI | Westosha Central | 2023 | RHP | 94 |
3 | Charlie Marion | WI | Franklin | 2022 | OF | 92 |
4 | Dylan Mass | WI | Franklin | 2022 | OF | 91 |
^ | Jonathan Kim | WI | Brookfield Academy | 2022 | OF | 91 |
5 | James Duncan | WI | Arrowhead | 2022 | OF | 90 |
6 | Michael Rueth | WI | Wauwatosa West | 2022 | OF | 88 |
7 | Nick Doubek | WI | Pewaukee | 2022 | OF | 87 |
8 | JT Kelenic | WI | Catholic Memorial | 2023 | OF | 86 |
^ | Luca Royer | IL | Lake Forest | 2024 | OF | 86 |
OF D.J. Kojis (Whitefish Bay, 2022) is another one of the state’s top uncommitted talents and his huge 97 mph arm strength underscores this. He offers high projection, too, listed at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, with hand speed that should help him unlock even more bat strength as he continues to mature.
Up to 89 mph on the mound, it’s unsurprising to see Switalski reach a 94 mph high to home from the outfield. The right-hander is highly athletic, and he uses it well in the outfield and it naturally translates to the bump.
Uncommitted OF Charlie Marion (Franklin) shaved some time off his 60-yard dash mark between this event and last year’s, and he also added notable strength which allowed him to reach 90-plus mph highs to home and off his left-handed barrel.
Illinois State commit OF James Duncan (Arrowhead, 2022) is another high-ceiling player, with a 6-foot-2, 185-pound, left/left frame that reached a 90 mph high here and also recorded a max exit speed of 93.8 mph.
And it’s worth monitoring the development of OF Michael Rueth (Wauwatosa West, 2022), an uncommitted junior in a 6-foot-4, 190-pound physique who offers athleticism within it. He ran a 7.27, reached an 88 mph high to home, and topped 96.2 in BP.
MAX CATCHER VELOCITY
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | C Velo |
1 | Hayden Christiansen | IL | Richmond-Burton | 2022 | C | 85 |
2 | TJ Schuyler | IL | Antioch | 2023 | C | 83 |
3 | Heath Venne | WI | Muskego | 2022 | C | 81 |
4 | Will Vierling | WI | Homestead | 2022 | C | 80 |
5 | Kyle Smith | IL | Warren Township | 2022 | C | 79 |
6 | Michael Clarkson | IL | Loyola Academy | 2023 | C | 77 |
7 | Justin Kretz | IL | Warren | 2023 | C | 74 |
8 | Samuel Mommer | WI | St. Thomas More | 2024 | C | 72 |
9 | Nathan Hanel | WI | Oak Creek | 2024 | C | 71 |
^ | Deed Capper | WI | Homestead | 2024 | RHP | 71 |
TOP POP TIMES
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Pop Time |
1 | TJ Schuyler | IL | Antioch | 2023 | C | 1.93-2.08 |
2 | Hayden Christiansen | IL | Richmond-Burton | 2022 | C | 1.94-2.09 |
3 | Kyle Smith | IL | Warren Township | 2022 | C | 1.94-2.11 |
4 | Will Vierling | WI | Homestead | 2022 | C | 1.97-2.08 |
5 | Heath Venne | WI | Muskego | 2022 | C | 1.98-2.04 |
6 | Michael Clarkson | IL | Loyola Academy | 2023 | C | 2.19-2.27 |
7 | Justin Kretz | IL | Warren | 2023 | C | 2.19-2.36 |
8 | Nathan Hanel | WI | Oak Creek | 2024 | C | 2.29-2.37 |
9 | Samuel Mommer | WI | St. Thomas More | 2024 | C | 2.33-2.40 |
10 | Deed Capper | WI | Homestead | 2024 | RHP | 2.36-2.41 |
Several catchers managed to stand out in previous categories, mentioned earlier, but it’s worth touching back on Christiansen’s tremendous day, measuring an 85 mph high out of the chute and some of the day’s lowest pop times. Schuyler clearly provides advanced arm strength, and he’s an all-around premium defender, and not just for his sophomore age. Kyle Smith (Warren, IL) moves well inside his durable 5-foot-11, 202-pound frame – and he reached a 94.7 mph high from the right-handed batter’s box.
Another one of the state’s Louisville commits, Will Vierling (Homestead, 2022), continues to show as a high-follow prospect. Veriling’s left-handed bat looks polished and prepared to take on a middle-of-the-order responsibility at the next level, and he can really catch, too.
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