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2024 MLB Draft Preview: Wisconsin Prospects

July 13, 2024
David Go
Staff Writer

Wisconsin has emerged as an under-the-radar hotbed of baseball talent in the past decade, producing nine day-one (top two rounds) picks since Gavin Lux went No. 20 to the Dodgers. The 2024 MLB Draft, beginning Sunday at 6:00 p.m., could continue that trend.

Below are 15 prospects native to the Badger State that could hear their names called in this week’s draft.

Prep Standouts

MIF JD Dix (Whitefish Bay)

Dix’s draft stock fell slightly after undergoing shoulder surgery in the fall. The recovery process enabled him to play just a few late-season games at shortstop, though he still quietly dominated, drawing 36 walks en route to a .600+ on-base percentage and 33 stolen bases. The former All-American Game participant has an above-average hit tool with a chance to stick at shortstop long-term, if the arm holds up. He’s the top-ranked player in Wisconsin and No. 81 nationally.

INF Eddie Rynders (Wisconsin Lutheran)

The second-ranked player in Wisconsin’s class of 2024 has seen his stock rise this spring after a strong showing at the Super 60. It’s the bat that will carry him in pro ball but he does has the chance to stick at shortstop as an average-ish defender with athleticism to move around the diamond. Also working in his favor - he’s a 6.73-runner who swings from the left side. The Wisconsin Lutheran product is ranked No. 145 nationally in the class of 2024.

RHP Jack DeTienne (Verona)

DeTienne is an electric arm still lacking polish - he’s reached 96 mph with 20.7 inches of induced vertical break, but posted (only) a 2.76 ERA in his senior spring at Verona. The Xavier commit also throws an 11/5 curveball in the low-to-mid-80s that could wind up being a decent pitch in pro ball. Some teams may be scared off by his scattered command and high-effort delivery, but it’s one of the more electric arms in the country. DeTienne is ranked No. 87 nationally in the class of 2024.

RHP Noah Wech (Manitowoc Lincoln)

The Oklahoma State commit has worked up to 95 mph, spinning in the 2400 rpm range - electric stuff from a high schooler. He’s fairly advanced for his age, showing the ability to hold velocity late into outings and land his 79-83 mph 12/6 curveball for strikes. Wech is the fourth-ranked player in Wisconsin and No. 341 nationally in the class of 2024.

Draft-Eligible College Players

C Josh Caron (Nebraska; Sun Prairie, 2021)

Caron shot up draft boards with a fantastic junior season, culminating in recognition as the Big Ten Conference Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, setting all-time records with six home runs and 28 total bases in the 43-year-old Big Ten Tournament. Caron was the eighth-ranked Wisconsinite in the class of 2021, an advanced performer who hit .306 in 42 Northwoods League plate appearances before setting foot on a college campus. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel recently ranked Caron as the No. 78 prospect in this year’s draft class.

LHP Michael Carpenter (Madison JC; Arrowhead, 2022)

The southpaw improved on an above-average freshman campaign to win NJCAA Region 4 Player of the Year after leading all of NJCAA Division II with a 1.03 ERA and setting a school record with 111 strikeouts. The year included a 45-inning scoreless stretch that spanned nearly two full months. The East Carolina commit was ranked as Wisconsin’s 25th best player in the class of 2022 but has boosted his stock with his incredible season and a fastball reaching 92 mph. Carpenter is ranked No. 77 nationally among junior college prospects here at Prep Baseball.

RHP Eli Hoyt (Madison JC; Waukesha South, 2021)

The Waukesha native capped off a career at Madison College this spring that included 87 strikeouts in 73 innings to go with a sterling 2.33 ERA. He then followed his junior college career with an incredible 13-inning, one-hit stint in the Northwoods League and a spot on Team USA’s NJCAA roster currently competing in the Netherlands. With the track records comes pro stuff - a mid-90s fastball with plus carry and a wipeout gyro slider in the low-to-mid-80s. The Louisville commit would be a reliever in pro ball but could be a good one.

OF Owen Washburn (Texas Tech; Webster, 2021)

Prep Baseball Wisconsin’s 2021 Player of the Year put himself on the draft radar with a trio of strong seasons at Texas Tech including a .901 OPS and six homers in 38 games this past year. He was named to the Big-12 All-Freshman Team in 2022, and is the son of ex-Major Leaguer Jarrod Washburn.

RHP Griffin Smith (Rock Valley; Appleton North, 2022)

Smith has developed significantly in his two years at Rock Valley, culminating in a remarkable season that featured 113 strikeouts and just 13 walks in 77 innings. He reached 91 mph this fall at 2400 rpm, also showing a 2600-rpm curveball and changeup with 20+ inches of arm-side run. Smith is a Washington State commit.

1B Brady Marget (Tulane; Whitefish Bay, 2021)

The former Whitefish Bay standout finds himself in draft conversation after an excellent three-year run, starting all but 17 games for the Green Wave since the beginning of his freshman season. He hit .331 and finished top-five in the American Athletic Conference in hits and RBIs. The 6-foot-5 first baseman still has one year left of college eligibility.

Potential Senior Signs

RHP Reese Dutton (Kansas; Kenosha Tremper, 2019)

Dutton took a circuitous route to become a potential draft pick, beginning his college career at Heartland CC before transferring to USC-Upstate and Kansas, where he was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team. The senior righty was the 30th ranked prospect in Wisconsin’s 2019 class and gradually improved throughout his college career. The Kenosha native, who has exhausted all his college eligibility, could hear his name called as a money-saving senior sign.

OF John Nett (St. Cloud State; Kimberly, 2019)

Nett, Dutton’s teammate at Kansas, emerged as a potential professional talent with a fantastic year as a fifth-year senior after four fantastic years at St. Cloud State. The Kimberly graduate hit .352/.443/.521 in his lone year at the Division I level while playing a credible center field. Nett was ranked 47th in Wisconsin’s 2019 class, and is out of college eligibility.

RHP Carson Fluno (Louisiana; Sun Prairie, 2020)

Fluno had a solid run at Louisiana, tossing 120 innings with a 4.19 ERA with 112 punchouts. He arrived in Lafayette via Madison College, where he developed into a legit arm after a solid prep run that saw him reach No. 27 statewide in the class of 2020. Fluno was up to 95 mph as a junior college arm with a four-pitch mix.

LHP Tommy Lamb (Creighton; Grafton, 2020)

Lamb spent his freshman year at Oklahoma before transferring to Creighton, becoming one of their more valuable arms. The southpaw tossed 89 innings with a 4.22 ERA and 74 strikeouts in his three years in Omaha. His college career also featured a pair of stints with the Lakeshore Chinooks, posting a 4.41 ERA in 23 starts in Mequon. Lamb was the fifth-ranked player in Wisconsin’s class of 2020 and also earned a spot on Prep Baseball’s Top 500 players nationally.

INF Michael Seegers (Iowa; Homeschool, 2020)

Seegers is a glove-first shortstop with professional level defensive abilities. Seegers, who shared the field with Lamb at Lakeshore and in their high school days with Hitters Baseball, hit .286 across 198 games in his college career at Iowa. The Oconomowoc native has hit at every stop and could continue that if he gets a professional opportunity. Seegers was ranked No. 8 in Wisconsin’s 2020 class and No. 490 nationally.

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