On Jan. 25, the PBR Wisconsin team held its first showcase of 2020, the Kenosha Preseason I.D., at Fielder’s Choice Training Academy, in Kenosha, Wis. For the past two years now, this event has revealed to us some of the most talented prospects in the Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois areas, and this year’s event was no exception.

In the days following the showcase, we published our Quick Hits story, as well as our Statistical Analysis from the Kenosha event. We began our position-by-position analysis on Monday, evaluating the day’s catchers, and the outfielders and infielders came next, and we’re on to the arms today.

Another Illinois prospect came away with the top spot inside this group: RHP Ethan Clark (Lakes Community; uncommitted). Clark has some big projectability attached to his slender 6-foot-2 frame and he sat in the low-80s in Kenosha with finish.

A top Wisconsin sophomore, Muskego’s Cristiano Ramirez (uncommitted), repeatedly peppered in an 82 mph fastball with sink and showed the feel to spin a tight breaking ball and deceptive changeup.

Lefty Dylan Lapic (La Crosse Central; uncommitted) performed well at his first PBR showcase. He has broad shoulders on a big 6-foot-3 build and uses a heavy sinker that sits in the 80-82 mph range, touching 83.

There were a few prospects who fell short of the top-five, but are still worthy of some recognition here. Franklin freshman Noah Musolf (uncommitted) has above-average arm action for his age and topped 79 mph in Kenosha. Sophomore RHP Austin Loberger (Bradford; uncommitted) is worth following for his loose arm that touched 80 mph. And unsigned junior Kyle Mitchell (Westosha Central) pitched a polished ‘pen last month and was up to 83 mph with feel for a three-pitch mix.

Continue on below for a look at each of the pitchers who attended the Kenosha-area event. Keep a lookout tomorrow, Friday, when we conclude our event analysis by ranking the top overall prospects who made it out.

TOP PITCHING PROSPECTS

1. Ethan Clark, Lakes Community (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/INF
Body: 6-foot-2, 162-pounds. Projectable frame, slender build with long lanky levers, and above average actions.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, regular effort, lands square, closed toe, in rhythm follow through finish.
Arm Action: RH. Live arm, plays loose with connected draw out of a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T84, 80-83 mph. Lively finish, showed run to arm side.
CB: 61-65 mph. 10/4 shape, fastball similar arm action.
CH: 68-69 mph. Plays with arm side run and thrown with arm speed.

2. Cristiano Ramirez, Muskego (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/INF
Body: 6-foot-1, 170-pounds. Lean projectable frame, slender build.
Delivery: Down tempo delivery works tall and fall, low effort, maintains direction and balance, lands and finishes square.
Arm Action: RH. Loose, lively arm, high 3/4 slot, projects.
FB: T82, 82-82 mph. Plays with sinking action, occasional run to arm side.
CB: 74-76 mph. Tight spin, thrown aggressively, late sharp action, varies between 11/5 and 10/4 plane.
CH: 75-76 mph. Fastball arm speed, deceptive, well above average feel for th ezone, straight change.

3. Dylan Lapic, La Crosse Central (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 175-pounds. Long levers, lanky frame, with square/broad shoulders.
Delivery: Square straddle on the rubber; side rock to even balance point and slight hip turn. Works on even, direct path to home, lands square.
Arm Action: LH. Short draw and compact arm circle to high 3/4 release; smooth rhythm with regular effort.
FB: T83, 81-82 mph. Consistent run/sink with advanced action.
CB: 69-74 mph. 1/7 shape with feel to drop beneath zone; average action.
CH: 70-73 mph. Somewhat maintains arm speed; flashed fading action.

4. Sawyer Smith, Shoreland Lutheran (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-foot-2, 167-pounds. Long lean projectable frame with loose lively levers.
Delivery: Smooth tall and fall type delivery, shoulders stay level, works slightly across body.
Arm Action: RH. Long sweeping arm path, loose and jumps out of the hand at times.
FB: T82, 80-82 mph. Runs to arm side, flashed finish.
CB: 68-71 mph. 11/5 shape, gradual action, thrown aggressively at times.
CH: 73-74 mph. Played down in the zone, sink and run to arm side, thrown near fastball arm speed.

5. James Schutte, New Richmond (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot-3, 210-pounds. Large frame with sturdy, thick lower half.
Delivery: Staggered set, simple/smooth to balance point and high knee, drops and drives toward target with leg swing, closed shoulders create some deception. Lands square and works in rhythm with low effort.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm swing from glove, easy and loose from a 3/4 release slot.
FB: T83, 81-83 mph. Release helps create arm-side run.
CB: 67-68 mph. Some feel to spin with 11/5 shape, knuckle grip; flashed tight action.
CH: 74-78 mph. Maintains arm speed; circle grips generates consistent sink/fade.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Nickolas Briglio, Maine South (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-foot-7, 155-pounds.
Delivery: Centered from rubber, squared start, side rocks to balance point, high front side with shoulders closed. Strides to square landing spot, low effort.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm circle, releases from a high 3/4 slot; works in some rhythm.
FB: T75, 73-75 mph. Straight, four-seam type.
CB: 63-66 mph. Locates beneath zone; some feel for spin.
CH: 68-69 mph. Somewhat maintains arm speed, keeps under the zone; straight action.

Miguel Chacon, Grant (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: 2B/RHP
Body: 5-foot-7, 175-pounds.
Delivery: Delivery works with hip turn at the top, lands square, works on line.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm works out of high 3/4 slot.
FB: T70, 66-69 mph. Fastball plays mostly straight, showed ability to throw for strikes.
CUT: 57-63 mph. Slight downer slider type action.

Nathan Esch, Fowlerville (MI), 2020
Positional Profile: 1B/LHP
Body: 6-foot-0, 180-pounds.
Delivery: Drop and drive delivery, low front side lands square and works underneath.
Arm Action: LH. High 3/4 slot, arm works with length on backside.
FB: T69, 65-69 mph. Slight sinking action.
CB: 46-53 mph. 1/7 shape, gradual action.
CH: 53-56 mph. Showed fade.

Austin Loberger, Bradford (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-foot-11, 155-pounds. Thin, lanky with young look and some projection.
Delivery: Rocks into extra high knee at tall balance point, drops and drives with shoulders closed, leg swings out to square landing with regular effort; works with some rhythm.
Arm Action: RH. Long, quick, and loose arm action from a 3/4 window.
FB: T80, 77-79 mph. Generates arm-side action; some hard, late.
CB: 66-67 mph. Above-average feel to spin, inconsistent control; 11/5 shape.
CH: 69-72 mph. Mostly maintains arm speed; straight, locates consistently down.

Kyle Mitchell, Westosha Central (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-foot-9, 170-pounds.
Delivery: Staggered footing at start, simple rock to balanced leg lift/high knee, low effort leg swing to soft landing, controlled finish with easy effort. Works in some rhythm, fluid; lands square, athletically.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm circle, loose from a high 3/4 window, some quickness out front.
FB: T83, 79-81 mph. Locates well down in zone, straight four-seam type.
CB: 64-66 mph. 11/5 shape with gradual action.
CH: 67-73 mph. Mostly matches arm speed; tunnels well with fastball, some slight fade down.

Noah Musolf, Franklin (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP/INF
Body: 5-foot-11, 150-pounds. Lean frame.
Delivery: Side rocker step to low coiled lift, swings into closed landing.
Arm Action: RH. Live arm for age, long and loose, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T79, 77-79 mph. Flashed arm side run, above average for age.
CB: 59-61 mph. 11/5 shape, gradual action, still developing.
CH: 70-74 mph. Plays firm with fastball arm speed, straight change.

Corey Plahuta, Muskego (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-foot-1, 195-pounds. Strong build.
Delivery: Slight drop and drive type delivery, moderate leg lift, high front side and works with regular effort.
Arm Action: LH. Shorter draw, slight bow and arrow path, works out of high 3/4 slot.
FB: T80, 77-78 mph. Showed sinking action.
SL: 68-71 mph. 1/7 plane, flashed short tight action at times, thrown with arm speed.
CH: 64-70 mph. Straight change, occasional cut action.

Benjamin Rader, Muskego (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot-3, 240-pounds. Extra-large frame.
Delivery: Starts on the middle of the rubber, square to home, rocks to high knee. Drops and drives, leg swings out,  lands closed with some effort involved throughout.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm action; high 3/4 slot.
FB: T80, 77-79 mph. Straight, flat four-seam type.
CB: 66-68 mph. 11/5 shape with enough feel to land for strikes; average action.
CH: 72-75 mph. Mostly maintains arm speed; generates some fading action.

Luke Wenzel, Brookfield Central (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-foot-1, 150-pounds. Thin, lanky frame, young look, extra-long levers; high projectability.
Delivery: Tall/upright start, side rock to high knee, cups from glove, level shoulders, gets down mound, slightly closed landing.
Arm Action: RH. Compact arm circle, loose arm action from a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T75, 73-75 mph. Creates some steep, downward angle. Occasional arm-side action.
CB: 61-64 mph. 12/6 shape with some feel for spin; early break.

Tanner White, Tremper (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-foot-10, 167-pounds.
Delivery: Tall and fall out of the windup, side rocker step to tall balance point, lands square.
Arm Action: RH. High 3/4 slot, full arm circle.
FB: T76, 73-76 mph. Showed control, mostly straight.
KN: 60-65 mph. Slight deceleration, low spin.

Gabe Zielinski, Pius XI Catholic (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: INF/RHP
Body: 6-foot-1, 170-pounds. Large build, present strength.
Delivery: Side rocker step into tall, toe lifted balance position, high front side works down hill into squared landing, finishes to first base side.
Arm Action: RH. Arm action is long over the top slot.
FB: T79, 77-79 mph. Mostly straight, four seam fastball.
CB: 57-60 mph. 12/6 plane, showed ability to land for strikes.
CH: 70-72 mph. Sinking action out of slightly decelerated arm speed.

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