By Steve Nielsen & Matt Huck
PBR Wisconsin Scouting Staff

Over the next few weeks in addition to highlighting the Top 10 Player Profiles of 2016, we will also highlight the Top 10 Stories in Wisconsin High School Baseball during 2016.

We continue the the Top Ten Stories of 2016 with:
#5 - 2016 MLB Draft

The 2016 MLB Draft was one of historic significance to Wisconsin baseball, 16 prospects with Wisconsin roots heard their name called last June, the most in nearly 50 years. Gavin Lux and Ben Rortvedt were the headliners but the depth of Wisconsin raised prospects selected in this year's draft was a big story.

MLB Draft: Wisconsin Recap

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois

As if the state of Wisconsin didn’t make a big enough splash on the first day of the 2016 MLB Draft, with Gavin Lux and Ben Rortvedt rewriting the record books. The Badger State finished with 16 prospects drafted with roots to Wisconsin. That is the most drafted players with Wisconsin roots since 1967, when 16 were also selected that year.

In 2016, five were drafted out of WIAA high schools, while the other 11 were selected from their current college. The five high school selections is the most in Wisconsin since 2006. Here’s a recap of the 2016 high school draft class.

Gavin Lux, SS, Kenosha Indian Trail, 2016
1^st Round – Los Angeles Dodgers
4/26/16 - Arizona State commit. Currently ranked No. 27 in the PBR Draft 100. Multiple national level scouts on hand to see him on a brutally cold day. Has seen his draft stock rise this year, showing improvement with the bat form the summer. Playing with a chip on his shoulder this spring. 6-foot-2, 182-pound left-handed hitting shortstop with an athletic frame, has continued to fill out physically with room to add more strength. Offensively had a big day at the plate going 2-3 with a home run. Hits from a balanced setup with a leg lift trigger. Short, uphill swing path with fast hands, creating whip. Gets extension thru contact. Jumped on the first pitch of the game for a homerun to leftfield. Second at bat turned around another first pitch fastball for a single to left. In his final plate appearance worked the count to 3-0 and then popped up on the infield, reaching on an error. Well known for his exploits on the defensive side. Turned what should have been a routine single into a close play at first ranging deep into the hole after the third baseman wiffed on a one hopper, jumping and making a strong throw across the diamond.

Ben Rortvedt, C, Verona Area HS, 2016
2^nd Round – Minnesota Twins
4/12/16 - Arkansas commit. Currently ranked No. 22 in the PBR Draft 100. 5-foot-11, 180-pound left-handed hitting catcher with a strong and flexible frame. Third game of the season, with multiple crosscheckers in attendance. Offense separates himself from the rest of the catchers in the draft class. Hits in the leadoff spot for Verona in hopes of seeing more pitches to hit. Projects as a middle of the order hitter with power to all fields. Balanced, relaxed setup at the plate, with a short, smooth weight transfer to the backside. Middle away approach at the plate with good feel for the barrel. Plus strength in the wrists and forearms generating good bat speed. Went 1-3 on the day with a double. Defensively has a loose arm action, showed ability to throw from different arm angles in pregame. Popped 1.82-2.01 in warm-ups, throws showed carry. Still working on receiving consistently in games.

Ty Weber, RHP, Menomonee Falls, 2016
34^th Round – Cincinnati Reds
4/12/16 - Illinois commit. 6-foot-5, 215-pound right-handed pitcher, typical pitchers frame, extra-large, sturdy frame, wide shouldered. Easily the best outing we’ve seen from Weber. Short over the top arm action, quick arm, gets on hitters quickly. Fastball is straight, four seam action with tilt, works downhill, sat 86-89 mph, swing and miss fastball. Hard 12/6 curveball, plus potential pitch, 75-77 mph, hard biting action, swing and miss stuff with feel to drop it for strikes. First outing of the year, showed stuff that could make a late draft push.

Justin Lavey, 3B, Kenosha Tremper, 2016
39^th Round – Chicago White Sox
2016 Super 60 - Louisville recruit. 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame, physical build, wide shoulders, developed lower half, strong forearms and hands. All-around strong showing at Super 60. Advanced defensive third baseman, soft, reliable hands, ranges well laterally, fundamental footwork. Strong, accurate arm, 88 mph across the infield; arm action is short and athletic, quick release, minimal effort involved. Offensively, hits from balanced setup, mechanically quiet, short stride, smooth load, short, level path, allows ball to travel deep, above-average bat speed, stays strong through the ball. Consistent line drives, gap-to-gap approach, works the middle of the field well, aggressive lower half, maintains balance through finish. Moves well for size, ran a 6.91 laser-timed 60.

Nathan Brown, RHP, Arrowhead, 2016
40^th Round – New York Yankees
2016 Super 60 - Florida recruit. 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame, lean and loose body with plenty of room for continued physical development. Athletic right-handed pitcher, high-ceiling prospect. Highly athletic arm action, quick and loose, slot somewhere between 3/4 and high-3/4. Athletic delivery, shows rhythm and tempo, repeats well. Fastball shows plus life, topped at 92 mph, sitting 90-91, with late, hard arm-side run. Slider shows plus potential, throws pitch with conviction, 78-79 mph, more lateral action. Also throws curveball at similar speed, 77-79 mph, flashed erratic depth and shape. Changeup is promising offering, thrown aggressively at 77-80 mph, with arm-side sink.  Shows feel for all four pitches.

Here’s a look at the entire 2016 draft class from Wisconsin.

NAME	STATE	SCHOOL	CLASS	POS.	YEAR	ROUND	TEAM
Gavin Lux	WI	Indian Trail	2016	SS	2016	1	Dodgers
Ben Rortvedt	WI	Verona Area	2016	C	2016	2	Twins
Alex Call	WI	River Falls	2013	OF	2016	3	White Sox
Kyle Cody	WI	McDonell Central	2012	RHP	2016	6	Rangers
Clark Eagan	WI	Appleton North	2013	OF	2016	9	Pirates
Derek Heffel	WI	Racine St. Catherines	2014	RHP	2016	14	Rangers
Taylor Kohlwey	WI	Holmen	2012	OF	2016	21	Padres
Cameron Roegner	WI	Beloit Memorial	2012	LHP	2016	22	Brewers
Matthew Byars	WI	Lodi	2013	C	2016	24	Twins
Austin Jones	WI	Wauwatosa West	2013	RHP	2016	26	Cubs
Jordan Jess	WI	Ripon	2011	LHP	2016	31	Pirates
Tyler Frohwirth	WI	Brookfield Academy	2012	RHP	2016	31	Phillies
Ty Weber	WI	Menomonee Falls	2016	RHP	2016	34	Reds
Brian Keller	WI	Germantown	2012	RHP	2016	39	Yankees
Justin Lavey	WI	Tremper	2016	3B	2016	39	White Sox
Nathan Brown	WI	Arrowhead	2016	RHP	2016	40	Yankees

Top Ten Stories of 2016