West Milwaukee Preseason I.D.: Outfielder Analysis

The second showcase of 2020, the West Milwaukee Preseason I.D., took place on Feb. 16 at STiKS Academy where over 70 prospects were in attendance, ranging from 2020 to 2023 high school classes.

Two weeks ago, we began our post-event analysis by publishing our Quick Hits and Stats Story.

This week, we’ve begun to break down our position-by-position analysis, starting on Monday with the event’s catchers, which led to yesterday’s examination of the infielders. Today, we’re onto the outfielders, an athletic group headlined by two of the top uncommitted junior outfielders in the state: Anthony Gross (Catholic Memorial) and Peyton Seebacher (Muskego).

This is already the second time we’ve seen Gross this winter, and he’s impressed our staff on both occasions. He has twitchy tools – he can really run and he swings a fast and compact right-handed bat. Seebacher’s toolset is somewhat similar, though it comes in a different package. He swings a fast left-handed bat in a taller, leaner 6-foot-1 frame, though he’s added strength over the offseason, too.

There are more prospects to get to know below, like North Fond du Lac sophomore Landon Behringer (uncommitted), who was among the day’s major winners from the batter’s box.

Keep on reading below for full reports on each of the outfielders who attended the West MKE I.D. event, and stay tuned tomorrow for a look inside the day’s pitchers.

TOP OUTFIELDER PROSPECTS

1. Anthony Gross, Catholic Memorial (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: OF; One of the top-ranked uncommitted junior outfielders in the state.
Body: 5-foot-8, 160-pounds. Strong, athletic build; proportional strength in compact frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced/athletic setup, hands set low, quiet. Smooth leg lift stride, well-timed plant foot. Keeps balance through quick-twitch, aggressive swing. Short, compact bat path; plane accuracy. Fast bat speed, loose/whippy barrels, level plane.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Repeats hard line-drive contact.
Arm: RH. OF - 86 mph. Long, quick, loose arm action with carry and accuracy to home.
Defense: Soft on feet, quick gather to transfer; plays through with athleticism.
Run: 6.81 runner in the 60. Athletic gait; the fastest 60 time at the event.

2. Peyton Seebacher, Muskego (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: OF; Among the more interesting uncommitted outfielders still uncommitted in the state's junior class.
Body: 6-foot-1, 185-pounds. Lean, athletic build; added some strength since we saw him last.
Hit: LHH. Balanced/athletic setup, hands set high. Quick load back, bathead gets vertical, hands drop, leg kick stride. Smooth rhythm helps repeat contact, some hard. Loose, whippy barrels; fast bat speed, on plane through contact, extension in finish.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above-average bat strength and quality of contact, especially to pull-side.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Long arm action from a high 3/4 slot; some carry to home.
Defense: Athletic approach, fields in a controlled position. Fluid footwork leads to clean transfers.
Run: 7.01 runner in the 60. Athletic, quick feet.

3. Landon Behringer, North Fond du Lac (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. Lean, athletic frame; some wiry strength.
Hit: RHH. Wide/athletic setup, pigeon-toed front foot, hands set high. Weight shifts back, drops into load, short stride, easy effort and fluid balance through contact. Loose, athletic bat path with barrel accuracy and bat speed. Smooth rhythm helps repeat line-drive contact.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Long throws from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Light footwork, quick feet, athletic approach.
Run: 7.22 runner in the 60. Athletic gait.

4. Logan Libby, Waukesha North (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-11, 160-pounds. Lean, lanky frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced/athletic setup, simple and smooth load back, slight wrap in load, short stride. Short, level, direct path to contact with some bat speed; consistent barrel feel and plane accuracy. Line-drive contact that favors the pull-side.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Long arm action from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Ranges well; fluid feet. Clean exchanges that allow him to play through.
Run: 7.01 runner in the 60. Quick feet; the fastest 60 among sophomores in attendance.

5. Jordan McNello, Waukesha South (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-foot-0, 170-pounds. Lean, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, calm and quiet approach. Simple load back with some coil, leg hands and strides athletically in rhythm. Strong hands, level plane; creates some natural bat strength.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Long, loose throws from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Quick feet, quick and clean exchanges.
Run: 6.86 runner in the 60. Highly athletic runner.

6. Angel Rades, Oak Creek (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-9, 158-pounds. Compact/stocky build with strength in lower half.
Hit: LHH. Tall/open setup, hands load back into bar, strides to even; hits in some rhythm. Maintains balance through contact. Looseness in hands and barrel, extension in finish; some hard-hit line-drive contact.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 86 mph. Long, loose arm action from an over-the-top slot; throws showed some carry and were on target.
Defense: Athletic approach, shuffles; fluid feet. Hands played soft with consistent clean transfers.
Run: 7.38 runner in the 60. 

7. Brevin Brisack, Oregon (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-5, 190-pounds. Extra-large frame, long levers; lean strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Tall/open setup, hands set high. Brief load, hands dropped, leg lift stride to even. Short path to contact on an uphill plane. Above-average hard-hit contact.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Long arm action from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Ranges well, plays through, fluid feet.
Run: 7.68 runner in the 60. 

8. Tanner Katers, Ashwaubenon (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-foot-0, 150-pounds. Thin, lean frame with some room to add strength.
Hit: LHH. Tall setup, some pre-pitch rhythm. Quick load back, toe-tap stride to closed. Simple, easy effort with balance. Smooth, loose hands off a level bat; repeats line-drive contact well, favors the opposite way.
Power: 77 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 80 mph. Short, loose throws from a high 3/4 window with some accuracy and carry.
Defense: Plays through the ball with some athleticism.
Run: 7.32 runner in the 60. 

9. Jayce Weber, Arrowhead (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 165-pounds. Lean, wiry levers.
Hit: RHH. Wide/balanced setup, load back with leg hang that allows for good timing at contact. Fluid and balanced through contact. Short and level bat path; line-drive contact.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Short, loose throws from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Showed some soft hands, athletic approach, with clean exchanges.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60. 

10. Alex Hale, Oak Creek (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/C
Body: 5-foot-8, 165-pounds. Compact, defined strength in upper and lower halves.
Hit: RHH. Tall/open setup; pre-pitch rhythm. Loads back with some wrap, leg kick lands slightly open in long toe-tap stride. Maintains balance through aggressive hacks. Long path with bat speed, leans through uphill bat path; creates bat strength with big extension finish.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Long, loose throws from a high 3/4 slot; some carry.
Defense: Fluid, controlled footwork; hands played soft with consistent clean exchanges.
Run: 7.31 runner in the 60. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Zachary Adams, Wisconsin Lutheran (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 143-pounds. Thin, lean frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced/open setup with bend, knee knock in stance. Smooth load back, leg hang stride helps set rhythm.  Simple, easy barrel feel; level plane that helps repeat line-drive contact.
Power: 75 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 71 mph. Short throws from a high 3/4 window.
Defense: Controlled footwork with clean transfers.
Run: 7.94 runner in the 60. 

Kyle Bender, Warren (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-0, 172-pounds. Strength in frame, especially lower half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly open setup; hands set high. Load back with leg kick coil, strides even. Short path to, level plane, long extension through contact, one-handed finish. Above-average bat speed.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Long, some loose arm action from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic approach to the ball; clean exchanges. Feet are controlled, fluid.
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60. 

Ian Boal, Johnsburg (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-foot-11, 150-pounds. Lanky, athletic frame with projection; high-waisted.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, slightly open. Brief load back to short stride, maintains balance through contact. Short, level bat path with some bat speed. Extension through contact, two-handed finish. Occasional hard-hit contact.
Power: 76 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 80 mph. Short, loose arm action from a high 3/4 window.
Defense: Fluid feet, athletic approach, consistent clean exchanges.
Run: 7.82 runner in the 60. 

Gavyn Bowen, Pewaukee (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-foot-8, 135-pounds. Thin, lanky levers.
Hit: LHH. Wide, balanced setup, pigeon-toed. Hands swing back to load, short stride to closed. Maintains balance. Showed barrel accuracy off an uphill plane, extension through contact.
Power: 73 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 76 mph. Long and loose arm action from a 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic path to ball, consistent clean transfers, athletic feet help play through the ball.
Run: 8.42 runner in the 60. 

Devin Bueno, Franklin (WI), 2020
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 170-pounds. Long levers; thick lower half.
Hit: RHH. Pre-pitch rhythm; balanced setup. Subtle load back, arm bar, flattens barrel. Short, flat bat path; opposite-field/slap approach.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 69 mph. Short throws from a 3/4 slot.
Defense: Controlled approach helps lead to clean exchanges, some quick.
Run: 7.94 runner in the 60. 

Ethan Graham, Wausau West (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-foot-7, 145-pounds. Slender build with some strength in lower half.
Hit: RHH. Tall/open setup, hands set high. Simple load, strides to closed. Long, steep path with a pull-side approach.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. OF - 79 mph. Short, loose throws from a high 3/4 slot in the outfield. Behind the plate, short and loose arm action from am over-the-top slot.
Defense: In the outfield, athletic approach, fluid actions. Behind the plate, above-average actions, quick footwork with clean exchanges.
Run: 7.50 runner in the 60. 

Cameron Jackson, Ashwaubenon (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 6-foot-3, 195-pounds. Extra-large, moldable frame; some strength in the lower half.
Hit: RHH. Tall/open setup. Some pre-pitch rhythm, leg lift stride to even; some early landing, timing. Long path on a level plane; generates some natural bat strength.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 66 mph. Short throws from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Long but clean exchanges; direct footwork.
Run: 7.99 runner in the 60. 

Jake Metze, Johnsburg (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-foot-8, 150-pounds. Thin, slender look.
Hit: LHH. Tall, square setup. Drops hands, flattens barrel, leg kick stride to closed. Short, uphill path, some fluidity through contact. Leans back into extension finish.
Power: 77 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Long arm action from a high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: Utilizes crowhop with quick footwork, quick exchanges.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60. 

Dayton Rozinski-Hicks, Ronald Reagan (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 170-pounds. Strong, compact build.
Hit: RHH. Tall/balanced setup, open front foot, quiet. Weight shift load back, short stride to closed. Simple path; short and direct on a flat, level plane. Repeats line-drive contact.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 77 mph. Long arm action from a 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic, fluid feet; plays through the ball.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60. 

Ryan Sell, Muskego (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-foot-11, 152-pounds. Thin, lanky frame, high waist; projectable, young look.
Hit: LHH. Tall setup, bat rests on shoulder. Smooth back with arm bar, leg lift, long stride.  Steep to contact, barrel feel; consistent contact with up-the-middle approach.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 81 mph. Short, loose throws from a high 3/4 window; showed some carry to home.
Defense: Feet work through crowhop; clean exchanges.
Run: 7.87 runner in the 60. 

Max Semancik, Franklin (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 5-foot-8, 170-pounds. Compact frame with proportional strength, especially in the lower half.
Hit: LHH. Closed/balanced in a slight crouch; hands set high. Small load back, leg kicks out into closed landing, some stiffness through contact. Short, level bat path; some bat speed and strength.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 78 mph. Long arm action from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Defends with some bounce; athletic approach, clean exchanges.
Run: 7.23 runner in the 60. Athletic gait.

Ryan Traas, Sheboygan North (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-11, 175-pounds. Lean, wiry strength in frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced setup, weight shifts back, slight bar load, short stride to square. Maintains balance. Long, level bat path; slight incline through contact.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 86 mph. Long arm action from a high 3/4 window; some carry to home.
Defense: Controlled, direct footwork; plays through.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60.

Samuel Wronski, Marquette University (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-foot-0, 150-pounds. Thin, lanky frame; long levers.
Hit: RHH. Tall/balanced setup, open front foot, hands set high. Short load back, small leg lift stride to even. Short, level path, long through contact on an uphill plane.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 75 mph. Long, high 3/4 arm action.
Defense: Fluid and athletic footwork, plays through the baseball. Clean exchanges and transfers into crowhop.
Run: 7.72 runner in the 60.

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