Wisconsin Class of 2022 Rankings: Top-10

Today’s a big day, as we’re set to unveil our first look at our rankings inside the state’s Class of 2022. This sophomore class is one of the most exciting to roll through Wisconsin in quite some time. There’s some serious talent up and down the class, and we’ve decided to begin our 2022 rankings with a top-20. 

We’ve actually had ample time to evaluate this class throughout this calendar year. Typical preseason events gave us some looks, but ‘22-centric events like Underclass Games and our 15U PBR at The Rock Championships tournament provided a platform dedicated to this class and it helped shape the top-20 you’ll find below.

TOP OF THE LIST

Debuting atop the board at No. 1 is Whitefish Bay’s Michael Lippe, an outfielder who became the first prospect in the state’s ‘22 class to commit when he verbally announced his intent to join Louisville right around this time last year. He was the power source for the upstart Blue Dukes in the spring, a young team that made it all the way to sectionals. Lippe is a highly physical right-handed hitter who is bursting with tools – he ran a 6.82 in March and he swings a strong, fast bat geared for hard contact into the gaps. He’s a strong and athletic 6-foot-1, and the long-term upside he has is something you can see instantaneously in the batter’s box.

Michael Lippe (7/23/19)

The top arm in this ‘22 class resides in Turtle Lake, a small school northwest of Eau Claire: RHP Brendan Strenke, who remains uncommitted. He’s been harnessing his premium arm strength incrementally in 2019, starting back in March at our Madison-area preseason event when he touched one 89 mph. Strenke replicated his mid- to upper-80s stuff in a live game setting in Chicago at our Underclass Games event, with multiple 88 mph readings, reaching 86-88 mph with much more consistency. He has long, strong limbs inside a 6-foot-1 athletic frame, with some easy projection. It won’t be long before he comfortably reaches that 90 mph threshold, and it may even pop up this offseason.

Brendan Strenke (7/23/19)

UP THE MIDDLE

That brings us to our second Louisville commit already: SS Gavin Kilen (Janesville Craig). Kilen has been on our radar for awhile and has long been garnering comparisons to Gavin Lux, who just slugged his first Major League home run for the Dodgers last night. Kilen looks a little Lux-ish at the same age, with his lean athleticism, silky smooth glove, and left-handed bat. Kilen is an instinctual baseball player, with a knack for think two steps ahead of everyone else on the field. This on-field IQ, coupled with his superior skillset, has him sticking out amongst his peers.

Milton’s Keegan Knutson, who just committed to South Carolina this summer, shares Kilen’s innate feel for the game. A natural third baseman, Knutson just plays the game at a faster pace than anyone else and the energy he brings to the top of a lineup or while captaining a defense is palpable. He’s a competitor in the right-handed batter’s box and comfortably projects to hit at any level.

Keegan Knutson (7/23/19)

At No. 5, you’ll find Catholic Memorial’s two-way prospect Rory Fox (uncommitted). Rory is Luke Fox’s younger brother, a Duke commit and left-hander who’s all the way up to No. 4 in the 2020 class. But the younger Fox brings a different profile to the table: He throws right-handed which allows for his easy athleticism to click right into the left side of the infield. He’s a smooth defender at shortstop. Like Luke, he hits from the left side, and we’ve seen him on the barrel constantly this summer as one of the stand-outs for a talented STiKS Academy 15U group. Fox is also adept on the mound, up to 85 mph, with feel for a 12/6 breaking ball with swing-and-miss upside. It’ll be exciting to watch Fox continue to develop and mature into one of the top prospects in this budding 2022 class.

Rory Fox (7/23/19)

Here’s yet another Louisville commit inside this top-10: Homestead backstop William Vierling. Vierling has been, pound for pound, one of the top left-handed bats we’ve seen this summer, regardless of age. He starred at The Rock on a robust Hitters squad, ripping off a couple of home runs, too. Vierling’s patient approach combined with his over-the-fence capabilities makes him among the most dangerous bats in the class, and is arguably the top power threat among them.

William Vierling (7/23/19)

The last committed prospect to touch on in this 2022 class is Greendale’s Tristan Ellis, who’s bound to Purdue. Ellis proved to be a versatile defender for Greendale this spring, earning varsity reps all around the diamond, including the outfield. His natural home looks to be shortstop though, where he’s an excellent defender with advanced actions all the way around. He moves well laterally, has the handiwork, and is equipped with a quick and athletic arm. Offensively, Ellis has a top-of-the-order profile as a barrel control left-handed hitter who is exceptionally quick out of the box.

ROUNDING IT OUT

Whitefish Bay’s 2022 class could be a historic one, with Mitchell Voit (uncommitted) rolling in at No. 8 on the board. Voit might have the highest ceiling on the mound in the class, with serious arm strength, up to 85 mph already, that plays at third base, too. He’s also a right-handed hitter with advanced bat strength (93 mph exit velocity from the tee), which really punctuates his game. He also saw some time this spring on the varsity level, and should grab more regular playing time this year, with the Blue Dukes having graduated some key parts of last year’s sectional squad. On top of all this, Voit is also among the youngest members of the ‘22 class, furthering his sky-high upside.

Mitchell Voit (3/3/19)

The top left-hander in this 2022 class is Westosha Central’s Michael Mulhollon, a highly projectable 6-foot-4, 180-pound athlete with exceptional all-around feel on the mound. His ability to locate his low-80s fastball helps it play up, and he’s already showing a next-level feel for his offspeed, a 1/7 curve and a straight change. Mulhollon’s high-end athleticism helps forecast a lofty ceiling on the mound as he keeps growing and maturing.

Michael Mulhollon (7/23/19)

Finally, at No. 10, we have James Duncan, of Arrowhead, who battled an injury to his lower half this summer that prevented us from seeing much of him. Still, from what we have seen, Duncan is a left/left outfielder who’s an upside athlete and might just have a long-term home in center field. His live hands and fast bat have been a separator for him early, too, earning him a top-10 spot on the 2022 board.

We have more ‘22 content to show you in the coming days, so keep an eye out for notes on the rest of the initial 20 ranked names, as well as prospects to eye moving forward, as those who could be making their rankings debuts in the not-too-distant future.

For now, here’s a complete look at Wisconsin’s Class of 2022 Rankings.

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