Wisconsin Class of 2022 Rankings Update

The loaded winter showcase circuit has concluded, and WIAA Opening Day is on Tuesday, so now’s the perfect time to make our biggest state rankings update: expanding and adjusting the Class of 2022 board. These juniors made up the majority of the prospects we saw at our winter events, and we saw 41 of the previously top-50-ranked players that helped us more accurately slide these prospects around the board.

Let’s break down the top of the class today. Be on the lookout next week when we dive deep down the top-110 players to see the movement a little further down the board.

TOP OF THE CLASS

+ Little changed at the top, with SS Gavin Kilen (Milton; Louisville commit) holding on to the top spot in the state, while jumping into the top-50 nationally. He put on a show in early March at the South Milwaukee Preseason I.D., and his draft stock is primed for the summer, where he will likely be a high interest target for pro scouts in the Midwest.

The state’s top-ranked 2022, SS Gavin Kilen (Janesville Craig), hits three balls at 95-plus mph during his round, including one that travelled an estimated 360 feet to dead center.#SouthMilwaukeeID | @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/j5HTNvcSwX

— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) March 7, 2021

+ The next five spots on the ‘22 rankings match the order of our last update, and OF Michael Lippe (Whitefish Bay; Louisville) checks in again at No. 2. Much like Kilen, Lippe will be attracting pro scouts his way this spring and summer, over a year ahead of the 2022 MLB Draft. We hadn’t been able to catch Lippe in about a year, to date, until he made his way to the Milwaukee Preseason I.D., where he presented us with his trademark bat speed/power traits from the right side, inside a highly physical, athletic 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame. He ran a 6.77 at that event and reached a 98 mph high on his throws home from the outfield, and this came after recording some of the top bat and hand speed marks we’d seen all winter. He remains a high-follow draft prospect.

OF Michael Lippe (Whitefish Bay, 2022) is a @LouisvilleBSB commit with one of the best strength/speed toolsets in the Midwest. Started the day with a 6.77 and then recorded three batted balls 95-plus mph, with a 99 max.#MilwaukeeID pic.twitter.com/vgMx76JPLO

— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) March 21, 2021

+ Lippe’s high school and travel ball teammate RHP/INF Mitchell Voit (Whitefish Bay; Michigan) retains the No. 3 overall spot in-state, but his prospect arrow is pointed up after completing a quality bullpen in early March, showing positive offspeed development while maintaining that same level of premium athleticism we’ve come to expect. Voit’s built at a wiry, strong 6-foot, 190 pounds, and his elite tools appear in the 60-yard dash (6.80), on the infield (97 mph high to first), and from the batter’s box (98.5 mph max exit speed). But, he remains best-suited on the mound. At that same showcase, just after throwing a 97 mph event-high to first base, Voit hopped on the mound and sat 90-92 mph with increased feel to land the breaking ball under the zone, with some late action, and his changeup works effectively off the fastball, too. He reaches that fastball velo with very little effort, and his arm speed is exceptionally loose and fast, stemming from an athletic delivery. The fastball he produces features noteworthy spin and carries at an advanced level to home, projecting as an excellent offering on its own.

Mitchell Voit (3/7/21)

+ C Will Vierling (Homestead) is another Louisville recruit at the top of this class, and his left-handed bat continues to progress as one of the state’s best. His performance at the South Milwaukee I.D. made sure that he held onto his No. 4 spot on this state board, up over 30 spots nationally.

Will Vierling (3/7/21)

+ RHP Tyler Deleskiewicz (Badger) is the No. 5-ranked player in Wisconsin’s junior class, and should also be considered one of the top uncommitted pitchers in the Midwest, at this point. An unorthodox, funky delivery doesn’t inhibit his ability to repeat and reach the 90-plus mph mark. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound righty was up to 91 mph at a PBR Illinois event this winter, featuring high spin, and he has above-average feel to spin and land his curveball and viable changeup.

Tyler Deleskiewicz (1/31/21)

+ We did not see the Notre Dame recruit SS Rory Fox (Catholic Memorial) this winter, but his memorable 2020 provided plenty of ammunition to keep him ranked as the No. 6-ranked player in the state. He’s all set to make his WIAA debut, finally, where he can contribute right away to the Crusaders’ chances of winning a Division 2 title this spring, picking up where his brother left off.

+ It’s also worth touching on 2B/SS Tristan Ellis’ (Greendale; Purdue) performance at our South MKE event. Amidst a talented field, containing several of the aforementioned players, Ellis’ round of batting practice stuck out as one of the day’s best. He moved up a spot on the state’s board, now No. 8 overall, and he also rose nearly 40 spots nationally. Ellis’ savvy defense, competitive style of play, and quick and timely left-handed bat have kept him inside the state’s top-10 since the state rankings first launched in late 2019.

Tristan Ellis (3/7/21)

TOP-10 TABLE