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Wisconsin Class of 2023 Rankings: Risers

December 13, 2021
By Wisconsin Staff

On Friday, in preparation for the national 2023 rankings update that is on its way, the PBR Wisconsin staff unveiled a small end-of-year update to the state’s junior rankings. There was some movement within the top-10 and we added over 15 new names to the Wisconsin board. Today, we’re continuing to break down the state’s Class of 2023 prospects by highlighting the players who moved up the board in this update, having made the most of their chances this past fall.

Actually, a pair of the most significant ‘Risers’ in the state entered the top-five: RHP Thomas Burns (Hortonville; uncommitted) and INF Jack Counsell (Whitefish Bay; uncommitted). We provided a more detailed report on each player in Friday’s piece, but the two can still be considered notable ‘Risers’ as prospects who leapt huge places up near the top of the board.

For more reports on the players headed into the offseason with arrows up, read on below.

ON THE RISE

+ In only two years as a pitcher-only, RHP Luke Agnew (Marquette University; Wichita State) has really come into his own. Once an infielder, Agnew is now a 6-foot-3, 205-pound righty who can run his fastball up to 89.7 mph. Using a competitor's presence and an up-tempo delivery, he carves east and west in the zone from a low ¾ slot. The fastball has large arm side action with sink, and so does the changeup. His slider has a good bite, and he manages the location of a slow breaking ball well. Recently committed to Wichita State, he’s set to join a number of talented arms stepping into the great care of an accomplished coaching staff. Agnew moved to the mound as a projection play decision, and he continues to make his upside projection look like a reasonable projection.

+ One of the biggest winners from this year’s Future Games, RHP Presley Wachowiak (Catholic Memorial) continues to rise up our rankings, now slotted at No. 15 overall. He’s trimmed out and added more muscle since he toed the rubber at LakePoint, now built at a more muscular 6-foot-1, 195-pounds. Wachowiak’s fastball continues to live in the 87-89 mph range in short stints and it’s the development of his secondaries that have separated him from his peers. His ability to generate whiffs on a true 12/6 curveball is what we’ve long known him for, but the recent developments he’s made with his changeup, a pitch he can confidently throw down in the zone at arm speed, has enhanced his all-around arsenal. As things stand currently, Wachowiak remains one of the state’s top arms still on the market.

Presley Wachowiak (7/28/21)

+ Up a handful of spots to No. 22 in this update is INF Vidal Colon (University School of Milwaukee), who continues to show well as one of the class’ top offensive threats. Colon brings noteworthy bat speed into the batter’s box and his ability to consistently generate loud contact off his right-handed barrel provides for a potential top-of-the-order type ceiling at the next level. He’s a gifted athlete in his own right as well, earning All-Conference honors on both sides of the ball for the USM football team. That athleticism paired with a high motor is clear and should allow him for some positional flexibility around the diamond, too. 

+ We were first introduced to RHP Keenan Mork (River Falls) this summer at The Rock, where the lanky 6-foot-1, 170-pound right-hander made a positive impression on our staff. In that look, Mork effectively mixed in a low-to-mid-80s fastball and spun a sharp breaking ball for strikes and whiffs. This fall, Mork attended a PBR Minnesota event, showcasing improved velocity and stuff throughout his ‘pen. His fastball reached an 88 mph high with present carry at the top of the zone and there’s more left in the tank, too. The uptick in velocity improved the intent and conviction on his breaking ball as well, turning it into a true multi-quadrant swing-and-miss offering. Up 16 spots to the 24th spot on our current board, Mork’s ceiling on the mound could see him climb further up this list in the future. 

Keenan Mork (8/13/21)

+ 1B Aiden Schenk (Janesville Craig) hit right in the heart of a talented Hitters ‘23 lineup throughout the PBR at The Rock Fall Championships and his prowess as a top left-handed first baseman in Wisconsin was on display. He worked on the barrel throughout, spraying line drives the other way with ease or turning to the pull-side for a handful of base hits, too. Schenk’s power is derived from the sturdy strength inside a 6-foot, 200-pound frame and he really started to make more significant and frequent contact as our looks went on throughout the late summer and fall.

+ C Hunter Szymborski (Brookfield Central) is a catcher who loves catching, as a choice bullpen receiver for local professional arms and high school arms alike. While the bat has historically run a bit light, added strength inside a strong 5-foot-11, 186-pound frame, and minor swing adjustments, have grown his offensive value. Standing wide in a hinged setup posture, with a knack for handling pitches lower in the zone. Szymborski looks like a defense first, offense next left-handed-hitting catcher that’ll be sure to draw local interest.

+ C Jake Olszewski (Germantown) showed well at The Rock this fall and at the Eastern Wisconsin Open as well, rising a handful of spots to No. 67 overall as a result. His calling card has long been his abilities behind the plate, as Olszewski is among the state’s top defensive backstops we’ve seen. His pitch presentation, adept blocking, and in-game performances have certainly impressed us in our looks. A left-handed hitter, Olszewski’s potential gains offensively throughout the winter could lead to a jump up in our next update.

Jake Olszewski (8/16/21)

+ MIF Landen Lozier used this past September to vault himself up the rankings some; here’s our report from the PBR at The Rock Fall Championships: “Lozier is a fun-to-watch prospect who plays the game with an infectious energy that translates inside the batter’s box and up the middle of the infield – and he’s progressing well in all facets, too. Adding a little more strength and size appears to have aided his game offensively. He’s always displayed the barrel feel, but at The Rock last weekend, Lozier crushed a couple of balls over outfielders’ heads, from whippy bat speed. With quality, athletic actions on defense, an uptick in offensive output would take Lozier’s game to another level, and this weekend was the latest example of that happening.”

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