Wisconsin Class of 2025 Rankings: Risers
August 31, 2023
As the summer comes to a close, we take a look at some of the risers who made names for themselves in the 2025 rankings.
Yesterday, our staff officially updated the rankings for the 2025 class, highlighting several of the state’s top prospects within our release. You can find that by clicking HERE.
We’ll dive deeper into the rankings themselves today, spotlighting a handful of players that earned a rise up our board after showing well to our staff. Below, you’ll learn more about these names that are trending upward as the fall is set to start.
ARMS-ON-THE-RISE
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Brolan Frost LHP / Elkhorn Area , WI / 2025
Rankings, PBR Wisconsin: No. 16
Here’s a report from the Team Wisconsin: Takeaways: “... turned heads when he brought his ultra-projectable 6-foot-4, 165-pound frame to the mound in his two appearances of the week. Frost is a simple and clean mover on the bump, syncing up his extra-long levers well to pound the zone with a three-pitch mix. Frost ran his fastball, a pitch that averaged over a foot of arm-side run, up to 85 mph, and sat strictly 83-84 mph in his pair of one inning appearances. He also has a quality feel for both a low-70s curveball that plays with tight 1/7 movement, and a high-70s changeup with over 15’ of fading action. Frost worked quickly in both of his outings of the week, as he pounded the zone and induced weak contact from opposing batters and finished with two strikeouts, while not allowing a hit. There is a lot to dream on from this uncommitted southpaw and he certainly left LakePoint with an arrow up next to his name.”
Brolan Frost (7/28/23) |
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Manuel Sostre RHP / St Thomas More, WI / 2025
Rankings PBR Wisconsin: No. 27
The projectability and athleticism that Sostre offers on the mound is noteworthy throughout the 2025 rankings, standing at 6-foot-3, 175-pounds. His length, featuring some present strength, allowed the right-hander to work up to 86 mph on the bump at the Milwaukee Preseason ID back in March. Sostre continued to put up quality numbers in the spring for St. Thomas More, along with his work in the summer. On the mound, Sostre twirls a slider and curveball combination, spinning both pitches in the low-2,000’s RPM on average. His ability to drive down the mound and extend allows his sharp pitches to jump on batters, utilizing his lively fastball to get ahead of batters. Sostre’s quality performances at a were consistently on display, as the right-hander moves up to No. 27 in our newest update, primed for a standout junior season. |
+ RHP Sam Callow (Indian Trail): Callow used this summer to make some noise for himself as a rising prospect, slotting in at No. 55 in this update. The athlete stands at 5-foot-11, 165-pounds, and earned an invite to the Top Prospect Games in Milwaukee in mid-July. It was there where he rushed his fastball up to 84 mph, coming off of a successful start at the PBRT Open a couple of weeks prior to the event. A strike-thrower, Callow lives in the zone with his fastball and off-speed mix, using a changeup and curveball to navigate through lineups. As he continues to add strength, Callow will continue to progress as a lively arm with a quality feel for all three pitches he throws.
+ RHP Logan Zaverl (Germantown): Zaverl popped on the scene at the Milwaukee Preseason ID towards the end of the winter, rushing his fastball up to the mid-80s throughout his bullpen session. The right-hander presents himself at a 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame, featuring present strength throughout his body. Zaverl brings three pitches to the table, beginning with a fastball that has reached 85 mph in the past. He has shown the ability to kill spin on a changeup, creating depth as it drops below the strike zone. In addition to those two pitches, he flips up a curveball with 12/6 actions, summarizing his arsenal that has led to consistent success. Zaverl can handle the bat a little as well, showcasing signs of his two-way abilities. He rises to No. 60 after a successful spring and summer.
Logan Zaverl (3/18/23)
UPSIDE OFFENSE
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Brayden Steinbecker SS / Manitowoc Lincoln, WI / 2025
Rankings, PBR Wisconsin: No. 19
Here’s a report from the Team Wisconsin: Takeaways: “...presented some intriguing tools over the course of the week, standing at a long 6-foot-3, 178-pound frame. During the workout day, Steinbecker posted a max EV of 91 mph and averaged 84.1 mph throughout his BP session. He finished with a 7.09-second 60-yard dash, too, showcasing his athleticism on the diamond. These traits were on display in Game One for Team Wisconsin, where Steinbecker legged out an infield hit, forcing a poor throw to advance to second. He followed that up in the next at bat with a barreled line drive to the shortstop, nearly knocking the defender over. His pull-side approach and short path to each pitch were noteworthy, along with his defensive work. The right-hander reached 81 mph from the shortstop position, and was a steady defender on the left side of the infield throughout the entirety of the weekend. Steinbecker was smooth in his actions and presented quality arm strength, continuing to project as a solid infield presence throughout the latter half of his prep career.” Brayden Steinbecker (7/26/23) |
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Terek Verhage C / OF / Monona Grove, WI / 2025
Rankings, PBR Wisconsin: No. 23
Here’s a report from the Team Wisconsin: Takeaways: “...was a steady and consistent presence on Team Wisconsin throughout the past week, both at the plate and behind the dish. Standing at a projectable 5-foot-10, 165-pound frame, Verhage’s athleticism was noteworthy at the catcher position, each in the workout day and gameplay. On Wednesday, Verhage finished with pop times ranging from 1.94-2.04 seconds, showcasing his quick feet and hands. His top throw, reaching 77 mph, was paired with accuracy and illustrated why Verhage entered the summer as one of the top backstops in Wisconsin’s 2025 class. His swift hand-to-glove transition translated to live action, where Verhage displayed those same traits, challenging opposing runners on the basepaths. On the offensive end, Verhage’s bat continues to show improvements, adding another strong dimension to his game. The left-handed batter finished with two hits on the weekend, overcoming a slow start with an up-the-middle approach, catching multiple barrels. His simple approach, with quiet hands and the ability to spray the ball all over the field will continue to be one of Verhage’s strengths as he progresses in his prep career, using this past week as a step in the right direction for the future.” |
+ C Turner Kuhnke (Hortonville): Here’s a report from The Rock Summer Championships: 16U Takeaways: “Currently slotted as a top-50 prospect in the state’s ‘25 class, Kuhnke continued to show well in front of our staff throughout the summer circuit. Kuhnke showed off his defensive prowess by throwing out multiple runners throughout the weekend. Also a fluid receiver that regularly steals strikes for his pitchers. At the plate, Kuhnke is an aggressive hitter with a simple swing that generates bat speed. Quality feel for the barrel and showed he can hit to all fields with an opposite-field double on Friday morning. A high-level uncommitted prospect to keep on your radar as a to-be junior.”
Turner Kuhnke (7/16/23)
IMPACT ATHLETES
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Braylen White OF / Brown Deer, WI / 2025
Rankings, PBR Wisconsin: No. 29
Here’s a report from the Team Wisconsin: Takeaways: “Showcasing some of the best speed on Team Wisconsin, White provided an upside look in his week of play in Georgia. While the bat continues to develop and improve in a 5-foot-11, 160-pound frame, other aspects of his game stand out. White ran a 6.54-second 60-yard dash, the fastest on Team Wisconsin and within the top-15 on the national stage. That trait played on the diamond, especially in the outfield, where he locked down multiple positions with steady defensive play. The arm reached 82 mph from the outfield, summarizing a quality week for White. The stock continues to rise for White after a quality showing in Georgia, as he currently sits as Wisconsin’s No. 35 ranked prospect in the 2025 class.” |
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Jackson Neilitz OF / RHP / Plymouth, WI / 2025
Rankings, PBR Wisconsin: No. 32
The power and strength of Neilitz is a standout trait for the right-handed hitter in the 2025 rankings, as he produced low-90s EVs at the Top Prospect Games in Milwaukee this past summer. His bat speed, averaging a quality 72.6 mph, allowed him to drive a pitch 330 feet at the showcase, one of the top distances within the pool of 2025 prospects attending the event. In addition to his bat, Neilitz is a solid defender in the outfield, and reached 83 mph on the mound. His natural athleticism, in a 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame, allowed him to run a quick 6.89-second 60-yard dash this past summer, benefitting him in all aspects of the game. He’s continued to showcase easy power at the plate and on the defensive end, priming Neilitz for a big fall and offseason, as he rises to No. 32 in the newest update. Jackson Neilitz (7/11/23) |
+ OF Max Glusick (Sun Prairie East) is a name who popped to our staff after a handful of looks at him during the spring and since then, he has turned some heads across the summer circuit as well. Listed at 5-foot-9, 155-pounds with wiry strength, Glusick swings a dynamic right-handed bat through the zone. Not only has his offense attracted attention throughout the summer, but his athleticism and defensive skills are noteworthy as well. He is a 6.88 runner which helps him cover a lot of ground while in the outfield and he pairs it with an accurate arm, too. Now after a successful sophomore campaign which boosted him a handful of spots up our rankings board, Glusick now looks to continue his success as an upperclassman at Sun Prairie East.
+ OF Yamato Takahashi (Arrowhead) is another outfield prospect making a jump up in these rankings, up to No. 63. In the right-handed box, Takahashi swings a controlled right-handed bat and pairs it with bat-to-ball skills that are noteworthy. In the outfield, he is an athletic mover with quick feet and he pairs it with an arm that has been up to 82 mph from the outfield in our looks, too. After debuting in our previous rankings update, Takahashi now finds himself trending up on our board and he remains an uncommitted name to monitor in the state.
+ MIF Braylan Bigler (Brookfield Central) is an athletically infield prospect that is making a jump up our 2025 board. Listed at 5-foot-10, 170-pounds, Bigler is a clean mover on the infield with soft hands and quality actions that point to him sticking up the middle in the long run. Offensively, he swings a whippy right-handed bat that produces consistent line-drive contact to all parts of the field. Also his athleticism is noteworthy too, as he is a sub-7.00 runner with a quick-first step. After multiple strong looks at this uncommitted prospect throughout the summer, Bigler settles in at No. 65 as he enters his all-so important junior campaign.
+ OF Levi Watts (Appleton North): Here’s a report from the Eastern Wisconsin Open: Quick Hits: “...presents himself at a 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame, showing well at the showcase on Monday as a 2025 prospect. Watts started the day by running the fastest 60-yard dash time among the pool of prospects; he clocked in at 7.17 seconds to kick off the showcase. At the plate, the righty provides an all-fields approach from a simple setup, effectively barreling the baseball during a solid round of BP. On the defensive end, Watts stood out with his controlled aggression, attacking ground balls and maxing out at 84 mph from the outfield. With those improved traits, Watts’ stock continues to trend up after a solid spring and summer.”
RISING TWO-WAYS
+ RHP/INF Nick Hirsch (Hudson): After showing an uptick in velocity throughout the spring season for Hudson, Hirsch established himself as an arrow-up prospect heading into the fall, as the right-hander continues to add strength and velocity to his repertoire. Hirsch, standing at a lean 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame, featured a dominant three-pitch mix in the spring, utilizing a mid-80s fastball (T86 mph) to jump on hitters. His breaking ball presented some swing and miss traits, creating a sharp break from the high ¾ arm slot. Similarly, the changeup is thrown with fastball-intent, mixing speeds and keeping hitters off-balance. Hirsch excelled throughout the summer as well, showcasing his consistency and ability to maintain his velocity during lengthy starts. Our staff is curious to witness how Hirsch continues to progress throughout his prep career.
Nick Hirsch (5/13/23)
+ RHP/INF Sam Hoeft (Port Washington): Here’s a report from the Top Prospect Games: Quick Hits: “...was a workhorse for his high school team, and has used that experience to find success over the course of the 2023 summer circuit as a two-way prospect, showing well at The Rock. Standing at an athletic 6-foot-3, 180-pounds, Hoeft showed well at the plate, utilizing his wiry frame and strength within his hands to drive the baseball. That transitioned into live gameplay, where Hoeft, playing against a majority of prospects a year older than himself, went 1-for-1 late in the game. He also threw a clean inning on the mound, using a low-80s fastball and late breaking slider to navigate through the order. Hoeft’s projection and present tools make him an intriguing follow for the future.”
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