Wisconsin 2017 Rankings: New Additions

August 13, 2015

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois

Earlier this the week Wisconsin’s 2017 Rankings were updated, a precursor to the Overall 2017 Rankings Update. As with every ranking update there are several new prospects to make the cut and this update was no different. In fact several new players made it into the top half of the rankings. Here is a quick look at some newcomers to the 2017 Rankings.

Jack Blomgren, SS, Janesville Craig, 2017
Blomgren is the highest new addition to the rankings at No. 7. He’s impressed us since the spring when we saw him command the shortstop position for the state champion Janesville Craig Cougars. Blomgren also anchored the left side of the infield for Team Wisconsin at the Future Games where he exploded onto the recruiting scene. The 6-foot, 165-pound right-handed hitting shortstop has an athletic frame, running the 60 at 6.88. At shortstop Blomgren shows smooth, athletic actions, with soft hands and lateral agility. A short arm action from a high ¾ arm slot carries well at 84 mph across the infield. Blomgren is a high baseball I.Q. guy who is very instinctual defensively and on the bases. Blomgren has become one of the top middle infield prospects in Wisconsin’s 2017 class.

Trevor Olson, LHP, Chippewa Falls, 2017
Trevor Olson burst onto the scene this summer at the Western Wisconsin Open. There he featured an 82-83 mph fastball touching 84 mph out of a 6-foot-6 frame with a loose arm action. Olson then got an invite to fill a late pitching spot on Team Minnesota at the Future Games and touched 86 mph sitting 82-85 mph and one of the bigger risers at the event. Olson jumped into the rankings at No. 12.

Ben Hauser, OF, Sun Prairie, 2017
Right behind Olson at No. 13 is Ben Hauser. We first saw Hauser this spring getting valuable varsity time with perennial powerhouse Sun Prairie. Then Hauser showed abilities on the mound and with the bat. More recently Hauser used the Future Games to raise his recruiting stock as a left handed hitting outfielder. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder has advanced physicality and showed raw arm strength throwing 87 mph from the outfield during workouts. Offensively hits from a tall, narrow setup with a leg lift stride. Short swing path with a fast bat. Pull hitter who showed pop in batting practice. 85 mph exit velocity from a tee. Athletic fielder, plays thru the ball, and projects for a corner outfield spot. Ran the 60 at 7.37

Quinn Pierner, INF, Bay Port, 2017
Cracking the top 30 is Bay Port’s Quinn Pierner. Pierner was a starter for the Pirates this spring, another perennial powerhouse in the WIAA. We got to see Pierner several times in the last six months including the most recent Badger State Battle tournament. Pierner is an athletic infielder who looks to be versatile enough to play any infield position. He is a barrel control hitter, who handles the bat well with the ability to spray to all fields.

Evan Sankey, RHP, Appleton North, 2017
In the top 50 is Appleton North RHP Evan Sankey. Sankey is a wiry right-handed pitcher with a thin loose frame who we got to see a lot of at the Badger State Battle. Athletic delivery, works with tempo, good direction, solid landing. Arm action is loose, short and has some quickness, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 80-81 mph, touched 83-84 early, showed control to glove side and ability to work down in the zone as well as getting swing and misses up and out of the zone. Two secondary offerings – slider looks to be the better of the two, flatter 10/4 type action, 73-74 mph. Curveball has more depth, 65-66 mph.

Justin Reinkall, RHP, Superior, 2017
Attempting to leave no stone unturned, Justin Reinkall, from the northern tip of Wisconsin impressed at the Western Wisconsin Open this summer in Eau Claire. Reinkall has a quick arm that already boasts velo touching 82 mph. I would not be surprised to see plenty more in the future as we will hope to keep close tabs on his progress.

Logan Grunenwald, SS/RHP, Wausau West, 2017
Another prospect to pop up this spring was Logan Grunenwald. We first saw Grunenwald at the Woodside High School Challenge in April when he threw a complete game shutout for Wausua West. At 6-foot-3, 180-pounds he has a projectable body and sits 79-80 mph on the mound, touching 81 mph.

Jack Anderson, RHP, Pulaski, 2017
Anderson popped up at the Underclass Trials earlier this summer. He is a 6-foot-5, 200-pound athletic and lanky right-handed pitcher. We saw him sit 80-83 mph at the Underclass Trials with a loose projectable arm and then saw him again in game action at the Badger State Battle Tournament with similar stuff.

Matthew McNabb, OF, West De Pere, 2017
McNabb is a quick twitch type athlete who just missed the rankings at our previous update. He has fast hands at the plate and cuts it loose, late and quick, a very handsy hitter. Good speed on the bases, also showed it defensively in the outfield, fluid strider.

Hunter Weddel, INF/OF, Kenosha Tremper, 2017
Weddel made the cut after his showing this spring and the Underclass Trials. Weddel was a varsity player for Tremper this spring and was one of the top prospects in attendance at the Underclass Trials. We also saw him in tournament play on multiple occasions this summer swing a good bat

Tanner Bykowski, INF, Westosha Central, 2017
A 6-foot, 175-pound, right-handed hitting second baseman with a strong build. Looks to be an offensive threat as he showed this summer in games as well as at an earlier showcase this spring. Keep an eye on the bat of Bykowski.

Isaac Lawler, RHP, Kenosha Bradford, 2017
Lawler caught our eye this spring as well. Pitching for the Red Devils he has a typical big pitchers frame and showed a 78-80 mph fastball early in his outing. Lawler will be a follow for us this year to see how he is progressing.

Wisconsin 2017 Rankings: New Additions

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