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MLB Draft: Wisconsin Recap

July 17, 2024
By: Josh Fields, Maddox Durst and Connor Loomans
Wisconsin Staff

The 2024 MLB Draft took place over the past three days, determining the future homes of many of the top prospects throughout the nation. Our staff at Prep Baseball was fully immersed in the coverage during this stretch, which included 10 All-American Game participants who were drafted in the process.

In the Badger State, eight names were called—emphasizing the talent produced within this area over the past couple of years. Check out where those prospects landed, in addition to some of their career highlights, accolades and production from the past few seasons, below.

+ SS JD Dix (Whitefish Bay, 2024; Wake Forest signee)

Dix was selected with the 35th pick in the MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, making him the highest pick from Wisconsin since OF Jarred Kelenic (Waukesha West, 2018; Louisville signee) was chosen at No. 6 by the New York Mets in 2018. The switch-hitting middle infielder was a participant in the Prep Baseball All-American Game—highlighting a storied career. After battling through an arm injury that limited his time in the field defensively, Dix still made his name heard around the state as a bat.

JD Dix [6/4/24]

His elite speed, paired with easy power from each side of the plate makes Dix a marquee prospect as he continues to develop. His actions on the defensive end project him as a mainstay on the left side of the infield, emphasized more after he showed well on the diamond at the MLB Draft Combine a couple of weeks ago. Dix was a Division 1 State Champion in 2023 in the Badger State, leading a Whitefish Bay program to a Sectional Final in 2024—going out on a high note. The No. 1 ranked player in Wisconsin’s 2024 class did it all in his prep career, as our staff is excited to witness his production at the next level in his journey.

+ SS Eddie Rynders (Wisconsin Lutheran, 2024; Kent State signee)

Rynders was picked at the 112th spot in the MLB Draft, as the Pittsburgh Pirates capitalized on one of the top infielders in the Midwest and beyond in the fourth round. The shortstop saw his stock rise rapidly over the past year—emerging as a powerful hitter and quality defensive actions on the infield.

Eddie Rynders [5/16/24]

Wisconsin Lutheran wound up being one of the top teams in the state this season, much of which having to do with the production of Rynders from a two-way perspective. While his future remains on the infield, the senior showcased his versatility and dominance on the prep stage throughout the past couple of months. Rynders was the No. 2 ranked prospect in the Badger State’s 2024 class—taking advantage of his performance at the Super 60 in February to hear his name called on day two of action.

+ C Josh Caron (Sun Prairie, 2021; Nebraska)

Caron was the third and final player selected within the first two days of the MLB Draft with prep ties to the Badger State, as the catcher was the 121st overall pick—landing with the Seattle Mariners after a stellar season behind the dish for Nebraska. Caron was a Prep Baseball Future Games participant back in 2019—showing well throughout his prep career before becoming a Cornhusker. The junior launched 16 home runs this season, six of which came during the Big Ten Tournament to set a new record. Caron was a staple in the lineup for Nebraska, leading them to a conference championship and eventually a Regional appearance in Stillwater. Caron has long been a standout hitter in front of our staff—beginning on the prep stage before taking over as a member of the Cornhuskers’ program.

+ LHP Michael Carpenter (Arrowhead, 2022; Madison JC)

Carpenter was selected in the opening round of Day Three with the 338th overall pick to the Minnesota Twins. Making the left-hander the first Madison College player to be drafted since 2019 when Brandon Komar (Elkhorn, 2017) went to the Padres in the 13th round. Carpenter has had an illustrious JUCO career holding a 2.44 ERA across 140.1 innings with 170 strikeouts, before ultimately being named Region 4 Player of the Year and First Team All-American. Standing at 6-foot-1 the athletic left-hander still has considerable upside, a starters looks with a fastball that has been up to 92 mph in front of our staff with feel for both a low-80s breaking ball and a changeup.

Michael Carpenter [5/10/24]

+ RHP Jacob Kisting (Verona Area, 2021; Bradley)

With the 428th overall pick, the Minnesota Twins selected Kisting out of Bradley University. A 2021 graduate of Verona Area, the right-hander set a school record with a 0.69 ERA, the lowest single-season ERA in school history .Kisting departed the Wisconsin prep scene as the 26th-ranked player with a commitment to Bradley. Similarly, Kisting’s 59 strikeouts over 40.1 innings was representative of his success at the prep level, that of which translated into college. At Bradley, Kisting was named to the 2022 All-Missouri Valley Conference Second Team after posting 79 strikeouts over 83 innings of work. The following year, the RHP posted the same number of strikeouts over 72.2 innings pitched. After an injury prior to the 2024 season, Kisting worked his way back and made five appearances for the Braves, four of which were starts. With the selection, the Twins now add the 6-foot-5, Wisconsin native to their organization.

+ 1B Brady Marget (Whitefish Bay, 2021; Tulane)

Marget was taken by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 16th round of the MLB Draft, landing at No. 486. By his senior season on the prep stage, Marget emerged as one of the top hitters in the 2021 class from the left side of the plate. He consistently demonstrated his power, plus bat-to-ball skill set in front of our staff, which included an appearance at the Prep Baseball Future Games back in 2019. Marget led the way for a stellar Whitefish Bay squad in 2021—manning the middle of the order while playing a smooth first base. His production carried over to Tulane, as the Blue Dukes’ product went on to hit .331 with 26 extra base hits in his junior season. Marget made national headlines a few times throughout his time as a Green Wave—including a diving snag at first base. It summarized his prep career and the majority of his college playing time, as Marget joined Dix as the second prospect from Whitefish Bay to be drafted in 2024.

+ RHP Noah Wech (Manitowoc Lincoln, 2024; Oklahoma State signee)

Wech was the third and final prep pick from the Badger State when he was selected by the hometown team, the Milwaukee Brewers, in the 19th round. Fresh off being named First-Team All-State and displaying serious arm talent as a prep, Wech has been up to 95 with a high carry fastball that has shown to get swings-and-misses in game. This spring Wech showed improvement in both of his breaking balls, throwing both a curveball and a slider both playing in the low-80s, his slider plays with sharp downer action and has induced ugly swings from opposing batters while being able to locate it around the zone. Wech showed improved feel to throw his tighter breaking curveball in the zone to steal strikes, working it in at any count.

Noah Wech [5/23/24]

+ LHP Owen Rice (East Troy, 2021; Wisconsin-Milwaukee)

Another class of 2021 arm drafted from Wisconsin, Owen Rice was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 591st overall pick in the 20th round. As a Trojan, Rice was named to the Rock Valley All-Conference Second Team as a UTIL and departed East Troy as the 66th-ranked prospect. Leaving high school, Rice was committed to and played at McHenry County JC before he transferred to Milwaukee in 2023. Despite limited work in 2023, Rice featured in 15 games in 2024 for the Panthers, 10 of which were starts. With the pick, the Cardinals add the 6-foot-6, left-handed arm who is able to toss his fastball in the mid-high 90s into their organization.

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