On Sunday, March 3rd, the Prep Baseball Wisconsin staff traveled to the Hitters facility in Caledonia, WI to host one of the largest showcases on our winter calendar, the South Milwaukee Preseason ID. This event provided us an ample opportunity to check-in on some of the area’s high school prospects and identify several names as we prepare for the WIAA season, as well as future invite-only events on the PBR Wisconsin calendar.

In the week that followed this event, we produced post-event analysis that includes performance highlights inside of our Quick Hits story, a look at the traditional stats measured within our Statistical Analysis piece, batted-ball and pitch data covered in our Positional and Pitcher data dives.

You can learn more about the state-of-the-art technologies featured at our showcases within the hyperlinks above. Today we’ll begin our post-event process by rolling out the individual scouting reports of the day, starting with the catcher position while working our way across the diamond as the week continues.

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TOP-5 CATCHERS

1. Maddux Lessard, Muskego (WI), 2027
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds. Strong build, athletic, more strength and size coming.
Hit: RHH. Wider base, open set up, big leg kick, controls it on time. Uses ground exceptionally well, serious bat speed with fast hands, drives rockets to all fields with loose bat speed. 69.8 mph bat speed with 13 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 99 max exit velocity, averaged 93.4 mph. 363’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 82 mph. Medium arc, backspins it with carry through the bag, accurate.
Defense: 1.95-2.15 pop times. Gains ground to second base, clean transfer.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60.

2. Jack Spielmann, Milton (WI), 2027
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-0, 160-pounds. Long, lean, athletic, sloped shoulders, high waist, good proportions, a lot of room to add size and strength.
Hit: LHH. Simple, presses back into back side, gets back to center into a strong hitting position. Serious leverage, good use of lower half, hitting rockets all over the yard, serious length through the ball. 66.4 mph bat speed with 12 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 87.3 mph. 326’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. High 3Q slot, accurate.
Defense: 2.00-2.04 pop times. Quick and clean transfer, very good direction and balance, quiet head through release throwing to second, soft blocker.
Run: 7.21 runner in the 60.

3. Ryan Lemm, Janesville Craig (WI), 2025; Wisconsin-Milwaukee commit
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-9, 190.7-pounds. Strong build, strong lower half.
Hit: LHH. Wider base, leg lift gather, lands centered and into strong hitting position. Flat path, very good use of lower half, efficient and well sequenced, drives balls to both gaps. 73 mph bat speed with 15 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 77.4 mph. 289’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. High 3Q slot, short arc, shows carry, quick arm.
Defense: 1.98-2.04 pop times. Quick transfer, quick right foot, keeps it close on blocks, quick bounce on bunts.
Run: 7.01 runner in the 60.

4. Grant Manthei, Lake Country Lutheran (WI), 2026
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 150-pounds. Athletic build with more fill coming.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up, early foot down, consistently gets to hitting position on time. Downhill, barrel control, drives balls through the middle and both gaps consistently. 65.3 mph bat speed with 10 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 77.1 mph. 280’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. 3Q slot, whippy.
Defense: 2.09-2.18 pop times. Quick transfer, short right foot, gains ground to second base, quick down to block soft, quick bounce out of crouch on bunt.
Run: 7.35 runner in the 60.

5. Jackson Ferris, Muskego (WI), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 170-pounds. Athletic build with more fill coming.
Hit: RHH. Wider base, simple and consistent move to hitting position. Bat speed and hand quickness, direct path, short to it and long through the ball, middle of field line drives consistently. 67.8 mph bat speed with 17 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 84.3 mph. 295’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. High 3Q slot, accurate.
Defense: 2.19-2.26 pop times. Clean transfer, short right foot gains ground to second, soft blocker, quick covering bunts.
Run: 7.71 runner in the 60.

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HONORABLE MENTION

The following player just missed the top 5 but had a notable showing at the event and deserved to be mentioned here:

Callen Espinoza, Beloit Memorial (WI), 2026
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-11, 70-pounds. Long levers, sloped shoulders, more fill coming.
Hit: RHH. Wider base, stock set up, simple trigger on time. Direct path, creates loft, drives the ball through the middle of the field to both gaps with feel for the barrel. 51.7 mph bat speed with 7 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 82 max exit velocity, averaged 79.4 mph. 278’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. 3Q slot, accurate.
Defense: 2.08-2.25 pop times. Short quick right foot with direction to second, soft blocker, athletic out of crouch covering bunts.
Run: 7.91 runner in the 60.

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BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Nate Anastas, Oak Creek High (WI), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds. Athletic build with good proportions.
Hit: RHH. Narrow and upright, lands on time with a controlled fall. Short and tight path, creates loft to path out front, can drive it to both gaps with loft. 69.1 mph bat speed with 10 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 79 mph. 323’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. 3Q slot, some whip to it, accurate.
Defense: 2.10-2.16 pop times. Short compact right foot with direction to second base, quick transfer, allows ball to travel, quick down to block, keeps it close.
Run: 7.56 runner in the 60.

Jameson Braatz, Brookfield East High (WI), 2027
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Strong build with more fill coming.
Hit: RHH. Stock set up, toe tap back, shows good rhythm. Direct path, short, handsy with strong hands, middle of field line drives. 64 mph bat speed with 14 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 75.7 mph. 310’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. 3Q slot with some carry.
Defense: 2.16-2.28 pop times. Gains ground to second base, clean transfer, soft blocker, covers bunts well.
Run: 7.58 runner in the 60.

Brady Busse, Oconomowoc (WI), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/C
Body: 5-11, 172-pounds. Athletic build with sloped shoulders, some projection left in frame.
Hit: RHH. Open set up, lands centered on time and consistently with good separation. Handsy, short and quick, direct, creates backspin through the middle of the field. 68.1 mph bat speed with 15 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 82.1 mph. 324’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. OF - 80 mph. OF: High 3Q slot, good carry through the target. C: High 3Q slot, short arc.
Defense: 2.19-2.27 pop times. OF: One hand gather into shuffle step through the target. C: Gains ground to second, clean transfer, soft blocker, quick out of crouch covering bunts.
Run: 7.62 runner in the 60.

Sam Cameranesi, Grafton High (WI), 2026
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-11, 180-pounds. Strong build.
Hit: RHH. Wide base with higher hands, early toe down, lands with a strong hitting position. Direct path, short and handsy, line drives to all fields. 67 mph bat speed with 14 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 83.9 mph. 322’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. High 3Q slot with accuracy.
Defense: 2.07-2.18 pop times. Clean transfer, gains ground to second, keeps it close on blocks, athletic out of crouch covering bunts.
Run: 7.67 runner in the 60.

Aidan Stuck, Craig High (WI), 2027
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-8, 125-pounds. Wiry with projection.
Hit: RHH. Lands centered consistently in a strong hitting position. Flat and direct, downhill, creates back spin to both fields. 63.1 mph bat speed with 20 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 79 max exit velocity, averaged 67.1 mph. 265’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 61 mph. INF - 65 mph. INF: High 3Q slot, online throws. C: 3Q slot, quickness to the arm.
Defense: 2.35-2.58 pop times. INF: Quality feet gets around the ball, stays low to the ground, quick first step. C: Quick right foot with good direction to second, clean transfer, soft blocker, covers bunts well out of crouch.
Run: 7.41 runner in the 60.

Chase Verbanac, Random Lake (WI), 2026
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-11, 160-pounds. Athletic build with projection.
Hit: RHH. Early toe down, on time, good rhythm. Uses lower half well, direct and short path, long through the ball, drives it to all fields. 67.1 mph bat speed with 13 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 80.6 mph. 276’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. High 3Q slot, flashes carry.
Defense: 2.18-2.29 pop times. Short right foot with direction to second base, soft blocker, athletic out of crouch covering bunts.
Run: 8.05 runner in the 60.

Connor Waters, Cedar Grove-Belgium High (WI), 2027
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-9, 128-pounds. Wiry build with more size and fill coming.
Hit: RHH. Wider base and open set up, gets to strong hitting position on time. Uses lower half and ground well to deliver barrel, has feel for barrel, drives balls all over field, power should come once he fills. 61.8 mph bat speed with 11 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 84 max exit velocity, averaged 75.8 mph. 300’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. High 3Q slot, accurate.
Defense: 2.34-2.39 pop times. Quick and clean transfer, short right foot, keeps it close on blocks, quick out of crouch covering bunts.
Run: 7.64 runner in the 60.

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