2020 Overall Rankings: Wisconsin Representatives

April 26, 2018
By Andy Sroka
Staff Writer

Late last week, Prep Baseball Report updated and expanded its overall 2020 rankings. Within this post, we’ll break down and dissect all 12 of Wisconsin’s representatives and their status as nationally ranked prospects.

Of the 12 Wisconsin members of the overall 2020 list, five are already committed to play at the next level. Two of the top-five prospects remain uncommitted and both have places among the top-170 names.

DEBUTANTS ON OVERALLS

Five of the 12 prepsters from Wisconsin who were named to the most recent overall rankings had not been ranked nationally, previously. And that includes top-300 prospects Michael Seegers and Tyler Chadwick.

Michael Seegers SS / RHP / Home School, WI / 2020

Seegers committed to Iowa after a great 2017 season that put him on the prospect map. He debuts in the top-300 on the overall rankings after he displayed premium athleticism this offseason, capped by a great performance at the Milwaukee Preseason I.D. in February. He’s begun to factor that athleticism into his game, too. Seeger uses an easy, simple swing with a line-drive approach. Defensively, he’s displayed the confidence, actions, and abilities to stick to shortstop.

Tyler Chadwick OF / RHP / Marshall, WI / 2020

Chadwick makes his 2020 overall rankings debut in this update, ranked within the top-300. He’s an athletic, two-way prospect who’s demonstrated arm strength both on the mound and in the outfield. His fastball topped out in the upper-80s the last time we saw in March. His throws in the outfield topped at 91 mph with carry. He’s got gap-to-gap potential at the plate, giving a ton of tools and sky-high upside.

Max Wagner SS / RHP / Green Bay Preble, WI / 2020

Wagner’s a two-way prospect who’s also ranked as the No. 3 SS in the state. He registered a 98 mph exit velocity from the tee at the most recent Madison event. He regularly barrels balls and has the footwork and arm strength to play third base at the next level -- his bat’s going to play there as well.

Alex Ryan OF / SS / Lakeside Lutheran, WI / 2020

Ryan’s got top-of-the-order speed (ran a 6.78 at the Madison Preseason I.D.) that pairs well with his line-drive approach at the plate. He’s sound defensively and profiles as a center fielder at the next level, but has a strong enough arm to move to a corner spot. All these tools granted him his first-ever spot among the 2020 overall ranks.

Colton Coca 3B / RHP / Case, WI / 2020

Coca committed to Central Michigan at the start of the year and plays a quality third base defensively in a 6-foot-4, lean, athletic frame. He’s generates bat speed and makes line-drive contact on a level path. On the mound, he throws a cut fastball that sits in the 83-85 mph range. His curveball flashed depth and his changeup has displayed similar cut as his fastball as well. He debuts in the top 400, ranked just outside the top-30 as a third baseman, nationally.

Eric Erato 3B / RHP / Sussex Hamilton , WI / 2020

Erato’s a legitimate two-way prospect who makes regular contact and generates easy bat speed. He’s got soft hands and enough arm for third base. On the mound, he uses a simple delivery and got his fastball up to 87 mph when we saw him in Milwaukee last February. That fastball shows some slight sink, too. He’s showed advanced feel for his curve and changeup to complete his arsenal. His inclusion on the latest rankings update was his debut on the overall ranks. He joins fellow Wisconsin third baseman Coca near the top-30 for his position nationwide.

THE HIKERS

These two premium arms climbed the national board in last week’s update. Both are uncommitted, but it’s wonder how much longer that will remain true.

George Klassen RHP / SS / Port Washington, WI / 2020

Last July, a tall, wiry Klassen was showing us all the early signs of someone on the brink of a jump in velocity. He had electric arm action and long levers and it seemed like, if he was able to harness his lanky frame, he’d be catapulting fastballs near-90 in no time. Well, that day came quick. When we saw Klassen again in November, he touched 90 mph with a lively fastball. He followed that up with a changeup he demonstrated advanced feel for, especially for his age. So, it was no surprise he found his way on to the overall board in December’s update. We saw him touch 91 mph in February and he climbed a few more spots on the overall board, within the top-80 national prospects. He’s quickly becoming one of the most intriguing uncommitted arms in the Midwest, if not the country.

Luke Fox LHP / OF / Catholic Memorial, WI / 2020

Fox is the second of the aforementioned uncommitted arms in Wisconsin’s top-five 2020s. He’s up 15 spots since December’s update, too, firmly within the top-170 prospects on the list, and a top-20 LHP as well. He debuted on the overall board last May because of the easy athleticism he maintains in his delivery. Last summer he was topping out at 85 mph but he’s since added a couple of ticks. He’s a high-level arm who’s presently a two-way prospect, but his upside is on the mound.

VUKOVICH STAYS ON TOP

AJ Vukovich 3B / 1B / East Troy, WI / 2020

The Louisville commit is a two-way prospect in a big, 6-foot-3 frame. Vukovich makes lots of hard contact with regularity and his size and ability to barrel gives him some enormous upside. On the mound, his fastball works in the mid-80s, topping 87 mph, with downhill tilt. It stifles opposing batters consistently. His stock has remained roughly identical since he was included on the first edition of the overall rankings, back in January ‘17, and remains a top-60 prospect.

A CHECK-IN ON THE OTHERS

+ Ryan Stefiuk, Green Bay Preble: The Vanderbilt commit is a top-10-ranked LHP nationally and has been on every iteration of the 2020 rankings since they first went live a year and a half ago. He’s asserted himself as a high-follow arm and even a draft prospect because of his dynamic delivery and confidence on the mound -- it doesn’t hurt that his fastball sits in the upper-80s either. He’s also harnessing a curveball with swing-and-moss potential and firm, fading changeup to complete his three-pitch mix.

+ Joe Hauser, Sun Prairie: He’s a projectable athlete who’s still getting a feel for the game. He’s sitting just outside the top-300 as it stands but he’s got an all-around game and his ceiling keeps raising considerably. He’s been on the overall board since last May.

+ Tommy Lamb, Grafton: Lamb’s a 6-foot, lean lefty who made his debut in December’s 2020 update. He committed to Oklahoma just a few weeks before we saw him last at the Milwaukee Preseason I.D. in February. Lamb commands a mid-80s fastball and has a three-pitch mix with a curveball that flashes depth and a changeup with some above-average run, fade, and feel. He’s a top-350 prospect.

CLICK HERE to view the 2020 Wisconsin Rankings in full.

CLICK HERE for the 2020 Overall Rankings Story.