This Saturday, March 6, the PBR Wisconsin team is hosting the Fox Cities Preseason I.D. at the Players Choice facility in Appleton, Wis. This is a now sold-out event for all high school classes (2021-24), and gives our staff an ample look at the area's top players.

For a closer look at the showcase details and the technologies we'll have on-site to assist our in-person evaluation for all in attendance, click here. For a complete look at those registered to attend this event, view the most up-to-date version of the roster by clicking here. 

EVENT HISTORY

There were a multitude of prospects who emerged as high-follow names in their respective classes from last year’s event. RHP/INF Colin Dailey (Cedarburg, 2021; St. Thomas commit) solidified himself as a top prospect in the state’s senior class, showing some serious arm strength by touching 87 mph on the mound with his fastball and uncorking a 92 mph bullet across the infield, too. 

Three PBR Future Games participants attended this event last year with the help of their performances here: RHP Gradin Taschner (Neenah, 2022; uncommitted), Joey Nerat (Campbellsport, 2022; Dallas Baptist), and C Will Johannes (Mukwonago, 2022; uncommitted) – all of whom are now ranked inside the state’s top-25 for the 2022 class.

RHP Benjamin Lee (Amherst, 2022) broke out at this same event last year and he’ll be in attendance this upcoming weekend, too. He’s a physical 6-foot-6, 200-pound right-hander who we’ve had up to 87 mph in the past and we’re excited to see the strides he’s made throughout the winter on Saturday.

Benjamin Lee (8/17/20)

One of the top sophomore arms in Wisconsin, RHP Presley Wachowiak (Catholic Memorial, 2023) made his PBR event debut at this particular showcase last year and caught our eye, touching 86 mph with his fastball while featuring a hammer breaking ball, too.

As always, this is a highly informative event that allows us to check in on an area of the state we're not able to see often enough. We're eager to share our findings from Saturday's event throughout next week.

2021 ROSTER

In addition to Lee, there several other uncommitted 2022s slated to attend the Fox Cities I.D.: RHP Theo Zeidler (Bay Port), INF Grant Meulemans (Freedom), 1B Brandon Black (Bay Port), INF Carson Fluguar (Franklin), and INF Aiden Haney (Catholic Memorial).

Zeidler is an athletic 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, and his loose, quick arm indicates a bright future from the mound. He was up to 84 mph in the middle of last summer, but he’s reportedly been reaching new heights, to no surprise. We’re excited to see his growth in person on Saturday.

Bay Port teammate Black swings a loose, strong right-handed bat that we saw for ourselves at last year’s Badger State Battle. It was there, too, where Meulemans really broke out as a middle infield prospect with tools, including sub-7.00 speed. Haney’s a competitive second base-type with all of the actions to provide value there, while also demonstrating barrel feel from the right side in a lead-off offensive profile.

A quartet of follow names in the state’s 2023 prospects are set to make the trip to Appleton on Saturday, all of whom attended this event last year: RHP/1B Eli Zollar (Ashwaubenon), RHP Thomas Burns (Hortonville), RHP Cole Bensen (Bay Port), and RHP Jonah Conradt (Hortonville), who just recently committed to Arizona as the top-ranked pitcher in the state’s 2023 class. Here’s some insight on the three uncommitted of the group mentioned above:

Zollar boasts one of the more physically imposing frames in the entire state, standing at a hulking 6-foot-3, 225 pounds with brute strength attached throughout. That strength has helped Zollar reach an 85 mph high from the mound, in an appearance last summer. The separator for Zollar is his above-average feel to throw both his curveball and changeup for strikes – a not-so-common trait for a power-arm prospect.

Eli Zollar (7/2/20)

Burns is another ranked sophomore right-hander, built at a proportional, projectable, 6-foot-3, 185-pounds, Burns brings plenty of upside to the mound. We’ve seen him up to 84 mph in the past and there’s certainly more left in the tank, so we’re eager to see what he looks like after an entire offseason of work.

Bay Port’s Bensen is a high-follow member of the state’s sophomore class, and has shown a competitive three-pitch mix that he attacks the zone with at an above-average rate. He’s reached an 84 mph high in front of our staff as well, and his aggressive slider-changeup offspeed combo leads to frequent swings and misses.

Both from Notre Dame Academy, sophomores 2B/SS Landen Lozier and RHP/OF Deuce Musial II are headed to Saturday’s event as former Team Wisconsin members at the 2019 PBR Junior Future Games. Lozier’s a savvy middle infielder with top-of-the-order upside with his left-handed bat. Musial’s a 6-foot-5, 180-pound two-way player with prominent, increasing upside from the mound.

There are some talented freshmen set to join us Saturday, too, like INF Javin Gauthier (De Pere, 2024), who’s actually already committed to Illinois State, where his brother and De Pere senior J.P. Gauthier is set to play this coming fall. OF Corey Riesop (Fox Valley Lutheran, 2024) showed well in summer tournaments we hosted, so we’re eager to see him in a showcase setting for the first time. We’re looking forward to the other 2024s set to make a name for themselves this weekend.

NEW CHECK-IN PROCESS

Because of the number of prospects set to attend Saturday's event, it is imperative that you read our adjusted showcase itinerary below, which will allow our staff to swiftly and efficiently educate and evaluate the players set to attend.

Additionally, in an effort to continue and develop contactless check-in strategies, upon arrival, players will scan a QR Code with their smart phone camera that will lead them to a Google Form. On that Form, players will enter their name (matching the spelling on their PBR profile) and hit submit. Upon submission, players will be prompted to click a link that will direct them to their jersey color and number, located next to their registered name.

ITINERARY

Due to state guidelines, and the facility's requirements, there will be a limit to the number of people inside the facility at one time so, unfortunately, parents will NOT be allowed within the facility. This showcase will operate in segmented groups, by position, under the format as follows (players need to wear turf shoes or molded spikes, as metal cleats are NOT allowed):

POSITION GROUPS

CHECK-IN TIMES (registered two-way players will stay to pitch following the completion of their position player portion of the event):

+ All Outfielders: 8:30 to 8:45 a.m.

+ Class of 2021 & 2022 Infielders: 10 a.m.

+ Class of 2023, 2024, & 2025 Infielders: 11:45 a.m.

+ All Catchers: 1:45 p.m.

+ Pitchers-only: 2:45 p.m.

MORE EVENT DETAILS

Click here to learn more about our tech partners that have enhanced our players showcase experience. Partners like TrackMan and Blast Motion have helped both our in-event evaluation process, as well the compilation of our post-event scouting reports – and they're also a tool for our players to learn more about their measured and collected data, that can be applied to improve upon their game.

Finally, masks are mandatory during non-baseball activity. We will facilitate a contact-less check-in. Staff will wear masks throughout the event. Hand sanitizer stations will be accessible. Wear baseball clothes; assigned and numbered PBR jerseys will be provided.

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