Green Bay Rising Stars: Takeaways
June 17, 2023
On April 11, the PBR Wisconsin team hosted its latest event along the 2023 winter showcase circuit, the annual Green Bay Rising Stars ID held at the Impact Sports Academy in DePere, WI. This event featured prospects from the 2027 and 2028 graduating classes and has consistently provided our staff with the names of players to consider inviting to the PBR Junior Future Games where they’ll represent Team Wisconsin at LakePoint Sports in Emerson, GA., at the end of the summer.
Now, at the event's conclusion, our staff will begin to compile some of our takeaways from this event while also hitting on some of the day's stat leaders. Below you'll find which players popped to our scouts, as well as which prospects headlined our respective statistical categories.
TAKEAWAYS
+ 1B/RHP Tristan Berrens (Hortonville, 2027) was one of the biggest winners of the day on and impressed our staff on both sides of the ball. His big and physical 6-foot-2, 205 pound frame provides impressive strength and raw athleticism. He ran the fastest 60 yard dash of the day (7.36 seconds) showing solid burst off the line and quick turnover once underway. With the bat, he showcased his ability to impact the baseball with an impressive 93 mph max exit velocity using an efficient and powerful swing from the right side. On the mound, he displayed an athletic and dynamic delivery and got his fastball up to an event best 77.5 mph and showed good feel for the sweeper. It was a great day for Berrens and he placed himself firmly on the map for players to follow in the state going forward.
+ C Ethan Hellengreen (Neenah, 2027) is listed at 5-foot-11, 140 pounds with an athletic build and room to fill. Hellengreen hits from a crouched set up with a quiet head and sprayed line drives to all fields. Behind the plate, Hellengreen throws well from behind the plate with a pop time of 2.16 and velocity of 68 mph, both event best from the catching group. Additionally, he showcased soft hands while receiving the baseball during pitcher bullpens and got down quick to block. Hellengreen shows upside and present skill and ability from the catching position.
+ OF/RHP Jackson Farina (Waukesha West, 2027) stands an athletic and projectable 5-foot-11, 140 pounds and showcased his athleticism and quality swing at the event. Farina ran the second best 60 yard dash time of the day at 7.49 seconds showing an athletic gait, long strides and quick burst off the line. With the bat, he uses his leverage and lower half to deliver the barrel quickly and efficiently through the baseball spraying line drives to all fields. The swing works and as he adds strength this bat projects to hit and hit for power in time.
+ MIF/RHP Elijah Yeager (Hortonville, 2027) has a lot of upside stored up in his wiry and projectable 5-foot-11, 130 pound frame. Yeager showcased athleticism and polish on both sides of the ball. With the bat, the swing is loose, free and easy with a direct path. Yeager pounded line drives through the middle of the field during the event and projects for future power as his frame fills. Our staff loved his actions as SS. He possesses first step quickness laterally and bounce and smoothness to his movements fielding through the baseball. He projects to have enough arm for SS with a short and repeatable arm stroke and accuracy through first base. On the mound, Yeager works with clean mechanics and repeatable and inline arm stroke and drives the fastball downhill from a high 3/4 slot to spots. He also shows quality feel for a 12/6 breaking ball for strikes and chase below the zone and developing feel for the change-up. Yeager is firmly on PBR Wisconsin’s radar as a two-way prospect going forward.
+ RHP/INF Lyle Cardwell (Notre Dame Academy, 2027) is a promising two way prospect. Cardwell is listed at 5-foot-10, 178 pounds with more strength coming. Cardwell impressed with the bat showcasing a loose swing with bat speed. Cardwell had the second highest exit velocity of the day hitting rocket line drives to the pull side gap. On the mound, Cardwell showed an athletic delivery and a quick arm running his fastball up to 73.1 mph which was 4th best for the event. He also showed feel to land a change up with quality sell to the pitch.