This Sunday, March 7, the PBR Wisconsin team is hosting the South Milwaukee Preseason I.D. at Hitters Baseball Academy in Caledonia, Wis. This is an open event for all high school classes (2021-24), and gives our staff an ample look at the area's top players – and it’s the longest running showcase on the PBR Wisconsin calendar.

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

The oldest annual event on our showcase calendar has given us the opportunity to see some of the top talent to come through this state in recent years, like Gavin Lux (Indian Trail, 2016; Dodgers, 1st Round), Owen Miller (Ozaukee, 2015; Illinois State; Padres, 2018, 3rd Round), Doran Turchin (Oak Creek, 2015; Illinois; Orioles, 2018, 14th round), Jack Blomgren (Janesville Craig, 2017; Michigan), Jarred Kelenic (Waukesha West, 2018; Mets, 1st Round), and Alex Binelas (Oak Creek, 2018; Louisville), among many, many others – just to name a handful.

The 2020 edition of this showcase highlighted the depth this state’s Class of 2022 contains, including many of the names who will join us once again this Sunday, like SS Gavin Kilen (Janesville Craig; Louisville commit), OF Michael Lippe (Whitefish Bay; Louisville), C Will Vierling (Homestead; Louisville), RHP Hunter Schmitt (Grafton; Oklahoma), RHP/INF Mitchell Voit (Whitefish Bay; Michigan), SS Tristan Ellis (Greendale; Purdue), LHP Brady Banker (Carmel Catholic, IL; Illinois), C Hayden Christiansen (Richmond-Burton, IL; Xavier), OF James Duncan (Arrowhead; Illinois State), LHP Michael Mulhollon (Westosha Central; Wichita State), and SS Ian Choi (Indian Trail; Butler). 

Last year’s event also helped reacquaint us to 2023s like SS Alex Alicea (St. Thomas More; Louisville), RHP Adam Switalski (Westosha Central; Indiana), T.J. Schuyler (Antioch, IL; Indiana), 3B Boston Halloran (Franklin; uncommitted), and RHP Austin Kutz (Hartford Union; uncommitted), among many others.

We’re eager to take in updated evaluations of many of Wisconsin’s top-ranked players, while learning the names of the group making appearances at their first-ever PBR event on Sunday.

THIS SUNDAY

There are currently four uncommitted 2022s headed to Sunday’s event who were also members of the summer’s PBR Future Games where they represented Team Wisconsin: OF Jonathan Kim (Brookfield Academy), OF D.J. Kojis (Whitefish Bay), RHP Luke Klekamp (Oak Creek), and INF Camdin Jansen (Racine Lutheran). Kim’s an excellent athlete with coveted speed/strength skills from the left-handed batter’s box, making him one of the top uncommitted juniors in the region. Kojis is a projectable 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, and he carries big tools with added upside in from the right side. Klekamp is a competitive right-hander who attacks the zone from a funky delivery, and he’s reportedly been adding velocity, too. And Jansen is a savvy infielder with actions and above-average arm strength, and his right-handed swing projects.

D.J. Kojis (8/2/20)

There’s plenty of other uncommitted juniors to know prior to Sunday, including a pair of Illinois natives: INF John Ahler (Marian Central Catholic) and RHP Kendall Lyons (Warren Township). Ahler’s an athletic defender up the middle with a quiet, easy right-handed swing. Lyons is a sturdy 6-foot-3 who’s filled up the zone in our live looks, with increasing velo and a sharp end-over-end breaking ball.

Four uncommitted juniors from Franklin should be on your watchlist ahead of time, too: OF Dylan Mass, RHP Jaxson Easterlin, OF Charlie Marion, and RHP Max Martin. Mass and Marion offer similar skillsets, as above-average athletes with loose left-handed swings. Easterlin is a physical 6-foot-4 righty with more room to grow and develop. And Martin’s back on the bump to pick up where he left off, looking like one of the top arms in the area when we saw him last at the end of 2019.

Stay tuned to learn more about this class, as these aforementioned juniors just scratch the surface of the talent joining us from the 2022 class.

Repping the Class of 2023 as high-follow uncommitted prospects attending Sunday is the following group: OF J.T. Kelenic (Catholic Memorial), 3B/RHP Ethan Brown (Waukesha West), OF Owen Bond (Kettle Moraine), 1B/OF Aiden Schenk (Janesville Craig), OF/RHP Luke Schuler (St. Joseph), RHP Adam Behrens (Warren Township, IL), and OF/LHP Steven Wintheiser (Muskego) – as well as the two players mentioned in the section above Austin Kutz and Boston Halloran.

J.T. Kelenic (7/21/20)

Kelenic’s familiar name, strong and athletic stature, and prominent upside make him an uncommitted commodity. He’s only just beginning to tap into his raw power potential, creating one of the class’ highest offensive ceilings. Brown and Bond are two players who showed great during the back half of our 2020 showcase circuit, and it’s helped them earn spots on the state 2023 rankings, alongside Kutz, Halloran, and Schenk, who are also ranked inside the state’s top-25.

We’re especially looking forward to a closer look at the blossoming 2024 class registered for Sunday’s showcase. An atypical year prevented our staff from getting better, closer looks at this group, but it’s trending to be a strong crop. At last summer’s PBR at The Rock tourney for this age group, SS Brock Lulewicz (Muskego) and OF/LHP Cade Palkowski (Oak Creek) burst out of the gates, looking like two premier members of this ‘24 class. We’ve also seen several more of those coming on Sunday who look capable of earning spots on the state’s freshman rankings, when they’re released some time this spring.

This look-ahead should underscore the abundance of talent we’re accustomed to seeing at this event, and Sunday’s roster is right in line with what we’re used to. We’re excited to share the day’s results throughout next week.

NEW CHECK-IN PROCESS

Because of the number of prospects set to attend Sunday’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:

+ All Registered Position Players: 9:45 to 10 a.m.

+ All Registered Pitchers-only: 3 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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