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Top 10 Stories of 2022: Four former Wisconsin prep stars are drafted inside the top-100

December 30, 2022
By Maddox Durst
Wisconsin Staff

At the end of the year, our staff reflects back on some of the best moments that came from the past 365 days. As the final month comes to a close, we wanted to highlight the 10 most interesting headlines from around the state, finishing with our top storyline released today, which effectively wraps up our year’s worth of coverage, headed into New Year’s weekend.

Prep Baseball Report prides themselves on finding baseball prospects in their prep careers, and helping them pursue the opportunity to play the game at the next level and beyond. It’s always a reward to see their hard work pay off and name get called in the MLB Draft. Earlier in this top-10 series, we highlighted the success that some of Wisconsin’s athletes are currently having in the MLB.

 This year, four Wisconsin-born prospects were drafted within the first 100 picks of the 2022 MLB Draft, each of whom we saw at showcases and tournaments just years prior during their time as Wisconsin prep athletes.

Alan Roden OF / Middleton, WI / 2018

Toronto Blue Jays, Round Three, Pick No. 98

At the 98th pick overall, the Toronto Blue Jays selected OF Alan Roden (Middleton, 2018; Creighton), who turned out to be one of Creighton’s best all-around players in his sophomore season. Roden hit .387 on the season, leading the team in hits (75), doubles (25), and on-base percentage (.492). All of this production took place in a 49-game season for Roden, as he established himself as an every-day starter at the top of the order for Creighton. 

Later in the summer, Roden got his chance in Toronto’s organization, as he played in 25 games at their Single-A affiliate in Dunedin, Fla. There, Roden hit .233 and continued to get on base constantly, similar to what he did in his prep and in college careers. He finished with a .374 OBP, with 17 walks, four doubles, and a home run.

Drake Baldwin C / Madison West, WI / 2019

Atlanta Braves, Round Three, Pick No. 96

Another Madison-area prospect was chosen just a couple picks prior to Roden, at No. 96 overall: C Drake Baldwin (2019, Madison West; Missouri State), the Braves’ third-round pick.

The speedy catcher led the Missouri Valley Conference in RBIs (70), was second in home runs (19), and third in slugging percentage (.647). Those impressive offensive numbers earned him ABCA All-South Region First Team and All-MVC Second Team awards. 

In his three years at Missouri State, Baldwin finished with the highest fielding percentage ever at .994, displaying his impact on the defensive side at a critical position. Similar to Roden, Baldwin inserted himself right away in his professional organization, as he played 24 games between the Braves’ Complex League squad and Low-A Augusta, where he was promoted to quickly after being drafted. Baldwin had early success, hitting .258 in those games with 23 hits and 19 walks, which is a positive sign for his promise in pro ball.

Connor Prielipp LHP / Tomah, WI / 2019

Minnesota Twins, Round Two, Pick No. 48

The lone pitcher from the Badger State who was drafted inside the top 100 was LHP Connor Prielipp (Tomah, 2019; Alabama). Prielipp was chosen with the 48th pick by the Minnesota Twins. The lefty was sidelined for half of the 2021 season, and the entirety of the 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery, robbing what was the makings of a highly successful collegiate career. His work beforehand stood out to MLB squads as a freshman in Tuscaloosa back in 2020.

Prielipp finished his freshman spring with a 0.96 ERA in 28 innings of work, only allowing three earned runs. His ERA was flawless in the first 26.2 innings between the 2020 and 2021 season. D1Baseball.com named Prielipp the “Top Freshman Pitcher” after that sparkling freshman campaign.

The former Tomah standout was healthy enough to pitch in organized bullpens in front of pro scouts during the lead-up to the MLB Draft. His performances in those non-competitive settings were reportedly impressive enough to appear to be tracking toward his same old self, the one that looked like a first-rounder back in 2020 and 2021, prior to the ill-timed injury.

Now inside a pro organization and, seemingly, back to full health, Prielipp gets to use this offseason to prepare for his first taste of live game action – only this time, opposite professional hitters. Prielipp thrived as a freshman in the SEC who found his way to Alabama from central Wisconsin, so it wouldn’t surprise us to see him unfazed by another new, competitive environment in 2023.

Max Wagner 3B / Green Bay Preble, WI / 2020

Baltimore Orioles, Round Two, Pick No. 42

The first Wisconsinite selected in the 2022 MLB Draft was 3B Max Wagner (Green Bay Preble, 2020; Clemson), with the Baltimore Orioles second-round pick, 42nd overall. After being a role player off the bench in his freshman season, Wagner made a large leap in his sophomore campaign, and an even bigger one as a junior in 2022.

In his junior season, Wagner finally broke out and looked like one of the most threatening hitters in the nation, reminding us of the offensive force he was all four years at Preble back in high school.

Wagner was one of the best hitters in the country in 2022, earning all kinds of honors and accolades along the way, like the ACC Player of the Year, as well becoming a Dick Howser Trophy finalist and a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist. This past year, Wagner hit .369 for the Tigers and clubbed 27 home runs, which led the conference and was tied for the third-most in its history, also tied for the most in Clemson’s history. His powerful season led him to record a slugging percentage of .852, which was the second highest in program history, and it wound up being the second highest in the country for the 2022 season. The records rolled on, but meanwhile, Wagner rocketed up draft boards as a result. 

The Orioles saw this and wasted no time getting him in their minor league system upon signing officially. Baltimore sent him to their Florida Complex League team straight away and he collected two hits and two RBIs in his first and only FCL contest. From there, he was promoted to Single-A Delmarva where he tallied five extra-base hits in 13 games, including his first professional home run, and the Orioles then rewarded Wagner with one more promotion to end his whirlwind year. At High-A Aberdeen, Wagner recorded three hits in five games at the level, showing signs of tiring after what must have been a hectic stretch of time for him, personally. Young for the level of competition and the Draft itself, Wagner’s early success in pro ball must be exciting for the Orioles’ scouting department, which took a chance on the former Wisconsin prep star.

All four prospects, among others who were drafted in 2022, represent the talent that continues to come out of Wisconsin, putting the Badger State on the map as a hotspot for future athletes on the baseball diamond. 

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