Uncommitted 2022s To Watch This Weekend

Josh DeGroot SS / 2B / Union Grove, WI / 2022

Union Grove’s DeGroot is simply a well-rounded middle infield who can do a little bit of everything. He swings a simple, repeatable right-handed bat that makes square line-drive contact consistently, and he’s also a sub-7.00 runner with above-average middle infield actions, including big arm strength that reached an 88 mph high along the showcase circuit in 2020.

Camdin Jansen SS / RHP / Racine Lutheran, WI / 2022

Represented Team Wisconsin at the PBR Future Games; scouting report from multiple events in 2020:

Positional Profile: SS/2B; One of the class' top defenders at short.
Body: 6-1, 170-pounds. Lean lanky frame.
Hit: RHH. Tall balanced setup, short diving stride, hands load back and on top of the baseball.  Swing plays short to the baseball, above average bat speed, stays on top of the baseball, line drive gap-to-gap type. Blast recorded his bat speed at 70.0 mph on average.
Power: 89.04 mph max exit velocity, measured in BP.
Arm: RH. INF - 88 mph. Short arm action, showed ability to play accurately, with carry.
Defense: Smooth actions, played well up the middle to forehand, athletically plays through the baseball, soft hands.
Run: 7.09 runner in the 60.

Jonathan Kim OF / Brookfield Academy, WI / 2022

Represented Team Wisconsin at the PBR Future Games (8/2/20): 

Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-11, 180-pounds. Strong build, carries defined muscle.
Hit: LHH. Balanced stance, leg kick trigger, subtle loading action, remains balanced through contact. Short path to the baseball, on time with strong hands that create above average bat speed, slight pull side tendency, hits in rhythm. Bat speed measured at 71.98 mph on average, per Blast Motion.
Power: 95.14 mph max exit velocity in batting practice; 85.58 average. Max batted-ball distance of 364 feet.
Arm: LH. OF - 88 mph. Long arm action out of a high 3/4 slot, occasionally showed carry.
Defense: Plays through the baseball aggressively, in stride, glove-work is out front and fields in stride.
Run: 6.59 runner in the 60. Runs with a purpose, above-average speed, effort.

DJ Kojis OF / Whitefish Bay, WI / 2022

Represented Team Wisconsin at the PBR Future Games (8/2/20):

Positional Profile: OF/RHP High ceiling outfield prospect in the 2022 class.
Body: 6-foot-2, 170-pounds. Highly projectable frame, long lanky levers with room to fill, above average athlete.
Hit: RHH. Quiet setup, balanced and poised to attack, short stride, rhythmic loading actions. Loose levers create controlled attack of the baseball, high ceiling bat, path is short, quick to contact with athletic and loose hands, gap to gap approach, stays on plane. Per Blast Motion, average bat speed measured at 68.79 mph.
Power: 93.24 mph max exit velocity in batting practice; averaged 87.03.
Arm: RH. OF - 94 mph. Plus arm, plays true and on line, carried well out of loose over the top slot.
Defense: Attacks the baseball with natural actions, feet are light and continues to move through reception, quick clean exchange.
Run: 6.84 runner in the 60. Long-strided runner.

Dylan Mass OF / Franklin, WI / 2022

Scouting report from the Southern Wisconsin Open (10/17/20): 

Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds. Thin, lean athleticism; wiry strength in build.
Hit: LH. Athletic/balanced base, slightly open. Smooth, brief load; strides to even, hands drop into proper place. At plant, simple and easy bat path with above-average bat speed. Athletic hands help meet pitches consistently on-plane. Fluid balance maintained through swings and finish.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Up-the-middle liners for batted-ball profile; steady, low-lying contact.
Arm: RH. OF - 87 mph. Long, loose, quick arm action from 3/4 slot. Throws feature carry to target with consistent accuracy.
Defense: Advanced athleticism in actions; fluid, quick feet on approach. Quick and clean exchanges, while playing through the ball.
Run: 6.85 runner in the 60. Quick feet; efficient, quiet runner.

Sam Meidenbauer 1B / OF / Waukesha West, WI / 2022

Scouting report from a Creekside Tournament this past fall (9/13/20): 6-foot-2, 200-pound, physically-advanced, wide-shouldered, right-handed hitter. Was one of the top statistical performers for Hitters throughout the weekend and delivered the game-winning RBI single in the 17U championship game. Presence in the box, stays short to contact, strong hands, stays balanced throughout. His physicality from the righty box projects, and we’ll see how he looks following an important offseason.

Matthew Miller 3B / 1B / Ozaukee, WI / 2022

A sturdy/strong 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Miller is capable of earning some early attention this winter with his right-handed bat. He’s been something of a late-bloomer in this 2022 class, but coming into his own at just the right time. At last summer’s All-State Games, Miller registered noteworthy bat speed marks (70.1 mph on average), while striking the ball with above-average strength, recording a 93.1 mph max exit speed. He projects at one of the corner infield spots, defensively.

Jake Petasek SS / 2B / Green Bay Preble, WI / 2022

The Preble junior has been a staple on the squad since his freshman year, in which he produced one of the best batting averages within a loaded lineup. He’ll be relied on as the offense’s main cog this year, but he’s clearly capable of taking on that role, as he’s only continued to improve in the time since. Petasek takes a simple, fluid left-handed swing that clearly allows him to utilize the whole field efficiently. At All-State Games, he averaged an exit speed of 83.1 mph with a 93.2 high, and he’s an improving defender up the middle. We saw him in the fall where he looked more natural and comfortable at shortstop, and his feel for the game should allow him to bloom late there, positioning him to break out further in his junior spring.

Heath Venne C / Muskego, WI / 2022

Scouting report from West Milwaukee Preseason I.D. Quick Hits (2/22/21): Venne is a muscle-bound backstop with a wrestler’s physique, listed at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds. His proportional strength does not inhibit his athleticism, as he’s still able to generate explosive actions from the batter’s box to the crouch. Venne started his day by running a 6.84 in the 60-yard dash, underscoring his quickness from behind the plate, where he took improved reps on defense, popping in the low-2.00s consistently. Naturally, his premium physicality allowed him to hit five balls over 96 mph on Sunday – and his best batted ball was measured at a 96.4 mph exit speed, and it travelled 310 feet.

TJ Williams SS / 2B / Racine Horlick, WI / 2022

Williams is a live-wired, energetic middle infielder who plays at a hasty, competitive pace – on both sides of the ball. Listed at 5-foot-5, 125 pounds, the Horlick middle infielder has some of the best hands, feet, and overall actions in the class on defense, a combination that can help him provide big value at second base long-term, or maybe even shortstop. Williams’ knack for the game, confidence on defense, and competitive nature make it easy to root for him, too. Offensively, he’s a table-setter type with bat-to-ball skills in the lefty box, and he’s a twitchy runner which helps him move down the line quickly.

Jaxson Easterlin RHP / Franklin, WI / 2022

Scouting report from the Southern Wisconsin Open (10/17/20):

Luke Klekamp RHP / Oak Creek, WI / 2022

Represented Team Wisconsin at PBR Future Games where he threw two of the cleanest innings on the weekend; scouting report from the South Milwaukee Preseason I.D. (3/01/20): 

Positional Profile: RHP/OF An increasingly interesting name to know in the state's 2022 class.
Body: 6-foot-2, 180-pounds. Sloped shoulders with strong lower half.
Delivery: Works off the left side of the rubber from an upright/staggered start. Easy side step to coiled balance point with a high knee tuck. Closed shoulders and high front, lands in a closed position, athletic finish.
Arm Action: RH. Funky look; helps create some deception. Long and loose arm action, quick from a 3/4 window.
FB: T86, 83-85 mph. Consistent hard arm-side action, some sink.
SL: 70-72 mph. Slurve-y shape; works off an 11/5 plane with a feel to locate.
CH: 73-75 mph. Maintains arm speed; locates under the zone. Features arm-side sink/run.

Benjamin Lee RHP / Amherst, WI / 2022

Scouting report from the Eastern Wisconsin Open (8/17/20):

Positional Profile: RHP; A rising junior follow in the state's 2022 class.
Body: 6-6, 195-pounds. Physical, tall stature; strength in lean, long levers. Physically projects very well.
Delivery: Straddles the rubber with staggered feet; tempo/rhythm to balance point, with hip turn and shoulders slightly closed. Drives down mound with a high front, strong stride, aggressive through finish while maintaining balance.
Arm Action: RH. Compact, loose, quick arm circle to over-the-top slot; generates quick arm speed, thrown aggressively.
FB: T87, 85-86 mph. Steep angle to home; jumps from the hand, carries through the zone. Four-seam type.
CB: 70-72 mph. Spike grip, thrown with intent; 12/6 shape with power traits. Flashed sharp action, projects to generate swings and misses.
SL: 71-73 mph. Differs from curve; more horizontal action, though thrown with less aggression/feel. Shorter 10/4 action.
CH: 77-79 mph. Slight deceleration; generates good arm-side run. Projects well as he refines it. 

Gradin Taschner RHP / 1B / Neenah, WI / 2022

Scouting report from the Badger State Battle (7/2/20): 6-foot-3, 205 pounds; powerful, strong, durable prospect with some huge upside in the state’s 2022 class. Taschner relieved Dobberstein on Saturday night and, like his teammate, came out hot to open his outing, sitting at a casual 82-85 mph but he reached back for an 87 or 88 when he needed to on multiple occasions, especially in two-strike counts. He throws an aggressive curveball, true 12/6 with sharp/late action (73-75 mph), though it can get a little inconsistent he’s relatively new to throwing the pitch. The ease in which Taschner operates suggests he’s in possession of some of the 2022 class’ biggest upside and ceiling. He K’d six in two without allowing a hit or run, and he walked just one.

Theo Zeidler RHP / INF / Bay Port, WI / 2022

Zeidler has long contained two-way potential, given his lean and athletic 6-foot-2, 190-pound physique and loose, quick arm. That athleticism has always translated well to the infield, where he looks the part of a shortstop. He ranges laterally fluidly and that arm strength fits the left side of the diamond perfectly. Zeidler’s bat has continued to progress since we first saw him as a freshman, which has allowed him to maintain some position player upside on top of his work from the mound. He’s a real candidate to earn status a ‘winter winner’ with a tick up in velocity, because we’ve already seen him up to 84 mph with above-average offspeed, including a feel changeup and a curve.