With the high school baseball season in flux, we’re going to take some time today to highlight some of the top statistical performers who shined at preseason showcases so far in 2020. With so much talent enjoying break-through winters, we’re splitting up our ‘Winter Winners’ post into two parts: position players and pitchers. We’ll focus today on the arms who stuck out in the past few months, now that the winter showcase circuit has ended, following Sunday’s event in Madison.

Most, if not all, of the prospects you’ll find below are uncommitted. Given their performances at various events prior to WIAA’s since-postponed Opening Day, we believe these names below would have continued to trend way up en route to landing a place to play at the next level.

Of course, there’s still so much hanging the balance – from the amateur, collegiate, to professional levels – but these prospects below deserve to have their fair share of the platform and spotlight after breaking out these past few months.

After covering the junior pitchers yesterday, we present to you PBR Wisconsin’s ‘Winter Winners’ from the rest of the diamond, repping the 2021 class:

JUNIOR POSITION PLAYERS

The junior class is set to receive the next rankings update at Prep Baseball Report, both on a national and local level. Our national 2021 rankings will be updated on Monday, so stay tuned there, and our in-state junior board will follow on Tuesday. Many of the names we’re remarking on below will be expanded on next week, but here are some quick highlights regarding their performances at events from January to March. The prospects below are uncommitted unless stated otherwise:

INFIELDERS

+ It’s worth dropping a note on the state’s top-ranked junior, Noah Miller (Ozaukee; Alabama commit), for his particularly impressive showing at the South MKE I.D. that has him trending up on a national level. He’s long had the uber smooth defensive actions and extra quick funnel-to-transfer movements that have separated him from his classmates at an early age, but he’s ticking up on offense. Miller’s a switch-hitter who looks advanced from both sides of the plate and has added strength which has improved his quality of contact. He’s the next Wisconsin prepster scouts will be flocking to check in with ahead of the 2021 draft.

+ SS Carson Shepard (Sun Prairie) is fresh on our mind after having just seen him last Sunday, but his performance launched him into a conversation of best uncommitted middle infielders in the Midwest. He recorded dynamic PBR personal bests in each of our measured categories – from the 60-yard dash, infield velocity, to exit velo. He’s always had a knack for the barrel, but he’s creating harder contact right now which improves his top-of-the-order profile. Shepard’s glove and moxy on the infield have gotten him this far, and his defense is what’s going to help him find a valuable role at the next level, it just remains to be seen where.

+ One of the true ‘Winners’ this winter is two-way athlete Sawyer Smith (Shoreland Lutheran). He’s a lanky and lean 6-foot-2 who swings an especially loose left-handed bat with projection. Smith lives in the low-80s from the mound, but it feels like he’s only just coming into his own on both sides of the ball.

+ Notre Dame recruit Benjamin Loyd (Tremper) is still one of the state’s top prospects, as a smooth defender who ranges with ease. He swings an easy left-handed bat that helps him land barrels with great frequency and his overall athleticism will keep him up the middle.

+ Elkhorn’s Austin Bestul looked like a natural on the infield last Sunday, fit for a spot on the left side of the diamond. He came away from our Madison event as a ‘Winner’ because he’s capable of becoming a premium defender up the middle all while creating short, loud contact. He’s a follow athlete putting it all together at the right time.

+ We pegged Darryl Jackson (King) as an upside infielder to know last year and he’s begun to further break out after a strong performance at the South MKE I.D. There’s some twitch attached to his game, especially on defense, where he topped 91 mph across the infield with reliable – and improving – actions. He swings a loose and fast right-handed bat as well that is also getting better as he adds to his lean and athletic 5-foot-8 frame.

Darryl Jackson (3/1/20)

+ Colin Dailey (Cedarburg) has firmly entrenched himself on a list like this after another break-out performance in Appleton a couple weeks back. Dailey broke out in the fall after a dynamic showing at the Southern Wisconsin Open, and he took another big leap forward at the Fox Cities I.D. this winter. He has an authentic chance at becoming a two-way contributor at the next level, sitting in the 84 mph range on the mound, touching 86-87, while flashing a sharp breaking ball. He also has the actions on defense where his arm plays, obviously, and he has some looseness to his right-handed bat. He continues to climb with no signs of slowing down.

+ A pair of Whitefish Bay infielders in its 2021 class remain as follows: 1B Brady Marget and MIF Brady Counsell. Marget is a natural left-handed hitter with the lanky, lean frame that promotes some added upside that could help him grow into power some day – he already exhibits the loose, fast hands that will help him hit wherever he goes, regardless. Marget is also an athletic defender at first base, enhancing his floor and ceiling as a prospect. Counsell, on the other hand, has added to his frame helping him create harder on-plane contact from the box. He’s also a sound middle infielder who continues to improve in each phase.

Brady Marget (3/1/20)

+ Martin Luther’s two-way talent Jacob Hartlaub is becoming a need-to-know uncommitted prospect in the state’s junior class. He’s a 6-foot-2 athlete with easy middle infield actions and a big arm that works on the mound, where he was up to 87 mph in February.

+ Carter Stebane is a physical 5-foot-11 infielder who is able to generate some bat strength from the right side. He might fit best long-term at the hot corner, but his hands and arm will keep him as a useful defender on the left side of the diamond.

+ We saw Joseph Toetz (Greendale) a couple of times this winter and on both occasions he demonstrated some loose, fast hands from the right-handed box. On the infield, he’s showed some quick, fluid actions and has landed as a junior to check back in on this summer, or sooner.

+ Union Grove was prepared for a return trip to state, something we referenced yesterday when discussing a few of their break-out arms, but MIF Nicklas Williams was geared to help them get back from the batter’s box. He’s a strong, physical athlete and it helps him inside the righty box. It also looks like he’s trending up defensively, too, putting him into a follow category as an uncommitted junior.

Nicklas Williams (1/25/20)

+ This winter helped reveal to our staff that Bay Port had the makings of becoming a top contender for state glory this spring, with depth all over the field. Corner infielder Elijah Frank is in that mix – a 6-foot-2, 200-pound prospect with power potential and the arm strength to cover the hot corner.

+ Adam Bretsch (Marquette University) is a strong 5-foot-10 prospect who showed well in the Fox Cities, running an event-best 6.77 while topping 93 mph at the exit velo station. He and his Marquette squad looked interesting on paper this spring, so we’re hoping we get the chance to see them soon enough.

OUTFIELDERS

+ Shepard and Tanner Marsh (Mondovi) were teammates late in the summer at the PBR Future Games and, like the Sun Prairie infielder, Marsh came away from the Madison event still looking like one of the state’s top 2021 outfielders. He remains uncommitted but he’s an intriguing athlete. He ran the second fastest 60 on Sunday (6.60) and topped 89 mph from the outfield and 95 mph at the exit velocity station. He’s a strong 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, and he swings a quiet and simple left-handed bat and has previously demonstrated some excellent barrel feel.

+ Columbus’ Trace Kirchberg was another prospect who left last Sunday’s showcase with his arrow pointed way up. He’s a two-way type who sat 86-88 mph on the mound but also coupled his work from the rubber with a stand-out round from the right-handed batter’s box. He’s an especially strong 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, who can really move, recording a 6.71 in the 60. Kirchberg’s arm strength naturally fits from the outfield, where he recorded a 92 mph high to home. He’s created a compelling profile headed into his junior spring leading to a critical summer.

+ We got our latest look at Wilson Zuck (Appleton North) at the Fox Cities I.D. where he made some discernible strides on offense. Since starring as a linebacker for the Lightning in the fall, Zuck is back on the diamond, trending up. His compact frame works similarly in the right-handed batter’s box, creating simple, hard, and repeatable line-drive contact. Zuck is also a sub-7.00 runner with arm strength, helping enhance his profile from the outfield.

+ Anthony Gross (Catholic Memorial) showed well on two occasions this winter. He’s a compact, strong athlete with twitchy actions. He’s a 6.81 runner with a loose and fast right-handed bat who’s trending up headed into the spring.

Anthony Gross (2/16/20)

+ As if Whitefish Bay wasn’t already loaded up enough, Jack Stecker popped up this winter at the South MKE I.D. as a rising name to know in the state’s junior class. He’s an athlete with an easy, rhythmic right-handed bat that helped him create well-timed contact on repeat.

+ Muskego’s Peyton Seebacher swings a loose left-handed bat off an uphill plane that should help him continue to grow from the batter’s box. He’s a 7.01 runner with a loose arm that’ll help gel well in the outfield.

+ Wilmot has a pair of uncommitted junior outfielders who put together noteworthy performances at the Kenosha I.D.: Leo Falletti and Jack Vozel. Falletti carries some defined strength in his upper half which leads to some robust right-handed contact of the line-drive variety. The last time he ran the 60 for us in July, he clocked in at a 6.78, so he has the motor to chase them down in the outfield. As for Vozel, he’s built at a sturdy 6-foot, 195 pounds, and it helped him create some hard-hit contact from the right side.

Leo Falletti (1/25/20)

+ 6-foot-5, 232-pound prospect Gavin Roanhouse (Waterford) gets the most out of his huge frame. He’s still a sub-7.00 runner despite his size and he’s able to use it well on his throws home, as well as from the batter’s box. He’s still gaining the feel for his long levers, but the tools are here for Roanhouse to grow into an upside contributor at the next level. Stay tuned.

+ De Pere’s Bennett Spaeth showed well a couple of times for our staff in the summer in live game settings, but we hadn’t seen him in a showcase environment in three years. He met up with us at the Fox Cities event where he showed a loose right-handed barrel with that trademark knack for squaring up contact, redirecting it hard to all fields.

+ Max Bredeson (Arrowhead) showed well in multiple measured categories at the Madison I.D. last weekend, clocking in at a 6.70 in the 60, topping 88 mph from the outfield, and 92 mph at the exit velo station. He’s built at a strong 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, and could be on the brink of putting his toolset together at the right time.

+ Neenah was looking increasingly like a sleeper squad ahead of the WIAA spring season before things were halted. Payton McClowry popped up at our Appleton showcase with his lanky 6-foot-3 frame that he uses well from the batter’s box. He’s a junior breakout candidate to know before baseball picks back up.

+ Towering 6-foot-5 outfielder Brevin Brisack (Oregon) moves well for his size and offers some physicality from the right-handed batter’s box. We’ll check back in on him this summer, too.

CATCHERS

+ Menomonie’s Brigs Richartz is trending up headed into next week’s updated 2021 rankings after a big day at the plate while still demonstrating some efficiency out of the crouch. He swings a simple left-handed bat that allows him to land hard line-drive contact with relative ease, helping him to project for some pop down the road.

+ Joseph Ricchio, from Tremper, is an ascending backstop to know in this class. He looks like your prototypical catcher – built at a strong 5-foot-10, 190 pounds. He’s an efficient defender with arm strength and he swings a compact and fast right-handed bat. Ricchio checks a lot of the boxes you look for out of next-level catchers.

Joseph Ricchio (3/1/20)

+ Few prospects swing with the kid of physicality as Noah Berndt (Winneconne). At 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, Berndt generates some premium bat speed while his size and strength help baseballs hurry off his barrel.

+ From Waukesha South, Nick Nowak has crafted an interesting and versatile multi-positional profile. He’s quick and clean from the crouch and his athleticism – underscored by a 6.81 time in the 60 – helps him transition well to the infield where he topped 85 mph on his throws to first. He swings a simple and flat right-handed bat to round out his game.

+ Colten Schillinger (Stratford) added some serious strength to his 5-foot-11 frame, and there’s some burst on foot here, having run a 6.88 in the 60 over the weekend. He’s certainly worth checking back in on, if not the spring for the reigning D-3 champs, then some time in the summer. He looks like a dependable backstop who’s working on applying his advanced strength to his right-handed bat.

+ Waukesha West backstop Sam Holling has some interesting tools, making him a catcher to know in this class. He’s shown some advanced actions from the crouch – he’s quick and clean to transfers and he’s topped 78 mph out of the chute. He’s also made some gains from the batter’s box, eliciting some loud contact from the right side.

Sam Holling (2/16/20)

+ Kimberly is consistently able to restock its program, no matter the losses suffered from the previous year’s graduation. It was going to be an especially tall task to do that in 2020, but Cameron Miller looked like he was going to help the cause. He’s a rhythmic right-handed bat who popped up on our radar earlier this month. Miller also looked the part behind the plate, quick and efficient actions with an arm that topped 78 mph through the infield.

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