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. 

A couple weeks back, we started our ‘Winter Winners’ coverage by looking at the 2021 class’ Pitchers and Position Players. Yesterday, we began to assess the rising sophomores in the state after this winter’s showcase circuit by examining upstart 2022 arms.

Today, we’re breaking down the position players with their arrows pointed up.

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.

PBR Wisconsin’s ‘Winter Winners’ as position players and two-way talents in the state’s 2022 class:

POSITION PLAYERS

The state’s 2022 class is going to be under the largest microscope this summer, and this sophomore group looks like an historic one. We were fortunate enough to have seen many of the top-ranked sophomores in the state this winter and we’ll share with you our findings below. The prospects listed are uncommitted unless stated otherwise.

INFIELDERS

+ Looking more and more like one of the state’s best middle infielders in this robust sophomore class, Ian Choi (Indian Trail) had a highly impressive day at the South MKE I.D. At 5-foot-9, 150 pounds, Choi has actually added considerable strength, especially to his lower half, which has enhanced his batted ball profile. He’s generating harder contact (topping 93 mph in the exit velo station last month) all while operating as one of the slickest defenders in the state. He swings a fast and loose right-handed bat that’s only gotten better since we saw him last in the fall, and it’s made him among the top ‘Winter Winners’ on this list. He's one of the top uncommitted players in the state's 2022 class.

Ian Choi (3/1/20)

+ Waunakee’s Luke Ross has looked like one of the state’s best left-handed pitchers and left-handed bats at various points in his prep career, so far, and in Madison, he took arguably the day’s best round of BP. He has a sweet lefty swing that he’s able to connect easy barrels with, punishing baseballs to his pull-side. He’s an overall athlete which helps him easily range around the first base bag, helping him project comfortably at the position at the next level. Ross is also a high-follow lefty, with velocity sitting in the low-80s, up to 83 mph, with some polished offspeed – especially a swing-and-miss curveball with late biting action.

Luke Ross (3/15/20)

+ Keegan Knutson (Milton; South Carolina) is a hard-nosed ballplayer with a knack to provide his team with what they need most at any given time. His right-handed bat is packed with barrel feel, allowing him to naturally redirect baseballs wherever he pleases, and he is a versatile, natural infielder who could contribute at a high level in multiple places.

+ Illinois State commit James Duncan (Arrowhead) is back at 100 percent headed into the spring and he was also responsible for one of the best rounds of BP at the South MKE I.D. He swings and athletic, loose left-handed bat with premium bat speed and his athleticism works well in the outfield, too, with easy range and above-average arm strength.

+ Tristan Ellis (Greendale; Purdue) makes everything look effortless. He swings an exceptionally simple, smooth left-handed bat that is consistently on time to produce gap-to-gap liners. He remains one of the top up-the-middle defenders in the state, too, with soft hands and easy actions.

+ We were looking forward to seeing Janesville Craig shortstop Gavin Kilen (Louisville commit) back in this kind of environment for an up-and-close look at his impressive toolset. We’d seen him in live game action over the summer and eventually in the fall where he looked like one of, if not the, best defenders in the state. More easy middle infield actions all but certain to keep to shortstop at the next level.

+ Bay Port looked like it had a shot to make a deep run this spring season – and we’re optimistic they’ll still have the chance to do so – and sophomore Theo Zeidler was surely entrenched in the team’s plans to do so. Zeidler has two-way appeal in his athletic 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame. He swings a fast and loose right-handed bat and he’s able to produce some big bat strength, too, topping 91 mph off the tee at the Madison event last month. He’s an athletic defender with above-average arm strength; and he was up to 83 mph off the mound.

+ Camdin Jansen (Racine Lutheran) is the picture-perfect example of a ‘Winter Winner.’ His added size – now listed at a thin 6-foot, 150 pounds – has helped him from both the right-handed batter’s box as well as the left side of the infield. An increase in muscle will raise the floor, and ceiling, of his simple, easy right-handed swing, considering he’s already a smooth shortstop. He has soft hands and natural infield instincts and actions, and he surprised our staff when he efficiently topped 88 mph across the diamond, too.

Camdin Jansen (3/1/20)

+ Racine Horlick’s T.J. Williams gets the absolute most out of his 5-foot-4, 122-pound frame. He’s a quick-twitch athlete who plays the game at a high tempo with an advanced inner clock, which helps him most on defense. While he projects best at second base, he has the hands and advanced actions to thrive at the position long-term. In the left-handed batter’s box, Williams repeats a simple, aggressive swing, though he’s consistently able to maintain his balance, which allows him to spray line-drives all over the field.

+ From Hartford, Anthony Lausten broke through at our Fox Cities I.D. as a follow for his loose levers that help him take solid reps from both the infield and left-handed batter’s box. He moves well with above-average actions on defense, and that aforementioned loose arm topped 87 mph across the infield last month. At the plate, Lausten is able to swing a whippy bat with an opposite-field approach.

Anthony Lausten (3/8/20)

+ Union Grove’s Josh DeGroot is certainly on the rise after solid showing in Caledonia at the start of last month. He takes a short, compact righty swing that he repeats well, and he’s also an above-average defender with soft hands and dependable actions, packed with an arm that topped 88 mph across the infield.

+ Ivan Jake (Tremper) made one of the loudest PBR debuts on this list over the winter, shining at the Kenosha I.D., where he took an easy round of batting practice from the left side. Jake swings a smooth left-handed bat that works off a natural inclined path, leading to above-average lifted contact. He was also a natural at first base and he expertly incorporates his 6-foot-2 frame to make himself a bigger target for his fellow infielders.

+ Nolan Gawrych (West Bend East) showed well in multiple areas at the Fox Cities I.D. He demonstrated some bat strength from the right side off an uphill plane and also looked the part defensively up the middle, with solid actions and an arm that topped 83 mph to first.

+ Keep an eye on Oak Creek’s Cole Rodriguez, a 6-foot, 180-pound infielder who showed some looseness and strength from the righty batter’s box, while showing above-average hands on defense that probably project best at third base.

OUTFIELDERS

+ Despite the depth of talent in this blossoming 2022 class, Michael Lippe (Whitefish Bay; Louisville) continues to separate himself as the top sophomore in the state. He recorded some outstanding batted ball metrics at the South Milwaukee I.D. last month inside of a defined 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame – resembling the stature of running back or tight end. He has top-of-the-scale bat speed and strength and he’s begin to unleash baseballs more often to his pull-side. Lippe’s also a 6.88 runner and he topped 95 mph from the outfield as well – it’s a tantalizing toolset that has him on the national radar.

+ Lippe’s high school and travel ball teammate D.J. Kojis (Whitefish Bay) is also on the rise headed into the spring, and is still uncommitted. He’s established himself previously as one of the state’s high-follow right-handed bats, and his quick-twitch levers attached to his 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame are molding him into one of the state’s best sophomores. He’s a thin, lean, and projectable 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, and his fast right-handed bat is equipped with premium speed that already expertly meets pitches on plane. Kojis is also a 7.08 runner with a huge arm, topping 94 mph on his throws home. That arm strength helps him sit 80-83 mph on the mound, too, with above-average offspeed feel.

D.J. Kojis (3/1/20)

+ N.J. Elias (Verona Area) has showed a versatile and follow skillset for us in the past, but at our Madison I.D. last month, he really showed the signs of putting it all together. There was just a little more polish to Elias’ game, which has helped the sophomore become a name to know in the state’s budding 2022 class. He took above-average reps on both the infield and outfield last month, but looked especially useful from the outfield where he topped 88 mph to home with quick, athletic feet and overall actions. At the plate, Elias has a smooth, loose right-handed bat with excellent barrel feel. He’s sure to rise up the class board when we’re next updating our in-state rankings this spring.

N.J. Elias (3/15/20)

+ Among the top ‘Winners’ this winter inside this sophomore class is Landon Behringer, from North Fond du Lac. We saw the athletic 5-foot-11, 160-pound outfielder twice this year already, at the West MKE and Fox Cities showcases, and both times Behringer managed to stick out amongst his peers. He’s thin, but wiry strong, and he’s a sub-7.00 runner, too. From the right-handed batter’s box, Behringer swings an easy and fluid bat that he’s able to land consistent line-drive contact with, projecting well. He has light, quick feet on defense, and it’s clear that there’s much more upside he’s yet to tap into.

Landon Behringer (3/8/20)

+ Dylan Mass is a part of Franklin’s young, exciting underclass core, and he’s on the rise headed into the spring season. He swings a loose and easy left-handed bat and he’s added some strength to improve his quality of contact. He’s also a 7.00 runner with arm strength, topping 87 mph on his throws home, a big uptick since we’d seen him last.

+ Pewaukee’s two-way, left/left sophomore Carson Hansen has added a couple of inches and substantial strength and muscle, now listed at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds. More importantly, his added size hasn’t detracted from his overall game, in fact, he improved on his 60-yard dash mark in a year’s time, going from a 7.86 at this time last year, to a 7.12. He also took an impressive round of BP in Madison last month, one of the day’s best amongst a crowded field, and he also moves quick in the outfield with efficient actions with an arm that topped 85 mph to home.

+ Mineral Point’s Dominik McVay made a loud debut at his first-ever PBR event in Madison. He ran an event-low 6.58 in the 60-yard dash inside of a compact and strong 5-foot-10, 175-pound build. He uses his strength well from the right-handed batter’s box, and his foot speed and athleticism complement his game in the outfield as well. We’d seen McVay previously on the mound last summer at a tournament, and he showed well then, so he’s worth following as a two-way prospect to know.

+ Columbus outfielder Christian Oppor looks like an interesting athlete to follow. He’s a 7.07 runner who also reached an efficient 89 mph to home from the outfield at the Madison showcase. He also swings a loose left-handed bat worth checking back in on this spring and/or summer.

+ We got a good look at Tristan Ott (Oconomowoc) on a couple of occasions over the winter, at our Kenosha and South Milwaukee events, and both times Ott was able to show a quick, short, and whippy right-handed bat. He’s a physical 6-foot, 180 pounds, and he’s able to use it from the box where he produces above-average bat strength. Ott’s also athletic on approach in the outfield with fluid feet and a loose arm that topped 87 mph to home.

+ Joey Nerat (Campbellsport) showed an impressive toolset at our Fox Cities event last month. He has a physical 5-foot-10, 165-pound build with an especially strong lower half. At the plate, he took a loud round of BP with above-average bat strength, not just for his age, with loose, athletic hands that help create bat speed. He’s emerged as a name to know ahead of the summer.

Joey Nerat (3/8/20)

+ Cuyler Zukowski (Madison LaFollette) remains a high-follow in the state’s 2022 class with his substantial potential packed into his upside 6-foot, 175-pound frame. His fast, loose right-handed bat is presently his most prominent tool – he’s able to create advanced bat speed that leads to serious power potential. He’s also a natural defender in the outfield with arm strength and quick and efficient actions.

+ Sun Prairie sophomore Addison Ostrenga has some considerable upside, given his lanky and athletic 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame. He also had a shot to earn considerable playing time for what stood to be one of the state’s best programs this spring, so hopefully we’ll still see that come to fruition. Ostrenga, despite his tall stature, is still able to run a 7.02, underscoring his athleticism. Naturally, he fits well in the outfield with the kind of instincts that could keep him roaming center field, but he’s equipped with the arm strength to thrive in a corner spot (89 mph high), if necessary. He also swings a fluid, simple right-handed bat that produces hard line-drives, adding to his intriguing profile.

Addison Ostrenga (3/15/20)

+ Jonathan Kim (Brookfield Academy) is a tooled-up sophomore with a left/left profile with a strength that shows itself from both the outfield and the batter’s box. He’s clearly an athlete, as he ran a 6.90 in the 60 at the South MKE I.D., but Kim also generates repeated hard contact to his pull-side and he also reached an 88 mph high on his throws home.

+ Sun Prairie is one of the few programs in the state able to perennially compete spring after spring, and this year, on paper, the team looked like arguably the best in Wisconsin. Ostrenga was set to earn some innings from the outfield, and infielder Jenkin Alexander looked capable of making an impact as a sophomore, too. He swings a loose and strong left-handed bat with impressive bat speed and barrel awareness, making him another sophomore to circle ahead of the summer slate.

+ Sam Meidenbauer (Waukesha West) has a physical, long-levered 6-foot-2, 180-build that grants him some seriously interesting upside worth checking in on throughout 2020. His bat projects to make an impact in the long-term, flashing plus jump from the barrel at our Fox Cities I.D. He also got on the mound in Appleton and topped 80 mph from the rubber, but there’s clearly more to unfurl from there.

+ From Wauwatosa West, Michael Rueth is another follow outfielder with a big frame, at 6-foot-4, 185 pounds. He has raw, upside tools, as a 7.19 runner who also topped 87 mph from the outfield and 89 mph at the exit velo station.

+ Zac Jurmu (Shawano) is worth a follow once baseball picks back up; he showed well last month at the Fox Cities I.D. where he ran a 6.90 with above-average raw bat strength from the right side. He showed well in-game last summer at a PBR Wisconsin tournament, so we’re looking forward to seeing what he can make of this summer.

+ Noah Hanson, from McDonnell Central, has some follow tools worth mentioning here. In Madison, Hanson – listed at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds – ran a 7.02, topped 85 mph from the outfield, and recorded a 92 mph high at the exit velo station. He swings a loose bat and the strength in his lower half help him generate some natural bat strength, too.

CATCHERS

+ Louisville recruit Will Vierling (Homestead) is, at present, the top-ranked catcher in the state’s 2022 class. He’s earned this reputation early in his prep career for his advanced left-handed bat and natural instincts and pitch recognition at the plate, with the ability to lift hard-hit contact to all fields with relative ease. That bat showed itself again at the Fox Cities, but Vierling also took improved reps from behind the plate, quicker and cleaner out of the crouch with a stronger arm through the infield. If Vierling’s able to continue to grow as a defender, it’ll help him become not only one of the top catchers in the Midwest, but in the country.

+ Charlie Jarvis (Catholic Memorial) is continuing to show as one of the top catching prospects in the state’s sophomore class, after another strong performance at the West MKE I.D. in February. He’s a lean athlete in a 6-foot, 185-pound frame, and that athleticism helps him especially well from behind the plate, where he’s flexible and quick of the chute, with above-average arm strength and accuracy. Jarvis also swings a loose right-handed bat and he takes aggressive cuts, leading to some whippy barrels and above-average bat strength.

+ Heath Venne (Muskego) is still asserting himself as one of the class’ best backstops. He has advanced muscle, proportional across his 6-foot, 190-pound frame, and it helps him swing a loud and fast right-handed bat, with a big extension finish. He has solid actions from behind the plate, too, with quick and efficient footwork.

+ From Notre Dame Academy, Cade Milton swings a fast and strong right-handed bat that produces gap-to-gap contact with plane accuracy, making him a sophomore follow moving forward. Milton also took some of the cleanest reps behind the dish at the Fox Cities, too, and he was consistently quick and accurate to the bag.

Cade Milton (3/8/20)

+ Rio’s Kase Reierson swings a strong, loose right-handed bat off an inclined path, with notable bat strength. He’s also versatile and athletic enough to show above-average actions all over the field, but he looks best, right now, from behind the plate.

+ We got our latest look at A.J. Finco (Home School) early in the winter at the Kenosha I.D., where he swung a simple, quiet right-handed bat that he’s able to generate hard contact for his age, especially. He’s a compact 5-foot-10, 193 pounds, with a sturdiness throughout his build, which helps explain his above-average bat strength.

+ Stevens Point’s Brandon Vlcko emerged as a follow after standing out in Madison for his physicality – a 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame with strength throughout. He has pop from the right side already, and he has a strong arm from behind the plate that, when harnessed, will be a weapon; he topped 82 mph from the crouch last month.

+ Mukwonago’s Will Johannes brings a physical and strong presence to the plate, standing at 6-foot, 180 pounds, with notable strength. His size helps him create solid, hard contact consistently, and in bat speed, with barrel feel and accuracy. He’s also efficient out of the crouch and has big arm strength for his age, topping 78 mph last month.

Will Johannes (3/8/20)

+ Alec Campbell (Milton) took improved swings at the plate since we saw him last in the late summer of 2019. We saw Campbell twice more in February and early March, where he showed a simpler right-handed swing that was able to find the barrel with more frequency. He swings a loose bat off a level path that helps him generate hard low-lying contact. He’s a lean and lanky 6-foot-2, which helps him project well at the plate.