Wisconsin Class of 2019 Rankings: Final Edition

Around this time each year, we publish – once and for all – the final edition of the latest graduating class’ player rankings. We last updated the 2019 board in mid-March, just prior to the start of the WIAA spring season. Since the state crowned champions in all four divisions in Grand Chute last week, it’s time to adjust the rankings accordingly, taking into account all these seniors accomplished in their final seasons playing prep baseball.

Click here to see the state’s full 2019 rankings list for yourself.

THE TOP-10

For an end-of-the-season update, there’s actually quite a bit of shuffling on this edition of the 2019 rankings, even inside the top-10. The Nos. 1 and 2 prospects are in their same spots, LHP Connor Prielipp (Tomah; Alabama commit) and RHP Jack Washburn (Webster; Oregon State). Those two have occupied the top-two spots for almost a full year now, and they did nothing to dip below the No. 2 throughout the spring – in fact, Washburn ended his prep career on the highest possible note, pitching a dominating complete game win over Mineral Point in the state’s Division-4 title game. As for Prielipp, the state’s top prospect, he heard his name called in this month’s MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox, in the 37th round.

Catchers Nathan Stevens (Waunakee; Arkansas) and Drake Baldwin (Madison West; Missouri State) have been flip flopping between the third and fourth spots for over a year, and they’ll do it once more in this update.

We have a huge nine-spot leap from Trent Turzenski (Burlington; Valparaiso) to report. He’s up to No. 5 in the state because he’s been able to run his fastball into the low 90s, and has shown the ability to maintain that kind of elite velocity throughout his starts. He’s a highly projectable athlete who’s only just beginning to realize his massive potential.

Turzenski’s rise pushes the next few prospects down the board, but it’s not like they’ve done anything to harm their own prospect profiles. Jack Krumbach (Madison Memorial; Xavier), Xavier Watson (South Milwaukee; Illinois), and Drew Lechnir (Kimberly; Central Michigan) fill spots Nos. 6, 7, and 8 for the same reasons they were top-10 prospects back in March. Krumbach is one of the toolsiest prospects in the state. Watson can do a little bit of everything and is a versatile infielder. And Lechnir has a twitchy left-handed bat who makes quick, instinctual routes in the outfield.

The Michigan-bound infielder Dan Blomgren (Janesville Craig) is a top-notch defender with a lead-off-type profile. At No. 9 in this final update, he’s been in the top-10 in nearly every class of 2019 rankings we’ve produced since our first back in May of 2016.

After carving through Green Bay Preble in the state quarterfinals last week, LHP Trey Krause (Burlington; Illinois State) earns his highest-ever spot on the 2019 board with the No. 10 ranking. He sat 87-88 mph and touched 89 mph in the early going and also showed off a swing-and-miss breaking ball that had the Hornets guessing. Krause is also savvy on the mound, and knows when to add or subtract a tick or two from his stuff, depending on the situation, and he frequently alters his motion to throw off hitters’ timing.

RISERS

+ RHP Riley LeTourneau (Brookfield East; Madison College JC) has always holstered easy arm strength that has helped him reach the upper 80s from the mound, but his fastball ticked up again this past spring. The 6-foot-4 righty was sitting 89-91 mph, touching a couple 92s, through the first couple of innings. He’s been up to 93 mph in our looks this spring, too. He’s still finding his offspeed, but the raw talent LeTourneau will bring with him to Madison is all there.

+ What may have been OF Sam Stange’s (Eau Claire North; Wisconsin, hockey) final contribution on a baseball diamond last week was a remarkable one. The senior Huskies center fielder stepped up to the plate, down 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth, and launched a go-ahead, three-run home run to right field to give North the lead – and eventually the title-clinching win. He’s committed to play hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Madison but he has an electric left-handed bat and was the most productive hitter in Grand Chute last week. His bat and athleticism pushed him up over 25 spots on our 2019 board, all the way to No. 25 in the state.

+ RHP Shane Ryan (Markesan; Central Michigan) tossed a no-hitter against Ozaukee in the D-3 semifinals last week, and showcased to us some next-level stuff. He struck out 12 in his five no-hit innings and he looks like he’s going be able to carve out a real role for himself with the Chippewas next fall and beyond. He’s up over 30 spots, to No. 42 in the state.

+ Kimberly’s John Nett (St. Cloud State) is a strong, athletic prospect with a real knack for chasing down fly balls in the outfield, though he did play some infield for his high school this spring. He uses his strength well from the right-handed batter’s box, too, and is up to No. 47 in the state after another noteworthy season for the Papermakers, in which he hit over .500. He’s ranked No. 47 in the state.

DEBUTING

There are 25 prospects making their first-ever appearance on the 2019 rankings. We’ll highlight a handful of them below.

+ Brandon Lenczner (Oak Creek; uncommitted) is debuting the highest at No. 118. He looked smooth at shortstop for the Knights at state with short/loose throws to first with some carry.

+ Caden Krug (Fond du Lac; uncommitted) is another interesting middle infield defender who made a lot of solid contact for the underdog Cardinals last week. He debuts at No. 126.

+ Seth Coker (Athens; Wisconsin-La Crosse) helped the Fighting Blue Jays win two state titles during his time at the school, starring on both the mound and at the plate for the team head coached by his father, Bill. He’s a strong, left-handed-hitting prospect who consistently puts up some wacky numbers in the Marawood North Conference. He’s the No. 136-ranked prospect in the state.

+ RHP/INF Bryce Miller (Green Bay Preble; Rock Valley JC) was instrumental for the Hornets all spring. He was a dependable arm, who threw strikes, and played an athletic first base with a feel to hit. He’s ranked No. 143 on the board.

+ 1B Andrew Zakula (Oak Creek; Wisconsin-Oshkosh) is a stout 6-foot-3, 198 pounds, and has some power potential to his right-handed bat. He hit .407 for the Knights this spring and it helped him become the No. 142-ranked prospect on the board as a result.

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