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Wisconsin Class of 2021 Rankings Update

August 29, 2019
By Andy Sroka & Steve Nielsen
Wisconsin Staff

We last updated the state’s class of 2021 rankings in April and, after a long and important summer showcase circuit, the ‘21 board is due for another facelift. This is a critical update in the incoming junior class, considering we just basically spent the summer watching these 2021s compete for chances to receive invitations to premium events and we also took the state’s best uncommitted ‘21s to the PBR Future Games, hosted at LakePoint in Georgia for the first time ever.

So, needless to say we’ve gathered more intel on this junior class more than any other, and it’s time to share our findings.

The top-three atop the board do not change – which says a lot considering how great the names behind them have been playing. SS Noah Miller (Ozaukee; Alabama commit) still looks like the best prospect in this class, as he’s savvy defender and is also tacking on more weight, muscle which should help him improve his quality of contact as a switch-hitter, because his bat-to-ball skills are evident. No breaking news here is good news for the Alabama commit, as he’s steadily established himself as the top incoming junior in Wisconsin.

TOP-10 TABLE
Rank Name State School Class Pos Commitment
1 Noah Miller WI Ozaukee 2021 SS Alabama
2 Joey Spence WI West Bend East 2021 C Notre Dame
3 Vincent Trapani WI Eau Claire Memorial 2021 RHP Arkansas
4 Q Phillips WI Brookfield East 2021 OF Michigan
5 Logan Schulfer WI Stevens Point 2021 RHP Wisconsin-Milwaukee
6 Drew Stippich WI Kettle Moraine 2021 RHP  
7 Owen Washburn WI Webster 2021 2B/RHP  
8 Ryan Taylor WI Verona 2021 SS  
9 Liam Moreno WI Sun Prairie 2021 3B
10 Liam Stumpf WI Mineral Point 2021 OF/RHP  


Backing up Miller once again on the ‘21 board is West Bend East backstop and Notre Dame commit Joey Spence. We had the chance to see Spence a handful of times this summer while he played club ball with STiKS Academy, the team that won both our 16U tournament in Mauston, the Badger State Battle, and our inaugural PBR at The Rock Championships. Of course, Spence’s left-handed bat was integral to the success STiKS enjoyed this summer, and it, in conjunction with his strong defensive skillset, has him as the top-ranked catcher in the state and a top-20-ranked catcher in the nation.

We have notes from our national crosschecker Shooter Hunt from just a couple weeks back at the Area Code Underclass Games where our No. 3-ranked prospect shined. There, RHP Vincent Trapani (Eau Claire Memorial, 2021) looked dominant in a three-inning outing on Day One of the event, and was awarded for his seven Ks in three innings. He pounded the bottom of the strike zone with an 88-92 mph fastball and also seems to have tightened up his arm action, which provided some positive results almost instantaneously.

Vincent Trapani (8/10/19)

Our No. 4 prospect, Q Phillips (Brookfield East), committed in the middle of the summer to Michigan after an electric couple of months in May, June, and when we last saw him at The Rock in July. Phillips scuffled at times during the spring for the Spartans, but by the summer, he shortened up his swing and let his athleticism do the work. It paid off. He looked rejuvenated for STiKS Academy in the summer and he was punishing baseballs much more often and with much more authority, cutting down on the swings and misses. All the while, he’s probably the top defensive center fielder in the state, gliding through routes with ease. He’s a grinder with a high ceiling and an abundance of tools, good for the No. 4 prospect in the ‘21 class, up a huge four spots since April.

The prospect on the board we’ve seen the most recently is RHP Logan Schulfer (Stevens Point; Wisconsin-Milwaukee), who left us buzzing after the Sheboygan-area a week and a half ago. He was up to 91 mph there and he backed it up with a changeup that has plus potential; it’s aggressive and he spots it well. The arm strength and athleticism here has kept him at the No. 5 spot.

Through no fault of his own, RHP Drew Stippich (Kettle Moraine; uncommitted) dips a couple spots down the ‘21 board. He was, arguably, the top arm on Team Wisconsin’s Future Games roster and showed a ton of feel on the mound in Georgia. He’s a strike-thrower who sits in the upper-80s with the Trackman data to back him up.

Stippich actually sparks a string Team Wisconsin representatives, including the two-way talent Owen Washburn (Webster; uncommitted). He was up to a personal-best 89 mph at LakePoint and only keeps getting better. There’s upside plastered all over his game and it’s not yet known if he’s destined to be a position player or follow his older brother and his father on the mound. His left-handed bat is that good.

Owen Washburn (7/31/19)

No player in the state has done more than Ryan Taylor (Verona; uncommitted) to raise their prospect stock. It’s possible Taylor was the Team Wisconsin prospect who caught the most attention at the Future Games. He’s equipped with a smooth glove and has some premium arm strength, up to 88 mph across the diamond. His left-handed bat has also taken some real strides this summer after spending the circuit playing up a level with STiKS Academy’s 17U squad, mostly at shortstop.

Liam Moreno (Sun Prairie; uncommitted) is one of the most natural right-handed hitters in the class – maybe the best. He’s constantly on the barrel and it earned him some real looks in Georgia as a member of Team Wisconsin. He’s also a sneaky athlete who runs a tick under 7.00 in the 60 and has the kind of arm strength to fit on the left side of the infield.

And lastly, making his top-10 debut, is Liam Stumpf (Mineral Point; uncommitted). He was really first identified as an arm, and he starred for the Pointers as their ace this spring on their way to a state run, but he also slugged double-digit homers last season, too. Given his lean/athletic build, the pop comes out of nowhere and his all-around quick-twitch translates well in the batter’s box. He’s also a plus runner and ran a 6.68 at LakePoint and sat 85-86 mph during his time on the mound. Stumpf’s game is enticing and makes for a highly interesting follow moving forward.

Liam Stumpf (7/31/19)

 
   THE COMPLETE 2021 RANKINGS LIST


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