Wisconsin Class of 2022 Rankings: Risers

On Wednesday, our staff unveiled our updated Wisconsin Class of 2022 Rankings, and we dissected the top-10 names, a group we’re pretty familiar with to this point. Today and Friday, we’re going to spend time breaking down the prospects within this exciting class who are on the rise in addition to the prospects who made debuts on this board after we expanded the list to a top-70 overall.

ON THE RISE

First up, the names on this list who have climbed up the rankings since the last time we updated the board back in December.

+ We detailed his progress yesterday as broke into the state’s top-10 sophomore rankings, but RHP Ryan Karst (Brookfield East; uncommitted) is also among the most notable risers in the state, climbing 20 spots to No. 8 overall. In February of 2019, Karst was a lanky, but strong, 6-foot-2, who sat in the upper-70s. He was up to 83 mph in late July in front of our staff, too, with the athleticism and quick, clean arm that projected especially well. And then, in February of this year, Karst exploded, sitting 86-89 mph in a bullpen with easy, heavy velocity that burst through the zone. He’s currently the top uncommitted prospect in the state’s 2022 class.

+ A leg injury prevented our staff from an up close look at Grafton RHP Hunter Schmitt (uncommitted), but the long-levered righty is back to full health already and there’s been rumblings of some serious strides taken since our last look in the fall, where he was up to 84 mph. Schmitt has long possessed some of the highest upside in the class, with a smooth, loose arm action that gets to velocity with minimal effort, paired with some advanced feel for spin and control. Checking in on Schmitt early this summer is among the highest priorities.

+ Ranked right next to Schmitt on the ‘22 board is OF D.J. Kojis (Whitefish Bay; uncommitted). Kojis is a prime example of the depth of this class. While living outside the top-10 currently, Kojis has some premium upside attached to his athletic 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame. He swings a quiet, fast bat generated by loose, athletic hands that consistently meets the ball on plane. He moves well on defense and has some significant arm strength, topping 94 mph to home in March. At that same event, Kojis also tossed a pretty clean ‘pen, sitting 80-83 mph with offspeed feel, showing there might be some two-way upside to unravel here also.

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

+ It was clear that SS Ian Choi (Indian Trail; uncommitted) made excellent use of the offseason. In September, Choi looked like a follow middle infielder for his simple right-handed bat and barrel feel that helped him spray line-drives all over the diamond, as well as his smooth and confident actions at shortstop. In March, Choi looked demonstrably stronger in his 5-foot-9 frame, especially within his lower half, and it showed itself best in the batter’s box where he was striking the ball with greater authority. He maintained his quick feet despite the muscle gain, running a 6.88 in the 60, and he Choi remains a reliable middle infielder with actions and arm strength.

+ Another high-follow pitcher, who only enhanced his prospect stock this winter, is RHP Gradin Taschner (Neenah; uncommitted). He’s another big right-hander, listed at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, who generates big velocity with relative ease. In the Fox Cities last March, Taschner was up to 87 mph that really carried through the strike zone. More importantly, Taschner showed the signs of being able to spot the fastball while complementing the pitch with firm straight change and a tight breaking ball featuring late break. He’s another must-see arm to check in on along this summer slate, especially given his current uncommitted status.

Gradin Taschner (3/8/20)

+ Apart from Karst’s 20-spot climb, RHP/INF James Reese (University School of Milwaukee; uncommitted) earned the biggest rise up the rankings inside this update, going from No. 31 to 19 overall. Reese is equipped with a live arm, with huge arm strength for his age and size – at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds. In March, at our South MKE I.D., Reese began his bullpen with an 88 mph strike, with some notable effort in his delivery, while landing in an open position. Regardless, Reese looks like an impact arm who’s still harnessing his live arsenal. In addition to his mid- to upper-80s fastball, he spins a tight, sharp breaking ball with an aggressive changeup that both project to earn consistent swings and misses.

James Reese (3/1/20)

+ C Heath Venne (Muskego; uncommitted) has a sculpted 5-foot-10, 185-pound physique that helps him produce excellent bat strength, though mostly of the line-drive variety. He swings an aggressive and fast right-handed bat off a short path that helps him land the barrel often. Venne’s also an efficient defender, athletic in the crouch, who’s accurate to the second base bag.

Click HERE for a look at the complete Wisconsin Class of 2022 Rankings. And be on the lookout tomorrow, Friday, when we dive into the prospects who made their rankings debut within this update.

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