2025 Winter Watchlist: Names to Know
January 10, 2025
By: Kevin Cronin
Illinois & Wisconsin Data Coordinator, Area Scout
We're less than a month away from the start of the Prep Baseball Wisconsin winter calendar, in which our staff will trek across the state to run various events prior to the start of the high school season.
These events serve as an opportunity for aspiring collegiate athletes to accumulate accurate and verified measurable data in a workout setting while also showcasing their talents in front of our staff. By attending, players have the opportunity to update their Prep Baseball profile, which serves as a recruiting 'resume' in a way for each athlete. All of our events serve as identifiers for future high-level, invite-only events, like our Top Prospect Games, All-State events, the prestigious PBR Future Games, and even the Prep Baseball All-American Game.
To see what our events offer from a technology, athletic testing, and evaluation point of view, click HERE. For a look at all of the events our staff is running this winter and when, click HERE.
Several of the state's top prospects have already signed up for some of our upcoming winter events, and we're eager to see the multitude of talent that Wisconsin has to offer up-close. Below you will learn more about the high-level prospects in the state, regardless of class, that our staff will see this winter.
WINTER WATCHLIST
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Mark Susa LHP / Hudson, WI / 2027
From 1/20/24
Body: 6-3, 169-pounds. Long levers, projectable.
Delivery: Rhythmic, loose, well organized, dynamic delivery, good direction to the plate, medium leg swing with good balance to the plate.
Arm Action: LH. Medium length online arm action, 3/4 slot, quick arm, repeats.
FB: T84, 81-83 mph. Drives it through areas of the zone with good angle. T2219, 2102 average rpm.
CB: 68-70 mph. Sharp 2/8 shape, swing and miss potential, has feel for the pitch. T2078, 2050 average rpm.
CH: 73-75 mph. Thrown with fastball intent, late fading action. T2014, 1991 average rpm.
ATH: 7.34 runner in the 60. 26.20 max vertical.
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From 7/30/24
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wider base and open setup, gets loaded into a strong hand trigger at foot plant. pull-side approach with extra leverage, contacts the baseball out front, swings with intent. 75.5 mph bat speed with 7 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 98 max exit velocity, averaged 86.3 mph. 371' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-74 mph. Short arm action, repeats, plays accurate and with carry to the target.
Defense: 2.15-2.28 pop times. Works through baseball with short and quick right foot towards second base, clean transfers, reliable blocker, has good feel for the position especially for age.
ATH: 29.30 max vertical.
Vizual Edge: 75.62 Edge Score
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From 6/29/23: "In an electric outing, Schmidt showcased a big uptick to his velocity since our previous look at him in the winter at the Eau Claire Preseason ID, where he reached an 81 mph high. He followed up that performance with a successful spring at Somerset, where he struck out 77 batters in 45.2 innings. Then, in the summer circuit, Schmidt popped multiple 86 mph fastballs, ranging in the lower to mid-80s throughout. Had a comfortable and confident feel for the breaking ball that created swings-and-misses. A changeup complemented the arsenal, as Schmidt inserted himself as a player to watch for in the near future."
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Ian Kawczynski SS / Catholic Memorial, WI / 2026
From 7/30/24
Body: 6-0, 158-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Stock setup with balance, loose and rhythmic hands to a strong hitting position on time. Flat with extension through contact, line drives through the whole field, flashed feel for the barrel. 68.6 mph bat speed with 11 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 79.2 mph. 275' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-82 mph. Throws from all angles, short arm release, accurate, feel.
Defense: Fluid footwork, confident hands that work out front, some bounce in his feet, quality actions, feels like a shortstop.
ATH: 6.77 runner in the 60. 33.10 max vertical.
Vizual Edge: 68.49 Edge Score
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From 3/16/24
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-11, 147-pounds. Lean athletic build, upside frame, fill coming.
Hit: LHH. Crouched and balanced setup, high hands, controlled leg lift into aggressive footplant, balanced finish. Short compact, quick hands and bat, can cover all quadrants of the zone, ball jumps with line drive contact to all fields. 68 mph bat speed with 12 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 86.8 mph. 319' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-90 mph. Athletic and whippy arm action, 3/4, plays on the move and from multiple slots.
Defense: Makes it look easy, twitchy and rangy with clean hands and fluid actions fielding through the ball.
ATH: 6.97 runner in the 60. 31.10 max vertical.
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From 2/17/24
Body: 6-5, 212-pounds. Long levers, good proportions, more fill coming.
Delivery: Controlled leg lift, clean and easy delivery, athletic downhill.
Arm Action: RH. Loose arm action with whip out front, lower 3/4 slot.
FB: T86, 85-86 mph. Very natural, some carry and arm side run, strikes. T2360, 2241 average rpm.
SL: 77-78 mph. Sharp 11/5 tilt, tight through the zone. T2705, 2672 average rpm.
CH: 80-81 mph. Comfortable, decel, sinking action. T2087, 1818 average rpm.
ATH: 7.69 runner in the 60. 26.60 max vertical.
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From 3/3/24
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds. Strong and athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Wider base, simple trigger on time consistently. Flat and short, easy and loose bat speed with control of the barrel, ball jumps, feel to hit. 66.9 mph bat speed with 9 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 91.7 mph. 344' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-81 mph. Slings it from high 3/4 slot, carry, accurate.
Defense: Two hand gather under midline, quality actions overall, reliable feel to the defense.
ATH: 7.26 runner in the 60. 25.50 max vertical.
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From 7/30/24
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds.
Delivery: Athletic, easy mover, small rocker into leg lift with small foot tuck, extends outwards towards home.
Arm Action: RH. Shroter arc, compact action, some looseness, whippy, 3/4 slot.
FB: T84, 79-82 mph. Four seamer is firm with life through the zone, downhill; two-seamer shows late arm-side run tail, strikes. T2198, 2038 average rpm.
CB: 69-72 mph. 10/4 shape, defined horizontal movement, late break. T2781, 2643 average rpm.
SL: 70-74 mph. 11/5 shape, late break, high spin, true put-away pitch, thrown on outer half, caught swing-and-miss. T2544, 2463 average rpm.
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Trey Kerkhoff 3B / Burlington, WI / 2026
From 7/30/24
Body: 6-0, 181-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Narrow and upright, short and controlled move to center with controlled front foot plant to hitting position, rhythmic hand trigger to hitting position. Quick hands, short path, sprays line drives to all fields, hitterish. 72.1 mph bat speed with 11 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 90.5 mph. 368' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-80 mph. Easy high 3/4 release, fluid movements.
Defense: Two-hand gather out front, some rhythm in the footwork, easy actions.
ATH: 6.71 runner in the 60. 28.60 max vertical.
Vizual Edge: 67.61 Edge Score
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Eli Bauler RHP / Monona Grove, WI / 2027
From 7/30/24
Body: 6-1, 215.2-pounds.
Delivery: Easy, simple, repeatable, high leg lift, rides down the mound, gets into back side.
Arm Action: RH. Athletic arm action, quick arm speed getting through the ball, full arc, ball jumps out of hand.
FB: T86, 83-85 mph. Firm, life and carry through the zone, commands strikes, ability to work in and out. T2119, 1924 average rpm.
SL: 70-73 mph. Shows depth with 11/5 action, throws for strikes, has the ability to spin. T2040, 1857 average rpm.
CH: 77-77 mph. Some tilt with ability to throw on inside half. T1250, 1250 average rpm.
ATH: 7.15 runner in the 60.
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Jimmy Angle OF / Kettle Moraine, WI / 2026
From 7/30/24
Body: 6-0, 188-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Higher hands, wide base, strong trigger, leverage. Swings with intent, feel to elevate the baseball to all fields, quick hands. 71.1 mph bat speed with 12 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 78.4 mph. 344' max distance.
Arm: RH. OF-79 mph. High 3/4 quick release, repeats.
Defense: Soft one-hand gather out front, plays through the ball, confident hands.
ATH: 6.94 runner in the 60. 28.70 max vertical.
Vizual Edge: 53.15 Edge Score
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Dylan Schreiber RHP / Waukesha West, WI / 2027
From 7/30/24
Body: 6-5, 179-pounds.
Delivery: Minimal leg lift, some crouch, full extension backwards.
Arm Action: RH. Long, full arc, lower 3/4 slot.
FB: T86, 82-85 mph. Life through zone, contains some late arm-side run, flashes ability to hit outside corner. T2064, 1900 average rpm.
SL: 65-67 mph. Later break, plays through the zone with depth, 11/5 shape. T2074, 1932 average rpm.
CH: 75-75 mph. Fade and depth to the pitch at the plate, developing feel. T1902, 1842 average rpm.
ATH: 7.25 runner in the 60. 26.60 max vertical.
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Jack Brenner C / Fond du Lac, WI / 2026
From 9/20/24: "Possessing an athletic, strong, and proportionate 5-foot-11, 161-pound display, Brenner put on a show against ISA. The right-handed batter collected multiple hits including a no doubt home run over the left field wall. Mechanically, Brenner stands tall with a high bat. He has a longer stride quickly turning on the ball with a short bat path and quick bat speed staying level through the zone."
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From 2/24/24: "OF/RHP Carson Hawley (Bay Port, 2026) is an athletic two-way player with strong tools across the board. Hawley sets up with a wide base and high hands, landing centered on-time with good separation. His quick hands and direct path create good leverage and bat speed out front, resulting in plus power. Defensively, Hawley showed athletic actions and reached 90 mph from the outfield, the third-best mark of the day. His 7.14 60-yard time was among the top 10 performers on Saturday. On the mound, the sophomore has a rhythmic delivery with a medium-high leg tuck, landing slightly crossfire in a repeatable and athletic manner. His arm was on-time and quick, a high-¾ slot that led to good velocity - Hawley topped at 86.4 mph with carry. The curveball has 11/5 break with tremendous late depth, a pitch thrown with firmness at 76-77 mph. The changeup has some depth and fade at 79-80 mph, a pitch thrown with fastball arm speed and good feel."
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Jonny Deets SS / La Crosse Aquinas, WI / 2027
From 7/30/24
Body: 5-8, 158-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Stock setup, lands slightly closed, gets good separation, loose and easy with quality rhythm and timing. Quick hands, whole field approach, line drives, hitterish. 67.1 mph bat speed with 10 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 85.0 mph. 346' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-81 mph. Quick release, arm plays on the move.
Defense: Soft hands that work confidently out front, quick transfer, natural and athletic actions.
ATH: 30.70 max vertical.
Vizual Edge: 56.55 Edge Score
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From 3/16/24
Body: 6-4, 166-pounds. Extra long levers, wiry build with upside, fill coming.
Delivery: Controlled tall and fall delivery, balance through leg lift, long landing stride towards home.
Arm Action: LH. Short arm action to a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 81-82 mph. Firm, easy out of the hand, four seam type. T1982, 1871 average rpm.
CB: 70-73 mph. 12/6 action. T1778, 1651 average rpm.
SL: 72-76 mph. 2/8 breaking shape, with some feel. T1878, 1822 average rpm.
CH: 73-74 mph. Maintains arm speed, plays similar to the fastball. T1388, 1350 average rpm.
ATH: 25.90 max vertical.
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Sam Wells 3B / Brookfield East, WI / 2026
From 7/30/24
Body: 6-0, 186-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wider base setup, early toe down, loose and easy rhythm to hitting position with hand trigger. Direct, line drives through the zone, middle of the field approach. 65.6 mph bat speed with 11 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 82.2 mph. 307' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-86 mph. Long levers, ball has carry.
Defense: Soft, two-hand gather out front, quick hands that secures the ball into his body, plays with some timing.
ATH: 7.32 runner in the 60. 28.90 max vertical.
Vizual Edge: 73.81 Edge Score
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Carter Fry OF / Wisconsin Lutheran, WI / 2027
From 6/19/24: "Donning the top of the Halos National lineup, Fry was the ideal leadoff across the weekend. Fry was all over the barrel with numerous shots to the gap and balls that landed to the sides of outfielders. Fry’s tools are clear to see as the 5-foot-10, 140-pound athlete flies around the basepaths and provides a spark to an offense with walks turning into doubles and triples via stolen bases. With said speed available to him, Fry captained the outfield and displayed a wide defensive range. Currently ranked No. 22 in Wisconsin, Fry has immense tools to build on throughout his high school years and is certainly a name to keep an eye on throughout the summer season."
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Ryan Rose SS / West Bend West, WI / 2027
From 7/30/24
Body: 6-0, 176-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Stock setup, controlled leg lift, lands balanced, controls head. Short path to the zone, feel for the barrel, extension through contact, handsy. 65.7 mph bat speed with 5 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 76.9 mph. 310' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-76 mph. Easy actions, ball has carry, multiple angle release.
Defense: Confident hands that work out front, some bounce to his step with easy actions, plays with timing and rhythm.
ATH: 6.66 runner in the 60. 33.60 max vertical.
Vizual Edge: 78.24 Edge Score
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From 7/30/24
Body: 5-10, 157-pounds.
Delivery: Side step into leg lift, dynamic delivery through release, smooth follow through turning back towards the catcher.
Arm Action: RH. Whippy, lower 3/4 slot, arm speed.
FB: T88, 86-87 mph. Jumps out of hand, arm side run, uses it to all quadrants. T2284, 2137 average rpm.
SL: 76-77 mph. Thrown with fastball intent, short horizontal breaker. T2183, 1863 average rpm.
ATH: 6.81 runner in the 60. 30.50 max vertical.
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Sam Hoeft RHP / Port Washington, WI / 2025
From 3/16/24
Body: 6-2, 178-pounds. Athletic, long, present strength, good proportions, sloped shoulders.
Delivery: Medium lift with balance over rubber, lands with direction to home, medium leg swing finish through home.
Arm Action: RH. 3Q slot, quick arm.
FB: T86, 85-85 mph. Late arm side boring action. T2240, 2203 average rpm.
CB: 70-71 mph. Sharp 11/5 shape and break, developing out pitch weapon. T1171, 993 average rpm.
CH: 73-75 mph. Thrown with fastball intent, fade and depth at the plate. T1609, 1538 average rpm.
ATH: 28.20 max vertical.
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