Prep Baseball Report

Fox Cities Preseason I.D.: Preview


By Andy Sroka
Staff Writer

PBR Wisconsin’s third event of 2019 is set for this Sunday, Feb. 24, from the Players Choice of the Fox Cities venue in Appleton, Wis. The Fox Cities Preseason I.D. event has 90-plus prospects – and counting – slated to attend, many of whom are ranked within their state’s class boards.

Registration is still open to attend the Fox Cities-area event. For sign-up information, click here. For a look at the most up-to-date roster, click here.

In the past, this event has shined a light on the prospects primarily residing in the central and northern portion of Wisconsin. Looking back at the 2018 showcase, there have been 28 commitments from last year’s attendees; among them: SS J.P. Gauthier (De Pere, 2021; Illinois State commit), C Joey Spence (West Bend East, 2021; Notre Dame), C Cameron Dupont (West De Pere, 2020; Southern Illinois), RHP/INF Will Semb (De Pere, 2020; Iowa), INF/RHP Andrew Sweetalla (Appleton East, 2019; Illinois-Springfield), and RHP Jason Jennerjohn (Hortonville, 2019; Eastern Illinois), among many others.

This event is increasingly spotlighting a talented region of Wisconsin that is commanding more and more of our attention. With that being said, we’re excited to see which prospects are the 2019 versions of underclassmen Gauthier and Spence, who broke out at this very event last February. We’re also excited to see the unsigned juniors and seniors who are already on our radars, as we measure the gains they made this past offseason.

Let’s start by re-introducing you to a pair of 2018 PBR Future Game attendees who represented Team Wisconsin last summer in Indianapolis: RHP Isaiah Katz (Fall Creek, 2020) and OF/LHP Christopher Vandenheuvel (Xavier, 2020), both of whom are uncommitted. The two are ranked within six spots of each other on Wisconsin’s Class of 2020 Rankings, just inside of the top 50. Katz actually debuted on the August rankings update – and was the highest debuting prospect in the update. He’s a 6-foot-2 righty who worked in the low-to-mid 80s during the Future Games last summer with a fastball featuring above-average run, thrown from a ¾ slot. We haven’t see Katz since the Future Games, so we’re excited to see how he’s progressed since.

Isaiah Katz (8/2/18)

As for Vandenheuvel, the outfielder debuted on the 2020 board last April and has steadily remained around the top-40 prospects since. He’s a left-handed-hitting athlete with feel for the barrel and clocked in at a 6.76 mark in the 60 at the Future Games.

Three more ranked, uncommitted juniors who are registered for Sunday’s event: LHP Donovan Schultz (Kimberly), SS/2B Nick Aide (Franklin), and 3B Ethan Habetler (West De Pere). Schultz is a long-levered and projectable southpaw with easy arm action. Franklin’s Aide is an above-average defender up the middle with advanced arm strength. And Habetler is an athletic corner infielder with bat strength and a gap-to-gap approach.

If we’re trying to forecast some of the impact sophomores who could be the next best bets to verbally commit, look no further than RHP/OF Wilson Zuck (Appleton North). He’s a strong two-way prospect who’s been up to 85 mph on the mound and recorded an exit velocity of 93 mph at an October showcase. His advanced strength plays in all facets of his game – on the mound, in the batter’s box, and from the outfield. He’s a top-20-ranked sophomore in the class.

Wilson Zuck (10/21/18)

While Zuck was absent from last year’s Fox Cities showcase, ranked West De Pere sophomores OF Joshua Blount and C Kaden Kosobucki were both present. The two uncommitted 2021s are strong, aggressive bats. Blount is a lefty with bat speed and power projection, fit for a corner outfield spot on defense. Kosobucki is a compact catcher who’s clean out of the crouch and takes loose, hard hacks in the right-handed batter’s box.

Also, keep an eye on the big-bodied righty from Wrightstown, Alex Windey (2021; uncommitted). He’s presently unranked but that won’t last for long. Our staff just had the opportunity to see Windey at last month’s Kenosha Preseason I.D. event where he came away as the top-ranked sophomore in attendance. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder sat at a heavy 82-85 mph with feel for his offspeed.

Alex Windey (1/26/19)


ITINERARY

  • Check-in for Position Players: 8:20 to 8:40 a.m.

    • Offensive Evaluations (exit velo, mechanical analysis, batting practice)

    • Defensive Evaluations (arm strength, mobility, positional reps)

  • Check-in for Pitchers only: 12:45 to 1 p.m.

    • Bullpen Sessions (15-pitch session, mechanical analysis)

    • Catcher Evaluations (evaluating receiving/blocking skills)

  • Catchers will stay for both sessions.

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