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Introducing the Wisconsin Class of 2023 Rankings

October 8, 2020
By Andy Sroka & Steve Nielsen
Wisconsin Staff

It is still extremely early, perhaps even premature, to be forecasting Class of 2023 prospects, especially since many of these rising sophomores haven’t even played a varsity game. Then again, with the way recruiting has been trending, high-level 2023 prospects are already making verbal commitments. In fact, we know of three committed prospects in the state’s sophomore class already, and each have a spot inside the state’s top-five.

Over the course of the last year, we’ve seen an impressive amount of talented 2023 prospects, several of whom are in the national rankings. With that said, we have released our initial 2023 rankings, a modest list of 15 prospects that have stood out among their peers. Certainly this list will change and evolve in time, as we know many players will grow, develop and mature. We also know that we likely haven’t seen many other 2023 prospects that may be deserving of this list.

TOP-10

+ Ranked inside the top-150 nationally, SS Cal Fisher (Deerfield; Notre Dame commit) checks in at No. 1 overall in the state’s unveiling of the 2023 rankings. At a physical 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, Fisher looks like the next high-follow shortstop from our state, which is becoming a perennial occurrence. We got our latest look at the Deerfield sophomore just last month at Grand Park in Indiana for the PBR Midwest Fall Championships and PBR National Crosschecker Shooter Hunt was on hand and he had this to report:

“Presently strong and athletic frame at 5-foot-11, 185-pounds. Right-handed hitting shortstop was playing up throughout the weekend with some of the top 2021 talent across the Midwest and fit right in. Highly-athletic defender, ranges well and plays with advanced body control. Made a highlight reel play ranging to his glove-side on Saturday afternoon that was well beyond his years. Offensively, right-handed hitter, confident and poised in the box; handles velocity with ease. Numerous confident, intentful swings, looks to drive the baseball, strong hands, creates leverage with feel for the barrel; middle-of-the-order type. Another high-level shortstop to know coming out of Wisconsin.”

Cal Fisher (9/12/20)

+ One of the top uncommitted sophomores in the Midwest takes the No. 2 spot: SS/2B Alex Alicea (St. Thomas More). It’s immediately obvious just how advanced Alicea’s feel for the game is. Firstly, he’s prone for the spectacular defensively, with some of the quickest feet smoothest hands around, we’ve seen Alicea reach the unreachable up the middle at shortstop and he topped 86 mph across the infield at a March showcase. A prototypical leadoff man, Alicea makes it his mission to reach base as quickly as possible, so he can swipe second, third if he needs to, and score the game’s first run ASAP. He’s a true switch-hitter with excellent barrel control, spraying contact to all fields, with pronounced twitch in the swing and in his burst from the batter’s box. His instincts and aggressive, yet smart, game tempo make him a joy to watch.

+ In late July, as per usual, the PBR Wisconsin and Illinois teams combined to host the Underclass Games, featuring some of the top 2023 talent from both state’s. Despite the crowded field, RHP Adam Switalski (Westosha Central; Indiana) stood out amongst the rest by averaging the day’s firmest fastball, sitting 85-86 mph, touching 87. Switalski is especially competitive on the mound, and he attacks with a clean, live, quick arm, and that aggressiveness allows his breaking ball to project, measured with above-average spin rates. He debuts as one of the top arms in the Midwest.

Adam Switalski (7/21/20)

+ OF J.T. Kelenic (Catholic Memorial) possesses some of the best upside in the class, offensively. He put on a show at the Underclass Trials, and again at the aforementioned Underclass Games, producing some of the loudest and farthest contact of both showcases. And Kelenic is still only just adding to his 6-foot-4, 195-pound frame, and he controls the barrel well with a loose, athletic swing. The present polish and room to grow suggest the younger Kelenic is only just beginning to tap into his immense potential.

J.T. Kelenic (7/21/20)

+ The second Notre Dame commit on our board, RHP Dylan Questad (Waterford) is an impressive toolshed prospect who’s shown advanced strength and athleticism on multiple occasions. He was up to 87 mph at our annual Badger State Battle tournament where we had this to report on him:

“Questad wields some huge arm strength for a 5-foot-11, 170-pound arm. He’s a talented athlete who can do a little of everything, but he’s clearly been honing his work from the mound in recent months, as he’s gained a greater feel for pitching while still featuring big velocity. In the first, Questad came out sitting 84-86 mph, touching 87 a few times, and he was basically sitting 83-85 throughout his five dominant innings. He sharpened up his breaking ball, too, an 11/5 offering that flashed some late action. In warm-ups, his changeup looked effective with arm-side run/fade and could be a viable third pitch inside his arsenal in the long-term. The ease in which Questad is able to live in the mid-80s, in a five-inning stint, is one of the more noteworthy takeaways from his work on Sunday afternoon. He’s a high-follow prospect in the Midwest’s 2023 class, who’s only getting better.”

Dylan Questad (7/2/20)

+ We’ve gotten a couple solid looks at RHP Cole Selvig (Regis) this summer, too, starting at the Underclass Trials. He throws a low-spin mid-80s fastball, one that was more 85-87 mph at September’s PBR Midwest Fall Championships, with a swing-and-miss changeup. He rounds out his three-pitch mix with a breaking ball that’s gotten better this summer, with above-average spin that projects better as a slider, as it’ll more effectively complement his aggressive arm speed.

+ C Thomas Curry (Arrowhead) is looking like one of the top right-handed bats in the area. He’s a brawny, sturdy 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, and he’s becoming more and more known for his natural ability to hit, and he’s been able to handle velocity well, as he performed admirably while playing a couple age levels up this fall. He shows present bat speed, some high marks measured by Blast Motion at the Underclass Games, and he recorded one of the highest exit velocity marks during the showcase’s live BP (99.6 mph). His feel to barrel up contact while utilizing his impressive bat strength is his best trait, but he’s looking more and more comfortable behind the plate. Curry has the raw tools for the position, a big arm and quick and efficient actions from the chute that have helped him record sub-2.00 pop times on the regular.

Thomas Curry (7/21/20)

+ Another catcher comes in ranked just behind Curry at No. 8: Maxwell Kalk (Kimberly). Kalk broke out this winter at the Fox Cities I.D. where he looked highly athletic from behind the plate, mobile and quiet – and we learned he was new to the position as well. He continued to show well from behind the plate in game throughout the summer, taking to the position naturally, all while swinging a fast and loose left-handed bat. Kalk shows good feel for the barrel consistently, spraying line-drive contact around the field, stemming from an up-the-middle approach.

Maxwell Kalk (3/8/20)

+ RHP Zachary Olson (Muskego) is harboring some of the highest ceiling on this list. An upside athlete in a 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame, Olson showed well for our staff this summer, in addition to our PBR Georgia colleagues down at LakePoint. He was up to 85 mph down there at the 15U National Championships, and reached that mark again at the Underclass Games where we were able to take a closer look. His quick and clean arm projects especially well alongside his size, and the breaking ball flashed swing-and-miss action, too.

Zachary Olson (7/21/20)

+ Like Kalk before him, RHP Presley Wachowiak (Catholic Memorial) broke out in a big way at the preseason Fox Cities-area showcase. The sturdy 6-foot, 200-pound righty was up to 86 mph at that event while spinning a hammer 12/6 breaking ball, standing out as a need-to-know member of this 2023 class. His consistency with both pitches varied throughout the summer, but he showed flashes of each standout trait individually – velocity, spin, and control – and he’ll spend the offseason putting it all together for longer stretches of time. The recipe is here, however, for a couple swing-and-miss offerings.

Presley Wachowiak (6/18/20)

For a complete look at the state’s Class of 2023 Rankings, click here. And stay tuned for additional coverage of Wisconsin’s budding sophomore talent.

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