Prep Baseball Report

Kenosha Preseason I.D.: Outfielder Analysis


By Wisconsin Staff

On Jan. 25, the PBR Wisconsin team held its first showcase of 2020, the Kenosha Preseason I.D., at Fielder’s Choice Training Academy, in Kenosha, Wis. For the past two years now, this event has revealed to us some of the most talented prospects in the Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois areas, and this year’s event was no exception.

In the days following the showcase, we published our Quick Hits story, as well as our Statistical Analysis from the Kenosha event. We began our position-by-position analysis on Monday, evaluating the day’s catchers, and we’re onto the outfielders today.

Pacing this group is prospect from Illinois, Nate Freeze (Crystal Lake South; uncommitted). Freeze’s impressive switch-hit bat is what helped him land the top spot inside this group. He already generates some serious bat strength, and his thin frame means there’s even more to add as he matures and develops. His athleticism also works well in the outfield, defensively.

Catholic Memorial’s Anthony Gross (uncommitted) bulked up over the offseason and it helped him produce a loud round of batting practice, while maintaining the twitch that separated him from his peers. He also recorded the top outfield velocity of this group and his speed is also a tool.

Uncommitted sophomores Tristan Ott (Oconomowoc) and Remmi Sweet (Union Grove) earned a seat inside the top-five below, but keep an eye the fellow 2022 from Brookfield Central, Luke Wenzel, a long-levered prospect who fell just short of the group’s rankings below. 

Continue on below for a look at each of the outfielders who attended the Kenosha-area event. Keep a lookout tomorrow, Wednesday, when we’ll bring to you the notes on each of the event’s infielders.

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS

1. Nate Freeze, Crystal Lake South (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 6-foot-2, 185-pounds. Lanky, thin athlete with room to develop; projects well.
Hit: SH. Similar setup and approach from both sides of the plate. Balanced/athletic stance, hands set high with bat horizontal, smooth load back, small leg kick stride to closed. Fast bat speed off a short, level bat path, extension through contact. Loose, athletic hands whip bat through the zone; plane is more lofted from the left side, flatter from the right.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Creates advanced bat strength for thin size, adding upside.
Arm: RH. INF - 83 mph. OF - 85 mph. Above-average arm strength plays better from the outfield. Short, loose arm action from a 3/4 slot on the infield; more natural and from a higher slot on throws home.
Defense: Deliberate actions on approach, some soft hands.
Run: 4.27 runner in the 60. 

2. Anthony Gross, Catholic Memorial (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-8, 160-pounds. Strong/sturdy, athletic build; added significant strength over the offseason.
Hit: RHH. Wide/balanced setup, quiet, bat rests on shoulder, short/fluid leg lift, stays balanced through contact and finish. Some quick twitch throughout. Short bat path off a mosty level plane, intent to produce line-drive contact up the middle.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Quick, strong hands helps create above-average jump from the barrel.
Arm: RH. OF - 89 mph. Short, quick, loose arm action from a high 3/4 slot; throws carry.
Defense: Fluid and athletic footwork, shuffles through the ball.
Run: 4.31 runner in the 60. 

3. Remmi Sweet, Union Grove (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 175-pounds. Athletic, live build; added strength.
Hit: RHH. Extra wide, balanced setup, vertical bat. Smooth load back, short/fluid stride, athletic finish through contact. Loose, quick bat speed on a long, level path. Creates hard line-drive, gap-to-gap contact.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Impressive jump from the barrel; advanced bat strength.
Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. OF - 80 mph. Long arm action from a high 3/4 slot with effort, average arm strength.
Defense: Reps are more natural, athletic in the outfield; quick feet.
Run: 4.19 runner in the 60. 

4. Leo Falletti, Wilmot (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 170-pounds. Proportional strength throughout athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Tall/square stance; hands set high, horizontal bat head. Simple load back, small leg kick stride, extension through contact with balanced finish. Quick twitch bat speed; repeatable fast, level path, slight lift through zone.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above-average jump from the barrel; consistent hard line-drive contact.
Arm: RH. OF - 76 mph. Short arm action from over-the-top slot. Average hands/arm strength.
Defense: Moves well, above-average actions; efficient crowhop.
Run: 4.19 runner in the 60. 

5. Tristan Ott, Oconomowoc (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-0, 180-pounds. Physical look with strength in lower half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, smooth load back with deliberate toe-tap stride, quiet upper half. Fast bat on a short, level path. Whippy barrels through the zone.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Advanced bat strength creates hard line-drive contact.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Long and loose arm action from an over-the-top slot; throws carry.
Defense: Athletic angle to approach and gather. Fluid footwork with average hands, clean transfers, works through the ball.
Run: 4.78 runner in the 60. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Seth Brankey, Westosha Central (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/INF
Body: 5-foot-8, 145-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced/closed setup, hands set head high, bat stays tall. Small leg lift stride, lands closed. Short bat path to the zone, inclined plane through contact.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 72 mph. OF - 75 mph. Long arm action from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: A more natural fit on the outfield. Works through with crowhop.
Run: 4.27 runner in the 60. 

Johnathon Brau, Burlington (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 6-foot-2, 170-pounds. Lean/lanky frame with long levers; projection.
Hit: RHH. Tall/closed setup; drops into load back, small stride, tendency to stay closed.  Long and level bat path; levers help create some above-average contact from the barrel.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 79 mph. Short arm action from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Average hands; works well through the ball.
Run: 4.25 runner in the 60. 

Nickolas Briglio, Maine South (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-foot-7, 155-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall, simple setup; hands set high. Arm bar load back, quiet stride, soft landing.  Bat path is short to, uphill plane through the ball; consistent opposite field contact.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 76 mph. Long, over-the-top arm action; works uphill.
Defense: Deliberate actions, average hands/feet.
Run: 4.56 runner in the 60. 

Dominic De Jesus, Reedsburg Area (WI), 2020
Positional Profile: OF/INF
Body: 6-foot-0, 165-pounds. Average frame, lean.
Hit: RHH. Crouched/open setup, small leg kick stride back to even, balanced finish through contact. Long and level bat path, some line-drive contact.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Short, loose arm action from a high 3/4 slot, average arm strength.
Defense: Controlled actions to gather, shuffles through, fluid footwork.
Run: 4.58 runner in the 60. 

Justin Latona Jr., Westosha Central (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/INF
Body: 5-foot-9, 135-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall/open setup; weight shift load back, strides to even. Bat path is long and level, balanced finish; inconsistent timing.
Power: 77 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 71 mph. Long arm action from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Ranges well and in control; flashes soft hands for age.
Run: 4.95 runner in the 60. 

Charlie Marion, Franklin (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 155-pounds. Thin, lanky frame with some projection.
Hit: LHH. Balanced/open setup, back elbow high, with some pre-pitch rhythm. Brief load back, slight wrap, long stride to closed landing. Steep to contact, mostly level plane. Average bat speed with above-average barrel control; up-the-middle approach.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Short arm action from a 3/4 slot. Above-aveage arm strength.
Defense: Fluid feet helps create an athletic exchange to transfer.
Run: 4.5 runner in the 60. 

Kyle Mitchell, Westosha Central (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-foot-9, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Simple, balanced setup, pigeon-toed. Small load back, short stride, low effort. Quiet, level plane, balanced through contact. Generates some line-drive contact.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 88 mph. Suprising arm strength; short, loose arm action from a high 3/4 slot, carries to home.
Defense: Ranges well laterally, controlled actions to gather, plays through the ball.
Run: 4.52 runner in the 60. 

Elliot Rodriguez, Tremper (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: 2B/OF
Body: 6-foot-0, 178-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced/open setup, hands set high. Brief, small leg kick stride to even, arm bar load, maintains balance. Long path to the zone, flat path, pull-side approach.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 72 mph. OF - 72 mph. Long arm action from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Controlled, deliberate on approach, efficient gather. Crowhop, plays through.
Run: 4.71 runner in the 60. 

Anthony Vivian, Dodgeville (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-foot-11, 195-pounds. Physically advanced build, strong all around, muscle bound build.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, short on time stride gets squared up, good balance through contact. Short uphill path with gap to gap contact, bat strength swing.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above-average strength leads to hard gap contact.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Short and loose arm action from a high 3/4 slot; some carry to home.
Defense: Moves well side to side, shuffles through; athletic approach.
Run: 4.71 runner in the 60. 

Jack Vozel, Wilmot Union (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-0, 195-pounds. Strength in build.
Hit: RHH. Tall, open setup; pre-pitch rhythm. Hands drop into load, leg lift stride to even, slight wrap to coil, balanced finish. Creates some bat speed off short path on slight incline. Pull approach, above-average barrel feel.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Generates jump from the barrel; some hard line-drive contact.
Arm: RH. OF - 86 mph. Long arm action from a 3/4 slot; above-average carry to home.
Defense: Average range, plays through.
Run: 4.33 runner in the 60. 

Jayce Weber, Arrowhead (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 5-foot-10, 165-pounds. Wiry, thin athlete with strength in lower half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, slightly open, hands set high, bat goes vertical on bar load back. Short leg lift stride to even. Above-average bat speed, short path to the zone, long inside it. Uphill plane with extension in one-handed finish.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Creates bat strength for age, size.
Arm: RH. OF - 79 mph. Short arm action from high 3/4 window; average carry.
Defense: Ranges well laterally, athletic on approach; average hands.
Run: 4.37 runner in the 60. 

Luke Wenzel, Brookfield Central (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-foot-1, 150-pounds. Thin, lanky frame, young look, extra-long levers; high projectability.
Hit: LHH. Static setup; balanced stance. Smooth load back to arm bar, short stride, maintains balance throughout. Creates bat speed with loose, whippy barrel from pull-side approach. Fluid, repeats well.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Levers, bat speed, and barrel control, combined with thin build, create intriguing future power profile.
Arm: RH. OF - 77 mph. Long and loose arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Controlled approach, above-average footwork.
Run: 4.62 runner in the 60. 

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