Prep Baseball Report

PBR at The Rock Fall Championships, Preview: Top Uncommitted Prospects


By Diego Solares & Andy Sroka
Wisconsin Staff

This weekend at The Rock Complex in Franklin, Wis., we’ll be welcoming some of the top high school-aged players in the area to participate in our final tournament of the year: the PBR at The Rock Fall Championships.

You can follow alongside our coverage all weekend on Twitter at @PBRWisconsin.

Today, we’re spending a little bit of time previewing this tournament by highlighting some of the top uncommitted players headed to the Milwaukee area, from still-on-the-market seniors to high-follow underclassmen.

UNCOMMITTED 2022

+ Representing Hitters Baseball, RHP Luke Klekamp (Oak Creek) is one of the top-ranked uncommitted prospects in the state. Klekamp brings a competitive presence to the mound and he consistently fills up the zone with a three-pitch mix. We’ve seen him up to 89-90 mph on the mound with his fastball, working anywhere between 84-88 with an effective feel for both corners of the plate. He lands a quality breaking ball with depth for strikes and his best offering may be his changeup – a pitch thrown at arm speed, that plays with both arm-side run and sink. 

+ RHP Sean Episcope (Latin School of Chicago, IL; Elite Baseball Training) has impressed our scouting staff across multiple looks this year, resulting in a noteworthy jump on Illinois’ 2022 rankings. Here’s a quick blurb on Episcope from our PBR Fall Championships: Illinois Upperclass Takeaways piece: 

“6-foot, 195-pound, well-proportioned, right-hander recently rose in the updated Illinois' 2022 rankings. With that being said, his performance on the opening night of the event for Elite Baseball Training has him trending even higher, as he looks to be one of the top uncommitted arms still available in the state. Episcope came out of the bullpen and showed off a true three-pitch mix, threw a high-volume of strikes with a competitive, determined demeanor on the mound. His fastball sat comfortably at 89-90 mph, touching 91 with late hop at the top of the zone getting a number of swing and misses. He also flashed a swing-and-miss sharp breaking ball that plays with late, sharp, downer action at 74 mph with 2617 rpm. He also has confidence in his changeup which plays with arm speed and fade action. High-follow uncommitted 2022.”


+ INF Patrick Graham (Naperville North, IL; Elite Baseball Training) is one of the top defenders in Illinois' senior class, and it's not so common to see a shortstop of his caliber still on the market. Offensively, Graham swings a loose, quick right-handed stroke with bat speed that maintains a level plane through contact, working on a line drive trajectory. Still uncommitted, he’s ranked inside the top-50 in Illinois. 


+ UTL Colin Lewandowski (Neuqua Valley, IL; Elite Baseball Training) recently made his rankings debut in Illinois' senior class, at No. 42 overall: "He showed well at the Senior Games on Aug. 10, running a 6.62 in the 60-yard dash and topping at 90 mph across the infield. Lewandowski homered during the gameplay portion of that same event, too. Our scouts have seen him perform in game since then as well, using the strength inside a muscular 6-foot, 195-pound frame to generate impact contact off the barrel... ”

+ RHP Tyler Altenbaumer (St. Joseph-Ogden, IL; Hitters Navy) has strung together a handful of impressive outings thus far into the fall season, including a complete game at the recent PBR Cup. There, Altenbaumer reached an 89 mph high with his fastball, sitting at 86-88 throughout his start. He throws a slider in the high-70s that pairs well with his fastball and works off a similar plane, too. Still uncommitted, Altenbaumer is currently ranked inside the top-150 for the Illinois 2022 class. 


+ C Will Johannes (Mukwonago; Hitters Navy) is a strong 6-foot-2, 205-pound backstop ranked inside the state’s top-25 that’s still on the market. Johannes was a PBR Future Gamer back in 2020 and wields a potent right-handed stroke, routinely flashing above-average raw power with the capabilities to tap into it during games. He’s a quality receiver behind the plate too, presenting the ball well with soft hands and a strong arm that plays accurately to the bag. 

+ One of the more productive hitters we’ve seen this calendar year is C/INF Ryan Kelly (Huntley; GRB Illinois 2022), who performed for our staff throughout the IHSA season, at The Rock this summer, and early into the fall calendar, too. A quick nugget on Kelly from the PBR Fall Championships, found below: 

“Uncommitted, 6-foot, 195-pound, strong, right-handed hitter, currently ranked No. 102 in Illinois. Kelly seems to make hard contact every time we see him and this weekend was no different. In a limited look at GRB Rays - Illinois, Kelly backspun a double into the left-center field gap that cut through the wind. Kelly stays short, direct and flat through the zone with a knack for the barrel. Follow 2022 uncommitted right-handed bat.”

+ C Alec Campbell (Milton; Midwest Halos 2022) has continued to rise up the Wisconsin 2022 rankings over the year, now penciled in at the No. 50 overall spot on our board. PBR Wisconsin Scouting Director Tell Taylor had this to say about him inside his Starting 9: Crosscheck Swings piece: “Standing at every bit of 6-foot-2, Campbell – who's still uncommitted – provides an interesting offering. Over a number of looks this summer, he’s performed enough with the bat to keep evaluators coming back for more. Another large frame standing tall in the box with an open stance. He generates enough power to drive balls out of the yard, and shows a willingness to take what he’s given situationally as well. Alec looks like a guy who can rotate positionally, and provide some pull juice to the middle of a lineup.”

+ There’s a trio of athletic uncommitted prospects worth a follow on the STiKS Black 2022 roster: OF Landon Behringer (North Fond du Lac), OF Grant Beth (Catholic Memorial), and RHP Ryan Karst (Brookfield East). Both Behringer and Beth are speedy, top-of-the-order type bats, while the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Karst is a former PBR Future Gamer that we’ve seen up to 89 mph on the mound in the past.

(Grant Beth, 7/13/2021)

+ 3B Emiliano Ramos (Arrowhead; STiKS Black 2022) is a name we recently added to our Wisconsin 2022 rankings, currently occupying the No. 85 spot on the updated board. A recent blurb on him from our scouting staff, found below: “Was amongst the top all-around in game performers for us this calendar year, whether it be during the WIAA season with the Warhawks or on the summer tournament circuit. Ramos’ generates presently advanced raw power thanks to a strong 6-foot, 190-pound frame and barreled his best ball of the day up at 100.42 mph at our Top Prospect - Milwaukee showcase. He consistently racked up extra-base hits in game this year as well, flashing that level of potency attached to his right-handed stroke. Ramos profiles as a quality, sure-handed corner infield defender with the power profile to stick there as well. He’s still uncommitted and is currently the 84th ranked prospect in the state.”

(7/13/2021)

MORE SENIORS

+ RHP Benjamin Lee (Amherst; CBT) is a 6-foot-6, 200-pound righty who sits in the 85-87 mph range that he unleashes from a high slot that makes for a tough downhill angle as it crosses the zone. He’s polished up his breaking ball and his changeup has always flashed swing-and-miss potential, creating an interesting three-pitch offering worth seeing this weekend.

+ Central Illinois Outlaws teammates RHP Chase Martin (Roanoke-Benson, IL) and RHP Joseph Swanson (Pekin, IL) are follow arms this weekend at The Rock. Martin is a top-100-ranked prospect in the Illinois’ senior class, and he was up to 87 mph in a ‘pen over the winter, featuring the the ability to throw a high-spin breaking ball and sinking change that had the makings of a quality mix. We’d not seen Martin since, but he has next-level upside to monitor. As for Swanson, he’s been up to 89 mph in a showcase setting, and the fastball really carries through the zone. His tight slider has swing-and-miss potential as well.

+ INF Jorgie Vazquez (Mount Carmel, IL) is an athletic 6-foot, 170-pound infielder with a quiet right-handed swing that works with above-average bat speed and he’s able to generate loud line-drive contact with it, too. He’s also a smooth middle infielder defender, too.

UNCOMMITTED 2023

+ A top-10 prospect in Wisconsin’s incoming junior class, RHP Thomas Burns (Hortonville; Hitters White) boasts tremendous upside attached to a 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame. Burns represented Team Wisconsin at the PBR Future Games this summer and here’s a quick blurb on him from our Wisconsin Class of 2023 Rankings Update piece: “... a long-levered 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, with power arm traits that continue to improve. He’s flashed strike-throwing capabilities while pumping a projectable fastball (up to 91 mph) that consistently draws swings and misses underneath it. Burns complements his fastball with a slow hook that’s begun to take shape in more recent looks, and he’s landing it with greater frequency. Burns possesses some of the highest upside in the class, and he’s generating more confidence from evaluators with each look."

(7/28/2021)

+ RHP Luke Agnew (Marquette University; STiKS Black 2023) is set to toe the rubber this weekend as another one of the state's top-ranked juniors. He’s a 6-foot-3, 205-pound athlete with a strong frame that still projects and a complete three-pitch mix. Agnew was up to 88 mph at the PBR Future Games this year, landed his mid-70s breaking ball for strikes on a more consistent basis, and continued to flash an advanced changeup with natural fade. He’s amongst the state’s most complete pitchers that also boasts an intriguing ceiling on the mound.

(7/28/2021)

+ It’s been some time since we’ve seen OF Owen Bond (Kettle Moraine; STiKS Black 2023), so this weekend will serve as a much needed up-to-date look at the 6-foot-3, 185-pound left-handed hitter. Bond has consistently made hard contact when we’ve seen him in the past, using an advanced knack for the barrel to his advantage. There’s plenty to project on as well, including the impact-type contact he could make once he adds strength to his frame. Bond is currently the 30th ranked prospect on our 2023 board.

(3/7/2021)

+ INF Jaden Correa (De La Salle, IL; Top Tier Americans 17U) established himself as a name-to-know prospect in Illinois after a strong showing at The Rock earlier this summer – a performance that ultimately culminated in him being invited to the PBR Future Games. Correa was a recent addition to the state’s 2023 rankings and our staff had this to say about him: “... put together an impressive all-around performance, standing out during the initial Workout Day, and he went on to earn the MVP honor for Team Illinois’ in the first game in which he slugged a home run. At 6-foot, 176 pounds, Correa has a loose, athletic body, fluidness to his overall game and a flair for making the highlight reel play. He should have a chance to continue to move up the Illinois board as he gains consistency to his defensive play.”

+ Both CIF/RHP Zachary Kwasny (Lincoln-Way East, IL; Top Tier Americans 17U) and CIF Graham Mastros (New Trier, IL; Top Tier Americans 17U) showed well at the recent PBR Fall Championships, each of them being ranked inside the state’s top-50 prospects, too. A quick blurb on each from our Illinois Scouting Staff: 

Kwasny: “Built at a physically imposing 6-foot-4, 210-pounds, Kwasny’s unparalleled upside in the box stands out when he steps into the batter’s box. Still capable of adding more strength to his frame, Kwasny barreled up a handful of baseballs on Sunday afternoon, including one that screamed into left field for a base hit. Working with a certain ease to him in the box, Kwasny’s uphill bat path aids him in working gap-to-gap and getting the most out of his raw power.”

Mastros: “Another physical presence in this lineup, Mastros stands at a strong 6-foot-2, 225-pounds with plenty of raw power attached to his right-handed stroke. He profiles as a middle-of-the-order thumper at the next level, squaring two balls up that sounded different off the barrel with a wood bat, including one that went deep into the gap for a double. Mastros has long been known as one of the most potent power threats in the class and he’s still uncommitted, too.”

+ Trending upward in a major way after several impressive performances throughout the summer, INF Max Hennemann (Oak Creek; PTA Cardinal) enters this weekend as a top-15 prospect in Wisconsin. We highlighted him in a recent article, having this to say: “Made a significant jump after a strong showing at the PBR Future Games in August. That dynamic, all-around performance at LakePoint boosted Hennemann up to No. 12 overall on the rankings, up 16 spots. The 5-foot-10, 145-pound Oak Creek product has long been one of the state’s most athletic follows with savvy, smooth defensive actions on the infield and he’s been comfortably roaming the outfield as of late, too. Hennemann’s run tool aids him in a big way on offense and his ability to impact the baseball on the barrel combined with a natural all fields approach has slowly solidified a competitive profile offensively that could see him contribute from the top of a lineup long-term.”

(7/28/2021)

+ Known for his competitive abilities on the mound, RHP Adam Behrens (Warren Township, IL; Hitters White) is currently slotted inside the top-25 for the Illinois’ 2023 class. He represented Team Illinois at the PBR Future Games this summer and here’s a quick nugget from our Associate State Director, Andy Sroka, on Behrens: “RHP Adam Behrens (Warren Township) was one of the biggest winners this summer and parlayed it into a trip to the Future Games to throw for Team Illinois. All Behrens seemed to do this summer is pound the strike zone, miss barrels and win baseball games. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound, wide-shouldered right-hander showed much of the same at the Future Games, pounding the zone with a heavy fastball that seems to get on hitters at 84-87 mph. Behrens also has the ability to throw his curveball and changeup in any count, making it a tough at-bat for hitters and giving him a starter profile moving forward. Behrens features one of the highest floors of any arm still on the market in Illinois. Behrens jumps over 40 spots, up to No. 23 in the class.”

+ INF Jack Counsell (Whitefish Bay; Hitters Baseball 2023) owns one of the more advanced bat-to-ball skill sets in the state, consistently making contact and finding holes in-game. He, amongst others on this list, represented Team Wisconsin at the PBR Future Games this spring. We recently highlighted Counsell in our Wisconsin Class of 2023 Rankings: Newcomers piece and here’s what our staff had to say about him: “... consistently makes line-drive contact with a knack for finding holes throughout the field. Additionally, he’s a sure-handed defender who can confidently hold his own up the middle and he has some speed as well, running a 6.65 at the Future Games. Counsell looks like a reliable middle infielder with on-the-barrel instincts from the batter’s box, raising his floor as a prospect, while still harboring the upside physically to take his game to the next level.”

(7/28/2021)

+ Yet another 2021 PBR Future Gamer, OF J.T. Kelenic (Catholic Memorial; Hitters Baseball 2023) oozes offensive upside inside a projectable, long-levered 6-foot-4, 195-pound frame. Kelenic’s athleticism, he’s a 6.78 runner in the 60-yard dash, and present bat strength (98.40 mph max EV) make for an intriguing all-around profile on the diamond.

(7/28/2021)

+ RHP Evan Shapiro (University School, OH; Hitters Baseball 2023) brings a large, physical 6-foot-6, 230-pound presence to the mound. Currently a top-30 prospect in Ohio, Shapiro donned the Team Ohio jersey at the PBR Future Games this summer and recently touched 90 mph at the PBR Cup last week. A quick note from our Ohio Scouting Staff on Shapiro: “Physical projection isn't tough to see. 6-foot-6, with long levers that generate fastball velocities in the mid-80s and up to 90 mph. Secondary wise he showed a sharp mid-70s breaker and feel for a changeup that flashed above average potential. Very high ceiling.”

+ We’ll see another one of the Badger State’s top uncommitted pitchers this weekend, as RHP Presley Wachowiak (Catholic Memorial) should toe the rubber at some point for the Midwest Halos 2022 Red squad. He also represented Team Wisconsin down in LakePoint at this year’s PBR Future Games, reaching back for an 89 mph multiple times with his fastball. Our latest nugget on Wachowiak: “... Wachowiak sat 87-89 mph with his fastball and paired it with his trademark 12/6 breaking that plays off his fastball well. We’ve also seen Wachowiak flaunt a tumbling changeup that looks like more than just a third offering to keep batters off balance.

+ INF Vidal Colon (University School; Midwest Halos 2022 Red) brings a physical presence to the batter’s box, thanks to a strong 5-foot-10, 180-pound frame. Colon may be one of the state’s purest hitters, yet he also offers enhanced thump inside a strong right-handed barrel with noticeably loud contact off the barrel. He’s an impressive dual-sport athlete that’s speed plays up on the diamond in multiple facets, as well as on the football field where he stars as the starting running back for University School.

+ RHP Calvin Proskey (Oak Park-River Forest, IL; Cangelosi Sparks North 2023) brings present polish and future upside to the mound each time he toes the rubber. Ranked inside the Illinois top-50 prospects for the current junior class, our staff had this to say about Proskey after seeing him in IHSA play: "... High-projectable 6-foot-2 155-pound right-handed pitcher; plenty of room for continued added strength. Was featured in the Week 3 Scout Blog thanks to an impressive performance out of the ‘pen. Has worked his way into a starting role. Looks to be one of the top uncommitted arms in the class. Clean/quick ¾ arm action. Smooth delivery, balanced leg-lift, tall and fall, shows advanced hip-shoulder-separation, high-front side, hides the baseball. Fastball comes out of the hand clean, sat 85-87 mph early on with arm-side life, settled in at 83-86 mph later in the game. Curveball showed tight 11/5 action in the 72-75 mph range, tunneled well off his fastball. Flashed a changeup at 79 mph with arm-side life and feel for the bottom of the zone. High-follow 2023 Prospect."

UNCOMMITTED UNDERCLASSMEN

There will also be a handful of high-follow and noteworthy uncommitted underclassmen in attendance. A quick nugget on each of them: 

+ INF JD Dix (Whitefish Bay; Hitters Navy) is slated to be the state’s top prospect in the upcoming update. Dix showed well at the PBR Fall Championships and our state director, Tell Taylor, had this to say about him: 

“Dix is the youngest feature in this offensive piece. This switch-hitting youngster, has already begun growing into some pop. Although his opportunities at Grand Park provided a lot of topped batted balls, we’ve been seeing balls off the wall in competition, and balls leaving the yard in the practice setting off a three wheel. Both sides of the box offer athleticism, size, and enough bat speed to project big things may arrive. In the right-handed box, Dix offers a very rotational attack with high degrees of intent. When hitting left-handed, he looks to present a more directional barrel path through impact, with bat-to-ball feel, and a tick less intent. If the juice in the box follows the juice in the arm, this’ll be a name to know the rest of the way.”

+ RHP Nolan Buss (Arrowhead; Hitters Baseball 2024) owns one of the livest arms the state has to offer, routinely pumping his fastball in the mid-80s, up to 88 mph, range. He appears to have cleaned up his operation a bit too and has improved his strike-throwing in recent looks.

+ LHP Simon Skroch (Yorkville, IL; ESP Select Red) has cemented himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the Illinois’ sophomore class. We’ve gotten reports of Skroch’s fastball bumping up into the 86 mph range and he’s always had an innate feel to spin a sharp breaking ball for strikes.

+ Both INF Brock Lulewicz (Muskego; Hitters Baseball 2024) and 1B Aren Robinson (Brookfield Central; Hitters Baseball 2024). Lulewicz is amongst the smoothest defenders in the state, projecting as a staple at shortstop in the long run. Though he’s still fully developing his left-handed stroke, there’s certainly upside attached to a productive all-around profile. Robinson is cut from a different mold, as he oozes power projection inside a massive 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame. He’s slowly started to tap into that middle-of-the-order upside when we’ve seen him recently, too. 

+ Despite being from different states, both INF Xavier Crowder (Montini Catholic, IL; Cangelosi Sparks North - Black) and C Carter Kutz (Hartford Union; Hitters Baseball 2025) are high-follow names in the 2025 class who we’ll see this weekend. 

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