Prep Baseball Report

South Milwaukee Preseason ID: Statistical Analysis


By: Isaiah Glidden
PBR Wisconsin Staff

On March 6 the PBR Wisconsin team hosted the annual South Milwaukee Preseason ID, at Hitters Baseball Academy in Caledonia, Wis. This was an open event for all high school classes (2022-25) and gave our staff an ample look at the area's top players.

If you missed us in Caledonia, check out our showcase page to see when we’re in the neighborhood next.

On Tuesday, we published our biggest takeaways and highlights from Sunday’s showcase within our Quick Hits story. Today, we’ll dive right into the statistical side of things, analyzing Sunday’s top performers from several different statistical categories. Throughout the rest of this week, we’ll be diving deeper into all of the data we collected, too, with the help of our Blast Motion and TrackMan devices.

TOP 60-yard dash TIMES

Rank Name State School Class Pos 60-yard
1 Alexander Alicea WI St. Thomas More 2023 SS 6.52
^ JT Kelenic WI Catholic Memorial 2023 OF 6.52
2 Braylen White WI Brown Deer 2025 OF 6.55
3 JD Dix WI Whitefish Bay 2024 SS 6.61
4 Brennen Grams WI Kimberly 2024 RHP 6.71
5 Sam Steuber WI Muskego 2023 CF 6.76
6 Chris Calico WI West Salem 2023 OF 6.78
^ RJ Thomae WI Hartford Union 2024 OF 6.78
^ Logan Rampetsreiter WI Brookfield Central 2024 OF 6.78
7 Roman Sienza WI Mukwonago 2024 OF 6.81
8 Will Deets WI La Crosse Aquinas 2024 SS 6.83
^ Jaxon Clayton WI Brookfield Central 2025 SS 6.83
9 Cade Palkowski WI Oak Creek 2024 OF 6.85
10 TJ Schuyler IL Antioch 2023 C 6.98
^ Jackson Brewer WI Homestead 2024 OF 6.98
^ Seth Koci WI Indian Trail 2024 2B 6.98
11 Ty Cramer WI Cedarburg 2023 UTILITY 7.02
12 Carter Kutz WI Hartford Union 2025 3B 7.04
13 Aiden Clark IL Naperville Central 2025 OF 7.06
14 Ethan Moore IL Oak Park & River Forest High Sch 2025 SS 7.07
15 Aiden Schenk WI Janesville Craig 2023 1B 7.08

+ Leading this group were two of the top-ranked players in the state: INF Alex Alicea (St. Thomas More, 2023; Louisville commit), ranked No. 10 in our state 2023 rankings, No. 420 nationally; and OF JT Kelenic (Catholic Memorial, 2023; Grand Canyon), ranked No. 11 in-state. Both ended up running the same time, a 6.52, an excellent time we expected Alicea to run in the vicinity of, but seeing Kelenic race to that mark is especially notable. Right behind these two was another high-end athlete but a member of the 2025 class, Braylen White (Brown Deer). A recent PBR Junior Future Games participant, White’s athletic gait is something that truly sets him apart from other athletes in his class and should only improve as he matures throughout his high school years.

MAX FASTBALL VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos Velocity (max)
1 Adam Behrens IL Warren Township 2023 RHP 91.6 mph
2 Thomas Burns WI Hortonville 2023 RHP 90.9 mph
3 Nolan Buss WI Arrowhead 2024 RHP 90.8 mph
4 TJ Schuyler IL Antioch 2023 C 90.1 mph
5 Brennen Grams WI Kimberly 2024 RHP 89.1 mph
6 Jackson Brewer WI Homestead 2024 OF 88.3 mph
7 Michael Carpenter WI Madison College 2022 LHP 88.1 mph
8 Adison Tevz WI New Berlin Eisenhower 2023 RHP 87.6 mph
9 Zachary Olson WI Muskego 2023 RHP 87.5 mph
10 Payten Jibben WI Oak Creek 2024 RHP 86.8 mph
11 Jaxon Clayton WI Brookfield Central 2025 SS 86.4 mph
12 Carter Kutz WI Hartford Union 2025 3B 86.2 mph
13 Grayson Flugaur WI Franklin 2024 RHP 85.9 mph
14 Trent Oiler WI Brookfield East 2025 RHP 85.7 mph
15 Michael Clarkson IL Loyola Academy 2023 C 85.6 mph
16 Sam Steuber WI Muskego 2023 CF 85.6 mph
17 Tyler Meyer WI Wauwatosa East 2023 3B 85.5 mph

+ Recent Arizona State commit RHP Adam Behrens (Warren Township, IL, 2023) led all pitchers on Sunday, throwing his hardest bullet at 91.6 mph. This past summer, Behrens represented Team Illinois during the PBR Future Games and has clearly put in work over the offseason, as he had one of the cleanest ‘pens during our time in Caledonia. RHP Thomas Burns (Hortonville, 2023), who's nestled in at No. 4 overall in our class of ‘23 rankings and No. 337 nationally, recorded the second hardest fastball of the event. Like Behrens, Burns also played in the 2021 Future Games, but represented Team Wisconsin and he remains one of the top uncommitted players in Wisconsin. Right behind Burns is another righty, RHP Nolan Buss (Arrowhead, 2024) who currently sits at No. 2 in our state ‘24 rankings and No. 214 nationally. On Sunday, Buss showed an uptick in velocity on his fastball along with major horizontal movement, something that we have become accustomed to seeing from him. That coupled with a deceptive delivery, makes him a very tough at-bat for opposing hitters.  

MAX EXIT VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos Exit Velocity (max)
1 JT Kelenic WI Catholic Memorial 2023 OF 98.7 mph
2 Jason Adix WI University School of Milwaukee 2023 3B 97.9 mph
3 JD Dix WI Whitefish Bay 2024 SS 97.1 mph
4 Chris Calico WI West Salem 2023 OF 97.0 mph
5 Tyler Meyer WI Wauwatosa East 2023 3B 96.5 mph
6 Michael Clarkson IL Loyola Academy 2023 C 96.1 mph
7 Jackson Brewer WI Homestead 2024 OF 95.5 mph
8 Cade Palkowski WI Oak Creek 2024 OF 94.6 mph
9 Max Strash WI Bradford 2023 RHP 94.5 mph
10 Austin Wienke WI Whitefish Bay 2023 1B 94.5 mph
11 Aren Robinson WI Brookfield Central 2024 1B 94.3 mph
12 Jaxon Clayton WI Brookfield Central 2025 SS 93.7 mph
13 Aiden Schenk WI Janesville Craig 2023 1B 93.6 mph
14 Ty Cramer WI Cedarburg 2023 UTILITY 93.5 mph
15 Sam Steuber WI Muskego 2023 CF 93.5 mph
16 TJ Schuyler IL Antioch 2023 C 93.4 mph
17 Ethan Moore IL Oak Park & River Forest High Sch 2025 SS 93.2 mph

+ Teammate of the aforementioned Burns during the 2021 Future Games, JT Kelenic had the hardest-hit ball of the day. At a physical 6-foot-4 210 pounds, Kelenic possesses some of the easiest pop in the whole state, driving the ball hard to all fields with what seemed like little effort. We have long known of Kelenic’s offensive prowess and he only added to it with a loud showing on Sunday. The second hardest-hit ball from our time in Caledonia came from INF Jason Adix (University School, 2023). At the plate, Adix doesn’t try to do too much, taking controlled hacks with a quick toe-tap trigger. The top player in the states ‘24 class, INF JD Dix (Whitefish Bay, 2024; Alabama), is ranked No. 57 nationally, and he recorded one of the best rounds of BP in the entire event. Hitting from both sides of the plate, Dix’s offensive skill set was on full display evidenced by his batted ball number via TrackMan and seems poised to be the next premier infielder churned out from Wisconsin, something that the Badger State has become known for. 

MAX INFIELD VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos INF Velo
1 Alexander Alicea WI St. Thomas More 2023 SS 89
^ Jackson Brewer WI Homestead 2024 OF 89
2 Boston Halloran WI Franklin 2023 3B 88
3 Ryan Quello WI Grafton 2023 SS 87
^ CJ Trask WI Oak Creek 2024 SS 87
^ Jaxon Clayton WI Brookfield Central 2025 SS 87
^ Adam Urban WI Wauwatosa West 2025 RHP 87
4 Tyler Meyer WI Wauwatosa East 2023 3B 85
5 Ethan Moore IL Oak Park & River Forest High Sch 2025 SS 84
6 Seth Koci WI Indian Trail 2024 2B 83
^ Aren Robinson WI Brookfield Central 2024 1B 83
^ Brock Lulewicz WI Muskego 2024 3B 83
7 Jack Poellot WI Lake Country Lutheran 2025 SS 81
^ Aiden Schenk WI Janesville Craig 2023 1B 81

+ We have seen Alicea display his elite defensive skill set countless times in front of our staff throughout the past few years and on Sunday, he did exactly that. Alicea reached an 89 mph high on his throws to first, showing a live arm in an athletic 5-foot-8, 150-pound frame. LHP/1B Jackson Brewer (Homestead, 2024) was another prospect who caught our eye throughout the event showing off his arm strength from the first base bag, reaching an 89 mph high on his throws to third. His arm strength translated to the mound, where the southpaw hit an 88 mph high. INF Boston Halloran (Franklin, 2023; Oakland), who currently holds the No. 28 spot in our rankings, had the third hardest throw from the infield at 88 mph.

MAX OUTFIELD VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos OF Velo
1 Cade Palkowski WI Oak Creek 2024 OF 91
^ Ben Flerlage IL Latin School of Chicago 2023 OF 91
2 JT Kelenic WI Catholic Memorial 2023 OF 90
^ Payten Jibben WI Oak Creek 2024 RHP 90
3 Sam Steuber WI Muskego 2023 CF 89
4 Steven Wintheiser WI Muskego 2023 LHP 87
^ Roman Sienza WI Mukwonago 2024 OF 87
5 Sawyer Kowalkowski WI Ozaukee 2024 OF 86
^ Brennen Grams WI Kimberly 2024 RHP 86
^ RJ Thomae WI Hartford Union 2024 OF 86
6 Jack DeRousse WI Tremper 2023 RHP 81
^ Braylen White WI Brown Deer 2025 OF 81

+ Currently uncommitted, OF Cade Palkowski (Oak Creek, 2024) had a quality all-round showing. From the outfield, Palkowski’s arm strength is something that caught our staff’s attention, topping at 91 mph, which tied as the best from the event. Tying with Palkowski was another Illinois product, OF Ben Flerlage (Latin School of Chicago, 2023). While in the outfield, the uncommitted Flerlage's clean footwork coupled with his impressive arm strength makes him a viable outfield defender. 

MAX CATCHER VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos C Velo
1 TJ Schuyler IL Antioch 2023 C 85
2 Michael Clarkson IL Loyola Academy 2023 C 79
3 Carter Kutz WI Hartford Union 2025 3B 78
4 Cooper Jolin WI Middleton 2023 C 77
^ Julian Torres WI Sun Prairie West 2023 C 77
5 Neil Janssen WI Delavan-Darien 2024 C 75
^ Hunter Buschke WI Notre Dame Academy 2022 C 75
6 Colin Freitag WI Bradford 2024 C 74
^ Nathan Hanel WI Oak Creek 2024 C 74
7 Alex Griswold WI Wisconsin Virtual Academy 2024 C 73

+ RHP/C TJ Schuyler (Antioch, IL, 2023; Indiana) had the hardest throw down to second by a wide margin. Schuyler is a defensive-minded catcher whose sheer arm strength sets him apart from others. We have seen Schuyler’s defensive abilities multiple times as he is considered a top catcher in the Midwest. Another prospect from Illinois; C Michael Clarkson (Loyola Academy, 2023), came away a winner from Sunday’s event. Behind the plate, Clarkson topped at 79 mph on his throws to second. Right behind Clarkson was C Carter Kutz (Hartford Union, 2025) who was a member of Team Wisconsin during the Junior Future Games back in July. Kutz is a young prospect who has impressed our staff a number of times and someone who we will keep tabs on throughout the next few years. 

TOP POP TIMES

Rank Name State School Class Pos Pop Time
1 Michael Clarkson IL Loyola Academy 2023 C 2.00-2.09
^ Carter Kutz WI Hartford Union 2025 3B 2.00-2.09
^ Julian Torres WI Sun Prairie West 2023 C 2.00-2.09
2 TJ Schuyler IL Antioch 2023 C 2.03-2.13
3 Colin Freitag WI Bradford 2024 C 2.06-2.22
4 Alex Griswold WI Wisconsin Virtual Academy 2024 C 2.09-2.16
5 Neil Janssen WI Delavan-Darien 2024 C 2.12-2.19

+ Three catchers had pop times in the 2.00-2.09 range. The aforementioned Clarkson was one of them whose quick actions behind the plate allowed him to have some of the quickest times of the event. Kutz was another in that range whose throws had noticeable carry to the bag. The last catcher in that range was C Julian Torres (Sun Prairie, 2023) showing improved times since the last time we saw him last year.  

+ For a complete look at all the statistics from this event, CLICK HERE.

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