Prep Baseball Report

The Rottino Report: May 13-19


By Vinny Rottino
Wisconsin Scouting Director

The Rottino Report is a weekly piece designed to highlight five players who PBR Scouting Director Vinny Rottino saw while attending live gameplay over the last week. After spending 20 years in professional baseball, the former MLB player and MLB scout has keen instincts of what-it-should-look-like traits among players who have a chance to excel at the next level, be it collegiately or in the pros. Rottino also produces video breakdowns of the reports and can be found on PBR Now and within the body of the article below. 

Here are the five prospects who’ve earned mentions in the second installment of ‘The Rottino Report’:

FIVE TO KNOW

Rory Fox, RHP/SS, Catholic Memorial High School, 2022 (Notre Dame)
From May 17 vs Waukesha East: Viewed 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 0 BB, 10 K. Sturdy framed athlete with room to fill, has present strength and will increase in future. Clean easy no effort delivery, ball jumps out of hand with very quiet head. Fastball velocity 87-89 mph with ability to command to spots. Flashed hard biting breaking ball with 10/4 break 75-77 mph and showed solid feel for a change with late fade and depth to the pitch. Impressive look to the delivery, the stuff and the projection. Definite starter profile with the effortless delivery, ability to spin a breaking ball and feel for the change to round out the arsenal. Body should hold to the rigors of starting. This kid is a potential draft pick on the mound and has a chance to be impactful at the highest level of the game as the stuff continues to get better. 

Thomas Burns, RHP, Hortonville, 2023 (Arizona State)
From May 19 vs Kimberly: Viewed 6.2 IP, 5H, 0 BB, 10K. Dominant performance from XL framed over-the-top RHP. Power fastball 87-90 mph with life and finish at the top. Strikes with the fastball and can drive it through areas. Can land a slurve-y breaking ball 73-75 mph with 10/4 shape and break, and can get it below the zone. Fierce competitor, relentless attack of the zone getting ahead and putting hitters away. Stepped up to the challenge in a big game against a talented Kimberly lineup. Arizona State will get a power armed RHP’er who can serve in multiple roles for the team.  

Sawyer Deering, RHP, Kimberly, 2025 (Uncommitted)
From May 19 vs Hortonville: Viewed 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2BB, 5 K. Solid build, will add to frame and fill, quick athletic smooth mover through delivery with quick arm. Medium effort with ability to control move through the ball with balanced finish. Feel for ball with ability to command 81-84 MPH fastball to all four quadrants. Bigger breaking curveball with tight rotation and 11/5 break to the pitch, can land for strikes. Showed feel for change-up with good sell. Definite starter with how it all works. Competitive, confident, cerebral pitcher with all the pieces to be a top ranked 2025 player in Wisconsin. 

Noah Wech, SS/RHP, Manitowoc Lincoln, 2024 (Uncommitted)
From May 16 vs Ashwaubenon: Projectable framed athlete with a young face, going to end up big, strong and athletic; 5.0 IP, 9 K. Fastball was up to 89 mph with jump and carry through the hitting zone.  Displayed a hard biting downer slurve with 10/4 shape that coaxed multiple swings and misses and showed the ability to land for strikes. At the plate, he sets up with athletic stance with solid base.  Hitterish hands stays flat through the baseball nicely. Sees the ball and makes solid strike/ball decisions. Chance for two way future with ability to throw mid 90s with wipeout breaking ball as late inning reliever and man the SS position on an everyday basis. Talent and developing skill, Wech has a high ceiling and I can see why he is a top prospect for the 2024 class in Wisconsin.  

Peter Visconti II, C, St. Joseph, 2025 (Uncommitted)
From May 18 vs Saint Thomas More: Solid frame close to mature, should continue to get stronger.  Smooth athlete with strength and flexibility. Shows quick twitch and burst with athletic gait. Stock set up with loose upper half. Short press into back side with balanced land and short trigger to hitting position. Loose relaxed hands with short on plane swing. Feel for strike zone and feel for barrel. Line drive gap hitter with occasional pull side power. Very polished defender with soft hands and strength to keep balls in zone. Consistently finds the pocket while receiving and stuff will give him no problems handling a big time staff. Quick to block consistently keeping balls in front.  Calming leader type presence for pitching staffs. One of the top prospects in the 2025 class and can envision him staying there until his grad year.  

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