This Sunday, Feb. 21, the PBR Wisconsin team is hosting the West Milwaukee Preseason I.D. at STiKS Academy in Waukesha, Wis. This is an open event for all high school classes (2021-24), and gives our staff an ample look at the area's top players.

For a closer look at the showcase details and the technologies we'll have on-site to assist our in-person evaluation for all in attendance, click here. For a complete look at those registered to attend this event, view the most up-to-date version of the roster by clicking here. 

EVENT HISTORY

We've been hosting this event for the past two years years, and it's provided us a look at prominent players who've later gone on to receive invitations to select events, like the PBR Future Games. Among the players in attendance at this event in 2020, there are already 19 commitments among them. 

We had five prospects attend last year’s event that currently rank inside the top-50 for the state’s 2021 class, all of who are committed to play at the next level: RHP Eli Hoyt (Waukesha South; Hawaii commit), RHP Noah France (Union Grove; Madison JC commit), RHP Jacob Hartlaub (Martin Luther; Ball State), LHP Alex Hayes (Muskego; Madison JC), and OF Anthony Gross (Catholic Memorial; Washington University, MO).

Last year’s event served as a major identifier for the PBR Future Games, too, as three attendees from the 2022 class later earned invites to represent Team Wisconsin at the prestigious August event: RHP Ryan Karst (Brookfield East), C Charlie Jarvis (Catholic Memorial), and RHP Thomas Harper (Wauwatosa East).

We're looking forward to checking in on the next crop of talent from this event to earn next-level attention in the coming weeks, months, and years.

2021 ROSTER

This year's roster is already shaping up nicely, just like in years past.

We’ll have a handful of ranked prospects from the state’s 2022 class in attendance this Sunday, including the aforementioned Jarvis and Harper, who are the Nos. 17 and 37-ranked players in the state’s junior class, respectively. 

Jarvis was one of two backstops to represent Team Wisconsin at the PBR Future Games last August. The athletic 6-foot-1, 195-pound Jarvis is one of the state’s top uncommitted prospects. He’s a natural behind the plate with flexible hips, fluid athleticism, and noticeable arm strength from the chute. He continues to make strides with his short right-handed stroke, primarily in the power department, where he showed gap-to-gap barrel feel during his BP round at the Future Games.

Charlie Jarvis (8/2/20)

Standing at a lanky and projectable 6-foot-4, 194-pounds, Harper boasts one of the state’s highest upsides from the bump. His fastball velocity has steadily climbed as we’ve seen him throughout his prep career, topping at 86 mph in 2020, with the feel to land his breaking ball for strikes. A diligent offseason could have Harper as an early winner in 2021, and we’re eager to find out.

Thomas Harper (8/2/20)

Ranked nearby Harper on the state’s 2022 board is Muskego’s Heath Venne, who’s authentically one of the strongest pound-for-pound players in the state. Listed at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds Venne has an aptitude for hard-hit contact, making positive use of his worth ethic inside of the weight room. At last July’s All-State Games, Venne took a loud round of batting practice, and he’s only added strength since, so we’re eager to see how it further enhances his batted-ball data that we’ll capture on Sunday.

Here’s a few more juniors we’re looking forward to seeing on Sunday, among others: OF Landon Behringer (North Fond du Lac), RHP Joey Schneider (West Bend West), and C/1B Alec Campbell (Milton), each ranked in the state. Behringer’s a natural athlete with all-around upside, and Campbell’s a physical 6-foot-2, 200-pound prospect with a right-handed bat featuring impactful potential. As for Schneider, he’s a power-armed righty who was up to 85 mph last summer, with more feel to pitch than you might expect from a pitcher with an arm strength profile.

Previously the state’s top uncommitted sophomore, RHP Jonah Conradt (Hortonville, 2023) recently committed to Arizona, and we’ll get an updated look at his live arm on Sunday. He broke out last summer and exploded in the fall, when he was up to 88 mph at the Southern Wisconsin Open, all while utilizing a swing-and-miss breaking ball. With another offseason of work under his belt, we’re excited to see how that’s affected his impressive arsenal.

Similarly, RHP/OF Dylan Questad (Waterford Union) is another one of the state’s top-ranked sophomores, committed to Notre Dame. Our most recent live-look at Questad came this past July at the Badger State Battle tournament when he cruised through five innings of work, effortlessly sitting at 83-86 mph with his fastball and touching 87 a few times. The strides he’s made with his offspeed pitches from a pitch design standpoint is the separator here, especially his breaking ball, and he’s starting to throw them more with confidence.

Two more arms worth mentioning from the 2023 class: RHP Luke Agnew (Marquette University) and LHP Gavyn Bowen (Pewaukee). This will be the first time we’ll see Agnew in an event setting, but we’ve heard plenty of positive things about the 6-foot-2, 203-pound right-hander, so this up-close look will prove useful. As for Bowen, the 5-foot-11, 165-pound southpaw caught our eye this past fall after stringing together an impressive bullpen where he showed advanced feel to spin two distinct breaking balls. 

Gavyn Bowen (10/17/20)

As we continue to familiarize ourselves with Wisconsin’s 2024 class, we’ll get to see some interesting names that make up that particular group on Sunday. C Brady Johnson (St. Thomas More) is a physical 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed hitter with advanced raw power and bat strength for his age. Two more intriguing follows from this year’s freshman class we’ll see this weekend: INF/RHP Cooper Kamlay (Franklin) and OF Issei Takahashi (Arrowhead). 

Perusing the event roster, we’re set to meet a majority of players who’ve not yet attended a PBR showcase, and we’re eager to add more names to our follow lists.

NEW CHECK-IN PROCESS

Because of the number of prospects set to attend Sunday's event, it is imperative that you read our adjusted showcase itinerary below, which will allow our staff to swiftly and efficiently educate and evaluate the players set to attend.

Additionally, in an effort to continue and develop contactless check-in strategies, upon arrival, players will scan a QR Code with their smart phone camera that will lead them to a Google Form. On that Form, players will enter their name (matching the spelling on their PBR profile) and hit submit. Upon submission, players will be prompted to click a link that will direct them to their jersey color and number, located next to their registered name.

 

ITINERARY

Due to state guidelines, and the facility's requirements, there will be a limit to the number of people inside the facility at one time. This showcase will operate in groups under the format as follows (Note: players are to wear turfs and/or molded spikes, as metal cleats are NOT allowed):

POSITION GROUPS

+ Position Player Check-in: 8:20 to 8:45 a.m.

+ Pitcher Check-in: 12:30 p.m.

MORE EVENT DETAILS

Click here to learn more about our tech partners that have enhanced our players showcase experience. Partners like TrackMan and Blast Motion have helped both our in-event evaluation process, as well the compilation of our post-event scouting reports – and they're also a tool for our players to learn more about their measured and collected data, that can be applied to improve upon their game.

Finally, masks are strongly encouraged during non-baseball activity. We will facilitate a contact-less check-in. Staff will wear masks throughout the event. Hand sanitizer stations will be accessible. Wear baseball clothes; assigned and numbered PBR jerseys will be provided.

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