Prep Baseball Report

Wisconsin 2021 Rankings Released


By Steve Nielsen
Illinois & Wisconsin Scouting Supervisor

As the state’s top sophomore prospects prepare for their second seasons of their prep careers, it’s time to unveil the Wisconsin’s 2021 class rankings. It’s important to remember that the first iteration of a list like this is going to fluctuate as these sophomores continue to grow, mature, and develop. Regardless, as high-level prospects this age continue to pledge their commitments earlier and earlier, it’s time to reveal who the state’s top prospects are within the 2021 class.

After a stacked summer showcase season, we’ve gathered enough information to produce a list of the top-25 prospects in Wisconsin’s 2021 class.

The state’s top-ranked sophomore is RHP Vincent Trapani (Eau Claire Memorial), a rising two-way star who’s been on our radar for a quite some time now. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder was the sole 2021 on Wisconsin’s PBR Future Games roster, where he reiterated his tantalizing combination of present stuff and projection. Trapani works with a premium fastball for his age running it up to 88 mph, with reports of even more, sitting in the 85 to 88 mph range. His curveball breaks sharply on an 11/5 plane and he’s demonstrated early feel for his changeup, too.

Vincent Trapani (8.2.18)

Sitting right behind Trapani on the 2021 board is fellow RHP Mason Ruh (Wisconsin Lutheran), who we had the chance to see this past July at Underclass Games in Chicago. Ruh is a large 6-foot-3, 213-pounds who’s stature has always stood out on the mound. Showing a heavy fastball in the 84-85 mph range at the University of Illinois-Chicago, his arm works quick and clean and projects for much more. He’s still finding consistency in his offspeed – a sluvre-y curveball and a changeup with some fade – but he’s nonetheless established himself as one of the top 2021 follows in the state.

Wisconsin’s top-ranked position player prospect is SS Noah Miller (Ozaukee), a lean, athletic switch-hitter who’s also a natural up-the-middle defender. The younger brother of Owen Miller (Ozaukee, 2015; Illinois State), now one of the top prospects in the San Diego Padres system, Noah brings much of the same intangibles that his brother did. Miller has an advanced feel for the game with instincts beyond his age and the tools set that should make him a hot commodity at the next level.

Noah Miller (7.23.18)

C Joey Spence (West Bend East) and 3B Liam Moreno (Sun Prairie) round out the top five, and both make the list mostly due to their sticks. Spence is a compact build catcher with a short quick left-handed stroke that already packs a punch. Moreno, a similar build, has an equally impressive bat from the right side of the dish. Moreno has consistently shown us a knack for finding the barrel in game action, and put it to work last spring for Sun Prairie as a freshman on varsity. Moreno likely projects at third base, but regardless of his position, his bat will be his carrying tool.

Tanner Marsh (Mondovi) is the highest-ranked outfielder on the list. He’s a left/left outfielder who stands 5-foot-10, 165-pounds and brings a ton of athleticism. Marsh is a natural on the diamond and plays the game hard and fast. His bat really stood out recently at the Underclass Games as one of the top hitters in attendance. Joining him as the only other outfielder in the top 10 is Q Phillips (Brookfield East), a switch-hitting center fielder with plus speed and a premium defender in center.

The rest of the top 10 is filled by pitchers: LHP Blake Read (Muskego), RHP Owen Washburn (Webster), and RHP Wilson Zuck (Appleton North). Read has been a projectable southpaw on our radar for a while now. We’ve seen him top at 84 mph with a clean arm that works across his body to add deception. Washburn, younger brother to Jack (Webster, 2019; Oregon State), may not quite have his brother’s size yet, but he definitely has his breaking ball. Owen works in the low 80s but already has a plus type breaking ball. Zuck rounds out the top ten and popped up this summer at the Badger State Battle where he topped out at 85 mph working from a short over the top slot.

TOP 10 BOARD

RANK   NAME STATE SCHOOL CLASS POS COMMITMENT
1 Vincent Trapani WI Eau Claire Memorial 2021 RHP  
2 Mason Ruh WI Wisconsin Lutheran 2021 RHP  
3 Noah Miller WI Ozaukee 2021 SS  
4 Joey Spence WI West Bend East 2021 C  
5 Liam Moreno WI Sun Prairie 2021 3B  
6 Tanner Marsh WI Mondovi 2021 OF  
7 Blake Read WI Muskego 2021 LHP  
8 Owen Washburn WI Webster 2021 2B  
9 Q Phillips WI Brookfield East High School 2021 OF  
10 Wilson Zuck WI Appleton North 2021 OF

 

For a look at the top-25 board in full, CLICK HERE.

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