Prep Baseball Report

Wisconsin Class of 2022 Rankings Update


By Andy Sroka & Diego Solares
Wisconsin Staff

Now that the summer circuit has concluded, it’s time for our staff to update the state’s player rankings, beginning with the Class of 2022, the seniors. The PBR Wisconsin staff is gathering and assessing its scouting reports, video, and notes collected throughout this summer from various showcases and tournaments to rearrange the top 300 in this massive update.

Today marks the start of our ‘22 rankings analysis, and we’ll spend the time at the top of the board, remarking on Illinois’ best seniors in the state and their performances since the start of spring.

TOP OF THE CLASS

+ INF Gavin Kilen (Milton; Louisville) occupies the top spot on our state board for the fourth straight update and he’s ranked inside the top-50 nationally, too. Kilen has looked the part on multiple national circuits throughout the summer season, showcasing an impressive hit tool from the left-handed batter’s box. He owns an innate knack for making consistent contact off the barrel, covering all corners of the plate relatively easily without much swing-and-miss to his game, either. Kilen’s glove can be an asset as well, showcasing a strong arm with accuracy across the diamond and sure-handed actions that’ll aid him in sticking up the middle down the road. He’s more than capable of following the footsteps of high-end Wisconsin infield prospects that came before him.

(3/7/2021)

+ Rising four spots from the last update and now up to the No. 2 spot is SS/RHP Rory Fox (Catholic Memorial; Notre Dame). Fox’s talents on both sides of the ball are relatively evident and it’s what ultimately propelled him to jump up in our rankings. A 6-foot-2, 185-pound athlete, Fox may be one of the state’s savviest infield defenders and he checks all the boxes of an advanced glove at the shortstop position moving forward. His clean left-handed stroke has improved over the years, though it does look like his glove will be his most valuable asset from that perspective. On the mound, Fox regularly produced effortless high-80s heat in our look, reaching back for a 92 mph high against Jefferson in the WIAA State Playoffs. His arsenal also features a sharp downer breaking ball that he’ll land for strikes and some feel for a firm changeup, too. With upside on both sides of the ball, Fox owns one of the state’s most complete skill sets.


+ Up eight spots to the No. 3 slot in this update is LHP Christian Oppor (Columbus), who’s presently the top uncommitted prospect in Wisconsin. An ultra-athletic and still projectable 6-foot-1, 175-pound prospect, Oppor boasts tremendous arm talent from the left side of the mound. We saw him up to 94 mph at The Rock this across a three-inning stint, eventually settling in at 89-92 mph as his start went on. He produces that type of velocity thanks to his electric arm speed and upper tier athleticism on the rubber, indicating that there’s likely more in the tank as he physically matures. Though he’s still fully developing his slider and changeup, Oppor’s ceiling rivals that of any in the class.


+ C Will Vierling (Homestead) checks in at No. 4 overall on our ‘22 rankings update for the fifth consecutive time. The 6-foot, 190-pound Vierling is a highly advanced offensive threat from the left side, working gap-to-gap with ease and consistently making impact-type contact off the barrel. He’s slowly found a home for himself defensively as well, improving his receiving over time and working quickly to the bag with a strong, accurate arm. Committed to Louisville, Vierling could be a key contributor for the Cardinals’ offense sooner rather than later into his college career.


+ Up a few spots to No. 5 on this list is RHP Theo Zeidler (Bay Port; Bradley). A 6-foot-3, 195-pound prospect with an athletic profile and frame that projects, Zeidler has risen in a big way since the start of this calendar year. Zeidler works efficiently and controlled downhill with a loose, quick arm that works from a tight window. He throws four pitches, including two distinct breaking balls, and can find the zone with all of them in any given outing. Here’s what our Director of College Scouting, David Seifert, had to say about Zeidler’s performance at the PBR ProCase-Midwest in July:

“Bradley commit. 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame. With advanced pitch ability Zeidler didn’t have the top fastball velocity of the event (87-88) but was certainly the top pitcher. Moving three average to better pitches around the strike zone for consistent strikes, the righty carved hitters with a plus, low-spin (1500s) changeup at 75 mph and an average curveball in the mid-70s. With a quick arm the Bradley commit also has the athletic frame and oozes projection for more velo to come in the future.”

(7/6/2021)

+ Another potential two-way talent in this class, RHP/INF Mitchell Voit (Whitefish Bay; Michigan) comes in at the sixth spot on our new list. The 6-foot, 190-pound Voit is one of the state’s best pure athletes with a high octane all-around skill set on both sides of the ball. His Blast Motion metrics from the South Milwaukee Preseason I.D. are extremely impressive and we saw him consistently barrel up the baseball in-game at The Rock this summer. Voit’s talents translate rather adequately to the mound, where he’s been up to 92 mph before in a showcase setting, typically settling in anywhere from 86-89 mph when he actually toes the rubber. He’s improved the shape and spin on his curveball this year and he’ll also comfortably attack left-handed hitters with a running changeup thrown at arm speed. Young for the class from an age perspective, Voit’s athleticism and current tools do indicate plenty of untapped potential in his game.

+ OF Michael Lippe (Whitefish Bay) still owns one of the state’s loudest all-around profiles and the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Louisville commit slots into the seventh spot on our board. Lippe ran a 6.77 at this year’s Milwaukee Preseason I.D., topped at 98 mph from the outfield, and barreled his best ball up at 99 mph. We’ve seen all of these tools on display in-game as well, including a laser throw to home from right field to nab a would-be runner at home during this year’s Geico City Series. There’s plenty of raw power inside Lippe’s right-handed barrel and how much he can consistently tap into it is what will ultimately dictate his future at the next level. Still, Lippe’s upside ranks right up there with anyone on this list.

(3/21/2021)

+ LHP Michael Mulhollon (Westosha Central) boasts a highly projectable 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame and the Wichita State commit concludes the nationally ranked names on this list, coming in at eighth overall. Mulhollon’s ran his fastball up to 90 mph in our looks, typically pounding the zone at anywhere from 85-88 mph once he settles in. He’s comfortable climbing the ladder with his fastball and it works from a somewhat deceptive slot, getting hitter’s to chase when he spots it up. He throws a low-70s breaking ball with confidence and the capability to land it for strikes, and we’ve seen him deploy a changeup in the past, too. Mulhollon’s ceiling on the mound is relatively high should he fill out his frame and continue to refine his arsenal.

+ Making his debut into the top-10 and up nine spots from our last update, RHP Brayden Marks (Elkhorn) checks in at the ninth spot in this update. Built at a physical 6-foot-5, 220-pounds, we’ve seen Marks pitch several times this year, including a standout performance at the Milwaukee Preseason I.D., a dominant outing for the Elks this spring, and a no-hitter at the Badger State Battle in July. His high-spin arsenal consists of four pitches, headlined by a lively fastball, with the ability to hold velocity, that sits at 86-88 mph and will run up into the 89-90 mph range on occasion. Marks throws both a curveball and slider, each of them averaging 2,400+ RPM. He’ll land the former for strikes and utilize the latter as more of a swing-and-miss offering, although they’re both quality pitches that can play at the next level. We’ve also seen Marks throw a changeup in the past that averaged 14+ inches of horizontal movement, per TrackMan. Committed to Bradley, Marks is a high-floor type of pitcher that also has a relatively intriguing ceiling and can certainly contribute to the Braves’ staff sooner rather than later.

(7/6/2021)

+ OF Cuyler Zukowski (Madison LaFollette) concludes the top-10 prospects in Wisconsin’s current senior class. Zukowski is another high-end athlete that finds himself on this list, as the 6-foot, 190-pound Creighton commit ran a 6.55 at the Madison Preseason I.D. with impressive Blast Motion numbers and an arm that topped at 91 mph to home from the outfield. He’s quick to the ball from the right side and has flashed impact potential off the barrel, profiling as a potential top-of-the-order hitter at the next level. He effectively covers ground in the outfield and his athleticism should aid him in sticking up the middle moving forward, too.

(7/6/2021)

*CLICK HERE FOR THE UPDATED Wisconsin 2022 RANKINGS *


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