Wisconsin Class of 2024 Rankings: Newcomers
August 25, 2023
As the summer comes to an end and the 2024 class heads into their senior campaigns, we take a look at the newcomers in the state’s 2024 rankings.
Earlier this week, our staff officially updated our 2024 board, highlighting several of the state’s top prospects within our release. You can find that by clicking HERE. We followed that up with a piece in which we highlighted the prospects making seismic jumps up our board in our ‘Risers’ story, which can be found HERE.
We'll dive deeper into the rankings themselves today, shining light on a handful of players that earned a spot on our board after showing well to our staff. Below you'll learn more about these names that are trending upward as the fall is set to start.
LATE-FOLLOW LEFTIES
+ LHP Aaron Schwechler (Hudson) debuts higher than any other prospect on this list, at No. 74 overall. His size, prominent spin traits, and left-handedness make him a must-see prospect to monitor this fall and over the course of the upcoming offseason.
Aaron Schwechler (7/18/23)
+ Here’s a report from the Western Wisconsin Open Quick Hits: “... Listed at 6-foot-3, 170 pounds, the southpaw turned heads as he took the rubber… His arm worked quickly through a shorter arm arc as he tossed a fastball that worked up to 85 mph. The left-handed incoming senior showed clear feel for the pitch as it worked straight through the zone with some life to it. Nearly as impressive however, Schwechler displayed three complimentary pitches to the fastball as he spun a curveball, a slider, and a changeup. His curveball displayed a 12/6 action with some break to it, while his slider acted as a slurve with sweeping action. His changeup was certainly a pitch that could not go overlooked as he showed command for the pitch as it glided through the zone with some fade to it.”
+ LHP Tyler Andrews (Whitefish Bay) was excellent for the Blue Dukes in 2023, and then he ultimately helped them clinch a Division 1 state title, falling an out short of a complete-game victory, though still stifling Hortonville’s offense with a championship on the line. Andrews is a smooth, clean-armed southpaw inside a thin 6-foot-1, 160-pound build that’s worth monitoring this fall, ahead of a big offseason. He was effective in the upper-70s, low-80s at state, mixing in a useful breaking ball with depth that he located, as well as a deceptive changeup.
LHP Tyler Andrews (2024) has kept the Hortonville offense quiet for two innings, working a FB in the lower-80s.
— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) June 16, 2023
He’s currently in his third inning of work, as @WFB_Baseball holds a 5️⃣-1️⃣ lead. pic.twitter.com/JAT5zIEvjX
+ LHP Cael Bertrandt (Mukwonago) has a lot going for himself as a prospect: low-effort, simple operation with low-80s velocity (T84 mph in late June) that’s released from a near over-the-top slot of a spindly 6-foot-3 frame. Mukwonago appears to be a team to watch ahead of the ‘24 spring, and Bertrandt’s emergence this summer helps boost that outlook.
+ LHP Austin Drayna (New Berlin Eisenhower): Here’s a report from the Takeaways at the PBRT at The Rock Open: “Drayna’s start on Saturday morning garnered attention as he calmly worked through five innings of clean pitching. Posting a final line of 5IP, 1H, 0R, 4K, 2BB, the southpaw was composed and induced weak contact when hit. Showing feel for a four-pitch mix, his arsenal contained a low-80s two-seam fastball that was a game changer. Containing heavy arm-side run, the pitch was well-paired with a four-seam, a curveball, and a changeup that was too much for opposing hitters. Outshone by his overall pitching performance, he roped a ball into the gap that landed for a double, driving in two runs. Drayna’s no-hitter was spoiled with a flare to right field, but the performance was impressive and boasted composure at every look.”
+ LHP Cullen Huppert (Prescott) is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound lefty from Prescott with a 79-81 mph fastball that has some rise/run traits, averaging over 14 inches of IVB and horizontal movement each, going back to his performance at PBR Minnesota’s Twin Cities Preseason ID in March.
BLOSSOMING RIGHTIES
+ RHP Carter Gunderson (Eleva-Strum) Here’s a report from the Western Wisconsin Open Quick Hits “... intriguing uncommitted prospect in Wisconsin’s 2024 class. The incoming senior featured a hybrid delivery with a methodical tempo and an athletic drop and drive delivery. His arm was whippy and fluid throughout the action and worked from a three-quarter arm slot. Included in his pitch-mix with a curveball and a changeup, Gunderson was able to run his fastball up to 85 mph as played with life out of the hand and carried heavily through the zone. His curveball contained a sharp 10-to-4 break and flashed a noticeable sweeping action. Sitting in the upper-70s, his changeup was thrown with intent and played with depth.”
Carter Gunderson (7/18/23)
+ RHP Bennett Wolfe (Mukwonago) is a name-to-watch going into his senior year. The athletic, moving 6-foot-3, 190-pounds with and loose and whippy arm action has impressed in front of our staff across multiple looks. Routinely running his fastball up into the upper-80s, sitting mostly in the mid-80s, Wolfe’s fastball plays with depth and has the ability to locate in the zone. Also confident in a low-70s sweeping breaking ball as his go-to offspeed offering, has flashed a fading changeup in the past.
Bennett Wolfe (7/20/23)
+ RHP Tanner Peterson (La Crosse Aquinas): Here’s a report from Milwaukee’s Top Prospect Games Quick Hits: “... Peterson was efficient during live gameplay as he quietly worked through two innings and allowed just one hit. The 6-foot-2 right-hander ran his fastball up to 86.1 mph and commanded the zone well, hitting corner after corner. Peterson mixed in a changeup and a curveball, with the curveball containing a sharp, late break. Peterson projects well on the mound with a repeatable delivery, quick arm action, and effortless movement patterns that were on display against some of the top bats in the state.”
Tanner Peterson (7/11/23)
+ MIF/RHP Axel Donaldson (De Pere): Here’s a report from the Takeaways at the PBRT The Rock Summer Championships: “... provided one of the more intriguing looks on the mound this weekend, displaying impressive arm talent. Standing at 5-foot-7, 140-pounds, Donaldson was able to run his fastball up to 85 mph early, settling into the low-80s throughout. Fastball played with carry and flashed occasional arm-side run. Went to a hard, upper-70s curveball with late break to get swings and misses. Also barreled a loud triple the other way showcasing impressive speed around the bases. An intriguing, high motor two-way to watch as he enters his senior year.
+ RHP/INF Jake Bjerke (Eleva-Strum): Here’s a report from the Western Wisconsin Open Quick Hits: “... Standing at 6-foot-2, 205-pounds, Bjeke has a sturdy foundation to work with as he progresses into his senior season at Eleva-Strum. At the plate, he finished with one of the highest average exit velocities, sitting at 83 mph. The right-handed batter presents himself with a wide stance setup, utilizing his loose, relaxed hands to square up the baseball, driving one 334 feet during the BP session. Bjerke finished as a winner on the mound, spinning all three of his pitches at a high rate, between 2100-2600 RPM. His fastball maxed at 84 mph, displaying power and ride. In addition to that pitch, Bjerke mixed in two breaking balls, showcasing quality feel for a sweeping slider that had tight spin and was thrown for strikes. His complete arsenal, paired with a strong bat, shapes Bjerke up well for the rest of the summer and into his final season of high school baseball.”
Here are some more debuting right-handed pitchers:
+ RHP/INF Arthur Curtis (Waukesha North)
+ RHP Brady Rickert (Oak Creek; Heartland CC)
+ RHP Austin Olla (South Milwaukee)
+ RHP Bryce Ballistreri (Pius XI; Truman State)
+ RHP Benjamin Ketelsen (Sun Prairie West)
+ RHP Steffen Mello (Edgewood)
+ RHP Joshua Steger (Lomira)
+ RHP/INF Ethan Wick (Appleton North)
+ RHP Jake Ross (Wisconsin Lutheran)
+ RHP Deed Capper (Homestead)
+ RHP Dylan Hesch (Verona Area)
+ RHP James Mutchie (Shiocton)
+ RHP/INF Oliver Gonzalez (St. Thomas More)
BREAKOUT BACKSTOPS
+ C Quade Thompson (Wrightstown): Here’s a report from Milwaukee’s Top Prospect Games Quick Hits: “... Thompson turned in a smooth defensive display behind the dish and showed athletic ability and movement patterns. Listed at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Thompson presents an athletic build that works in a larger frame with clear strength in his lower half. The incoming senior showcased a loose rhythm with the bat in his hands and stayed long through the zone during his round of BP. With a wide, open setup, Thompson recorded a maximum exit velocity of 95.1 mph and consistently back-spun the ball while working middle-in.”
Quade Thompson (7/11/23)
+ C Brady Coons (Kimberly): Here’s a report from the Eastern Wisconsin Open Quick Hits: “... impressed from the left side of the plate at the Eastern Wisconsin Open. Listed at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, the incoming senior featured a powerful bat that produced multiple exit velocities in the 90’s. Coons displayed strong hands and a fluid pre-pitch rhythm that allowed him to consistently find the barrel. With a gap-to-gap approach, the backstop showed clear power inside of a compact frame that has strength throughout. Behind the dish, the right-handed throwing catcher stayed compact throughout his throwing motion. A result of his impressive day in Sheboygan, Coons emerged as a winner from the event and is a name-to-follow as he heads into his senior year.”
Here are some more debuting catchers:
+ C Kayden Berenz (New Berlin Eisenhower)
+ C Ben Van Bell (Whitefish Bay)
+ C Jayden Jaramillo (Racine Lutheran Prairie)
+ OF/C Taylor Lemanski (Mosinee)
+ C/3B Carter Vieth (Elk Mound)
+ C/3B Elijah Knutson (Pecatonica)
+ C/INF Mason Mitacek (Westosha Central)
NEW-LOOK ATHLETES
+ OF Ryan Berghauer (Brookfield East) stands at an athletic 6-foot-1, 183-pounds and is one of the top uncommitted outfielders in this class. Debuting inside the top-100 at No. 75 in this update after a strong high school and summer circuit. Most recently we saw Berghauer at the Milwaukee Top Prospect Games where he was able to showcase all of his tools. At the plate, the right-handed-hitter impressed with a loose swing and natural feel for the barrel, collecting multiple hits during gameplay. Defensively, the outfielder played a confident outfield with athletic actions and a strong arm up to 87 mph.
Ryan Berghauer (7/11/21)
+ OF Carter Gilhausen (Onalaska): Here’s a report from the Western Wisconsin Open Quick Hits: “... is surely a follow prospect from this event, as he prepares to enter his senior year. He’s an athletic, lean, broad-shouldered 6-foot, 150-pound player with a loose, easy left-handed swing that showed some projection and promise – and he connected for a max EV of 90.9 mph, which is noteworthy considering his slight stature that can support a strength gain effectively. Gilhausen’s athleticism showed elsewhere, as a 6.89 runner with 20.2 mph top speed, and each led the event.”
Carter Gilhausen (7/18/23)
+ SS/C Brody Henderson (Lake Mills): Here’s a report from Milwaukee’s Top Prospect Games Quick Hits: “... popped as an intriguing follow after standing out in game action towards the end of the day on Tuesday. Standing at 6-foot, 175-pounds, Henderson tallied three hits in the gameplay portion of the event, using a level swing to square up baseballs in multiple at bats. The consistent play was noteworthy on the defensive end too, where Henderson stood out from behind the dish. Clean was the term to describe Henderson’s catching work, including his quick, short arm action that allows him to be efficient in his throws from the position. The same could be said on the infield for the right-hander, as Henderson’s all-around performance at The Rock put him on the radar as a solid uncommitted prospect in the 2024 class.”
Brody Henderson (7/11/23)
+ C/OF Carter Schmitt (West De Pere) is an athletic 6-foot-1, 180-pound and after a solid showing at July’s Top Prospect Games, he debuts at No. 132 in this rankings update. During that event, Schmitt swung a controlled right-handed bat that reached EV highs of 90.7 mph while averaging 83.4 mph. Schmitt’s 7.13 speed is apparent in the outfield as well, as he is quick and athletic mover, pairing it with an arm that topped at 82 mph on his throws home. He is also a sure-handed defender behind the plate and has recorded pop-time lows of 2.21 in our looks, too.
Carter Schmitt (7/11/23)
Here are some more debuting athletes:
+ RHP/INF Aben Beinlich (Burlington)
+ OF Ryder Hoffman (Appleton West; Saint Leo)
+ OF Tyler Wallace (Pewaukee)
+ OF Will Deets (La Crosse Aquinas)
+ OF Tyler Chopp (Lakeside Lutheran)
+ OF/RHP Braylen Nystrom (Steven Point Area)
+ MIF Brady Beck (Arrowhead)
+ MIF Logan Hesselman (Eau Claire North)
DEBUTING IMPACT BATS
+ 1B Sawyer Stein (Eau Claire Memorial) Here’s a report from Takeaways at the PBRT The Rock Summer Championships: “... arguably had one of the better high school seasons in the northwest portion of the Badger State this past spring, as this was the first time our staff saw his offensive skill set in live action. The right-handed hitter impressed right away, tripling to the right-center gap to drive in a run for MN Blizzard Black. Because of his physical 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame, Stein naturally produces loud contact with ease, something his opponents consistently had to prepare for in these past couple of months. Stein’s stock continues to rise as a batter, as his showing on night one at The Rock was a noteworthy one.”
+ INF Ty Cieslewicz (Menomonee Falls) is an upside 6-foot, 163-pound infielder who enjoyed a stellar season for his Menomonee Falls squad and helped them to their third straight state tournament appearance. From the right-handed box, Cieslewicz swings a whippy bat that has impressed across multiple looks in the spring and into the summer. He now makes his rankings debut at No. 157 in this update and will look to build off his success as he heads into his senior year.
+ INF/RHP Sam Reimann (Merrill) Here’s a report from the Western Wisconsin Open Quick Hits: “... After showing well at the PBRT Wisconsin Open three weeks back, Reimann appeared for the first time in front of our staff in a showcase setting. Standing at an athletic 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame, Reimann was amongst the top leaders in exit velocities from the plate, illustrating his gameplay actions from a couple of weeks ago. Reimann reached 95 mph from the plate, featuring a wide stance setup and twitchy hands, presenting bat speed and pull-side power. The right-handed hitter inserted himself as a middle-of-the-order bat for the future, displaying easy power with a smooth swing. Defensively, Reimann tied for the highest velocity across the infield, reaching 83 mph. Reimann was solid throughout the entire workout, reflecting his work over the spring and summer.
Here are some more debuting hitters:
+ INF Aidan Kammer (Jefferson)
+ 1B Landon Raygo (De Pere)
+ CIF/RHP Charlie Wahlen (Dominican)
+ 1B/OF Bryson Koehne (Notre Dame Academy)
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