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Eau Claire Preseason ID: Quick Hits

February 19, 2025
By: Wisconsin Staff

On Saturday, Feb. 15th, the Prep Baseball Wisconsin team hosted our second event of the 2025 winter showcase circuit with the Eau Claire Preseason ID showcase at Valley Sports Academy in Lake Hallie, Wis. 25 players made it out to this event, providing us with updated looks and a new list of players to follow in Wisconsin.

We have already released a Statistical Analysis for this event, breaking down the top performers in the traditional stat categories. Today, we’ll be highlighting the players who stood out in Lake Hallie within this Quick Hits piece. Stay tuned throughout the week as we continue to break down the in-depth metrics measured at this event, with the help of our tech partners TrackMan, Blast Motion, VALD and Vizual Edge.

POSITION PLAYERS

CLASS OF 2025

+ INF Chase Robinson (Marshfield, 2025) showed once again that he is going to contribute to a winning program at the next level. During hitting, Robinson showcased a smooth right handed swing geared for line drives. He hit with a quiet and controlled move through the ball while displaying the ability to impact the baseball with a max exit velocity of 91 mph. Robinson also took a notable round during defense by showing off his fluid actions and very accurate throwing arm. Robinson is the type of defender that college coaches love to get in the line up due to his ability to convert the routine play at a very high percentage. His athleticism showed out well during his respectable 7.11 seconds 60 yard dash which bettered his time at last year’s showcase. St. Mary’s University of Minnesota is getting a winning player with very few holes in his game.

CLASS OF 2026

+ C/OF Isaiah Ahlberg (Solon Springs, 2026) took a nice step forward in this look. Ahlberg is powerfully built with a 5-foot-10, 179 pound frame with more room to add strength. Ahlberg showed off his ability to hit with a natural trigger and natural feel to hit and was driving the ball throughout his round and registered a solid 93 mph max exit velocity from his well-sequenced right-handed swing. Behind the plate, Ahlberg showed a cannon at 80 mph velocity and serious ability to turn the ball around and put it on the bag. His 1.80-1.96 pop times were an event best. He also showcased soft hands and a confident presence behind the plate when receiving during bullpens. During outfield defense, Ahlberg tied for an event best with showcasing a 91 mph pulldown with accuracy and carry. Our staff is excited for things to come this spring and summer seasons for the Junior.

+ This is the first time we’ve viewed C/INF Landon Atkisson (Chippewa Falls, 2026) at a Prep Baseball showcase. Atkisson measured at 5-foot-9, 177 pounds with strength and an athletic build. He hit with a short and compact stroke that produced line drive contact throughout the round. The swing featured a natural feel for the barrel and hard contact. Atkisson also showcased softness to his hands and feel for the catching position. Atkisson is an interesting follow after his performance on Saturday.

+ INF Lucas Roux (Rice Lake, 2026) was another interesting prospect as he showed feel for the barrel and a smooth swing through the baseball. Roux drove the ball through the big part of the field throughout his round and his natural hitability make him an interesting follow moving forward.

+ This is the first viewing of 3B Isaiah Fugate (Unity High, 2026) by our Prep Baseball Wisconsin staff and after his performance on Saturday, he’s made himself an intriguing prospect for the 2026 class moving forward. Fugate measured at a sturdy and athletic 6-foot-1, 229 pounds and has considerable strength throughout his frame and in his hands. He hit with a controlled yet quick and powerful right handed swing and registered the third best max exit velocity of 95 mph with an average max exit velocity of 90 mph which was among the highest for the event. Fugate’s defense was clean and reliable and showed the ability to make the routine play with ease while also showing some lateral quickness to his first step which allowed him to show some range. Overall, it was a very nice day from the junior and has planted himself on our staff’s radar for the spring and summer seasons.

+ OF Sam Manchester (Hudson, 2026) measured at 5-foot-11, 176 pounds with plenty of room to add to his frame. Manchester ran a bursty 7.07 seconds 60 yard dash which was one of the top marks of the event. Manchester hit with a controlled crash into the ball with a short and powerful hand path through the baseball. His 94 mph max exit velocity was the 5th highest on Saturday. Manchester is a twitchy and quick athlete that remains as a player our staff likes and will continue to follow in the spring and summer.

CLASS OF 2027

+ C/OF Logan Hagman (Hudson, 2027) is one of the most exciting prospects in the state regardless of class, and he showed exactly why he is a name to know in the state after his performance on Saturday. Hagman showed up with thirteen more pounds of solid body mass since the last time we measured him at the Wisconsin State Games late last summer. Currently measured at a solid, athletic and powerful 6-foot, 198 pounds, Hagman will likely continue to add more size and strength to this frame. Hagman’s best 60 yard dash time at previous Prep Baseball events was a respectable 7.13 seconds. This year, Hagman showed notable burst and footspeed and ran the second best time of the day at 6.81seconds. He also had the best vertical jump of the day at 27 inches. The sophomore then showed easy bat speed through the baseball and registered an event best max exit velocity of 100 mph and hit the second furthest ball of the day at 367 feet. Behind the plate, Hagman continues to make strides forward with both his ability to receive and throw with his best velocity of 80 mph on throws to second base with his pop times consistently in the 1.94 - 2.01 seconds range with accuracy. During bullpen work, Hagman showed softness to his hands with the ability to present the ball well to the umpire. Hagman also participated in outfield defense and showed plenty of arm strength and athleticism to play in a corner. His 86 mph throws from the outfield were one of the top marks at the event. Hagman showed exactly why he is a top player in the state and one that our staff is extremely excited about.

TWO-WAY PLAYERS/PITCHERS

CLASS OF 2026

+ RHP Mason Schmidt (Somerset, 2026) backed up his impressive Future Game performance last July at Lake Point with a bullpen that featured two different fastballs, and two legitimate out pitch weapon secondary offerings in his slider and change up. The 6-foot-4, 200 pound projectable framed righty was up to 91 mph with the four-seam fastball that was driven downhill through all four quadrants of the zone. He also featured a heavy sinker up to 88 mph with late boring and sinking action to the arm side of the plate that will be very effective against right-handed batters. The slider was up to 78 mph and featured a hard, late and big sweeping shape to the pitch. The junior righty also deployed a change up with nasty depth and fade as it approached the hitting zone. Both the slider and the change up showed up as definite out pitch weapons with big movement profiles. What’s exciting is that Schmidt’s frame has plenty of room to add more mass and strength which should lead to more velocity in the future. Mason Schmidt took another step forward and continues to solidify himself as a top talent in the state for the 2026 class.

+ OF/RHP Clayton Kroschel (Wayland Academy, 2026) was a name our staff was excited to see at the event and he did not disappoint. Kroschel looked as if he added some size and mass to his frame as he measured 6-foot-1, 187 pounds to his well proportioned and sturdy frame. He then ran an event best 6.79 seconds 60 yard dash showing quick burst and quick turnover once underway. With the bat, Kroschel showed a short hand path that created backspin through the ball as he was peppering line drives effortlessly through the facility. Kroschel’s max exit velocity of 97 mph was second best at the event. From the outfield, Kroschel showed a personal best of 91 mph from a high 3/4 slot with considerable carry and accuracy through the target. On the mound, Kroschel deployed a 3 pitch mix with a late tailing fastball up to 85 mph, a sharp breaking ball and feel for a change up to keep hitters off balance. Overall, it was another impressive look at the junior who is a top ranked 2026 in the state of Wisconsin. Our staff is excited to see his talents on display this spring and summer.

+ RHP Brady Smith (Chippewa Falls, 2026) made a serious statement with what he did on the mound on Saturday. Although the fastball topped out at 82 mph, Smith repeated his smooth and athletic delivery consistently throughout the session. He pounded the zone to all four quadrants with the fastball with an impressive IVB max of 21.2 inches which was a top mark for the event. Smith also threw a true cut fastball which was also commanded whenever and wherever he wanted to place it through the zone. His slider showed quick and late biting action with more depth and bigger movement profile than the cutter. The slider was also executed at a very high level. Lastly, the change up was thrown with fastball intent out of the same window and tunnel as the fastball and showed late depth and fade near the hitting zone. This was four pitches for strikes, from a low effort delivery and consistent ability to repeat. In terms of touch and feel and overall pitchability, Brady Smith had one of the best performances in a bullpen session in recent memory.

CLASS OF 2027

+ LHP Sam Bresina (Chippewa Falls, 2027) is a wiry and long levered south paw who opened some eyes on Saturday. Bresina is listed at 6-foot, 125 pounds with tons of room to fill out and add more mass and strength. When synced up, Bresina created all kinds of whippy arm speed through the baseball from a low 3/4 slot. He was able to drive the low 80’s heater with late running action through areas of the zone and showed the ability to angle it to cross corner effectively. He deployed a two-plane tilted curveball that he was able to land and a slider that had more lateral sweep to the pitch, which he was also able to land. The lefty also showed advanced feel for a late fading change up in the zone for strikes and out of the zone for chase. Overall, it was an impressive look at the sophomore, and it certainly wouldn’t surprise anyone if you looked up in two years and saw Sam Bresina’s name near the top of the 2027 class rankings as he develops physically.

+ INF/RHP Alex Johnson (Eau Claire Memorial, 2027) measured at an athletic and wiry strong 6-foot, 159 pounds. We were impressed with the swings Johnson was taking with a balanced and centered move to the hitting position. Johnson hits with a very quiet head, quick hands, a flat path and is always behind the baseball using leverage to drive the ball to all fields. In the infield, Johnson was 81 mph across the infield and his quick first step and soft hands indicate that he is likely to be able to stick on the left side. On the mound, Johnson was up to 84 mph with his downhill fastball from a high 3/4 slot. He complemented the fastball with a slider and fading change up that he displayed the ability to land in the zone. Overall, it was another solid day from Johnson and he continues to be someone our staff is excited about.

+ INF/RHP Nathan Hendricks (Tomah, 2027) profiles as an interesting prospect that our staff took note of on Saturday. Hendricks was measured at a wiry, athletic and projectable 5-foot-10, 153 pounds. Hendricks displayed an athletic and efficient swing from the right side with a hitterish feel to it. The exit velocities will certainly tick up as he adds more size and strength to his frame which is certainly coming in the future. In the infield, he possessed a quick first step with smooth and soft hands and an accurate arm which indicates a reliable and rangy defender in the infield. On the mound, Hendricks showcased an athletic and repeatable delivery with a quick arm. His fastball topped out at 81 mph with carry and ride through areas of the zone. His curveball is a potential out pitch weapon with a sharp two-plane bite and tilt through the hitting zone. The slider had some lateral sweep that he could land for strikes and his fourth pitch was the change up that showed quite a bit of late fading movement. Hendricks opened some eyes with his performance on Saturday and our staff will keep tabs on him moving forward.

+ RHP/INF Jonathan Trelka (Stevens Point Area, 2027) is an interesting two-way prospect with considerable upside. Trelka is a long and athletic 6-foot-1, 175 pounds and it’s easy to envision Trelka filling out his wiry frame. Trelka flashed some upside with the bat as he delivered the barrel with a short path to the baseball with looseness and fluidity. The power will come as he fills out and adds strength. He showed the ability to make the plays in the infield with softness to his hands and a quick first step. On the mound, the sophomore showcased a three pitch mix with a fastball that was up to 80 mph and was driven effectively through areas of the zone to set up his secondaries. The curveball had impressive two plane tilt and he showed feel for a change up that he was able to land in the zone. The future is bright for Trelka especially with the smooth actions and projectable frame.

+ 3B/RHP Ethan Westrate (Fall Creek, 2027) was part of this interesting group of sophomores with upside on both sides of the ball. Westrate possesses quite a bit of strength throughout his frame and in his hands. He was measured at 5-foot-9, 189 pounds with good proportions and an athletic build. Westrate started off his day by jumping the second best vertical of the day at 25.6 inches and running a respectable 7.11 seconds 60 yard dash with our VALD laser system technology. With the bat, Westrate hit with an easy stroke with tons of feel for the barrel hitting rockets to all fields with the second best average exit velocity of 92.3 mph and an event best 88 percent hard hit percentage. In the infield, the third baseman showcased smooth and natural actions to make the plays with a confident rhythm and quality footwork. On the mound, the sophomore was up to 82 mph with late tailing action that sets up his horizontal breaking slider going the opposite direction of the fastball. The change up showed considerable fade to arm side and he had the ability to throw it for strikes. Westrate displayed a ton of feel for the game to go along with the talent and he has established himself as an intriguing prospect in the state after saturday’s performance.

+ INF/RHP Mason McCarthy (Eau Claire Memorial, 2027) is an interesting upside prospect on both the mound and with the bat. Measured at 6-foot, 171 pounds, there is considerably more projection coming to the frame. With the bat, McCarthy showcased a loose and fluid swing from the right side with a downhill path creating backspin through both gaps. In the infield, McCarthy displayed smooth actions to both sides and when fielding a slow roller. On the mound, McCarthy identified himself as an upside arm with how long his frame is and he has a real chance to pop once he fills. He delivered strikes downhill with the fastball in the upper 70s and paired it with a top to bottom curveball and developing feel for a split finger pitch with depth. McCarthy is someone our staff will monitor going forward.

+ INF/RHP Tyler Kremer (Marshfield, 2027) measured 5-foot-9, 125 pounds. This is the first time our staff has seen the sophomore but we came away impressed with the workout. Kremer used every ounce of his body efficiently to deliver a short and compact swing with quick hands and tight rotation through the baseball. Kremer was consistently on the barrel hitting line drives throughout his round. The exit velocities will continue to climb as he adds more physicality to his frame. At shortstop, Kremer showed off his soft hands and quick first step to range to both sides while also showing smooth actions and a good clock to make the plays. He also displayed what he can do on the mound with a four pitch mix and an athletic delivery. His fastball in the upper 70’s will continue to add velocity as he possesses a quick arm with an athletic and repeatable delivery. He can also spin a couple of different breaking balls including a top to bottom two-plane breaking curveball and a lateral breaking slider. Both pitches had a spin rate of 2,500+ RPMs which indicates an impressive ability to spin the ball. He rounds out his arsenal with developing feel for a change up that he is able to land. Kremer is an extremely interesting prospect with a good blend of present skill and future upside as he adds to his frame.

CLASS OF 2028

+ INF/RHP Tate Johnson (Luck High, 2028) is an interesting prospect and our staff came away excited about how this freshman will develop. A solid framed athlete who measured at 6-foot-1, 168 pounds with present strength to his frame and more projected to come. He drove the ball consistently with a controlled crash to the hitting zone and consistently backspun balls through the big part of the field. His 91 mph exit velocity was top 10 for the event despite being one of the two 2028 grads in attendance. His actions at shortstop during defense were more than adequate to indicate he will be able to stick on the dirt moving forward. On the mound, we were intrigued by the future for Johnson as he showcased an athletic and dynamic delivery through the baseball. His fastball topped out in the upper 70s and was driven downhill through the zone creating some deception to his delivery. He also showed a top to bottom curveball with feel to land in the zone and a useful change up. Overall, Johnson impressed and our staff will certainly monitor his progress going into the spring and summer seasons.

+ This is the fourth time our staff has viewed RHP/INF Ryan Reesman (Eau Claire Memorial, 2028) in a showcase setting and we continue to be impressed with the overall profile. Reesman is an athletic two way prospect with an impressive feel for the game. Time will tell if Reesman will end up as a PO, a shortstop of two-way prospect but he is making a case for the latter after what he showcased on Saturday. With the bat, Reesman impacts the baseball with a smooth and natural swing and registered an impressive 93 mph max exit velocity with his line drive stroke. There is a good chance Reesman sticks on the left side of the infield with his soft hands and smooth actions fielding through the baseball and velocity across the infield at 80 mph. On the mound, Reesman showcased a smooth and repeatable delivery with outstanding touch and feel for his arsenal. He drove the fastball through the glove that was up to 80 mph which set up his hard and late lateral breaking slider. As good as the slider was, Reesman’s change up may be his best secondary offering with considerable horizontal movement to the arm side of the plate. Overall, it was a great day for the freshman and Ryan Reesman that remains firmly on our staff’s radar.

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