Wisconsin Class of 2024 Rankings: Update
April 1, 2024
As all of these prospects head into their final spring seasons, we thought it was a good time to refresh the state's 2024 rankings board. Following a busy winter circuit and a couple of high-level events such as the Super 60 and Preseason Procase, there was actually quite a bit of movement at the top of the class as one new face rises into the top three, and a number of others shuffle around in the top-20. Today, we will take a look at the top of the class, while also checking in on some of the biggest winners from our winter circuit.
We also expanded our board to a top-250 overall, welcoming roughly 30 new names so make sure to follow along as we will highlight a number of them later on - but for now, here is the updated top of the class.
NEW TOP-THREE
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JD Dix SS / 2B / Whitefish Bay, WI / 2024Dix enters his senior spring as the top-ranked prospect in the state’s ‘24 class, a place he has been for the entirety of his prep career. Dix has pretty much accomplished all he could over his last four years in the Badger State - from leading Whitefish Bay to state title in 2023, to earning a spot at the inaugural Prep Baseball All-American Game and many other things in between. He is a true shortstop, with smooth and sure-handed actions on the dirt, and his legitimate switch-hitting offensive profile adds even more to his already impressive prospect stock. His talents have kept him at the top since the inception of these ‘24 rankings, and has also put him up there with the countries best as he is ranked No. 86 overall on our national board. Whether he ends up at the professional level, or at Wake Forest, one thing is clear - he will make a big impact wherever he lands. |
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Jack DeTienne RHP / SS / Verona Area, WI / 2024DeTienne was arguably the biggest winner from 2023. After exploding across the summer circuit, he maintained that productivity into the Prep Baseball All-American Game and as he heads into his senior season, he is staying at No. 2 on our state board. Built at a long 6-foot-3 177 pounds, DeTienne possesses one of the state’s most electric fastballs that we have seen up to 96 mph with over 20” of carry through the zone. Off that he flips in a deadly breaking ball in the low-80s, spinning at over 2,500 RPMs at its peak and tunnels off his true four-seam fastball flawlessly. He can also pull a mid-80s changeup out of his back pocket which rounds off his advanced three-pitch arsenal. Still there is plenty of upside in his lanky frame, making him one of the more intriguing draft prospects in the state and he recently debuted at No. 194 in our updated 2024 MLB Draft Board. |
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Eddie Rynders SS / 3B / Wisconsin Lutheran, WI / 2024Making the biggest jump in the top of this updated rankings board, Rynders came away from this year’s Super 60 with a big arrow up next to his name from both a Wisconsin and national perspective. There the strong 6-foot-1, 198 pounder, registered one of the faster 60-yard dash times of the day at 6.73 a solid improvement from our previous looks. He then stole the show during his BP rounds, as he delivered a heavy barrel from the left-side maxing out at 102.2 mph on his hardest hit ball and a max carry distance of 391 feet. His performance there warranted a big jump up to the No. 3 spot in our state rankings, and also an even bigger leap up our national board. Rynders enters his senior spring with a full head of steam, as he is set to lead the Vikings, who earned a No. 20 spot in our Preseason Power 25 board, during his fourth and final prep year. |
WINTER WINNERS
+ OF/1B Jackson Brewer (Homestead; Columbia) is one of the most tooled up prospects in the state, and after a stellar showing at our Preseason Procase in late January, he moves up a handful of spots. First off, he is a 6.50 runner which is impressive in its own right, but Brewer is built at a strong 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, making it all the more jaw dropping. His left-handed bat is also amongst the state’s best, where he has produced exit speeds as high as 99.9 mph before. His hit tool is even more visible in game, presenting a mature approach with barrel feel and the power has continued to trend up, making him one of the most feared bats in the area. Last year he added a new aspect to his prospect stock when he made the transition to the outfield, where his aforementioned athleticism and strong arm that has been up 92 mph makes him a more than viable option out there. Brewer has been regarded as one of the top prospects in the state for some time now, but with this bump up to No. 4 overall, he reaches his highest mark since the spring of his sophomore year.
+ RHP Avery Duncan (Notre Dame Academy; Dallas Baptist) has seen his prospect stock rise over the last few months after putting together an ultra-intriguing ‘pen at the annual Super 60. There he likely left with his name circled by a number of the MLB scouts in attendance after running his fastball up to 94.7 mph from a loose and athletic delivery. His firm mid-80s slider, has made some big strides over the past few looks, featuring late lateral movement while spinning at a well-above-average rate and it plays exceptionally well off of hard running sinker in the lower-90s. A changeup rounds out his advanced four-pitch mix, in which he kills spin on, and features some late fade to his arm side. What is even more intriguing about Duncan is that there is still some considerable projection inside of his lean 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame and it wouldn’t be surprising to see even more velocity from him in the future. Duncan has been on an astronomical rise since debuting on our rankings board at No. 42 way back in the summer of 2022 and he now finds himself at No. 5 in our updated board, his highest place yet.
+ C Hunter Carlson (Hudson; Wichita State) was a winner for the entirety of 2023 on both the showcase circuit and in live action, and maintained that momentum at the Prep Baseball Midwest Procase back in February to move up one spot to No. 14 in Wisconsin’s rankings. Carlson stands at a strong 6-foot-1, 210-pounds, and once again demonstrated his prowess behind the plate. The catcher provided pop times between 2.02-2.13 seconds—showcasing a quick glove-to-hand transition with an arm that reached 79 mph from the crouch. As a left-handed hitter, Carlson showcased advanced feel for the barrel—using his lower half to generate easy power to the pull-side. Carlson is one of the top catchers in the state entering his final spring at Hudson, and is one of the leaders on a top-5 program as the season kicks off.
+ RHP Tavian Ramos (Neenah; Cornell) boasts one of the most electric and intriguing profiles in the class, catapulting him up to No. 20 in this update. At the Green Bay Preseason ID, Ramos lit up the TrackMan, hitting 94.7 mph on his hardest fastball, while casually sitting 91-94 mph with above average spin and carry through the zone. He also spins in a pair of swing-and-miss breaking balls; the first being a sharp 11/5 curveball with 2,800 RPMs and nearly 16” of lateral break, too. The second is an equally as sharp slider with nearly 3,000 RPMs and 20” of horizontal movement. While our in-game looks at Ramos are small, metrically his stuff jumps off the page and it is safe to say there is plenty more upside in his lean 6-foot-2, 182-pound frame.
ELSEWHERE IN THE TOP-15
+ INF/RHP Eddie Peters (La Crosse Aquinas; Xavier) saw his name remain at the No. 11 spot in the update rankings—showing well this winter at the Prep Baseball Midwest Procase in Iowa. Peters continued to post exit velocities in the upper-90s (T99 mph) throughout his BP session back in February—using his physical 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame to provide power from the right side of the plate. The right-hander took a smooth round of infield—showcasing effortless throws with quick feet from the shortstop position. Peters will be the key piece for La Crosse Aquinas this spring, as the Blugolds are primed for a run to the state tournament with the help of Peters’ two-way prowess. The senior is fresh off of earning Prep Baseball Wisconsin Third Team All-State honors too, as he hit .370 and took on the closer role for Aquinas.
+ RHP Nate Langbehn (D.C. Everest; Wichita State) holds his spot in the No. 12 position in Wisconsin’s 2024 rankings after making noise at the Prep Baseball Midwest Procase earlier this winter. Langbehn has a loose, quick arm in a 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame, and rushed his fastball up to 92 mph—ranging in the low-90s consistently during his bullpen in Iowa. The right-hander continued to increase velocity and spin on all three of his pitches—including a sharp 11/5 breaking ball that has proven to earn swings-and-misses in the past. His mature changeup wraps up one of the best arsenals in the senior class, and it translated right away for D.C. Everest this spring. Langbehn took on some competition down in South Carolina and dominated—punching out 10 batters in five innings of work. That outing reflected his work in 2023 and over the winter, as Langbehn returns this spring as one of the most dominant arms in the state.
+ LHP Tannis Lange (Waukesha South; Ohio State) remains the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in Wisconsin’s 2024 class, and is arguably the most polished southpaw in the Badger State—slotting in at No. 13. Lange provides a competitive arsenal in a 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame, as the senior got up to 89 mph in our staff’s last look in Georgia back in July. Lange has a sharp breaking ball that he can land for strikes and keep opponents off balance, which is complemented by a changeup that hovers in the upper-70s. Lange will once again emerge as the ace for Waukesha South this spring and will face some of the state’s best competition in the Classic Eight.
+ OF Cade Palkowski (Oak Creek; Uncommitted) recently put his name back on the market after a quality 2023, standing at a strong 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame. Palkowski is currently the top uncommitted prospect in the state of Wisconsin, and has brought a combination of power and energy to his game that stands out on the diamond. The left-handed hitter can provide some pop at the plate—featuring exit velocities in the mid-90s (T96.3 mph) in front of our staff. Palkowski has an strong, accurate arm from the outfield—reaching 91 mph in the past. To complement his skill set, Palkowski has run a 6.82-second 60-yard dash in the past—illustrating his athleticism and speed that he brings to the table. The senior will assume the centerfield position and a spot at the top of the order for Oak Creek again this spring, as he will lead the current No. 1 team in the state over the next couple of months. Palkowski slides into his ranking at No. 15 in this update as the spring season kicks off.
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