Wisconsin Class of 2026 Rankings: Update
December 4, 2024
We’re publishing this subtle update to Wisconsin’s Class of 2026 Rankings following the fall season, tweaking the board we last updated in August, which was a much more substantial one. This time around, there are some notable changes (like at No. 1 overall, for example) but it remains a mostly intact edition of the state’s junior board as we head into the true offseason.
We expanded the list by 10 names after the fall, and we’ll shed some more light on this group inside this piece, as well as in the days to come.
+ VIEW WISCONSIN’S TOP-160 HERE
Inside this release, we’re spending time analyzing the best of the best in the state, as well as the players who moved up inside the top-25 overall. Later this week, we’ll highlight some of the risers elsewhere on the list, and we’ll also take a look at some breakout arms to monitor in 2025, in a separate piece.
STAR-STUDDED TRIO ✨
As you might’ve come to expect by this point, Wisconsin’s top-three juniors are really stapled to the national radar, and even though there’s been some internal shuffling to the trio’s order in 2024, this is a special group and each of the three below has a totally reasonable claim to be the No. 1-ranked player in Wisconsin – and that’s either now, by the time they graduate in a year and a half.
With that said, a robust fall from Dominic Santarelli propelled him back up to the status of top-ranked junior in Wisconsin, following a dominant sophomore spring and subsequent summer season. Santarelli impressed across several national stages since the start of August, and seeing him perform at the same standard he set for himself against senior competition has helped him assert the value attached to his left-handed bat.
Cal Moreau isn’t far behind, though. The two-way talent is one of the top athletes in the state, regardless of class, and he already physically resembles pro prospects. Ben Kuglitsch, meanwhile, was the sharpest form of himself on the mound this fall in front of our staff, and the Florida State commit has a serious case as the state’s top talent too.
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Dominic Santarelli 1B / St. Joseph, WI / 2026Louisville commit Long regarded for his advanced bat, Santarelli has seemed to separate himself among some of the top pure hitters in the Midwest. Ultra-physical with immense strength throughout his proportional 6-foot, 209-pound frame with a history of performing against high-end competition. At the plate, the left-handed hitter regularly shows above-average swing decisions at the plate while being one of the more polished bat-to-ball hitters with game power that he continues to harness and tap into. Also akin to seeing and recognizing spin, Santarelli is one of the toughest outs in the region with makeup to back it up. |
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Calvin Moreau SS / RHP / Monona Grove, WI / 2026UCF commit High ceiling athlete standing at 6-foot-3, 186-pounds with high-end ability on both sides of the ball. At the plate, the right-hander has shown repeated feel to hit in front of our staff while being a strong defender at shortstop where he has a shot to stick at the position as his career advances. Equally as intriguing of a prospect on the mound, clearly comfortable on the mound, Moreau showed repeated ability throughout 2024 to repeat his highly athletic delivery and throw consistent strikes with his arsenal. Mostly two pitches, running his fastball up to 91 mph locating the pitch throughout the zone, his go-to secondary is his mid-70s breaking ball that has the potential to develop into a true S/M option in the future. A high-level player on both sides of the ball with arguably the highest ceiling in the state, Moreau is a name-to-monitor heading into 2025. |
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Ben Kuglitsch RHP / OF / Muskego, WI / 2026Florida State commit Here's another highly athletic, two-way prospect inside the state. Very similar to Moreau across the board, the 6-foot-3, 173-pounds athlete is a high-end player on either side. On the mound, Kuglitsch possesses some of the top arm talent in the state. With feel to repeat his delivery and strikes with all pitches, a lively fastball up to 91 mph, his go-to secondary is a tight slider that he throws in the zone for S/M. At the plate, the right-hander has hit in front of our staff continuously this past summer/fall. Defensively in the outfield Kuglitsch is able to use his athleticism to track down baseballs at any spot in the outfield, paired with obvious arm strength Kuglitsch should be a capable defender as he gets more acclimated to the outfield. |
ARROWS UP IN THE TOP-25 📈
Generally, the end-of-fall rankings update is a pretty light one – and that remains the case here too. With that, there’s still some on-the-rise names to be made aware of inside the state’s top-25 as we head into the winter, headlined by a new name inside the top-10…
+ 🆕 No. 8, C Maddux Lessard (Muskego; uncommitted)
Lessard is technically debuting inside the top-10 in this update, although he was entrenched at the top of the Class of 2027 rankings prior to officially re-classifying into a junior at the end of this summer. Now, the Muskego backstop debuts at No. 8 overall on the ‘26 board. Lessard earned a place on Team Wisconsin at the Future Games after a stand-out spring for his high school, operating as the team’s everyday catcher, catching a loading rotation, all while pacing the lineup offensively – only as a freshman. We’ve seen Lessard shine defensively in-game, and he swings a heavy barrel, and his approach is defaulted to launch baseballs. Bringing his tools together for more consistent stretches while opposing players in this age group for a consecutive season could help him become a top-ranked player in an all new grad class soon.
Here's some more of Wisconsin's arrow-up juniors:
+ No. 4, LHP Colton Semmelmann (Brookfield Central; South Carolina)
The top left-hander in the state, Semmelmann has broken in truly impressive fashion throughout the year, initially breaking out at the West Milwaukee Preseason ID and subsequently making jumps in the spring and summer months. True three-pitch mix that he fills up the zone and with a starter's delivery. The fastball has been up to 91 mph with carry, cruising in the upper-80s; the breaking ball is his go-to secondary that he gets swings and misses with repeatedly. The changeup is a clear third pitch, going to it sparingly, however, showing comfort to throw it to both-handed batters. The loose and athletic mover has a high-ceiling in the state and is a name to continue to monitor.
+ No. 7, RHP/1B Brett Biondich (Kettle Moraine Lutheran, 2026; TCU)
Biondich was a TCU commit before he even stepped foot on campus at Kettle Moraine Lutheran, and the 6-foot-2, 200-pound two-way prospect has even more filling out to do. On the mound, Biondich has run his fastball up to 92 mph with a two-plane breaking ball in the upper-70s that he throws around in the zone, his changeup is still developing but he throws it hard in the upper-70s and out of the same window as the fastball. At the plate, Biondich is a powerful hitter capable of driving the baseball with authority to all fields.
+ No. 11, RHP Cameron Carter (Arrowhead, 2026; uncommitted)
Rising in this update after one of the top performances of the fall in the Midwest. Carter struck out 18 batters in seven innings at the Grand Park Fall Championships and taking a perfect game into his final frame too. A Future Gamer for us this past summer, the Arrowhead righty possesses tremendous arm talent. He's been up to 88 mph with a carry, deceptive fastball, and he pairs it off with a mid-70s breaking ball that tunnels off the heater very well. A long, lean 6-foot-4, 171-pound frame with a lot of room left to fill in his frame. We consider him one of the most gifted uncommitted right-handers we've seen in the region, to date.
+ No. 14, INF/OF Sam Abrahamson (Hudson, 2026; St. Thomas, MN)
Abrahamson is a physical and versatile right-handed hitter that has impressed our staff throughout the calendar year. Standing at 5-foot-11, 178-pounds frame with more room for add and a sub-7.00 runner. At the plate, Abrahamson can impact the baseball with authority, and he’s starting to tap into that power more consistently at the plate. Defensively, a natural defender at third but has grown comfortable with playing either corner outfield spot, adding to the profile. He committed to St. Thomas (MN) this fall.
+ No. 21, INF Trey Kerkhoff (Burlington, 2026; uncommitted)
Kerkhoff is an athletic bat-to-ball infielder standing at 6-foot, 181-pounds with one of the more polished hit tools in the class. At the plate, Kerkhoff takes a very direct path to the baseball, staying tight and compact throughout his swing, looking to make contact out in front. Defensively, Kerkhoff in an natural defender at third with soft hands and enough arm strength to stick on the left-side. This is a prospect who could still yet climb this board in the not-too-distant future.
STAYING HOME
Wisconsin’s only Division I program, UW-Milwaukee, was particularly busy this fall, picking up four early commits in the 2026 class before winter break.
The first of these commits was Future Gamer INF Brayden Alivo (St.Thomas More) who has been a consistent performer no matter the competition since starting his high school career. The lone arm of this group, LHP Tanner Buhlmann (Arrowhead) has turned heads this year, separating himself with a true three-pitch mix that he commands throughout the zone while really competing on the mound every time he’s out there.
INF Ian Kawczynski (Catholic Memorial) and OF Brayden Banyai (Madison Memorial) were two other Wisconsin natives to commit early, both are athletes who continue to get better and play with a lot of energy. Kawczynski is a 6.77 runner who looks the part of a smooth up-the-middle infielder; Banyai has an infectious competitive demeanor that plays both in the batter's box, as well as the mound, actually. He's a notoriously tough out with right-handed strength, especially for his stature.