Wisconsin Kids?

[CL55]

Who are the top kids from Wisconsin this year? The only people I have been hearing about this year are the same bunch I have been hearing last summer.

 

Oklahoma SS Ryan Rohlinger 6'0" 195 lbs. Junior R/R

Concordia-Wisconsin OF Adam Rohlinger 6'2" 180 lbs. Senior L/L

Concordia-Wisconsin P Luke Knuppenburg 6'5" 225 lbs. Senior R/L

Michigan 3B Kyle Bohm 6'3" 210 Senior R/R

Lakeside Lutheran P Jeff Maurer 6'4" 190 lbs. High School R/R

Sauk Prairie P Steve Hedgepath 6'3" 220 lbs. High School R/R

 

And I am sure I am missing more.

[colbyjack]

Last year definitely was a banner year for WI prospects. Right now, there doesn't seem to be any HS players that will be drafted in the top 10 rounds, and possibly the top 20. College middle IF Ryan Rohlinger without a doubt is the cream of the crop, but even he will be hard-pressed to be drafted in the top 5-10 rounds.

 

I was going to post some comments on the top prep players courtesy of Blazer25 from another forum, but I just found out those comments have been edited (deleted). Since Blazer25 has found his way to Brewerfan.net in recent weeks, hopefully he can fill us in on some of the top prep WI players.

[Blazer25]

Hey guys,

 

I'll do a little wrap up of HS/college 05 draft eligable kids after the hollidays...

 

Sound good?

[CL55]

With Rohlinger being in the Cape Cod League last year and being the MVP and on the Allstar team does that make him more attractive to get him in the top 10 rounds. And I also heard he may play some third at Oklahoma this year. If he can play all 3 spots on the infield that will improve his draft stock.

[wibball]

Last year may have been an exception to the rule for WI players drafted. I now wonder in the next few years if there will be any WI high school or college players that will be drafted in the top rounds.

 

When a good WI player leaves the state for a school they do ok but never come out considered a top MLB prospect. Except for the hs pitcher and the catcher from OK State(?) who were drafted somewhat early in 2004 there seems to be very few that could be considered "top prospects".

 

This is not a rip on WI baseball, just a reality check. There are tons of players in the US but by percentage only a few get that "top rounds" rating.

 

After thinking about this maybe WI players are not doing that bad after all.

[colbyjack]

Welcome aboard wibball. The pitcher and catcher you are thinking of are Erik Cordier from Southern Door, now with the Royals, and Jason Jaramillo of Ok. St., I believe with the Phillies. I wrote a story last winter focusing on the talented group of draft-eligible players:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewArt...icleId=168

 

We were definitely spoiled by the quality and quantity of draft-eligible prospects that were available in 2004.

 

An update on some of the other players covered in that story:

 

Tyler Beranek is now at UNLV.

 

Dusty Brabender is at Minnesota.

 

Brandon Hall is at Lake City CC, the same school as DFE Stephen Barnes.

 

Ryan Schweikert is at Spartanburg Methodist College, the same school as DFE Jimmy Coker.

 

Grant Berkovitz I believe is at UW-Milwaukee.

 

Here are the top HS WI prospects for '05 according to Prospects Plus:

 

Nolan Crawley,&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp C, Greenfield, WI

Nicholas Grunenwald,&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp SS, Merrill, WI

Tim Patzman, OF, Waukesha, WI

[wibball]

Some WI players go to the Northwoods league for summer ball, do you follow that much?

 

Most of those teams carry some WI guys and Eau Claire, a new team in our area I'm sure will also. I read where Tyler Beranek is going to LaCrosse with Dave Schultz and Travis Check. I don't if Maday, Zink and Rohde from the Madison Mallards will be back but I think all those guys were drafted out of High School.

 

Are they draft eligible this year? Do they have a chance to move up in the draft after school?

[colbyjack]

I saw my first Northwoods game late last summer, the last regular season game of the year actually for the Madison Mallards. I do follow some of the players, but not religiously.

 

Ryan Zink & Daryl Maday I did follow since they're local guys and Brewer draftees. Zink had a great summer, following a great freshman season at UIC. He was greeting people as they came into the stadium at that game I attended. I believe BA rated him the 3rd best prospect in the league.

 

I do hope to get to more games next year. The next Eau Claire team is a great addition, since my in-laws live in Chippwa Falls. I checked out part of a Cavaliers game last summer, and how can you not love Carson Park given the history? When I'm up there next summer you can be sure to find me in the stands somewhere if the Express are in town.

 

Beranek won't be draft eligible until 2007, after his junior year. Zink & Maday will be eligible in 2006. I wouldn't be surprised to see Zink on the Cape next summer, as he likely will be starting for UIC since I believe 2-3 of their starters from last year were drafted (I know Dave Haehnel was). All of these guys, especially Zink, have a great chance to move up in the draft. Zink shouldn't have fallen as far as he did, but as my scouting WI story points out, if (northern) players fall past the 5th round, more often than not these players might as well not be drafted at all since it's almost guaranteed they will attend school. I know scouts already love and are well aware of Zink's abilities.

[wibball]

colbyjack,

Your reply made me look closer at players college and summer numbers. At UIC Zink started 11 games, had 6 complete games, and then throw in being named the NCAA player of the week in May after throwing a conference no hitter. His freshmen college stats deserve a doubletake. UIC is not Miami or Texas so you figure it's a competion issue. I then went to the Madison Mallards site and those numbers are almost identical. If he can even come close to those results this year you may have a legit prospect in 2006.

 

The Eau Claire team is getting good city support. Between Eau Claire, LaCrosse, Wausau, and Madison you can find some good college baseball in WI. The Cape has history but I think the talent gap is narrowing. Stay on the in-laws good side and catch some Express games summer.

[Blazer25]

Here is a rundown of the DE kids from WI this year...

 

There really aren't any top prosepcts like the last few years...talent kind of comes and goes in Wisconsin. That being said:

 

Ryan Rohlinger IF Oklahoma University 7-10 th rounds

 

Ryan projects as a 2b but does flash power and the potential to be a big league hitter someday. Will be an above ave 2b and has off the chart makeup.

 

Kevyn Feiner IF Sun Prairie HS 30-40th rounds

 

2 MLB ave or plus tools (speed and arm) make Kevyn (brother of Twins farmhand Korey) a possible late round pick. If he shows well with the bat in the spring could move up.

 

 

Nick Grunenwald IF Merrill HS 37+ rounds

 

1 MLB plus tool (6.72 runner) and good overall athleticism make Nick a posible pick. Flashes some power and hitting ability...will depend on his swing this spring.

 

Steve Hedgepath RHP Sauk Prairie HS DNF

 

Strong RHP with 85-86 mph fb and bellow ave offspeed stuff may draw interest as a "raw arm".

 

Jordan Herbert RHP Nicolet HS DNF

 

Strong armed pitcher has touched 90 velocity. Needs to improve control and offspeed pitches. May draw interest for arm strength alone.

 

That's really all I see as potential draft kids...there are a lot of mid to high level college players this year which in the past hasn't been the case.

 

A note on Zink:

 

With a MLB ready body 6-4 210 and a low 90's FB (touching 95) plus 3 quality pitches Ryan looks like a top 10 rounder next year. Couldn't happen to a nicer kid. Outstanding makeup and a great pitcher.

[Madtown Bomber]

I think you are going to see the Milwaukee Brewers take a few of those project kids late in the draft this year. I know they have been getting a lot of heat lately for letting some of these kids slip through the cracks and atleast drafting a kid that they don't attend to sign anyways just to give them a good rep. Johnny Logan in the Milwaukee area is really beginning to deteriate. He was a heck of a player but no longer has the skills IMO to scout the area.

[colbyjack]

Johnny Logan may be a part-time scout in the area, but Harvey Kuenn Jr. is the main area scout around here. I think having Logan on board is more about keeping him with the team than actually leaning on him to accurately scout the area. I may be wrong, but that's my impression.

[MachMeister5]

EDIT: I spoke with an old friend from West Bend, and realized that I was thinking of someone different. First name of Ryan was correct, but the guy I was referring too was not Rollinger.... I

 

Apologies for the mistake...

[CL55]

I think you're nuts...he is nowhere near a headcase. Headcase and Ryan Rohlinger is so much of a polor opposite it isn't even close. He was suspended 1 game his senior year for going to play in the area code baseball games and missing 3 practices to play in that game. It had nothing to do with him being a headcase. The kid was a captain that year. He was the WIAA scholar athlete of the year. He was the validvictorian at East. He was the PRIDE person of the year. He ran the West Bend Rec Department Youth baseball deprartment during the summer from 01-03. So headcase he is not. He is the captain at Oklahoma. I think you are thinking of the wrong kid. Everyone that has ever run into Ryan will tell you he is the most humble and repectful individuals you will ever meet with the attention that he gets. You'd be pretty hard pressed to even get it out of him who he was or where he plays ball.

 

I am sure Blazer can attest since he coached him in club ball and it was his team that Ryan was on to get him suspended that one game.

[colbyjack]

I too have never heard a bad thing about Rohlinger. In fact, the people I have talked to about him can't stop raving about his character. I know Blazer always had the nicest things to say about him, as do the folks at Perfect Game.

[MachMeister5]

EDIT: post no longer needed...

[jon12272]

I do hope to get to more games next year. The next Eau Claire team is a great addition, since my in-laws live in Chippwa Falls. I checked out part of a Cavaliers game last summer, and how can you not love Carson Park given the history? When I'm up there next summer you can be sure to find me in the stands somewhere if the Express are in town.

------------------------

 

I agree Colby....Carson park has charm. I grew up going to Cavs games (from Altoona, right next to Eau Claire) and I have played at Carson when i was in high school. Just to think that Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, and a few others played at that park when the Eau Claire Bears were a minor league affiliate of the Milwaukee Braves.

[tlpc4]

Here is an interesting article on Nick Grunenwald .

link

 

Good to see someone from my alma mater getting some draft consideration.

[batman]

I just wanted to send a little love Ryan Rohlinger's way... he's been raking for the Sooners this season. In 97 ABs, he's hitting .371/.425/.515 with four doubles, two triples, two homers, and a 9-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Too many errors, but I'm not sure if that is a knock on his defensive abilities or just some bad luck.

 

He's no Alex Gordon, but it would be pretty sweet to see him in a Brewers uniform some day.

 

~Bill

[CL55]

The errors are not the problem with Rohlinger. He has made more great plays this year then he has bad.

 

Luke Knuppenburg, pitched a 4 hit shutout Saturday and continues to dominate. 2-0 in 3 starts. Just doesn't get run support.

[bjamesw22]

I have no idea how none of you guys that follow Wisconsin College and High School kids do not know about Greg Reinhard playing for UW-Whitewater and originally from Marinette, WI.

 

He played for the Madison Mallards last summer and threw a no-hitter and no one knows about him!?! He was Whitewater's #2 pitcher last year behind DIII player of the year Brady Endl and Reinhard started UW-Whitewater's final game against ECSU in the DIII College World Series and was pitching a 4 hit shutout in the bottom of the 9th inning with the Hawks up 1-0. He gave up a leadoff hit and Vodenlich stupidly put in a relief pitcher and on the first pitch the next guy hit a bomb to end the game 2-1.

 

And he's off to another amazing season this year:

 

Reinhard

 

33.2 innings pitched

.176 average against

45k's

5 walks

 

Shouldn't be an unknown.

[colbyjack]

I'm sure he's not unknown in the scouting community. He's not a top prospect, but he's a guy that most certainly will be drafted. Just because he's not mentioned doesn't mean no one knows about him. If you notice, there are a few players that people step up and make sure we all know about.

 

And since we didn't give Reinhard any love, the Journal-Sentinel has:

 

www.jsonline.com/sports/c...317241.asp

 

Check out the story on Jeff Newcomer, the Warhawks leading hitter, as well. And since you sound so offended that Reinhard wasn't mentioned, I can't believe you didn't bring his name up. C'mon man, he's hitting .550/.677/.975 in 40 ABs this season with an amazing 20 to 4 BB to K ratio.

 

(I would add a smiley to my above comments, but that would take away from the dry sarcasm that is meant to be intended).

[UeckerAddict]

Former West Madison Little League stud, Mike Gosling is going to be a solid future pitcher for the D-Backs. Wish the Crew would have got him.

[Blazer25]

i know all about Reinhard, I just didn't want to "out" him in fear that my area boss would be somewhat unhappy about it...

 

Anyway, yes he's a fringe prospect. The fact that he's at Whitewater will help him by the end of the season...