Top-10 Stories of 2025: No. 2 Wisconsin High School Products Taken Out of College in the 2025 Draft
December 30, 2025
At the end of each calendar year, the Prep Baseball Wisconsin staff reflects back on the 10 most intriguing headlines that surrounded the baseball scene in the Badger State. Through the end of the month, we will break down the most impactful storylines from an eventful 2025 campaign, ending with our No. 1 story revealed Dec. 31.
The 2025 MLB Draft marked a historic moment for the State of Wisconsin, as 12 Wisconsin natives heard their names called, including three on Day One. For our staff, it was a full-circle experience as 11 of these names came from the collegiate level. Watching players we’ve tracked since their early amateur days, then through college, to now, reaching another milestone in what we hope will be long, successful careers. This Draft class not only marks the historic numbers, but also shows how baseball is unpredictable and how every player develops at different periods. From this class, four were Super-60 alum, eight were top 10 in the state, and six were nationally ranked. For the rest, they all find themselves scattered in the ranking from 28th to 105th, or even unranked in their own respective classes. Three of these names started their collegiate careers at the DII, DIII, and JUCO levels. In baseball, development isn’t linear; everyone reaches their peak at different times. What matters most is how you capitalize on that moment, and the preparation that led you there. The beauty of this game is that no matter where you start, you have the opportunity to climb the mountain and reach the top. This Draft class embodies that belief and is evident through their hard work and determination in every step of their journey.
DAY 1 OF THE DRAFT
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Gavin Kilen INF / Milton, WI / 2022 / Louisville → TennesseeRound 1, Pick 13, San Francisco Giants Kilen entered this year's draft with quite potentially the most impressive resume out of all the Wisconsin natives. Ending his three-year collegiate career slashing .323/.381/.554 with a .935 OPS, 24 home runs, 105 RBIs, and 45 doubles. Ending his final year in Tennessee, after two productive years at Louisville, Kilen would take home All-SEC first team and Baseball America All-American 1st team honors, while being named a Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist. The second baseman found himself flying up Draft boarders, landing as the 13th overall pick to the Giants, poised to rise through the minors. |
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Mitchell Voit 2B / Whitefish Bay, WI / 2022 / MichiganRound 1, Pick 38, New York Mets After showing as a potential two-way player during his first two years on campus, Voit officially retired on the mound and did not disappoint in his first season as a full-time second baseman. Appearing in all 56 of the Wolverines' games, Voit slashed .346/.471/.668, with a 1.159 OPS, 14 home runs, 17 doubles, 60 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases. Along with the bat, Voit only committed four errors at second, leading to a .986 FLD%. His outstanding 2025 season would lead him to take home All-Big Ten first team and D1Baseball All-American Third team, while also being named a Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist. Now, Voit finds himself in the Big Apple after being picked 38th overall. |
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Nate Snead RHP / South Milwaukee, WI / 2022 / TennesseeSUP-3 Round, Pick 105, Los Angeles Angels A 2024 College World Series Champion, Snead has been a crucial part of the Vols' trip to glory and a strong 2025 season. Looking back on the Vols' championship, Snead threw in five of the six World Series games, coming away with a save in game two and a clutch one and ⅔ innings in game three of the finals against Texas A&M. The right-hander didn’t stop there, being named to the 2025 Baseball America Preseason All-American first team and Preseason All-SEC first team, and appearing on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. After one year at Wichita State, Snead would end his final two years with the Vols, tossing 125 innings with a 3.67 ERA, 103 strikeouts, and 11 saves. |
DAY 2 OF THE DRAFT
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Rory Fox RHP / Catholic Memorial, WI / 2022 / Notre DameRound 6, Pick 194, New York Yankees With a breakout junior year, Fox found himself taking home All-ACC third team honors after an up-and-down sophomore year. In his junior year for the Fighting Irish, the right-hander tossed 65.1 innings, with a 3.58 ERA, 64 strikeouts, allowing only 27 walks, and started 14 games, with one of them being a complete game against Stanford. |
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Brady Counsell 3B / Whitefish Bay, WI / 2021 / Minnesota → KansasRankings StateRank: 28 / POS: 7
Round 10, Pick 303, Arizona Diamondbacks The son of Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell, Brady Counsell, transferred to Kansas after three seasons at Minnesota. He slugged 12 home runs and drove in 57 RBIs on the year, as well as being a recipient of the Division I Gold Glove at third base. |
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Will Vierling C / Homestead, WI / 2022 / Louisville → Murray StateRound 11 Pick 341, Philadelphia Phillies After two seasons with limited appearances in Louisville, Vierling was a pivotal member of a Murray State squad that made an appearance at Omaha in 2025. He hit .312 with 10 HRs and drove in 51 RBIs. A former Super60 participant and No. 5 player in the 2022 class, Vierling saw himself picked up by the Phillies in the 11th round. |
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Jacob Hartlaub RHP / Martin Luther, WI / 2021 / Ball StateRankings StateRank: 7 / POS: 3
Round 14, Pick 417, Tampa Bay Rays Jacob Hartlaub was the No. 7 ranked player in the 2021 class. Spending all four years of his college career at Ball State, Hartlaub started in all his 15 appearances in 2025. After 146.1 innings pitched for the Cardinals, Hartlaub finds himself in Tampa after being drafted in the 14th round. |
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Alex Breckheimer RHP / Chilton, WI / 2022 / Bryant Stratton JC → KansasRound 16, Pick 480, St. Louis Cardinals Breckheimer was unranked in our 2022 ranks, but made the most of his collegiate career. After an outstanding two years at Bryant Stratton JC, he found himself as a regular in the Jayhawks’ bullpen. In 33 appearances, he racked up 48 innings and picked up 50 strikeouts along the way. The right-hander stands in at an imposing 6-foot-5, 270-pound frame with an ability to hit 98 mph with his fastball, while also being the first ever Bryant Stratton alum drafted in the MLB.
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Luke Nowak OF / Menomonee Falls, WI / 2021/ East Carolina → UICRankings StateRank: 5 / POS: 1
Round 17, Pick 518, Kansas City Royals Nowak was the No. 5 ranked player in the 2021 class, and after three seasons at East Carolina, Nowak had a breakout season at Illinois-Chicago, putting up a .387/.455/.559 slash line with five home runs and 37 RBIs. He was also 28-for-30 in stolen-base attempts this year. As a result of his strong season, Nowak found himself selected to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Conference first team and All-Defensive team. |
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Tyler Schmitt RHP / Madison Memorial, WI / 2022 / Wisconsin-La Crosse → IllinoisRankings StateRank: 89 / POS: 26
Round 17, Pick 520, San Diego Padres Schmidt is another name that was low-ranked coming out of high school, landing himself ranked 89th in the Wisconsin class of 2022. After a strong two seasons as a Wisconsin-La Crosse starter, the right-hander became a regular member of the Fighting Illini’s rotation. Schmitt started on the mound in all 15 of his appearances this season, posting a 4.80 ERA in 80.2 innings pitched. |
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Ethan Cole LHP / Winnebago Lutheran Academy, WI / 2022 / AugustanaRankings StateRank: 105 / POS: 11
Round 20, Pick 587, Colorado Rockies Coming in as the 105th-ranked prospect in his class, Ethan Cole has steadily improved every season he has pitched at Augustana. Finding himself as a regular member of the rotation in 2025. After posting a 3.68 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 63.2 innings this season, he found himself picked up in the 20th round by the Colorado Rockies. |
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