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West Milwaukee Preseason ID: 2026/2027 Quick Hits

February 26, 2026
Wisconsin Scouting Staff

On February 22, Prep Baseball Wisconsin hosted its latest event along the 2026 winter showcase circuit, the annual West Milwaukee Preseason ID at GRB STiKS Academy in Waukesha, WI. Around 100 players made it out to this event, providing us with updated looks and a new list of prospects to follow in an area of Wisconsin that regularly produces some of the state’s top talent.

Today, we’ll be highlighting the players who stood out in Waukesha within this Quick Hits piece for the 2026/2027 players in attendance. 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.

QUICK HITS

POSITION PLAYERS

+ INF Cooper Schaefgen (Oconomowoc, 2027; Louisville commit) owns a physical 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame that already boasts immense strength. His performance at the plate was eye-popping to put it mildly, registering an event-best 106 mph max exit velocity and maintaining a staggering 97.7 mph average. Operating with 14g of rotational acceleration and a 75.3 mph average bat speed, the right-handed hitter drove his farthest ball an event-best 388 feet with an elite 71% sweet spot rate. The ease at which the Louisville commit operates is impressive considering explosiveness at which he gets through the baseball consistently. On the dirt, Schaefgen utilizes a short and consistent arm stroke to fire the ball accurately across the diamond and should have no issues sticking at third base in the future. Schaefgen is a nationally ranked player and for good reason. His stock will continue to rise going forward.

+ OF Chace Staude (Kettle Moraine, 2027; Notre Dame commit) is a premium athlete, checking in at a strong 6-foot, 170 pounds, and he immediately made his mark by blazing an event-best 6.56 in the 60-yard dash. His twitchy athleticism translates effortlessly into the box, where 19g of rotational acceleration and a 72.5 mph average bat speed generated a peak exit velocity of 98 mph (94.9 mph average). Defensively, he continues to display instincts and actions that make him an impact player on that side of the ball. He showcased impressive arm strength by uncorking throws at an event-best 93 mph with massive carry. Staude took a big step forward from an already elevated profile and remains one of the top players in the state and a player who is getting noticed on the national stage.

+ MIF Cooper Sievert (Wisconsin Lutheran, 2027; West Virginia commit) brings an athletic 5-foot-11, 174.4-pound frame to the middle infield. The right-handed hitter logged a top-five 60-yard dash at 6.75 and backed it up with a loud round of batting practice. Sievert hits with a compact, controllable and explosive swing getting to an impressive 75.2 mph average bat speed, finding the barrel for a peak exit velocity of 100 mph (91.8 mph average) and a max distance of 384 feet. As high as we are on the bat, the glove may be the carrying tool. He is a smooth mover with quick actions. He showed plenty of arm strength producing an event-best 91 mph of infield velocity across the diamond. He is an accurate thrower and there is a reliable feel to how he operates in the infield. Sievert is a top prospect in the state with both floor and ceiling to the profile. He continues to impress our staff and we remain extremely high on the player.

+ OF Colton Topp (Arrowhead, 2027) brings a wiry, projectable 6-foot, 183 pound build and produces top-tier batted ball data from an explosive and efficient left-handed swing. The Junior outfielder turns the barrel efficiently with 10g of rotational acceleration and a 74.1 mph average bat speed. His flat, on-plane path yielded a stellar 73% sweet spot rate, generating a peak exit velocity of 101 mph, one of the top three marks of the day and a 94.9 mph average. He drove his best ball 363 feet as well. He was consistently on the barrel and showcased the ability to drive the ball to all fields. On defense, Topp is athletic with plenty of speed to play the outfield at a high level (his 6.99 seconds 60-yard dash was the 15th best mark of the day) Topp also possesses enough arm strength to play all three outfield spots. later showcased an 86 mph arm from the outfield.

+ C Ethan Miller (Slinger, 2027) is a sturdy, physical backstop at 5-foot-10, 196 pounds, and his defensive metrics paced the event. He recorded the day's best pop times, ranging from 1.81 to 1.91, paired with a 79 mph catcher velocity. His throws showed carry and accuracy through the base consistently. At the plate, Miller displays impressive raw physical strength getting through the baseball, consistently working under control to deliver a 99 mph peak exit velocity and a 94.7 mph average. His impressive 90% sweet spot rate allowed him to backspin the baseball a max distance of 379 feet. The junior backstop is certainly a name to know in the state and his performance on Saturday confirmed it.

+ C/OF Tyler Smeiska (Mukwonago, 2027) makes the most of his compact, strong 5-foot-7, 170-pound frame, showcasing dynamic tools. He started his day by running the 11th quickest 60 yard dash time of 6.87 seconds and jumped the 4th highest vertical jump at 26.7 inches. On defense, he posted an event-best 83 mph velocity from the crouch with pop times spanning 1.94-2.06, while also dialing his throws up to 90 mph from the outfield. At the plate, he whipped the bat through with 72 mph of bat speed to register a peak exit velocity of 96 mph (94 mph average). His accurate barrel (86% sweet spot rate) consistently elevated contact to the middle of the field. Our staff remains very high on Smeiska.

+ MIF Cayden Burtness (Pewaukee, 2027) is an athletic middle infielder who will continue to add to his 5-foot-8, 160-pound frame. He showcased impressive twitch and speed, running a 6.86 60-yard dash which is the 10th best mark of the day. With the bat, he operates from an open setup with a clean and easy rhythmic move. Burtness matched 15g of rotational acceleration with a 71.1 mph bat speed to produce a 97 mph max exit velocity and a 91.4 mph average. His swing stays on plane exceptionally well, which allowed him to secure an 83% sweet spot rate and drive the ball 357 feet. Defensively, he moves with fluidity and ease with a quick and twitchy first step which allows him to range to balls to both sides. His 85 mph throws across the infield were accurate with carry and he showed the ability to throw from multiple arm angles. Burtness continues to shine in front our staff and he’s poised for a big 2027 spring and summer season.

+ OF Alex Michna (New Berlin Eisenhower, 2027) possesses a strong, sturdy build at 6-foot, 190 pounds and backs it up with an exceptional 161.3-pound right-hand grip strength. His physicality translates to high-end athleticism, yielding a 6.78 60-yard dash, the 7th best time of the event. In the box, the left-handed hitter sequences tightly with an elite 19g of rotational acceleration and a 73.9 mph bat speed. His strong hands and flat path allowed him to backspin the baseball consistently throughout the round and record a 98 mph peak exit velocity, a 93.8 mph average, and a max distance of 357 feet. Defensively, he possesses quality actions, clean transfers and a strong arm (88 mph) with carry through the target. Michna put himself on the map last summer and is poised for a monster spring after his performance on Sunday.

+ OF Logan Peterson (Pewaukee, 2027) is a highly projectable 6-foot, 165-pound athlete who turned in an event-best 6.59 60-yard dash, the second-fastest time of the entire showcase. The right-handed hitter sequences efficiently, utilizing 14g of rotational acceleration and a 69.3 mph bat speed to record a max exit velocity of 96 mph and a 91.9 mph average. His direct path and feel for the barrel recorded a max distance of 342 feet. Defensively, Peterson moves exceptionally well in the outfield, working cleanly through the ball with an 85 mph arm from a compact, high-3/4 slot. Peterson is a guy our staff has always liked and continues to be on our radar going into the spring.

+ INF Kellen Pluess (East Troy, 2027) boasts a strong, well-proportioned 5-foot-11, 180-pound build and produces top-tier data at the plate. The left-handed hitter generates significant whip through the zone, highlighted by an advanced 19g of rotational acceleration and a 74 mph average bat speed. That quick, explosive turn allowed him to reach a 100 mph peak exit velocity with a 93.7 mph average, driving his farthest ball 351 feet with a 67% sweet spot rate. Defensively, he pairs a 7.18 60-yard dash with an athletic shuffle-to-throw, firing bullets across the diamond up to 87 mph. Pleuss is looking poised for a monster spring.

+ OF Dillon Herling (Franklin, 2027) operates with a compact, athletic 5-foot-10, 150.6-pound frame that flashes solid present strength. He recorded the third-fastest 60-yard dash of the event at 6.60 seconds. He has a handsy and direct path and showcased the ability to get the barrel to the ball consistently. The right-handed hitter drove the ball with a peak exit velocity of 93 mph (84.2 mph average) and a max distance of 340 feet. In the outfield, Herling posted a top throw of 84 mph, showcasing a quick trigger and athletic feet. It was another good look at the athletic junior outfielder.

+ INF Cason Genin (Verona Area, 2027) stands an athletic and twitchy 5-foot-9, 161 pounds. Genin showed some quick burst off the line of the 60 yard dash and ran a solid 7.02 seconds sprint. With the bat, the junior infielder boasted a 91 mph max exit velocity from a quick yet controlled right handed swing. Genin was through the middle of the field consistently throughout his round and drove a ball 310 feet. On defense, he was smooth, fluid and consistent with his actions and with the completion of the throws through the target. Genin is a name that remains firmly on our staff’s radar.

+ INF Robbie Johnson (St. Joseph, 2027) is an interesting junior infielder that had a solid day with the bat and the glove on Sunday. With the bat, Johnson hits with a short and compact right handed swing with lightening quick bat speed and produced an impressive 96.4 mph max exit velocity. Johnson can pick it with the glove with soft hands and an accurate arm with carry. Overall, it was another good look at Robbie Johnson.

+ INF Charlie Appleby (Burlington, 2027) is a steady and dependable defender in the middle infield and is a name our staff was impressed with after the overall performance on Sunday. He was up to 93 mph max exit velocity from a repeatable and consistent right handed swing. In the infield, Appleby showcased quality rhythm and actions that will likely indicate that he will be able to stick in the middle of the diamond on the dirt. It’s a reliable and winning type ballplayer feel to the profile and our staff has him firmly on their radar going into the spring.

+ INF Liam Gann-Dudgeon (Whitefish Bay, 2027) brings a strong and sturdy 6-foot, 200-pound frame to the box. From a stock setup, abd a very quiet approach, the right-handed hitter lands in a very strong launch position to generate a 96 mph max exit velocity and an 86.6 mph average. His direct path and well-sequenced and efficient bat path produced a max distance of 331 feet. Defensively, he threw 71 mph across the infield from an accurate 3/4 slot. Gann-Dudgeon is firmly on our staff’s radar heading into the spring.

+ C Owen Kieffer (Evansville, 2027) is an athletic backstop who measured in at an athletic and projectable 5-foot-10, 165 pounds. Kieffer displayed a flat swing from the right side and was peppering the back of the cage at 96 mph max exit velocity. His 1.97 pop time with a 79 mph throwing velocity was also impressive and the backstop showed some natural feel for the catching position overall. Kieffer has a multi-faceted toolset and is a follow catch-and-throw backstop.

+ INF Layne Guardiola (Wauwatosa West, 2027) established himself as an intriguing follow after his performance on Sunday. Guardiola showcased a quiet approach at the plate with an efficient swing with a very quiet head. He reached 93 mph max exit velocity and was consistently on the barrel. On defense, Guardiola showed a quick first step with range to both sides. The junior infielder has put himself on the map.

TWO-WAYS

+ C/RHP Andrew Belott (Wisconsin Lutheran, 2026; Wisconsin-La Crosse commit) boasts a strong and athletic frame which should continue to add strength. He started his stellar day by running a bursty and explosive 6.90 60-yard dash and jumping a whopping 29.2 inch vertical which was far and away an event best. As a right-handed hitter, his strong, flat bat path translates into a 98 mph max exit velocity and an 89.7 mph average exit velocity, with Belott consistently finding the barrel while driving the ball through the middle of the field. On the mound, the right-hander utilizes an athletic, drop-and-drive delivery and a compact, loose arm action from a 3/4 slot, generating an 84-85 mph fastball with an average spin of 2,152 rpm, featuring armside run and sink. He has quality touch and feel for the ball and for the strike zone using the fastball to set up the rest of his arsenal. He complements this with a sharp, sweeping slider at 75-76 mph (2,324 rpm average spin) and an 80-81 mph changeup with sinking action. Belott is a premium athlete whose strength and athleticism will continue to tick up and makes him a highly intriguing prospect.

+ INF/RHP Keenan Davis (Waukesha West, 2027) possesses a projectable 6-foot, 185-pound build that should continue to add strength. The right-handed hitter starts from a stock setup into a toe-tap gather, landing balanced with a quiet hand trigger. He generates a direct path that matches the plane early in the swing sequence, showing feel for the barrel and an up-the-middle approach. On the mound, the right-hander features a controlled delivery with a higher knee lift, working from a compact, loose 3/4 slot. His fastball sits 79-80 mph, topping at 81 mph, with an average spin of 2,055 rpm, showing armside run and feel and the ability to drive the ball through the zone consistently. Davis commands a sharp 12/6 breaking ball with 2,300 rpm average spin and a sinking changeup thrown with fastball intent with 1,691 rpm. His strong pitchability and developing offensive profile make him an intriguing two-way prospect.

+ RHP/OF Sean Steger (Appleton East, 2027) Had a quality showing as a two-way talent at the event on Sunday. Steger, a right-handed hitter, showcased a 91 mph max exit velocity and an 83.5 mph average exit velocity from a flat swing that he was able to repeat consistently throughout his round. On the mound, his fastball sits 82-84 mph, touching 84 mph, with a max spin rate of 2,168 rpm, showing firm feel, armside run, and sink. He pairs it with a 70-71 mph slider that has a tight 2/8 break and a 75-76 mph changeup with armside run. Steger projects as a high-feel two-way prospect with a balanced offensive and defensive skillset.

PITCHERS

+ RHP Chase Wolter (Whitefish Bay, 2027) continues to impress our staff with what he is able to do on the mound. Our staff believes this is a starter profile especially with how the delivery works getting down the mound. He is a clean and athletic mover with a drop-and-drive lower half from a 3/4 slot. His fastball touched 90 mph, averaging 2,058 rpm and topping at 2,090 rpm, demonstrating 18 inches of vertical break and 11.9 inches of armside run. He continues to display tremendous feel for his delivery and feel for the baseball for the fastball to play to all four quadrants which help the quality secondary offerings to play even better in and out of the zone. The slider, thrown 76-77 mph, averaged 2,168 rpm and 13.2 inches of horizontal sweep with sharp, 2/8 break. He complements his arsenal with a 78-79 mph changeup, showing heavy sink and 13.0 inches of armside run, averaging 1,469 rpm. Wolter projects as a high-upside arm with a deep and effective three-pitch mix and our staff is excited to see this high-ceiling/high-floor right-handed arm this spring.

+ LHP Mason Horn (Muskego, 2027; Purdue) is one of the top left-handers in a deep 2027 class. Standing at an athletic 6-foot, 175-pound frame with twitch and continued room to add on to the frame as he matures. Athletic and repeatable hybrid delivery with feel to work in rhythm and in sync. Quick and repeatable arm action to pair with feel to locate all three pitches in the zone, the fastball sat 87-88 mph throughout the ‘pen with life out of the hand and feel to locate to areas of the zone. Feel for two secondaries, the slider has been the go-to in-game sitting 76-77 mph with short wrinkle action and a fading changeup at 78-80 mph.

+ RHP Carson Lysaght (Elkhorn, 2027) is an uncommitted junior to know in the region. A controlled, repeatable mover down the mound at 5-foot-9, 161-pounds paired with a loose, shorter arm stroke. He showed two different fastballs at 86-88 mph; his four-seam played clean out of the hand with life and run through the zone, while his two-seam had more run to it to the arm-side with feel for the strike zone. He showed two breaking balls; a 73-75 mph curveball with 12/6 downer action to it with high spin (avg. 2628 rpm), and a 74-75 mph slider that had sharp action and high spin (avg. 2719 rpm) with the slider having better feel for the zone of the two. Lysaght would round out his arsenal with an 80-81 mph circle-change that displayed fade and some sink (avg. 4.0” IVB). A starter profile, with more to come in the future.

+ RHP Max Nemoir (New Berlin Eisenhower, 2027) offers a sturdy, physical 6-foot-1, 194-pound build. Operating from a repeatable drop-and-drive lower half, the right-hander ran his fastball up to 87 mph (sitting 85-87 mph) with late riding life and heavy armside run, logging 19.2 inches of induced vertical break and 13.7 inches of horizontal movement. He features a high-spin sweeper at 75-77 mph that peaked at 2,404 rpm with tight horizontal breaking action. Nemoir rounds out his mix with a 77-78 mph fading changeup that mirrors his fastball's armside shape with late fading action as it gets through the hitting zone. Nemoir is looking to have a big spring.

+ RHP Carter Tuerk (Arrowhead, 2027) is a right-handed pitcher who continues to elevate his stock with how he performs in front of our staff both in game and in the showcase setting. Sunday’s look was no different. Tuerk uses a short rocker step into a controlled, slightly coiled delivery, finishing with balance and repeatability to how it all works. He has a quick arm to which helps the fastball sit in the 83-84 mph range, topping out at 84 mph, with late life. He pairs this with a 12/6 top to bottom curveball at 73-74 mph, along with a 77-78 mph slider with a short and quick 12/6 shape and break to it. His stuff played well out of the stretch, and he projects as a versatile arm with a deep arsenal.

+ RHP Jack Boerst (Arrowhead, 2027) is a right-handed pitcher with a three-pitch mix and a starter’s profile that is very intriguing to our staff. Boerst has a repeatable and controlled delivery that he utilizes his lower half very well by getting into his back hip with a slight coil over the rubber. He employs a loose, longer arm stroke from a 3/4 slot as he gets through the baseball. His fastball sits 82-84 mph, topping out at 84 mph, quality arm side run and sink, backed by an elite maximum spin rate of 2,504 rpm and an average spin of 2,456 rpm. Boerst complements his fastball with a 74-76 mph curveball that exhibits late 11/5 bite, flashes above-average spin at 2,325 rpm on average, and can land in the zone with the offering. He also features a 78-80 mph slider with and quick two plane break. Boerst's ability to generate high spin rates on multiple pitches suggests a high upside arm with quality touch and feel for the ball. Our staff remains “in” on the right-hander.

+ RHP Collin Vander Vliet (Brookfield East, 2027) features a clean, athletic delivery on a 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame. Operating from a compact 3/4 slot, the right-hander ran his fastball up to 84 mph, peaking at 2,306 rpm with 14.7 inches of induced vertical break and 2.9 inches of horizontal movement. He pairs his firm heater with a 74-76 mph breaking ball (2,298 rpm) that plays with 12/6 break, alongside a heavy-sinking 76-78 mph changeup that features 14.8 inches of armside fade. There is an ease to the operation that Vliet works with getting down the mound and through the baseball indicating that he will be able to work as a starter and be a durable one at that.

+ RHP James Cirincione (Whitefish Bay, 2027) delivered a solid performance on the mound on Sunday. He was up to 84 mph from a high 3/4 arm slot and was up to 19.8 inches of induced vertical break. He has a very quick arm with downhill plane which allows him to pair the fastball with a couple secondary pitches including a sharp 12/6 breaking ball and a change up with late fading action as it gets to the hitting zone. Cirincione is an interesting name heading into the spring.

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