Wisconsin Class of 2026 Rankings: Update
April 7, 2026
After a long off-season and early start to the spring season, it is time for us to hit the refresh button on the class of 2026 rankings. This is the second to last update we will make for this group, with the final one coming at the conclusion of the spring.
AT THE TOP
A lot of eyes will be watching/evaluating the performances of the Top-2 which remains the same heading into the spring season 1B/OF Dominic Santarelli (St. Joseph) Louisiana State signee, RHP Tyson Grulkowski (Muskego) South Florida signee.
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Dominic Santarelli 1B / OF / St Joseph Catholic, WI / 2026
LSU signee: Continued to show off top of the class power potential, and that's not just hyperbole, with other tools to the profile to come with an already mature and hulking 6-foot-1, 224-pound frame. The hit tool evaluation will be on-going throughout the spring with an emphasis on evaluating the overall swing decisions and performance against spin. There’s an added layer of projection tied to exposure playing in a smaller division/conference in a cold weather state. 
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Tyson Grulkowski RHP / Muskego, WI / 2026
South Florida signee: Has made it routine at this point, to impresses when the eyes are on him. Somehow looking a more explosive, athletic and physical version of himself at the Super 60 standing at 6-foot-5, 234-pounds with physical strength throughout the entire frame; There may even be additional room to add if he chooses. Starters upside with a deceptive and potent arsenal, the fastball plays up beyond its velocity and shape with unique release characteristics. Seemingly innate feel to spin and kill spin on multiple upside secondary offerings that will all garner swing and miss this spring. 
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HIGH MLB DRAFT FOLLOWS
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Jace Mataczynski SS / Hudson, WI / 2026Auburn signee: Imposing and still projectable 6-foot-4, 193-pounds with clear room to continue to add to his frame. Smooth and athletic actions that translate in the dirt, and there’s a ceiling of above-average or better defense with an even better arm tool to pair with the chance to stick at a premium spot on the infield. Athletic yet still raw right-handed swing, however the feel to hit along with the swing-decisions stand out in game with loud performances against high-end prep arms from this past summer.
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Ben Kuglitsch OF / RHP / Muskego, WI / 2026
Florida State signee: One of, if not the top athlete in the country with tools littered throughout the profile and even on the mound. The right-hander has long shown feel for the barrel with natural leverage with bat-to-ball traits that stand out inside the state’s class. The impact potential remains to be completely realized and has been steadily ticking up throughout his prep career. Defensively looks the part of a center fielder at the next level with the athleticism and actions to provide plus defense at the position with an arm that grades out similarly or higher.
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Colton Semmelmann LHP / 1B / Brookfield Central, WI / 2026
South Carolina signee: Is in the conversation for one of the prep left-handers in the Midwest, coming off a standout bullpen from the Super 60. Starters look, living in the zone with three pitches that have played against both right and left handed batters with a fastball that has the potential to miss bats by itself and with more velocity seemingly on the way.
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+ C Jack Brenner (Fond du Lac) Oklahoma signee, SS Chance Ruby (Wilmot Union) Illinois-Chicago signee, OF Ezra Liggon (Vel Phillips Memorial) Bradley signee, SS Ian Kawczynski (Catholic Memorial) Wisconsin-Milwaukee signee are all high-end atheltes not only in the state but also nationally, each offering potential quality defense at premium positions up the middle.
+ Brenner is another twitchy athlete with a motor and feel at the plate. Polished defensive skillset behind the plate with feel to handle and receive high-end stuff and velocity with catch-and-throw traits that translate in game. Twitchy right-handed swing that continued to improve throughout 2025 with a number of standout performances in front of our staff. The athleticism behind the plate certainly stands out and gives him a ceiling as a defender as well as at the plate.
+ Ruby could some serious helium this spring as a legitimate MLB Draft candidate. The right-handed hitter has been one of the top performing hitters in the class throughout his prep career and has consistently shown a high-end and advanced bat-to-ball ability throughout multiple years, pairing that with a twitchy and athletic skillset with growing impact at the plate could see the stage for a true breakout year from the middle infielder.
+ Liggon oozes projection from an athletic and long-limbed 6-foot-4, 195-pound frame with high-end twitch and athleticism to pair. A performer in the box, with a twitchy left-handed swing showing improved bat speed over the winter at the Super 60 with a similarly ticked up power tool to pair. Defensively the outfielder is more than athletic enough to patrol center field and the reads/routes will determine the ceiling defensively.
+ Kawczynski has seen steady improvements to the profile throughout his prep-career, the athleticism has ticked up in a big-way from the physical yet projectable 6-foot, 177-pound infielder. A natural defender with soft and athletic hands and athletic and twitchy yet fluid feet with range to stick at shortstop and provide above-average or better defense long-term. The arm plays more than enough at the spot, the body control also stands out with the ability to make firm and on-target throws from different angles and slots. Smooth and easy right-handed swing with feel to drive the ball on a line to all fields with more impact on the way as he matures into the frame.
ROUNDING OUT THE TOP-15
+ RHP Cameron Carter (Arrowhead) Illinois-Chicago signee: Athletic, 6-foot-4 right-hander with clear room to continue to add to his frame as he matures. On the mound the right-hander has flashed feel to repeat consistently across longer outings, the fastball routinely works into the low-90s and plays with true vertical four-seam action with feel to spin an advanced and hard breaking ball out of the same window, the changeup feel is still developing but has flashed downer fading action at an advanced velocity in the past.
+ LHP Montgomery O’Brien (Wauwatosa East) Notre Dame signee: Came away a clear winner from the inaugural Wisconsin Preseason Procase. Showing feel to repeat a stretch only delivery out of the pen with a dynamic arsenal working with more feel for each pitch than in prior looks. The fastball sat in the low-90s with life, flashing carry at times while topping out at 94 mph. Showed feel to spin two different and firm breaking balls with sharp and late action and kill spin on a diving and firm changeup to pair with a sinking fastball that plays in the low-90s.
+ INF/RHP Cal Moreau (Monona Grove) Central Florida signee: Twitchy athlete with a frame that can continue to get physical as he matures. At the plate the right-handed hitter swings an athletic bat and has a history of performing at the plate, similarly on the mound as the right-hander can reach into the low-90s with feel to locate throughout the zone and spin a bigger and firm breaking ball. Defensively the infielder can profile anywhere on the diamond and has the actions to stick in the dirt long-term with a chance to stick at a premium position as well.
+ INF Caleb Liggon (Vel Phillips Memorial) Bradley signee: Similarly to his brother the right-handed hitter is a high-end athlete with twitch and lean strength to a projectable 6-foot-4 frame. At the plate the right-handed hitter has consistently performed in front of our scouts with feel to impact and drive the ball in the air. A clean and athletic defender with more polish and feel for the spot with an athletic arm action that plays on the move and looks like a capable defender on the left-side of the diamond.
+ RHP Mason Schmidt (Somerset) Wisconsin-Milwaukee signee: Imposing 6-foot-4 right-hander with further projection physically to his hulking frame. Potential power arsenal with added velocity, flashing feel to locate and spin/kill spin, the fastball works in the zone sitting in the low-90s flashing carry and plane at the top of the zone. The slider is thrown hard and in the zone with bigger two-plane action averaging 2,577 RPMs. Three more secondaries to the arsenal; a bigger 11/5 curveball with a firm fading changeup and a two-seam/sinking fastball.
+ INF Trey Kerkhoff (Burlington) Purdue signee: A standout hitter in the class with innate ability to drive the ball in the air standing at a lean and strong 6-foot, 194-pound frame. The right-handed hitter swings a twitchy and balanced bat that has routinely performed in front of our staff no matter the opposing pitcher. Defensively the defender plays with clean actions profiling at either corner.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR UPDATED CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS
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