As we head into Week 3 of the Division I baseball season, several Wisconsin natives are already making their presence felt. Though it’s still early, these players have wasted no time stepping into key roles and delivering when it matters most. From clutch performances to consistent production, they’re quickly becoming names to watch this spring. Take a look below at the standout Wisconsin natives from 02/13-02/22 of the 2026 D1 season.

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CLASS OF 2022

Hitters

OF Joey Nerat⏐Campbellsport⏐Iowa

.478/.556/.696, 1.252 OPS, 4 RBI, 5 2B, 3 BB

• Finding his footing in Iowa after spending his first three years at Dallas Baptist University, Nerat has propelled himself as a front-of-the-line bat in the BIG 10. After being left out of the lineup in the season opener, Nerat has cemented himself at the top of the Hawkeye lineup.

OF Dylan O’Connell⏐Eau Claire Memorial⏐UW-Milwaukee

.292/.379/.500, .879 OPS, 6 RBI, 1 HR, 2 2B, 3 BB

• Transferring in from Western Kentucky, O’Connell has been a bright spot in the UW-Milwaukee lineup. After three straight weekend series against LSU and Duke, the right-handed bat has been a consistent producer against high-level arms.

INF Kyle Schupmann⏐Luther Prep⏐Illinois

.286/.429/.286, .715 OPS, 2 RBI, 5 BB

• After spending his first two years at Louisville, the now redshirt junior enters his second year with the Fighting Illini. Maintaining his position in the middle of the order, expect more power from the bat that produced 13 HR the year prior.

INF Will Johannes⏐Mukwonago⏐Illinois

.278/.316/.611, .927 OPS, 8 RBI, 2 HR

• Another Wisconsin native, a part of this Illini lineup, Johannes enters his second year with the program after spending his first two with Madison JC. After appearing in 21 games last year, the big right-hander is set to play a bigger role, producing a pinch-hit two-run bomb against South Florida in the top of the 10th to open up the year.

Pitchers

RHP Thomas Harper⏐Wauwatosa East⏐Illinois State

9.0 IP, 2.00 ERA, 7 SO, 3 BB, 6 H, 1-0

• The Friday night arm for the Red Birds, Harper, has been everything you would want out of your ace. Look for him to be the leader for the rest of the spring for the Illinois State staff.

RHP Mason Buss⏐Arrowhead⏐UIC

7.0 IP, 2.57 ERA, 5 SO, 0 BB, 5 H

• After three seasons with Kansas State, Buss now lands with UIC, where he looks to transition into a long-relief role/starter mix.

RHP Jaxson Easterlin⏐Franklin⏐Oakland

5.2 IP, 1.59 ERA, 1 SO, 6 H, 1 BB

• It's been a strong start to the year out of the bullpen for Jaxson Easterlin. Looking set to take on high-leverage innings after being a key piece in the Girrizzlie bullpen for his four years there.

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CLASS OF 2023

Hitters

OF Jake Schaffner⏐Janesville Craig⏐UNC

.357/.472/.607, 1.078 OPS, 5 RBI, 1 HR, 2 3B, 2 BB

• The former North Dakota State standout has wasted no time establishing himself with the Tar Heels. Known as a power bat, the left-handed bat hasn't skipped a beat, looking set to be more than advertised as he resides as the lead-off man in Chapel Hill.

INF Cal Fisher⏐Deerfield⏐FSU

.304/.370/.391, .761 OPS, 8 RBI, 2 2B, 3 BB

• Fisher has put together an outstanding career with the Seminoles and now heads into his junior season projected as a Day Two selection in this July’s draft. So far this year, the right-handed bat has looked to continue his development, setting the stage for an exciting spring.

INF Alex Alicea⏐St. Thomas More⏐Louisville

.276/.300/.345, .645 OPS, 4 RBI, 2 2B, 1 BB

• A 2025 Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist, Alicea has started this year off with a hot bat. Looking to return to the College World Series as he leads the top of the lineup as this year's starting shortstop.

C Max Kalk⏐Kimberly⏐Ball State

.308/.400/.385, .785 OPS, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 1 BB

• After an impressive sophomore year campaign, Kalk leads off right where he started at the top of Ball State's lineup. His best game came this past sunday where he went 3-for-3 with a double and a walk.

INF Ethan Hindle⏐Arrowhead⏐Kentucky

.320/.429/.680, 1.109 OPS, 8 RBI, 5 2B, 6 BB

• After a promising start to his sophomore year, Hindle’s season would end early due to a foot injury, but he looks to have fully recovered as he starts his junior year with authority. After a strong summer with the Kenosha Kingfish, Hindle hasn't skipped a beat and is set to be one of the Wildcats top producers this spring.

INF Marcelino Edison Alonso ⏐Reedsburg Area⏐Indiana State

.273/.320/.409, .729 OPS, 6 RBI, 1 HR, 2 BB

• An incoming transfer from Madison JC, Alonso has continued to perform. Becoming a run producer in the middle of the Sycamore lineup.

C/OF Dominic Kilbler⏐New Berlin West⏐UW-Milwaukee

.227/.433/.545, 0.978 OPS, 3 RBI, 2 HR, 1 2B, 7 BB

• Another UW-Milwaukee bat that has shown well against high-level pitching. The left-handed bat’s best game came against LSU, where he went 2-for-4 with 1 RBI and 1 2B. Where he followed up on Sunday, going 1-for-2 with 1 RBI, 1 HR, and 2 BB.

C/OF Jake Busson⏐Hudson⏐UIC

.250/.323/.571, .894 OPS, 4 RBI, 2 HR, 1 2B, 1 3B

• After spending two years with Iowa Central, Busson finds himself at the top of the Flames roster and continues to impress with his power.

C/OF Thomas Curry⏐Arrowhead⏐UIC

.250/.290/.393, .683 OPS, 3 RBI, 2 2B

• Another Flames bat for Wisconsin, Curry started his career at Missouri, but now finds himself being a strong producer within the UIC lineup.

Pitchers

RHP Thomas Burns⏐Hortonville⏐Texas

3.2 IP, 2.45 ERA, 9 SO, 2 BB, 1 H, 1 SV

• Set to be the closer this year, Burns is a power right-handed arm that looks to lead the Longhorn bullpen this year. You’ll be sure to see him in high-leverage situations with the chance to be a top reliever in the SEC.

RHP Cole Selvig⏐Regis⏐Minnesota

9.1 IP, 5.79 ERA, 9 SO, 6 BB, 9 H, 1-0

• Selvig took the mound as the Gophers' opening day starter against Steston where he tossed 3.1 innings, striking out four. He would follow this up with a Saturday start against Northeastern, tossing six innings, striking out five, and allowing two runs.

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CLASS OF 2024

Hitters

INF Javin Gaurhier⏐De Pere⏐Valpo

.526/.640/.842, 1.482 OPS, 8 RBI, 1 HR, 2 2B, 6 BB

• One of the top producers from the state of Wisconsin, Garhier has been one of the hottest bats in all of college baseball. His best game yet came this saturday going 3-for-4 with four RBIs, 1 homer run, one double, and one walk.

INF Eddie Peters⏐Deerfield⏐Xavier

.360/.429/.600, 1.029 OPS, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 3 2B, 2 BB

• After a struggle-filled first year, Peters jumped out to a hot start and looks to ride this momentum into the warmer weather. The power and run-producing capabilities have all ticked up as he looks to be a reliable bat for Xavier.

INF Mason Roell ⏐West Bend East⏐Indiana State

.500/.636/.1.250, 1.886 OPS, 1 RBI, 1 HR, 1 2B, 2 BB

• This is a bat that has seen limited time this year but has made the most of it. Roell made his first two starts this past weekend, where he asserted himself in a loud way Saturday, going 3-for-4, a single short of the cycle.

INF Jackson Brewer⏐Homestead⏐Columbia

.250/.400/.500, .900 OPS, 5 RBI, 1 HR, 2 BB

• This weekend, Brewer took over the starting job and impressed in his Saturday start, going 2-for-4 with four RBIs and one home run.

INF Keagen Jirschele⏐Mosinee⏐SDSU

.240/.367/.400, .618 OPS, 1 2B, 1 BB

• After spending his first year as a two-way Jirschele looks to become a mainstay in the middle of the infield. The right-handed bat started the year off hot in week one and will look to build off that momentum for the rest of the year.

Pitchers

RHP Noah Wech⏐Manitowoc Lincoln⏐Oklahoma St

5.1 IP, 1.69 ERA, 6 SO, 4 BB, 2 H, 1 SV, 1-0

• Another Wisconsin arm looking to see high-leverage innings out of the bullpen. Wech played a pivotal role in Oklahoma State's victory over Vanderbilt, tossing 3.1 innings, allowing one hit, one run, and striking out four.

RHP Kyle Alivo⏐St. Thomas More⏐Iowa

5.2 IP, 3.18 ERA, 7 SO, 3 BB, 3 H, 1 SV

• Alivo is an electric arm out of the Iowa bullpen now showing the fastball up to 98 mph. The flam-throwing right-hander has played a pivotal role early in the season, making a case to be a weekend starter in the near future.

RHP Adam Urban⏐Wauwatosa⏐Minnesota

3.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 6 SO, 0 BB, 3 H

• Urban looks to play an important role within the Minnesota bullpen this year. His last appearance was brief, but during his first outing, he tossed three innings, allowing one hit, walking one, and striking out five.

RHP Avery Duncan⏐Notre Dame Academy⏐DBU

3.1 IP, 2.70 ERA, 3 SO, 0 H, 2 BB

• Duncan saw his first innings on the mound this past weekend and did not disappoint. Not allowing a single hit and only one run out of the bullpen for DBU.

RHP Sam Mommer⏐St. Thomas More⏐Illinois

2.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 4 SO, 2 H, 1 BB

• Another St. Thomas More product, Mommer, enters his first year with the Illini after transferring in from Wisconsin-Parkside. His lone appearance came against Butler this past Tuesday, where he looks to build up to become a reliable weekend arm.

RHP Ethan Plog ⏐Bat Port⏐LSU

1.2 IP, 5.40 ERA, 4 SO, 2 H, 2 BB, 1-0

• An Iowa Western transfer, Plog, enters this season as one of the top JUCO transfers as he works his way around a new environment. As the left-hander settles in, look for him to play a key role out of the bullpen this spring.

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CLASS OF 2025

Hitters

INF Jack Lutz⏐Whitnall⏐South Florida

.250/.381/.313, .694 OPS, 1 RBI, 1 2B. 3 BB

• The stats may not reflect it due to a 0-for-3 Sunday, but before this, the freshman was batting north of .300 after a 3-for-5 performance Saturday afternoon. Look for a strong showing not only with the glove but with the bat this spring.

INF Kaden Connor⏐Monona Grove⏐NDSU

.240/.367/.400, .767 OPS, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 1 2B, 5 BB

• It’s been an up-and-down start for Connor, but starting as a true freshman, the consistency will come as he continues to develop at the college level.

Pitchers

LHP Ryan Brennecke⏐Oconomowoc⏐Wake Forrest

2.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 3 SO, 1 H, 2 BB

• The long left-hander has already begun to see valuable weekend time out of the bullpen for the Deacons. Making an appearance in the season opener against Houston, tossing 1.2 innings, allowing no runs, and striking out one.

RHP Loren Georger ⏐Appleton West⏐St. Louis

4.2 IP, 5.79 ERA, 3 SO, 3 H, 1 BB

• The big right-hander has played an important role out of the bullpen for St. Louis this season. He’s tossed over two innings in each of his appearances with a strong showing against Ohio State, where he struck out three.