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Draft  | State Preview | 5/20/2013

MLB Draft Preview: Wisconsin

Photo: UWM
In the weeks leading up to the draft, Perfect Game will be providing a detailed overview of each state in the U.S., including the District of Columbia, as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. These overviews will list the state's strengths, weaknesses and the players with the best tools, as well as providing scouting reports on all Group 1 and 2 players as ranked in Perfect Game's state-by-state scouting lists.  Please visit this page for all of the links to Perfect Game's 2013 Draft Preview content.



Wisconsin State-by-State List

Although Wisconsin typically doesn't produce impact level talent that factors into the early rounds of the draft, 2013 could mark the second year in a row in which a player from the state is drafted in the top five rounds.  Slugging outfielder Nathan Mikolas was taken in the third round a year ago by the New York Yankees, and live-armed Wisconsin-Milwaukee closer Josh Uhen looks to match that round this year.
 
With very good size and the ability to routinely peak at 97 mph, reaching triple digits at times, Uhen offers a rare power arm from the state.  After Uhen the talent thins out considerably, although it does offer future promise amongst its prep crop, which includes a quartet of players with commitments to prominent D-I baseball programs.  This is notable considering the state has sent some of its top high school players to schools in other states only to be drafted in early rounds three years later, the most recent example being Adam Brett Walker, who was also selected in the third round a year ago (Twins) out of Jacksonville University.

 
STRENGTH:
 Josh Uhen
WEAKNESS: Prospects
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 2

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
 Wisconsin-Milwaukee
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Madison College
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Bay Port

BEST OUT-OF-STATE PROSPECT, Wisconsin Connection:
 Brad Schreiber, rhp, Purdue (Kimberly High School)
Top 2014 Prospect: Jeren Kendall, of, Holmen High School
Top 2015 Prospect: Brendan Meissner, rhp, West De Pere High School

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History: Kevin Brandt, of, Nekoosa HS (1979, Twins/1st round, 11th pick)
2008 Draft: Adam Frost, ss, St. Norbert’s College (Tigers/21st round)
2009 Draft: Kevin James, lhp, Whitefish Bay HS, Milwaukee (Rays/9th round)
2010 Draft: Tyler Jones, rhp, Madison JC (White Sox/21st round)
2011 Draft: Cody Koback, of, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (Red Sox/10th round)
2012 Draft: Nathan Mikolas, of, Kenosha Bradford HS (Yankees/3rd round)

2012 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 3/3
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: None
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 2/1


TOP PROSPECTS - GROUPS 1 and 2

GROUP 2 (rounds 4-10)

1. JOSH UHEN, rhp, Wisconsin-Milwaukee (RS So.)
Uhen underwent Tommy John surgery almost two years ago during his freshman year in March of 2011.  That injury coincided at a similar time when Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg also had the same procedure, and Uhen was placed on almost the identical rehab and strengthening program.  The results were very encouraging, as Uhen responded by flirting with triple digits upon his return last spring, something he continues to do, although he tossed only 12 1/3 innings during his red-shirt freshman season.  With an incredibly live arm and good feel for his breaking pitch, Uhen routinely peaks at 97 mph during his relief appearances for Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  He quickly passes the eye test as an athletic, well proportioned 6-foot-4, 205-pound righty that has no shortage of arm speed.  The biggest problem for scouts is having the opportunity to see him pitch.  He serves as his team's closer, and is used strictly in a short relief role with no set schedule as to when he's expected to take the mound, appearing once or twice a week for a team, and in a conference (Horizon League), that doesn't boast much draftable talent.  He has four saves in 20 appearances, all out of the bullpen, with a 2.84 ERA in 19 innings of work.  He has allowed only 14 hits, and he's struck out 18 batters, but he has also walked 21.  Most are willing to look past his control problems, hoping it resolves itself over time as he's fully recovered from surgery, given how seemingly effortlessly hard he throws.  His size and stuff are simply too good to ignore, and he's expected to be drafted in the top 3-5 rounds.


PROSPECT TO WATCH

JACOB SPARGER, rhp, Memorial HS (Eau Claire)
While traditionally not a talent-rich state when it comes to the draft, Wisconsin has provided prominent D-I programs from across country with talent in recent years.  Jacob Sparger (Louisville), Nick Kanavas (Arizona), Tony Butler (Virginia) and Evan Kruczynski (East Carolina) aren't expected to be selected in a signable round this year, but could be names to watch three years from now coming out of college.  Sparger offers the most upside of this group.  At 6-foot-5, 180-pounds, he oozes projectability, with a very loose and clean arm action that makes it easy to envision an increase from his current upper-80s velocity in 2-3 years as he continues to mature physically.  In addition, Louisville has a knack for developing young arms which also plays in his favor.

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PG Draft: Mid-Major Picks to Click

Tyler Henninger
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While Power 4 prospects tend to soak up the bulk of the industry buzz, there’s plenty of legitimate talent lurking at the mid-major level. These are competitive programs that are loaded with players who have real tools, physicality, and performance track records that translate beyond their conference. Below are nine mid-major prospects we expect evaluators to be in early and often on this spring. Ethan Norby, LHP, East Carolina (Rank: 155) Norby is an undersized left-hander, but has produced strong numbers over two years at ECU. The left-hander has produced a 3.80 ERA with 182 strikeouts over 149 1/3 innings. While the velocity does not stand out, Norby can still miss bats with the heater. It works in the low-90’s and creeps towards 95 mph at times. Quality extension for his size and high spin allow that offering to get on hitters, resulting in weak contact as well as whiffs....
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California Region Top Teams

Tyler Russo
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California All Region & Top Tools Rk California 2025 Record 1 St. John Bosco 30-4 2 Orange Lutheran 23-7 3 De La Salle 29-4 4 Corona 28-3 5 Huntington Beach 24-5 6 Harvard-Westlake 19-10 7 Mater Dei 19-15 8 Aquinas 25-3 9 Norco 22-9 10 Cathedral Catholic 19-12 11 Sierra Canyon 16-13 12 St. Mary's 26-9 13 Santa Margaraita Catholic 20-14 14 La Mirada 21-7 15 Notre Dame 15-14 16 Gahr 17-13 17 JSerra Catholic 17-10 18 Eastlake 21-11-1 19 Patrick Henry 23-11-2 20 Ganesha 23-3 21 St. Ignatius College Prep 17-10-2 22 Mira Costa 28-3 23 Cypress 18-11 24 Redondo Union 16-13 25 Oaks Christian 20-9
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Conference Preview: Ohio Valley

Kyler Peterson
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2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order Team  W  L  W  L  Eastern Illinois  17  77  31  22  Lindenwood  14  12  30  30  Little Rock  8  16  27  34  Morehead State  4  23  14  39  SIUE  18  8  26  28  Southeast Missouri  16  11  30  25  Southern Indiana  15  12  27  29  Tennessee Tech  18  9  37 ...
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California All Region & Top Tools

David Rawnsley
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The 2026 class is one of the best in recent memory for the state of California, with 18 players ranking among the top 100 in the Perfect Game national rankings.  Three PG All-Americans, IF Trey Ebel, OF Isaiah Hearn and RHP Logan Georges were all edged out of places on the California All-Region Team as a result.  And although the 2027 class doesn’t look as deep, it does feature three Top Six players in SS Dylan Seward, LHP Jared Grindlinger and SS Carter Hadnot. Not surprisingly, California high schools are very well represented in the Perfect Game Pre-Season Top 50 rankings, particularly with 2025 Trinity League champion St. John Bosco beginning the season as the top ranked team in the country.  A very deep Orange Lutheran squad holds down the third spot in the rankings, with 12th ranked De La Salle being the top team from Northern California.  Corona (17th),...
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Conference Preview: Atlantic 10

Marcus Thomas
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2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order Team W L W L Davidson  19  12  28  29  Dayton  14  16  27  31  Fordham  15  15  25  33  George Mason  20  10  40  21  George Washington  14  16  27  27  La Salle* - - - - Rhode Island  23  8  39  20  Richmond  14  16  33  19  St. Joseph’s  17  13  24  28  St. Louis ...
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Georgia Region Top Teams

Tyler Russo
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Georgia All Region Team & Top Tools Rk School Record 1 Etowah 34-4 2 Blessed Trinity 34-9 3 Parkview 26-11 4 Houston County 33-7 5 Lowndes 28-13 6 Walton 34-8 7 Buford 25-9 8 Pope 31-5 9 North Cobb Christian 24-11-1 10 Harrison 23-14 11 Newnan 32-5 12 North Paulding 28-10 13 Marist 30-7 14 Cartersville 32-10 15 Denmark 19-14 16 North Oconee 27-8 17 Loganville 29-8 18 Morgan County 32-10 19 North Gwinnett 35-5 20 Carrollton 23-12 21 Troup County 32-9 22 Hillgrove 21-13 23 River Ridge 25-15 24 Pickens 32-7 25 McEachern 24-8
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Georgia HS All Region & Top Tools

David Rawnsley
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Georgia has its usual depth of high-level athletes and Perfect Game All-Americans, although three 2027 players did make the All-Region team.  There are an unusual number of two-way prospects among the All-Region players, a testament to the big arms that the state has right now. Two Georgia high schools are ranked in the top 10 of the PG Pre-Season High School Top 50 rankings and the Georgia high school ranks are annually among the most competitive in the country.  Etowah is the highest ranked team at 5th overall, while Blessed Trinity Catholic checks in at 8th.  Parkview is the only other Georgia team in the top 50, holding down the 34th spot.   OF-RHP Dexter McCleon Jr will be fixture on the Georgia All-Region team for the next two years but the top ranked prospect in the 2028 class will have to take a back seat to his elders this year.  McCleon’s absurd...
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Florida Region Top Teams

Tyler Russo
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Florida All Region Team & Top Tools   Rk School Record 1 Stoneman Douglas 31-2 2 Tampa Jesuit 25-10 3 Trinity Christian Academy 30-5 4 South Walton 31-4 5 IMG Academy 24-1 6 Venice 29-5 7 Bishop Verot 32-3 8 American Heritage (Plantation) 29-6 9 St. Thomas Aquinas 29-6-1 10 Doral Academy Charter 27-8-1 11 North Broward Prep 23-8 12 Lincoln 24-11 13 Mater Academy 25-9-1 14 The First Academy 30-4 15 Alonso 21-13 16 St. John's Country Day 26-9 17 Bishop Snyder 23-8 18 Spruce Creek 30-4 19 Buchholz 33-3 20 Lake Mary 15-15 21 Miami Springs 28-3 22 Jupiter 25-10 23 Plant City 16-12 24 Berkeley Prep 25-10 25 Winter Park 25-6
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Conference Preview: Northeast

Jason Phillips
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2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order* Team W L W L CCSU 23 7 31 17 Coppin State 13 17 15 34 Delaware State 6 24 7 34 FDU 16 14 16 37 LeMoyne 17 13 20 28 LIU 24 6 35 23 UMES 6 24 7 41 Mercyhurst 15 15 17 35 New Haven* 12 12 24 20 Norfolk State 4 26 4 38 Stonehill 18 12 20 32 Wagner 23 7 31 22 *Member Northeast-10 DII Preseason All Conference Team Pos. Name School Stats/Notes C Frankie Ferrentino CCSU .281-13-35, 9 2Bs, (Merrimack), Double digit HR all 3 years at Merrimack 1B Jayden Walker Mercyhurst .314-12-40, 10...
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Baseball Meets Hollywood For Great Cause

Jim Salisbury
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BASEBALL MEETS HOLLYWOOD FOR A GREAT CAUSE    There’s no crying in baseball, but there is laughing, and there was lots and lots of it -- for a great cause -- last Saturday night in Hollywood, California. Perfect Game and its Believe in Baseball Foundation assembled a star-studded cast of comics and guests for the inaugural “In the Spirit of the Game” dinner and auction. The event was held at the iconic Laugh Factory, a historic venue that, in baseball terms, would be equivalent to Dodger Stadium or Wrigley Field. Late-night superstar Jay Leno took a turn on stage. So did comedic aces Tiffany Haddish, Nikki Glaser, Dustin Ybarra and Gary Cannon. “It was 4 ½ hours of straight laughter,” said PG commissioner Dennis Gilbert, still beaming a couple of days later. “It was a really nice success.” No one kept score at the event, but...
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