Wisconsin has consistently produced players for the MLB draft in recent years. The 2023 MLB draft, which begins July 9, will feature numerous well-regarded prospects with Wisconsin ties.
Below is a list of six names to watch in the 2023 MLB draft.
Dylan Questad, RHP, Waterford H.S.
Questad is the top Wisconsin prep draft prospect this year and the best prep pitcher from the state in recent memory. The right-hander won Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year and is a potential top-five-round pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Wisconsin hasn’t had a prep pitcher selected in the first five rounds of the draft in nearly two decades. The Seattle Mariners drafted left-handed pitcher Tony Butler out of Oak Creek High School in the third round in 2006.
Questad is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound right-handed pitcher who throws a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball, changeup and sinker from a clean, athletic and smooth delivery and high arm slot.
His above-average fastball is his best offering and features plenty of movement. It sits in the mid-90s, touches 97 mph with ride, and generates plenty of swings and misses.
Questad is a strong and athletic pitcher with a competitive mindset. He projects as a starting pitcher at the next level. He is an Arkansas commit.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Questad and his skill set here.
George Klassen, RHP, Minnesota
Klassen is the top college player in this year’s draft class with Wisconsin ties. He likely will be the first Wisconsin native selected in the draft, with scouts projecting him as a top-five-round pick.
The Port Washington native averaged nearly one walk per inning this season. It was his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, though.
Klassen has notable upside. He’s a 6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed pitcher who throws a four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, slider and changeup from a high three-quarters arm slot, quick arm and clean delivery.
His fastball sat in the low-90s and touched the mid-90s as a senior in high school. Now, the pitch sits at 98 mph and consistently hits above 100 mph with ease. It’s an elite offering with arm-side run that generates a ton of swings and misses.
Klassen has a lot to prove if he wants to start in pro ball. Otherwise, he profiles as a high-leverage reliever.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Klassen and his skill set here.
Cal Fisher, SS/2B, Deerfield H.S.
Wisconsin has recently produced quality prep middle infielders, with Fisher being the latest. The right-handed hitter performed at a high-level last summer and has a knack for making consistent hard contact. He is 6-foot, 190 pounds and is more of a gap-to-gap hitter who profiles to hit for average power.
Defensively, Fisher is a high school shortstop but profiles best at second base in pro ball. He boasts some quickness and average arm strength. Scouts speak highly of Fisher’s baseball IQ and energy he brings to the field.
Fisher is a Florida State commit. Scouts project him as a potential top-five-round pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Christian Oppor, Gulf Coast State College
Oppor was an intriguing left-handed pitcher out of the Wisconsin prep ranks last season. His fastball touched 96 mph during his senior year, and scouts raved about his athleticism, fastball and overall potential.
Oppor was nearly the first Wisconsin prep pitcher drafted and signed since 2009. Due to his limited track record, Oppor didn’t get selected as high as he anticipated. He opted to attend Gulf Coast (Fla.) State instead of signing with the Oakland Athletics after they drafted him in the 11th round of the draft last year.
Due to a new rule, Oppor is a draft-and-follow player, meaning the Athletics can sign him before this year’s draft. The Athletics are the only team who can communicate with Oppor until July 2.
Oppor is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound left-hander who throws a fastball, slider and changeup from a three-quarters arm slot. He is extremely athletic and deploys a low-effort delivery. Oppor’s fastball is his best pitch. It sits in the mid-90s and has touched 100 mph with sinking action.
Oppor is a likely top-10-round pick in July’s draft.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Oppor and his skill set here.
Luke Fox, LHP, Duke
Fox, a Waukesha native, underwent Tommy John surgery in the fall after a forearm strain he suffered late in his sophomore season and never fully recovered through rehab. The lefty is in the early stages of his recovery process.
When healthy, Fox is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound left-handed pitcher who throws a fastball, knuckle curveball and changeup from a low three-quarters arm slot. His delivery and arm slot lead to deception, making it difficult for hitters to pick up the ball until he releases the pitch.
Fox’s low-to-mid-90s fastball features movement, regularly generates ground balls, and swings and misses. His curveball appears more like a slider due to Fox’s arm slot and movement, and it serves as his strikeout pitch.
Fox could hear his name called in July but might be best suited to return to Duke and enhance his value for next year’s draft.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Fox and his skill set here.
Riley Frey, LHP, Milwaukee
Frey, an Oshkosh native, is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound left-hander that throws a four-seam fastball, two-seamer, slider, changeup and curveball from a three-quarters arm slot and up-tempo delivery. He likes to work quickly and attack the strike zone with all his pitches.
His fastballs experienced a slight uptick in velocity and sit more in the low-90s this season compared to the high-80s last year. His fastball touched 93 mph this spring. Frey likes to attack left-handed hitters with his two-seamer and righties with his four-seamer. Frey’s slider is a strikeout pitch.
Frey has a chance to be selected in July’s draft. Otherwise, he will return to Milwaukee for his senior year.
Read an in-depth draft profile to learn more about Frey and his skill set here.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for eight years. He has interviewed 433 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
