As July\u2019s MLB draft approaches, Muskego right-hander Tyson Grulkowski is emerging as one of the most intriguing high school arms in the Midwest.<\/p>\n
At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Grulkowski combines a workhorse frame with a low three-quarters arm slot that creates deception and late movement on his fastball, slider and changeup. The senior has quickly developed into Wisconsin\u2019s premier pitching prospect and an emerging name nationally.<\/p>\n
Scouts are taking notice of the right-hander and project him as a potential early-round pick in July\u2019s draft. As the process ramps up, Grulkowski has leaned on advice from those familiar with the path, including Peter Kussow<\/a>, a fourth-round pick in last year\u2019s MLB draft out of the Wisconsin high school ranks.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been awesome to receive the pro interest,\u201d Grulkowski said. \u201cI\u2019m grateful for it, and it is something people dream of since they are a little kid is to play professional baseball. It\u2019s a really cool experience and pretty crazy to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n Grulkowski\u2019s rise has been steady rather than sudden. Growing up, he balanced multiple sports, playing basketball through eighth grade and football until his sophomore year before eventually narrowing his focus to baseball.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was important to use the fall to focus on baseball to help with recruiting and explosiveness,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The added attention to the sport has paid dividends. During the offseason, Grulkowski added roughly 10 pounds while training with strength coach Matt Gifford, a process that helped further develop his physical presence on the mound as he prepares for an important senior season.<\/p>\n \u201cHe helps me work harder, keep my movements clean, and the competition pushes me every day,\u201d Grulkowski said. \u201cThat\u2019s what I needed to take my game to the next level.\u201d<\/p>\n Grulkowski has also carefully considered his future beyond high school. Last spring, he committed to South Florida after also considering Cincinnati and Penn State.<\/p>\n \u201cUSF felt like the right fit,\u201d he said. \u201cCoach (Mitch) Hannahs and the staff were great, and the opportunity to play right away was huge. The only way you get better is by getting on the field. Plus, coming from Wisconsin, the weather doesn\u2019t hurt either.\u201d<\/p>\n On the mound, Grulkowski features a polished three-pitch mix that continues to draw interest from scouts. His four-seam fastball has touched 95 mph and plays well at the top of the strike zone. He pairs it with a slider that sits in the 82\u201383 mph range and isn\u2019t afraid to throw it in any count.<\/p>\n The biggest area of development has been his changeup, a pitch he worked to refine over the offseason by experimenting with grips and focusing on the mental side of executing it.<\/p>\n \u201cThe changeup was a big piece I worked on,\u201d he said. \u201cI feel really good with it and really love throwing it now.\u201d<\/p>\n Last season, Grulkowski struck out 86 batters across 53 1\/3 innings, anchoring Muskego\u2019s rotation and helping lead the program to a state title. His delivery is clean and repeatable, powered by a strong lower half, and his low arm slot often makes it difficult for hitters to pick up the ball out of his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI just want to attack hitters and fill up the strike zone,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Muskego enters the spring with high expectations once again. The team returns plenty of talent, including star outfielder and Florida State commit Ben Kuglitsch, and hopes to make another run at a state championship.<\/p>\n Grulkowski\u2019s focus remains on refining his changeup and building strength as the season progresses.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know how it feels to win,\u201d he said. \u201cThe goal again is to get back to Appleton and win it.\u201d<\/p>\n With his size, power stuff and growing pitch mix, Grulkowski has already established himself as one of the top pitching prospects in Wisconsin. A strong senior season could further elevate his draft stock and cement his status as one of the most intriguing high school arms in the country as July approaches.<\/p>\n Videos of Tyson Grulkowski. <\/p>\n Dan Zielinski III<\/a> has covered the MLB draft for 11 years. He has interviewed 613 of the top draft prospects<\/a> 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<\/a> as an \u201cMLB draft expert.\u201d Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3<\/a>.<\/p>\n