On Sunday, February 23, the PBR Illinois team hosted its second annual Chicago Preseason I.D. showcase at the Pullman Community Center, where over 80 prospects from all high school classes participated in this open event event. 

Shortly after the event’s conclusion we posted an early analysis of the event with our Quick Hits and Statistical Analysis pieces. We’ll jumpstart our position-by-position breakdown today by taking a deep dive into the catchers. 

This crop of catchers was as talented a position group as any we saw at an open event this winter. Narrowing it down to a top-10 was extremely difficult given how many impressive performances came from behind the plate. 

At the top of the list are a trio of 2022s, Kyree Alexander (Thornwood), Colin Horneman (Mount Carmel) and Colin Leslie (University of Chicago Laboratory School), all of whom should make an impact in the Illinois 2022 rankings, when they are released in the near future.

Some of the top rounds of BP on the day were turned in by Jorge Garcia (Chicago Bulls College Prep, 2021), AJ Gaca (St. Charles East, 2021) and Benji Ries (Stevenson, 2021)

Filip Milatovic (Von Steuben) and Aydin Wright (Thornwood), just missed the cut of the Top-10 and should be 2022s to follow moving forward. Milatovic has a strong frame and swings with intent while Wright is fundamentally sound, should be able to stick behind the plate moving forward and controls the barrel at the plate.

Read on below for reports on all of the catchers from this event. 

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Kyree Alexander, Thornwood, 2022
 Positional Profile: C/SS Athletic defender can play multiple spots. Emerged as a follow in the 2022 class.
Body: 5-foot-6, 140-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: SH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride, maintains balance through contact.  Quick-twitch hands, short and level path, consistent hard contact, gap-to-gap approach. Feel for himself in the box, fluid rhythm throughout.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. INF - 74 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.06 - 2.20 pop times. Ability to stick on the infield or behind the plate. Advanced actions in the infield. Showed soft hands, fluid footwork, and capable of making plays on the move. Plays athletic behind the dish with a quick release and directional transfer.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60. 

2. Colin Horneman, Mount Carmel, 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-foot-11, 160-pounds. Wiry, athletic frame. Projects.
Hit: RHH. Quiet, balanced setup, smooth load, short stride, maintains balance.  Loose hands, short and level path, pull-side approach, works in rhythm, repeats.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot. Some accuracy on throws.
Defense: 2.07 - 2.25 pop times. Athletic actions, quick out the crouch, clean hands, feet play through the baseball. Showed advanced defensive actions for age.
Run: 7.40 runner in the 60. 

3. Colin Leslie, University of Chicago Laboratory School, 2022
Positional Profile: C/SS Projectable 2022 with versatility.
Body: 5-foot-8, 140-pounds. Lean, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, simple load, quick leg lift timing trigger.  Easy swing, quick hands, level path, line drive approach, fluid rhythm throughout.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. INF - 69 mph. Short, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.11 - 2.15 pop times. Worked out at catcher and in the infield. Sound actions at both positions. Showed soft hands, quick feet, and range up the middle in the field. Athletic actions behind the plate, quick out the crouch with a clean transfer, fluid feet work direct to target. Quiet receiver, subtle actions, soft hands and sticks pitches in the zone.
Run: 7.56 runner in the 60. 

4. Jorge Garcia, Chicago Bulls College Prep, 2021
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-foot-9, 160-pounds. Strong, proportional build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, toe-tap timing trigger.  Loose hands, long path, line drive approach, consistent hard contact.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Consistently on the second base bag.
Defense: 2.12 - 2.18 pop times. Athletic behind the plate. Clean exchange and repeats actions. Strong blocker.
Run: 7.69 runner in the 60. 

5. Max Oliveira, Loyola Academy, 2022
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 6-foot-1, 160-pounds. Lean, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, steady leg lift trigger, drives lower half.  Twitchy hands, level path, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.19 - 2.34 pop times. Advanced receiver; soft athletic hands, receives in rhythm and presents pitches well. Quick release out of the crouch, works on line to target.
Run: 7.65 runner in the 60.

6. AJ Gaca, St. Charles East, 2022
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-11, 200-pounds. Strong, well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, long stride to even, stays balanced through contact.  Fast hands, swings with intent, level path, pull-side power, consistent barrels.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. INF - 76 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.08 - 2.28 pop times. Worked out in the infield and behind the plate. Showed a quick release at times on the infield. Athletic behind the plate, quick to release, fluid footwork direct to target, adept blocker. 
Run: 7.92 runner in the 60. 

7. Benji Ries, Stevenson, 2021
Positional Profile: C/1B Offensive-minded catcher with advanced bat speed and power potential.
Body: 6-foot-0, 185-pounds. Strong, physical frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride, stays balanced through contact.  Swings with controlled aggression, present bat speed, long path, consistent hard gap-to-gap contact.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot. Accurate throws.
Defense: 2.13 - 2.26 pop times. Feet shuffle on line to target. Plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.59 runner in the 60. 

8. Matt Dworsky, Deerfield, 2022
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-11, 185-pounds. Strong, proportional build.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open setup, short stride to even, balance through contact.  Fast hands, raw bat strength, level path, gap-to-gap approach, knack for the barrel. 
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.15 - 2.29 pop times. Athletic out the crouch, clean transfer, quick to release, works direct to target. Wide, square setup, soft hands, strong wrists, presents and sticks pitches in the zone.
Run: 7.63 runner in the 60. 

9. Aaron Barrera, Lakeview, 2021
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-10, 188-pounds. Strong, proportional frame. Sturdy lower half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, wide base, slight leg lift leads to short stride.  Fast hands, aggressive swing, short path, sprayed line drives to all fields.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot. Accurate throws with carry.
Defense: 2.05 - 2.18 pop times. Athletic behind the dish. Soft hands with a clean exchange. Feet work direct to target and play through the baseball.
Run: 7.48 runner in the 60. 

10. Cristian Santiago, Mundelein, 2021
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-foot-9, 152-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Athletic setup, wide base, smooth load with a short stride. Strong balance through contact.  Simple swing that flashed bat speed. Extension through contact with a gap-to-gap approach. Fluid rhythm throughout.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot. Some accuracy on throws.
Defense: 2.18 - 2.26 pop times. Athletic behind the plate, soft hands, clean transfer to quick release, feet play fluid through the baseball.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Enrique Kinney, Mount Carmel, 2021
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-foot-0, 165-pounds. Strong, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, wide base, smooth load, short stride.  Quick hands, level path, extension through contact. Easy pull-side juice. Fluid rhythm. 
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Some accuracy on throws.
Defense: 2.26 - 2.38 pop times. Wide base. Long to release at times.
Run: 7.78 runner in the 60. 

Aidan Kyllonen, St. Rita, 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-foot-9, 170-pounds. Strong, proportional build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, wide base, quick leg lift trigger.  Long and uphill path.
Power: 77 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 64 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.53 - 2.61 pop times. Feet work on line with target at times.
Run: 8.60 runner in the 60. 

Preston Lund, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-6, 135-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, wide base, pre-pitch movement in hands, toe-tap trigger.  Long and level path, line drive approach.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.32 - 2.37 pop times. Feet play through the baseball at times. Long to release some.
Run: 7.32 runner in the 60. 

Guillermo Meza, Metea Valley, 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-foot-11, 140-pounds. Lean, projectable frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, steady toe-tap timing trigger.  Long and uphill path, stayed up the middle.
Power: 74 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.42 - 2.54 pop times. Secure transfer, long to release at times.
Run: 7.55 runner in the 60. 

Filip Milatovic, Von Steuben, 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/3B
Body: 5-foot-10, 190-pounds. Strong, well-defined frame. Sturdy lower half.
Hit: RHH. Athletic, balanced setup, loads in rhythm, short stride, stays strong through contact.  Simple swing, uphill path, gap-to-gap approach, athletic finish.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.19 - 2.36 pop times. Athletic setup, long to release.
Run: 7.77 runner in the 60. 

Leo Necheles, Jones, 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-foot-8, 160-pounds. Strong, compact frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load, short stride.  Long and uphill path, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.19 - 2.31 pop times. Jumps out the crouch, clean transfer leads to quick release.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60. 

Alijah Rainey, Homewood Flossmoor, 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-8, 195-pounds. Strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, steady leg lift timing trigger, quiet in the box.  Raw bat strength, long and uphill path, elevates the baseball.
Power: 70 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 65 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.32 - 2.47 pop times. Wide base, long to release, feet work on line to target. 
Run: 8.03 runner in the 60. 

Oliver Vigerust, DePaul College Prep, 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Athletic, proportional build.
Hit: RHH. Tall, slightly open setup, quick leg lift trigger to even.  Quick hands, short and uphill path, opposite field approach, stays inside the baseball.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.47 - 2.50 pop times. Balanced setup, clean exchange, fluid feet to target.
Run: 7.97 runner in the 60. 

Lucas Waunn, Fenwick, 2021
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-11, 167-pounds. Lean, wiry frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, hands rest high, minimal load.  Level path, line drive approach to pull-side.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.19 - 2.34 pop times. Clean transfer. Feet work direct to target. Strong blocker.
Run: 7.52 runner in the 60. 

Aydin Wright, Thornwood, 2022
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-8, 145-pounds. Wiry, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, quick leg lift trigger.  Quiet and confident in the box. Simple swing, long, uphill path, line drive approach, favored pull-side.
Power: 72 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.26 - 2.29 pop times. Upright setup, quick out of the crouch, secure exchange, feet work direct to target, plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.55 runner in the 60. 

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