On July 21, the PBR Wisconsin and PBR Illinois staffs teamed up to host this annual invite-only showcase for both states’ up-and-coming sophomores: Underclass Games. This year, the top 2023s from the two states met at Ozinga Field in Crestwood, Ill., to participate in a showcase workout and simulated gameplay.

We previously published highlights from the day inside our Takeaways post, and we’re breaking down this event, position by position, starting today with this group of catchers.

Through multiple looks this summer, Huntley’s Ryan Bakes has looked like one of the top sophomores in Illinois’ 2023 class, his standout showing at this showcase landed him atop this group while also assisting him in receiving an invitation to the PBR Future Games a year ahead of schedule. Bakes gets the utmost out of his compact strength from the right side of the plate, recording some loud and far contact on repeat, while also demonstrating advanced traits defensively behind the dish.

Wisconsin’s Thomas Curry (Arrowhead) recently debuted as inside the state’s top-10 overall rankings in the 2023 class, and it's his physical right-handed swing that propelled him to that spot. He averaged some of the hardest contact of the entire event, topping nearly 100 mph on his best batted ball in BP. Curry also wields some premium arm strength from the crouch, as he recorded an 80 mph high on his throws to second.

This was a highly impressive group of backstops, dominated by uncommitted talent to know from the region. Scouting reports on all of the showcase’s catchers can be found below.

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Ryan Bakes, Huntley (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/OF; Emerged this summer as one of the top uncommitted 2023s in the Midwest.
Body: 5-9, 181-pounds. Barrel-chested, muscle-bound frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, quiet setup, minimal wasted movement and short stride. Simple strong swing, fast bat, creates electric bat speed at times. Short and direct to the ball, highly-repeated, connected swing present pull-side power. Hit a towering homerun down the left-field line during game play.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Max exit velocity of 101.21 mph and max distance of 397' during BP, via TrackMan.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. Short, quick arm action, over-the-top slot. Throws have life, play true and consistently around the bag.
Defense: 1.92-2.00 pop times. Quick glove-to-hand release, maintains body control, natural catcher actions. Soft, sound block, plays with bounce behind the plate.
Run: 6.93 runner in the 60. Advanced runner for age and position.

2. Thomas Curry, Arrowhead (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-10, 190-pounds. Physical, wide-shouldered build, present strength throughout frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal loading action, short stride and maintains balance through contact. Aggressive swing, advanced bat speed, short and direct to the ball. Creates leverage to the pull-side, ball jumps off the barrel.
Power: 95 mph exit velocity from the tee. Max exit velocity of 99.59 mph during BP, via TrackMan.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short, quick arm action, over-the-top slot; throws play accurate and with carry.
Defense: 1.93-2.01 pop times. Directional and quick out of the crouch; quick glove-to-hand release. Reliable hands, soft block.
Run: 7.6 runner in the 60. 

3. TJ Schuyler, Antioch (IL), 2023; Indiana commit
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-2, 185-pounds. Advanced frame. Athletic with well-proportioned strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Balanced and comfortable in the box.  Smooth load and leg-lift timing trigger. Utilizes lower half, creates extremely easy bat speed and jump off the barrel. Loose hands, short path, hands work on top of the baseball and works gap-to-gap. High-upside right-handed hitter.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short arm action plays from a high 3/4 slot; throws played accurate.
Defense: 2.02-2.16 pop times. Squared setup, flexible hips, athletic out of the crouch. Clean release, plays tall at times.
Run: 7.32 runner in the 60. 

4. Bryce Nevils, Brother Rice (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 176-pounds. Athletic frame with strength in lower half. Has added over 10 pounds of quality muscle since a February event.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, wide slightly crouched setup, smooth load and leg-kick timing trigger. Presence in the box, highly-repeatable swing. Compact swing, stays connected and on plane. Fast bat, level through the zone and extension through contact. Line-drive, middle of the field approach with fluid rhythm and balance throughout. One of the top BP rounds on the day.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Max exit velocity of 93.63 mph during BP, via TrackMan.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short, over-the-top arm action.
Defense: 2.11-2.28 pop times. Wide, squared setup, soft hands, clean and fluid footwork out of the crouch.
Run: 7.38 runner in the 60. 

5. Cooper Cohn, McHenry (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds. Compact frame with strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly crouched setup, small stride.  Aggressive approach, swings with intent, athletic hands, stays short to the ball, present bat speed and pull-side tendencies.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Max distance of 334' during BP, via TrackMan.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short arm action, plays from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.02-2.13 pop times. Athletic, active defender, advanced glove-to-hand release, direction varies.
Run: 7.72 runner in the 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Logan Barnett, Pontiac (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-4, 215-pounds. Imposing, strong, wide-shouldered frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, quiet setup, toe-tap stride and maintains balance. Short, direct path to the ball, hands work on top, strong hands.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 to over-the-top slot, plays with effort at times.
Defense: 2.08-2.18 pop times. Squared setup, quick release.
Run: 7.9 runner in the 60. 

Grant Gill, Bay Port (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 160-pounds. Compact frame, strength in lower half.
Hit: RHH. Narrow, slightly crouched setup, coiled loading action, short stride. Uphill path, lets the ball travel, uses the whole field.
Power: 76 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.18-2.25 pop times. Natural catcher actions, soft hands, clean and efficient out of the crouch.
Run: 7.85 runner in the 60. 

Danny Kilmer, Lake Forest (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/2B Upside left-handed hitter.
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted frame.
Hit: LHH. Open, balanced setup, stride works back to square. Loose, athletic hands, creates barrel whip through the zone. Easy effort, loose-levers, level bat path, line-drive approach.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 66 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.28-2.41 pop times. Open setup, flexible hips, clean and easy out of the crouch, plays tall at times.
Run: 7.66 runner in the 60. 

Boone Kirst, Ashwaubenon (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-3, 190-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, wide setup, short stride.  Quiet, simple swing, loose upside levers. Short, level path, uses the whole field. Follow 2023 right-handed bat.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Max exit velocity of 89.88 mph during BP.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.18-2.31 pop times. Wide, squared setup, works on-line out of the crouch.
Run: 7.7 runner in the 60. 

Jake LaVine, Metea Valley (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-9, 155-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load and short stride. Aggressive swing, long path, natural lift in swing and pull-side tendencies.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short arm action plays from a high 3/4 to 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.12-2.22 pop times. Crouched, flexible setup. Directional exchange, clean release.
Run: 7.51 runner in the 60. 

Nick Mardis, Bloomington Central Catholic (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-1, 210-pounds. Physical, wide-shouldered frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load and long stride. Advanced strength in hands, direct path, stays flat through the zone and flashed bat speed.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ball jumps off the barrel; present physicality in swing.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.36-2.51 pop times. Low crouch open setup, directional out of the chute.
Run: 7.62 runner in the 60. 

Nolan Zurawski, Minooka (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, smooth load and long leg-lift timing trigger. Natural lift in swing, creates leverage to the pull-side, consistent hard contact to the pull-side gap.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short, over-the-top arm action, throws play true.
Defense: 2.11-2.26 pop times. Clean actions, efficient and directional out of the crouch. Flexible hips, reliable hands.
Run: 7.56 runner in the 60. 

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