On Saturday, Feb. 11, the PBR Illinois staff traveled to Pro Player Academy in McHenry to host the McHenry Preseason ID - an event that’s been on our winter calendar since 2016. This event provides our staff an up-close opportunity to check on 100+ high school prospects hailing from all high school classes, this region of the state, and the Fox Valley Conference, early in the year. 

Today we begin our positional breakdown of the event, starting with a look at the catchers. It was a deep group of backstops from the event with a number of them warranting a strong look for the Top-five listed below. Mark Takasaki (Jacobs, 2024), Quinn Drews (Huntley, 2024) and Sonny Marsalla (Woodstock, 2026) are all names to follow, that just missed the cut for the top-five.

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Sean Kempf, Crystal Lake Central (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-10, 185-pounds. Athletic, well proportioned frame with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Balanced wide setup, short stride. Strong hands, repeatable swing, compact and direct to the ball, stays through the zone, on the barrel with authority and present bat speed.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 89.9 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Compact arm action into a high 3/4 slot with present arm speed, on the bag often.
Defense: 2.06-2.20 pop times. Reliable soft hands, quick transfer, replaces feet and gains ground, soft blocker.
Run: 4.21 runner in the 30-yard split.

2. Benjamin Mitchell, Harvest Christian (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-1, 200-pounds. Lean, athletic frame with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, long stride, lower half coil creating separation. Strong swing, present bat strength and bat speed, stays on-plane and uphill through the zone. Big jump off the barrel at times.
Power: 100 max exit velocity, averaged 90.4 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Short draw into a high 3/4 slot, around the bag.
Defense: 2.06-2.14 pop times. Gains ground, clean transfer, soft blocker quick mover out of the crouch. Soft hands, quiet receiver.
Run: 4.14 runner in the 30-yard split.

3. Charlie Meister, Hersey (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds. Strong frame, broad shoulders with room for added muscle.
Hit: RHH. Stock setup, calm and balanced in the box, short stride. Strong hands, powerful, heavy barrel, lift through the zone and worked to both gaps.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 88.1 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. Short draw into an over the top slot, present arm speed, accurate to the bag.
Defense: 1.87-2.01 pop times. Quick transfer, athletic mover out of the crouch, gains ground, advanced blocker, squares up the baseball, reliable receiver.
Run: 4.03 runner in the 30-yard split.

4. Calen Scheider, Hampshire (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 150-pounds. High waisted, athletic with room for growth.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, relaxed setup, smooth load and toe-tap stride. Loose hands, stays inside the baseball, on time, whippy barrel, whole field approach.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 81.2 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. Short draw, glove tap, into a 3/4 slot, accurate to the second base bag.
Defense: 1.91-1.96 pop times. Quick out of the crouch, clean transfer, gains ground towards second.
Run: 4.03 runner in the 30-yard split.

5. AJ Foley, Lake Zurich (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-1, 195-pounds. Well proportioned frame with some strength.
Hit: RHH. Narrow, tall setup, leg-lift timing trigger. Athletic, fluid swing, strong hands, aggressive swing, loud on the barrel contact and uses the whole field.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 87 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short, quick draw into a 3/4 slot, flashed accuracy to the second base bag.
Defense: 2.01-2.12 pop times. Advanced receiver, quick and clean transfer, gains ground.
Run: 4.04 runner in the 30-yard split.

5. James Tatroe, Prairie Ridge (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-11, 160-pounds. Well proportioned, athletic frame with room for growth.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, long stride. Long path, on time, loose hands, balanced finish and uses the whole field.
Power: 81 max exit velocity, averaged 74.9 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Short, clean arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.12-2.26 pop times. Steady, quiet and calm receiver, soft hands and agile fundamentally sound blocker. Flexible and above-average overall defender. Clean, repeatable actions coming out of the chute.
Run: 4.33 runner in the 30-yard split.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

John Dollinger, Carmel Catholic (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-0, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, closed setup, loads pre-pitch. Aggressive swing, uphill path, works gap-to-gap.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 77.4 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 66 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.31-2.53 pop times. Squared setup, flexible hips, works to present the baseball, directional transfer and gains ground out of the crouch.
Run: 4.63 runner in the 30-yard split.

Quinn Drews, Huntley (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-9, 170-pounds. Strong, well proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load toe-tap stride. Strong hands, creates leverage, lift and uphill path through the zone, whole field approach.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 83.3 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short, quick draw into a 3/4 slot, flashed accuracy to the second base bag.
Defense: 2.00-2.03 pop times. Soft, reliable receiver, clean transfer, gains some ground, quick mover out of the crouch, reliable blocker.
Run: 4.18 runner in the 30-yard split.

Carson Hubert, Carmel Catholic (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-9, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, short stride and minimal load. Loose, easy swing, long path, balanced finish and uses the middle of the field.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 82.2 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Comes out of a short, high 3/4 window.
Defense: 2.32-2.45 pop times. Wide glove presentation, quality target, flexible hips, sticks pitches in and around the zone.
Run: 4.25 runner in the 30-yard split.

Brady Klepfer, Huntley (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-10, 163-pounds. High waisted, athletic with broad shoulders and room for growth.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, slightly open and minimal load. Aggressive controlled swing, uphill path, pull approach and swings with intent.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 80 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. INF - 81 mph. C: Longer draw, reaches back into a high 3/4 slot with accuracy. INF: 3/4 slot, plays from multiple angles on the move.
Defense: 2.13-2.19 pop times. C: Quiet receiver with reliable hands, clean transfer, gains ground towards second. INF: Active feet, two-hand gather, secures the ball into his body, clean transfer.
Run: 4.16 runner in the 30-yard split.

Jackson Kocent, Prairie Ridge (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-0, 135-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, smooth load and short stride. Long path, level through the zone, line-drive approach.
Power: 79 max exit velocity, averaged 67 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.32-2.50 pop times. Balanced, squared setup, steady hands. Directional transfer and gains ground.
Run: 4.41 runner in the 30-yard split.

Rocco Lentine, Huntley  (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-8, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load and short stride. Balanced swing, loose hands, lets the ball travel, stays within himself and uses the whole field.
Power: 81 max exit velocity, averaged 76.7 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Loose arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.07-2.20 pop times. Clean actions behind the plate, soft hands, above-average glove-to-hand transfer.
Run: 4.29 runner in the 30-yard split.

Sonny Marsalla, Woodstock (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-6, 154-pounds. Compact frame with a strong lower half.
Hit: SH. Tall, relaxed setup, smooth load and toe-tap stride. Easy controlled swing, strong hands, uphill path.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 76.8 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Short draw, into a 3/4 slot, accurate to the bag.
Defense: 2.31-2.34 pop times. Quiet receiver with reliable hands, clean transfer, gains ground towards second.
Run: 4.23 runner in the 30-yard split.

Conner Pollasky, Prairie Ridge (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, leg-kick timing trigger. Short direct swing, strong hands, middle of the field approach.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 81.9 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.15-2.32 pop times. Wide, squared setup, presents pitches, reliable hands, willing blocker, quiet actions at times.
Run: 4.13 runner in the 30-yard split.

Mark Takasaki, Jacobs (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-1, 180-pounds. High waisted, athletic frame with a strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, narrow setup, short stride. Long aggressive swing, flashed bat speed, lifted approach, pull-side tendencies.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 85.8 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. Longer draw into a 3/4 slot, flashed accuracy to the bag.
Defense: 2.09-2.19 pop times. Quiet receiver with the ability to frame, gains ground, reliable blocker and quick mover out of the crouch.
Run: 3.97 runner in the 30-yard split.

Jack Thompson, III, Johnsburg (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-6, 120-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, stock setup, quiet load and stride. Balanced swing, looks to control the barrel, lifted approach at times and uses the middle of the field.
Power: 64 max exit velocity, averaged 57.3 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 63 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.43-2.50 pop times. Low, flexible setup, presents quality target. Soft hands and sticks pitches in the zone.
Run: 4.7 runner in the 30-yard split.

Mason Willis, Antioch (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-11, 180-pounds. Well proportioned frame with some room for added strength.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, minimal load and stride. Strong hands, direct path, on the barrel, lifted contact to the middle pull side of the field.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 86.8 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Longer draw into a 3/4 slot with a slight hitch, flashed accuracy.
Defense: 2.07-2.25 pop times. Soft handed receiver with the ability to frame, clean transfer, gains ground towards second. Quick mover out of the crouch.
Run: 4.25 runner in the 30-yard split.

Carson Young, Antioch (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 155-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, smooth load and short stride. Wiry levers, pull-side approach and finishes on balance.
Power: 78 max exit velocity, averaged 68.8 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. OF - 74 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 release.
Defense: 2.31-2.38 pop times. C: Low, one-knee setup, steady hands. Clean release out of the crouch. OF: Two-hand gather out front, active feet, plays through the ball.
Run: 4.85 runner in the 30-yard split.

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