On Feb. 25, the PBR Illinois staff hosted the Preseason All-State: Upperclass showcase at The MAX in McCook, Ill., featuring many of the state’s top players inside the 2024 class. This event helped our staff gain a clearer picture of the on-the-rise prospects in Illinois and who needs to be followed closely this spring and beyond. 

To view the Preseason All-State: Upperclass landing page, roster, and stats collected, click here. 

Read on below for a look at all of the catchers from the day, including the top-five ranked by our staff during this look.

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Jimmy Janicki, Downers Grove North (IL), 2024; Troy commit
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-3, 210-pounds. Strong, athletic frame with  more room for continued physical development.
Hit: RHH. Upright, quiet setup, minimal wasted movement and short stride. Simple, strong, repeatable swing, ball jumps off the barrel and works gap-to-gap. Easy twitch and strong levers, feel for the barrel.
Power: 101 max exit velocity, averaged 91.4 mph. 308’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 82 mph. Short, clean arm action, plays from an over-the-top slot. When at its best plays true and with carry.
Defense: 1.94-1.97 pop times. Athletic and clean behind the plate. Soft hands, agile blocker and flexible hips. Easy and efficient out of the crouch, maintains body control and direction, repeatable.
Run: 7.02 runner in the 60. 

2. Kyle Hartmann, Sycamore (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds. Athletic build, wiry strength.
Hit: RHH. Narrow balanced setup, long stride Aggressive swing, loose, fast hands, present bat speed, on the barrel with natural lift throughout and length through the zone.
Power: 101 max exit velocity, averaged 96.7 mph. 329’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 84 mph. Loose, strong arm, plays short and from an over-the-top slot; throws flash carry and life.
Defense: 1.94-2.03 pop times. Flexible, athletic receiver, presents a low target, sets up on one knee at times.  Soft hands, clean and directional out of the crouch with a quick glove-to-hand release.
Run: 7.53 runner in the 60. 

3. Sean Kempf, Crystal Lake Central (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-10, 185-pounds. Muscle-bound, strong frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, quiet pre-pitch. Compact, strong swing, present bat speed, covers the plate, hard contact and finishes on balance.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 85.4 mph. 330’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short, over-the-top arm action and throws play true.
Defense: 2.00-2.09 pop times. Square setup, sure-hands, strong wrists. Clean and repeatable out of the crouch.
Run: 7.77 runner in the 60. 

4. Daniel Bastidas, Metea Valley (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-9, 170-pounds. Athletic, defined frame.
Hit: RHH. Relaxed, balanced setup, quiet pre-pitch actions. Athletic hands, loose and stays through the hitting zone a long time. Polished approach, stays within himself and uses the whole field.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 86.2 mph. 279’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 to over-the-top slot.
Defense: 1.96-2.00 pop times. Flexible hips, athletic defender, low setup. Soft hands, willing and agile blocker. Replaces feet coming out of the crouch, repeatable and clean actions.
Run: 7.35 runner in the 60. 

5. Bryk Barnard, Hersey (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-11, 174-pounds. Athletic, lean frame with plenty of room for continued physical development.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, quiet setup, minimal pre-pitch actions. Simple, highly-repeatable swing, stays short to the ball, loose hands, controls the barrel and whole field approach. Comfortable keeping his hands inside the baseball and manipulating the barrel.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 77.4 mph. 311’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. Arm plays short and over-the-top. Throws were consistently around the second-base bag and play true out of the hand.
Defense: 2.01-2.04 pop times. Wide, square setup, soft hands, presents pitches in and around the zone; soft hands. Clean, easy and repeatable out of the chute. Fundamentally sound blocker.
Run: 7.63 runner in the 60. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Rakim Ali, Thornton Fractional South (IL), 2024 Southern
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-11, 160-pounds. Lean, high-waisted, developing frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, quiet load and leg-kick timing trigger. Loose hands, uphill path, middle of the field, gap-to-gap approach with extension through contact at times.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 84.4 mph. 323’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Quick arm plays from a high 3/4 slot and flashed life out of the hand.
Defense: 2.08-2.20 pop times. Athletic behind the plate, works to keep pitches in the zone and present them. Soft hands and quick glove-to-hand release.
Run: 7.69 runner in the 60. 

Seth Impson, Springfield (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-0, 170-pounds. Wiry, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, leg-kick timing trigger. Easy balanced swing, loose hands, uphill path and worked the middle of the field throughout.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 86 mph. 317’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. Loose, quick arm, plays strong from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 1.93-2.01 pop times. Athletic behind the plate, active and willing blocker. Flexible receiver, soft glove hand, quick and clean coming out of the crouch.
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60. 

Finnley Koch, Fenwick (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load and stride. Easy, loose hands, short to the ball, line-drive approach.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 80.5 mph. 296’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short, loose arm plays easy from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.01-2.12 pop times. Above-average receiver; flexible hips, quiet actions, low target and soft hands with the ability to present pitches. Clean and repeatable out of the chute with smooth glove-to-hand release.
Run: 7.63 runner in the 60. 

Tommy Korn, Crystal Lake Central (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 6-0, 200-pounds. Strong, broad-shouldered frame.
Hit: RHH. Narrow, slightly open setup, long stride. Loose, strong hands, whip and bat speed through the zone zone and worked gap-to-gap.
Power: 98 max exit velocity, averaged 92.8 mph. 351’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Easy, loose arm, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.02-2.09 pop times. Presents a low target, slightly open. Steady hands, clean release from the crouch and consistently released from his knees.
Run: 7.34 runner in the 60. 

Jaime Luna, Mount Carmel (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 195-pounds. Well-proportioned frame with strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, short stride and quiet loading action. Athletic hands, long through the zone, easy effort, balanced throughout and hard gap-to-gap contact.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 86.6 mph. 327’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. INF - 81 mph. Short arm action and comes from an over-the-top slot out of the crouch.
Defense: 2.06-2.21 pop times. C: Low setup, sure-hands. Directional out of the crouch, replaces feet and smooth glove-to-hand transfer.   INF: Fluid two hand gather out front, plays through the ball with intent, clean release with effort at times.
Run: 7.81 runner in the 60. 

AJ Manganello, Montini (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, smooth loading action and short stride. Athletic, quick hands, flashed twitch and whip through the zone, natural loft and gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 81.6 mph. 338’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.03-2.09 pop times. One knee setup receiving, low target, flexible hips, willing blocker. Replaces feet and directional out of the crouch.
Run: 7.03 runner in the 60. 

Jake Parpet, Conant (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-9, 160-pounds. Well-proportioned, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, quiet load and stride. Stays balanced and repeatable, fluid loose hands, feel for the barrel and line-drive approach.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 87.4 mph. 316’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. INF - 86 mph. Short, clean arm action, plays over-the-top from behind the plate. Consistently around the second-base bag.
Defense: 1.95-2.02 pop times. C: Athletic actions behind the plate, quality setup and presentation. Bouncy and athletic out of the crouch, directional. INF: Athletic two hand gather out front, easy range to glove side with a quick first step, clean transfer, confident actions.
Run: 6.91 runner in the 60. 

Michael Roberson III, Providence Catholic (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-1, 190-pounds. Athletic, projectable build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, stock setup, pre-pitch load, leg-kick trigger. Aggressive swing, long through the zone, natural lift through contact.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 80.5 mph. 319’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 83 mph. Clean, strong arm, plays from a high 3/4 to over-the-top slot. Throws flashed carry and life.
Defense: 1.88-1.95 pop times. Low setup, soft confident glove hand, works to present pitches in and around the zone. Clean and efficient out of the crouch, repeatable.
Run: 7.81 runner in the 60. 

Collin Senkpeil, Lincoln-Way Central (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted frame with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, quiet pre-pitch and short stride. Compact swing, lets the ball travel, loose hands, controls the barrel, flat through the zone and line-drive approach. Hands work on top of the baseball and create backspin off the barrel.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 89 mph. 309’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Loose arm, plays over-the-top.
Defense: 2.06-2.09 pop times. Has a motor and bounce behind the plate. Square setup, steady hands and plays directional out of the crouch.
Run: 7.31 runner in the 60. 

Eloy Suarez, Hoffman Estates (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-10, 200-pounds. Thick, strong build.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride. Athletic hands, controlled intent, uphill path, aggressive approach, pull-side elevated approach.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 87.2 mph. 330’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.25-2.40 pop times. Steady, soft hands, clean glove-to-hand exchange and repeatable.
Run: 7.93 runner in the 60. 

Owen Young, Joliet West (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-8, 180-pounds. Compact, strong frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide, strong base, fluid load and stride. Strong hands, flat path, direct to the ball, ability to backspin the baseball and hard line-drive contact.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 87.3 mph. 320’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. INF - 78 mph. Short, clean arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.06-2.13 pop times. C: Highly-athletic, quick glove-to-hand release at times behind the plate. Soft hands, active feet and stays directional. INF:  Corner infield profile, active feet, plays with body control, two hand gather out front.
Run: 7.29 runner in the 60. 

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