On Feb. 26, 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 state's Class of 2023. This event helped our staff gain a clearer picture of the top juniors in Illinois, many of whom can be considered the top uncommitted '23s in the state. 

In the week that followed this event, we produced post-event analysis that includes performance highlights inside of our Quick Hits story, a look at the traditional stats measured within our Statistical Analysis piece, batted-ball and pitch data compiled in TrackMan Files, swing metrics captured on the Blast Motion Board, and sight scores from an athletic perspective tracked on the Vizual Edge Scoreboard.

You can learn more about the state-of-the-art technologies featured at our showcases within the hyperlinks above. Today we’ll begin our post-event process by rolling out the individual scouting reports of the day, starting with the catcher position while working our way across the diamond as the week continues.

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Cooper Cohn, McHenry (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, quiet toe-tap stride. Fast bat. Compact swing. Consistent hard contact to the middle of the field. Flashed pull-side power.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 92.3 mph. 352’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 81 mph. Quick arm action, works from a high 3/4 slot. Throws play with carry through the target.
Defense: 1.90-1.94 pop times. Aggressive. Balanced footwork. Leverages body well.
Run: 7.55 runner in the 60. 

2. AJ Malzone, St. Rita (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds. Compact frame with strength.
Hit: LHH. Open, balanced setup. Fluid rhythm and stride. Loose and easy. Strong hands. Quiet in the box. Consistently on the barrel. Hard, elevated contact throughout round.
Power: 95.2 max exit velocity, averaged 89.4 mph. 347’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top arm slot.
Defense: 1.94-2.09 pop times. Quick feet, clean exchange.
Run: 7.07 runner in the 60. 

3. Andrew Mack, Minooka (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 195-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load and short stride. Quiet, easy swing. Strong hands. Worked on the barrel with lifted contact throughout his round.
Power: 90.1 max exit velocity, averaged 85.9 mph. 305’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot. Flashed accuracy on throws.
Defense: 2.00-2.13 pop times. Soft hands, quick feet, quick exchange, some effort.
Run: 7.35 runner in the 60. 

4. Henry Wolfe, New Trier, 2023
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-2, 190-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide, couched setup. Smooth load and toe-tap stride. Direct swing path, level through the zone, strong hands, ball jumps off the barrel at times.
Power: 93.3 max exit velocity, averaged 84.9 mph. 289’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 82 mph. Long arm action, works from a high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 1.95-2.06 pop times. Tall setup behind the plate. Blocks the ball out front. Athletic actions, clean exchange.
Run: 6.78 runner in the 60. 

5. Jack Rozmus, York (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup. Quiet in the box. Minimal load and short stride. Simple approach, strong hands, natural lift through contact.
Power: 89.5 max exit velocity, averaged 69.1 mph. 345’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Short arm action, works from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 1.98-2.03 pop times. Balanced footwork. Quick hands, clean exchange.
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Damon Brena, Niles West (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup. Relaxed. Short leg kick. Compact swing, barrel strength, uses the middle of the field.
Power: 95.1 max exit velocity, averaged 84.6 mph. 320’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. Short, quick arm action. High 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.03-2.07 pop times. Athletic actions. Fluid footwork. Quick exchange. Blocks the ball out front.
Run: 7.66 runner in the 60. 

Ray Jesse, Lockport (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-11, 190-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup. No wasted movement. Lets the ball travel, strong hands, direct swing path. Consistent hard contact to the middle of the field.
Power: 90.7 max exit velocity, averaged 87.5 mph. 304’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.00-2.15 pop times. Balanced setup, quick exchange, stays low, good footwork
Run: 7.82 runner in the 60. 

Jake LaVine, Metea Valley (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Quiet in the box. Balanced setup, short stride. Strong hands, compact swing, flat through the zone.
Power: 89.1 max exit velocity, averaged 80.3 mph. 321’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.03-2.13 pop times. Balanced setup behind the plate. Feet work in line with the second base bag. Clean exchange
Run: 7.22 runner in the 60. 

William Millard, OFallon (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-11, 185-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup. Loose and relaxed. Quiet load, short stride. Athletic look. Swing was on-plane early and through the zone. Repeatable. Consistent lifted contact.
Power: 90.3 max exit velocity, averaged 85.5 mph. 308’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.07-2.14 pop times. Athletic footwork. Gains ground out of the crouch. Clean exchange.
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60. 

Luca Morelli, Stevenson (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 195-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Open, balanced setup. Fluid pre-pitch actions. Sits into backside. Long, uphill path. Elevates the baseball. Middle of the field approach.
Power: 92.8 max exit velocity, averaged 89 mph. 313’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.09-2.15 pop times. Tall setup behind the plate, quick footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 7.54 runner in the 60. 

Bryce Nevils, Brother Rice (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-1, 188-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Upright stance. Loose and relaxed. Long leg-kick trigger. Strong hands, flat through the zone, creates backspin. Flashed easy pull-side power.
Power: 97.8 max exit velocity, averaged 90.8 mph. 354’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. OF - 87 mph. Short, clean arm circle, over-the-top slot, quick arm with carry through the target, accurate.
Defense: 2.07-2.13 pop times. OF: Athletic footwork, athletic body, confident hands, loose, athletic actions/ C: Clean exchange, quick feet, athletic actions.
Run: 6.98 runner in the 60. 

Danny Rollins, Lake Park (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup. Loose and relaxed. Short stride. Easy swing, loose hands, lets the ball travel and uses the whole field. Ability to backspin the baseball.
Power: 98.2 max exit velocity, averaged 92.2 mph. 340’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.06-2.14 pop times. Balanced footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 7.10 runner in the 60. 

Donald Tober, Timothy Christian, 2023
Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 6-1, 205-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, toe-tap stride. Swings with intent and aggression, strong hands, short to the baseball, present pull-side power.
Power: 95.1 max exit velocity, averaged 91 mph. 349’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot. Quick to release.
Defense: 2.03-2.14 pop times. Athletic footwork. Gains ground out of the crouch. Clean exchange.
Run: 7.36 runner in the 60. 

Nolan Zurawski, Minooka (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-1, 185-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, quiet load, short stride. Lets the ball travel, short path, feel for the barrel, natural lift, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 88.3 max exit velocity, averaged 84 mph. 295’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.06-2.15 pop times. Tall setup behind the plate. Quick exchange, clean footwork.
Run: 7.42 runner in the 60. 

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