By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Follow @PBRIllinois

The third annual Preseason I.D. - Gurnee Showcase at The Bat Speed Academy in Gurnee, IL took place Sunday, February 26, 2017. The event was open to all high school classes and featured just shy of 100 prospects from around the Chicagoland area.

Today we begin the analysis from the event with the catchers. One of the top catchers in attendance was 2018 Luke Plunkett (Libertyville). Plunkett, now ranked No. 130 in Illinois, has a fluid, loose left-handed swing and accurate arm from behind the plate.

One of the top 2020’s in attendance was Isaac Crabb (Harrisburg). Crabb, who starts on varsity at Harrisburg, has a sturdy build, flat bat path and looseness in his swing.

2019 Kyle Crawford (Dixon) ran a 4.42 home-to-first and has a strong arm behind the plate for his age, clocked at 78 mph from the crouch.

2018 Sam DeLuca (Warren) is a left-handed hitter with athletic actions behind the plate. DeLuca has a clean, quick transfer, accurate arm and pop times ranged between 2.03-2.12.

Catchers (Listed Alphabetically)

Constantino Alivia, C, Carmel Catholic, 2019
5-foot-11, 160-pound, wiry, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride, level path, line-drive approach, works the middle of the field. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, feet work quick out of the crouch at times, stay on-line, short arm action, high ¾ slot, throws clocked at 74 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.18-2.29. 4.79 runner, home-to-first.

Joshua Arejola, C, Marian Central Catholic, 2019
5-foot-10, 140-pound, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, open, crouched setup, smooth load, short stride and average balance through contact. Quick hands, level path, routinely squared up baseballs, line-drive approach and fluid rhythm throughout. 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, clean exchange, stays on-line to second base, short arm action, high ¾ slot, 70 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.33-2.39. 4.80 home-to-first runner.

Michael Behrendt, C/INF, Lakes Community, 2018
6-foot-1, 175-pound, athletically built, right-handed hitting multi-positional prospect. Defensively, worked out behind the plate and on the infield. On the infield, steady hands, maintains body control, clean exchange, short, clean arm clocked at 81 mph across the diamond. Behind the plate, arm works from a lower slot, throws clocked at 72 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.19-2.32. Offensively, balanced, minimal pre-pitch movement, short leg-kick timing trigger, level bat path; 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.40 home-to-first time.

Charlie Bennett, C, Bremen, 2019
6-foot-1, 220-pound, right-handed hitting catcher with a strong lower half. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride. Hands work above the ball, strength through contact. Recorded an exit velocity of 89 mph from a tee. Defensively, arm works short from a high ¾ slot. Throws flashed accuracy and were clocked at 70 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged from 2.19-2.33. 5.01 home-to-first runner.

Alex Berry, C, Grayslake Central, 2019
6-foot-2, 180-pound, right-handed hitting catcher with a lanky frame. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride, Comfortable driving the ball to the opposite field, long path. Recorded an exit velocity of 75 mph. Defensively, short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Throws were clocked at 72 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged from 2.32-2.37 from the crouch. 4.44 home-to-first runner.

Isaac Crabb, C, Harrisburg, 2020
6-foot-1, 200-pound, solidly built, two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, tall, balanced setup, pre-pitch rhythm, smooth load, toe-tap load, loose hands, flat path at times, stays through the baseball, uses the middle of the field. Exit velocity clocked at 78 mph exit velocity. Defensively, behind the plate, athletic actions for age, clean arm, high ¾ slot, clocked at 72 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.11-2.26. 4.94 runner, home-to-first. On the mound, right-handed pitcher with three-pitch feel. Flashed a quick, loose, short arm out of a high ¾ window. Full wind up, smooth rhythm, stays on-line, closed toe landing and athletic finish. Fastball, flashed slight run, 76-78 mph, touched 79. Curveball works between, 11/5 and 12/6, thrown for strikes, 63-66 mph. Changeup, sinking action, feel, maintains arm speed and sat 66-68 mph.

Kyle Crawford, C, Dixon, 2019
5-foot-10, 160-pound, right-handed hitting catcher. 4.42 runner, home-to-first. Defensively, advanced arm strength for his age; 78 mph from the crouch. Quick exchange, soft hands, short arm action, ¾ slot and throws flash carry. Pop times ranged between 2.00-2.12. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride, maintains balance through contact, short path and line-drive approach; 82 mph exit velocity from a tee.

Patrick Daniels, C, Loyola, 2019
6-foot, 185-pound, right-handed hitting catcher with a solid frame. Offensively, open setup, toe tap trigger, path remains level through the zone. Exit velocity registered at 86 mph. Defensively, short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Throws clocked at 70 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged from 2.30-2.44. 4.88 runner, home-to-first.

Hunter Dawson, C, Huntley, 2020
5-foot-9, 150-pound, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup with a short stride. Gap-to-gap approach, path remains level through the zone. Recorded an exit velocity of 78 mph from a tee. Natural catcher arm action from a high ¾ slot. Throws were clocked at 68 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged from 2.28-2.36. 4.65 home-to-first runner.

Sam DeLuca, C, Warren, 2018
5-foot-10, 172-pound, left-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced, athletic setup, high back elbow, long stride and maintains balance through contact. Fluid rhythm throughout, looks to pull and gets off his backside. 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Behind the plate, quick, clean exchange, stays on-line, over-the-top arm action, throws consistently around the bag, clocked at 73 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.03-2.12. Ran a 4.68 home-to-first.

Connor Gwaltney, C, Timothy Christian, 2018
5-foot-10, 175-pound, left-handed hitting catcher. Narrow, balanced setup, minimal pre-pitch movement, starts with hands back, long stride, and maintains balance through contact. Line-drive, pull approach, occasionally gets extension through contact. 78 mph exit velocity through contact. Defensively, short arm action from a high ¾ slot, throws clocked at 68 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.30-2.51.

Max Herubin, C, Carmel Catholic, 2019
5-foot-11, 173-pound, athletically built, right-handed hitting catcher. Balanced setup, short stride and aggressive swing. Uphill bat path, opposite field approach, strength through contact; 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, short arm action, high ¾ slot, throws clocked at 73 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.26-2.37. Also, 4.61 runner home-to-first.

Benton Holly, C, Mundelein, 2018
6-foot-1, 180-pound, solidly built, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, tall, open setup, short stride, simple swing, loose hands, maintains balance, line-drive approach and fluid rhythm throughout. 89 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, controls body coming out of the crouch, short arm action, high ¾ slot and throws clocked at 69 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.32-2.51. 4.97 runner, home-to-first.

Daniel Klein, C, Jacobs, 2019
5-foot-11, 180-pound, right-handed hitting multi-positional player. Open setup, stride returns to even, balance through contact. Gap-to-gap approach, path stays level through the zone. Recorded an exit velocity of 79 mph. Defensively, behind the plate, clean exchange, short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Throws clocked at 72 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.25 - 2.35. In the outfield, similar arm action, tendency to field deep. Throws flashed accuracy and were 80 mph from the outfield. 4.43 home-to-first time.

Brian Mohry, C, Warren, 2019
5-foot-10, 177-pound, right-handed hitting catcher. Ran a 4.25 home-to-first. Offensively, open, tall setup, short leg-kick timing trigger, uphill path, looks to lift the baseball and average balance through contact; 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, quick, clean exchange, natural catcher arm action, short and over-the-top, throws clocked at 67 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.20-2.36.

Jeffrey Nielsen, C/INF, Lakes Community, 2019
5-foot-10, 171-pound, athletically built, multi-positional prospect. Ran home-to-first at 4.37. Offensively, right-handed hitter, strength through contact; exit velocity clocked at 94 mph from a tee. Balanced setup, drops hands on load, leg-kick timing trigger, long path and some rhythm throughout. Defensively, worked out on the infield and behind the plate. Short arm action, over-the-top slot, accurate arm clocked at 78 mph across the diamond and 71 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.25-2.33.

Luke Plunkett, C, Libertyville, 2018
5-foot-10, 185-pound, solidly built, left-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, open, slightly crouched setup, short stride and good use of lower half in swing. Aggressive swinger, present bat speed, consistent hard contact, gap-to-gap approach, fluid rhythm throughout and maintains good balance throughout; 91 mph exit velocity through contact. Defensively, quick feet, athletic out of the crouch, stays on-line. Arm works short, over-the-top, throws carry, accurate, 74 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.07-2.19. Ran a 4.43 home-to-first.

Anthony Schiro, C, St. Catherines, 2020
5-foot-10, 145-pound, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup, long stride, long bat path. Recorded an exit velocity of 80 mph from a tee. Defensively, clean exchange, short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Throws clocked at 70 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged from 2.36-2.50.

Paul Turelli, RHP/C, Lake Forest, 2017
6-foot-4, 195-pound, strong, athletically built, two-way prospect. On the mound, right-handed pitcher with present arm strength. Repeats delivery, stays on-line, lands with a closed front toe and regular effort throughout. Clean arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball, thrown for strikes, big downhill tilt at times, sat 84-87, topped at 88 mph. Slider, works 10/4, lateral action, maintains arm speed, thrown for strikes out of the wind up, 72-74 mph. Also, threw a splitter, 67-69 mph. Offensively, right-handed hitter, balanced wide setup, short stride and flashed bat speed. Path works uphill, strength through contact; 90 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, worked out behind the plate, short, accurate, strong arm, clocked at 78 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.01-2.14. 4.58 runner, home-to-first.

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