Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The Preseason I.D. Showcase at McHenry is in the books and over the next several days we will be rolling out positional analysis on the event, starting with catchers. Here's a look at our top catching prospect on the day, complete with scouting reports and stats.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Pierson Gibis, C, Wauconda HS, 2017
5-foot-11, 170-pound athletic build, well-proportioned left-handed hitting catcher. Ran an above-average home-to-first time for a catcher, 4.43. Offensively, Loose swing with the ability to backspin the baseball. Compact, short bat path, created easy bat speed, and sprayed balls to both gaps. Balanced, open setup, slight leg-lift timing trigger and fluid rhythm. Registered an exit velocity of 87 mph. Defensively, above-average defender behind the plate. Athletic setup, quick exchange, short arm action and an over-the-top slot. Throws had carry and true four-seam flight clocked at 76 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged from 2.07-2.11.

2. Joe Rizzo, C/2B, Huntley HS, 2017
5-foot-11, 190-pound sturdy build, strong right-handed hitting catcher and infielder. Offensively, registered an above-average exit velocity of 90 mph. Quiet swing with present strength and made some hard contact at times during his round of batting practice. Level and long bat path with a gap-to-gap approach. Balanced, narrow setup, short stride, and good balance at times. Defensively, flashed a big arm behind the plate clocked at 79 mph from the crouch. Short arm action from a high ¾ slot, arm-side-run and pop times ranged between 2.05-2.09. Also, worked out on the infield, steady hands, and his arm flashed carry across the diamond at 80 mph.  

3. Jake LaSota, C, Marengo HS, 2018
Solid, durable build 5-foot-10, 190-pound well-proportioned right-handed hitting catcher. Defensively, athletic actions and quick exchange behind the plate. Short arm action, over-the-top slot, accurate throws with carry and clocked at 74 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.11-2.18. Offensively, stayed on top of the baseball and found the barrel routinely during batting practice. Balanced setup, slight pre-pitch load, short stride, good balance and level bat path through the hitting zone. Registered an exit velocity of 79 mph. Also, ran a 4.54 home-to-first.

4. Alex Powers, C, Prairie Ridge HS, 2019
6-foot, 150-pound long and lean build, plenty of room for continued physical development right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, loose swing, flashed bat speed and uphill bat path that stayed through the hitting zone. Balanced, slightly open setup, short stride, gap-to-gap approach and average balance. Registered an exit velocity of 80 mph. Defensively, behind the plate, loose arm action out of a ¾ to high ¾ slot. Throws clocked at 71 mph and pop times ranged between 2.22-2.29. Also, ran a 4.70 home-to-first.

5. Tyler Novak, C, Huntley HS, 2017
Athletic, solid build 5-foot-10, 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Started off the day running a 4.44 home-to-first. Offensively, flashed looseness, bat speed, gap-to-gap approach and some quick twitch in his swing.  Balanced setup, deep pre-pitch load with a slight hip-coil, a short stride and looked to pull. Registered an 80 mph exit velocity off of a tee. Defensively, showed some bounce and quick feet fielding the bunt and on his block. Over-the-top arm slot, on-line throws which flashed carry at times and clocked at 72 mph. Pop times ranged from 2.17-2.26.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Brandon Bannon, C/2B, Marian Central Catholic HS, 2018
Wiry, lean build 5-foot-9, 135-pound right-handed hitting catcher and infielder. Offensively, consistently barreled baseballs up the middle. Balanced setup, pre-pitch load, leg-lift timing trigger and average balance through contact. Line-drive hitter with a long bat path. Registered an exit velocity of 71 mph. Defensively, flashed quick feet and exchange on the infield. Made an impressive diving play to his glove side. Loose arm from a ¾ to low ¾ slot and throws clocked at 68 mph across the diamond. Behind the plate, throws flashed some arm-side-run and pop times ranged between 2.18-2.25. Also, ran a 4.68 home-to-first.

Matt Breig, C, Cary Grove HS, 2018
Solid lower half 6-foot, 200-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, used the middle of the field and flashed some looseness. Open, tall setup, pre-pitch load, short stride and uphill bat path through the hitting zone. Registered an exit velocity of 75 mph. Defensively, behind the plate, short arm action and an over-the-top slot. Throws clocked at 67 mph from the crouch and pop times ranged between 2.25-2.39. Also, ran a 4.77 home-to-first.

Garrett Gillund, C/INF/RHP, McHenry West HS, 2018
Well-proportioned 5-foot-11, 165-pound right-handed hitting position player and pitcher. Offensively, simple swing with not a lot of wasted movement. Balanced setup, short stride, uphill bat path and average balance through contact. Registered an exit velocity of 77 mph. Defensively, flashed steady hands and made a nice run through play on the infield and throws were clocked at 72 mph. Behind the dish, clocked at 67 mph from the crouch and pop times ranged between 2.43-2.54. Also, ran a 5.01 home-to-first. On the mound, repeated his delivery, long arm action, from a high ¾ slot, tall and fall delivery. In-line direction, square landing and an athletic finish. Fastball sat 72-73 mph. Curveball worked 11/5, some feel, short break and ranged between 64-66 mph. Changeup flashed some sink and was clocked at 65-68 mph.

Kamrin Hoffmann, C/2B, Huntley HS, 2018
Average build, well-proportioned 5-foot-7, 154-pound left-handed hitting catcher and infielder. Ran a 4.59 home-to-first. Offensively, flashed some strength and bat speed. Wide, balanced setup, short stride and average balance through contact. Uphill bat path and an opposite field approach. Registered an exit velocity of 72 mph. Defensively, worked out as a catcher and infielder. On the infield, steady hands, athletic fielding position; out in front of his body and a quick, clean exchange. Short arm action, high ¾ slot and throws clocked at 71 mph across the infield. As a catcher could incorporate his lower half more on his exchange. Throws clocked at 68 mph from the crouch and pop times ranged between 2.17-2.25.

Evan Jewson, C/3B, Crystal Lake South HS, 2019
Long and lean 5-foot-11, 150-pound plenty of room for continued physical development right-handed hitting catcher and infielder. Offensively, flashed some looseness in his swing at times. Balanced setup, reverse toe tap stride and a level bat path through the zone occasionally. Registered an exit velocity of 79 mph. Defensively, on the infield flashed a quick arm from a ¾ slot and throws were clocked at 73 mph. Behind the dish, showed textbook form on his block, impressive for his age. Throws from the crouch were clocked at 67 mph and pop times ranged between 2.18-2.29. He also ran a 5.12 home-to-first.

Jack Jonota, C, Stevenson HS, 2019
Lean build, plenty of room for physical development 5-foot-6, 120-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, contact approach at the plate with a level path through the hitting zone. Narrow, tall setup, long stride, and average balance through contact. Registered an exit velocity of 73 mph. Defensively, comes out of the chute aggressively. Some effort on throws, over-the-top slot and long arm action. Throws were clocked at 71 mph from the crouch, pop times ranged from 2.16-2.33. Also, ran a 5.15 home-to-first.

Tyler Koss, SS/C, Huntley HS, 2018
Average build 5-foot-8, 150-pound right-handed hitting infielder and catcher. Offensively, made hard contact during his round of batting practice. Balanced setup, early load, short stride and level bat path at times. Registered an exit velocity of 80 mph. Ran a 4.68 home-to-first. Defensively, on the infield, quick and clean exchange. Tendency to field the ball deep, short arm action, accurate throws clocked at 76 mph across the infield. Behind the plate, flashed some bounce in his step. Short arm action, throws had some arm-side-run at times, clocked at 73 mph and pop times ranged between 2.12-2.25.

Jake Motley, 3B/C, Wauconda HS, 2018
Athletic frame, well-proportioned 5-foot-11, 165-pound right-handed hitting infielder and catcher. Offensively, simple swing, short bat path, line-drive approach with limited movement. Balanced setup, short stride and average balance through contact. Registered an exit velocity of 78 mph. Also, ran a 4.83 home-to-first. Defensively, on the infield, quick exchange, short arm action and throws clocked at 71 mph. Behind the plate, throws clocked at 70 mph and pop times ranged between 2.17-2.28.

Thomas Ross, C/2B, Lake Park HS, 2018
Undersized 5-foot-6, 150-pound right-handed hitting catcher and infielder. Offensively, fluid rhythm, loose hands and a simple approach at the plate. Balanced, open setup position, pre-pitch load, short stride and long uphill bat path. Registered an exit velocity of 69 mph. Defensively, showed the ability to catch and play the infield. On the infield, steady hands, quick, short arm action from a high ¾ slot, accurate and clocked at 75 mph across the diamond. Behind the plate, flashed a quick transfer and short arm action. Throws were consistently on the bag, clocked at 70 mph and pop times ranged between 2.16-2.19. Also, ran a 4.85 home-to-first.

Matthew Schulenburg, OF/C, Westminster Christian, 2018
Long and lean 6-foot-2, 160-pound plenty of room for continued physical development right-handed hitting outfielder and catcher. Ran a 4.64 home-to-first. Offensively, looseness in hands and level bat path. Tall, balanced setup, normal stride and average balance through contact. Defensively, in the outfield, long arm action from a high ¾ slot and throws clocked at 72 mph from the outfield. Also, worked out behind the plate, throws clocked from 66 mph from the crouch and ranged between 2.35-2.55.

Scott Stetz, C, Prairie Ridge HS, 2018
Well-proportioned 5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Ran a 4.65 home-to-first. Offensively, simple swing, balanced setup, pre-pitch load and short stride. Registered an exit velocity of 77 mph. Defensively, clean exchange behind the plate. Short arm action, high ¾ slot, clocked at 70 mph and pop times ranged between 2.32-2.39.

Trent Verdonck, C, Huntley HS, 2019
5-foot-10, 165-pound above-average build for his age right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, repeatable, compact swing, with some looseness and stayed flat through the hitting zone. Balanced setup, short stride, and line-drive approach. Registered an exit velocity of 70 mph. Defensively, short arm action from an over-the-top slot, clocked at 68 mph. Pop times ranged from 2.37-2.47. Also, ran a 5.34 home-to-first.

Blake Waterson, C, Woodstock HS, 2017
Big-bodied 6-foot, 215-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, registered an exit velocity of 87 mph off of a tee. Simple swing, stayed on top of the baseball and flashed a strong bat. Balanced setup, smooth pre-pitch load, good balance through contact and a short bat path. Defensively, short arm action from an over-the-top slot. Throws were true with carry and clocked at 75 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.18-2.26. Also, ran a 4.97 home-to-first.