On Wednesday, June 16, the PBR Illinois & Missouri travelled to GCS BallPark in Sauget, IL to host the St. Louis Open. The event was open for players in high school grad classes 2022 through 2025 and will serve as an identifier to select, invite events throughout the summer and winter.

For a closer look at the showcase details and the technologies we'll have on-site to assist our in-person evaluation for all in attendance, click here. For a complete look at those registered to attend this event, view the most up-to-date version of the roster by clicking here.

Today we continue the coverage of the event with a look at the day’s catchers. Brayden Biggs, an unsigned senior from Belleville West HS, was one of the top backstops in attendance. The lean, upside catcher is a natural receiver with sure-hands, clean arm and topped at 76 mph from the crouch. Offensively, he has a loose swing and showed a feel for the barrel.

One of the more physical catchers in attendance was Clayton Chandler (North County (MO), 2022). The 6-foot, 215-pound, right-handed hitter registered a max exit velocity of 97.56 mph during BP with a max distance of 349 feet. On top of that, he topped at 79 mph from the crouch and a low pop time of 2.03.

Another 2022 who showed well was Donald Timon (Mascoutah, IL). Timon had one of the quickest releases behind the plate, clean release and pop times registered as low as 2.00.

Read on below for reports on each and every catcher from the day.

CATCHING PROSPECTS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Brayden Biggs, Belleville West (IL), 2023
 Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 6-foot, 140-pounds. Lean frame.
Hit: RH. Wide setup, slight crouch, toe-tap trigger, short stride. Short swing, slight uphill bat path, tight turn to the baseball, gap-to-gap approach with line drives.
Power: 82.94 max exit velocity, averaged 78.99 mph. 301’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 76 mph. Short arm action, second best velocity among catchers at event.
Defense: 2.14-2.21 pop times. Athletic setup, steady hands, clean exchanges.
Run: 7.40 runner in the 60. 

J.T. Brissenden, Althoff Catholic (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 165-pounds.
Hit: LH. Weight shifted on rear leg, small leg lift, short stride. Level bat path, looks to make contact out front, gap-to-gap approach, line drives.
Power: 79.72 max exit velocity, averaged 76.1 mph. 272’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 67 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.30-2.35 pop times. Quiet receiving actions from a one knee setup, flashed ability to keep the ball in front on blocks.
Run: 7.66 runner in the 60. 

Clayton Chandler, North County (MO), 2022
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-foot, 215-pounds. Thick, defined lower half.
Hit: RH. Wide, open setup, small leg kick, short stride. Aggressive swing, short, level path,  ball jumps off barrel, consistent hard contact, pull-side tendencies.
Power: 97.56 max exit velocity, averaged 86.18 mph. 349’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 79 mph. Short arm action, highest velocity among catchers at event.
Defense: 2.03-2.15 pop times. Easy receiver from a low, one-knee setup, showed different setups, clean feet/transfer.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60. 

Maguire Clark, Hamilton County (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-7, 160-pounds.
Hit: RH. Tall, balanced setup, leg lift, short stride. Short swing, looks to stay inside the baseball, line drive approach.
Power: 79.84 max exit velocity, averaged 72.29 mph. 221’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 62 mph. INF - 67 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.58-2.69 pop times. Catcher: quick exchange, flashes steady hands while receiving. Infield: fields with two hands in center, works with proper direction at times.
Run: 8.31 runner in the 60. 

Alex Connoyer, Quincy Notre Dame (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: 3B/C
Body: 6-foot-2, 180-pounds. Long frame, room for physical development.
Hit: RH. Balanced setup, slightly open, short stride, simple pre-pitch actions. Short swing, level bat path, gap-to-gap approach, flashed ability to use middle of the field.
Power: 88.93 max exit velocity, averaged 80.53 mph. 314’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 73 mph. INF - 76 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top arm slot.
Defense: 2.12-2.20 pop times. Catcher: quick feet, clean exchanges. Infield: fields from center with two hands, works through baseball, flashes ability to play on the move.
Run: 7.56 runner in the 60. 

Mekhai Gover, University City (MO), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-10, 175-pounds.
Hit: RH. Tall, narrow setup, open feet, controlled toe tap stride, weight finishes on the front side. Whole field approach, short, level swing plane.
Power: 91.57 max exit velocity, averaged 81.8 mph. 331’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 72 mph. Short arm angle, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.12-2.19 pop times. Athletic setup, clean consistent footwork, quick exchange, plus blocking.
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60. 

Ethan Melton, Wentzville Holt (MO), 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 195-pounds. Lean, long limb frame.
Hit: RH. Wide stance, short stride, weight finishes on the back leg. Long, level swing, line drive approach, worked gap-to-gap.
Power: 85.55 max exit velocity, averaged 80.62 mph. 294’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 65 mph. Short arm angle, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.25-2.35 pop times. Balance setup, sure handed with a clean exchange, accurate throws around the bag.
Run: 8.25 runner in the 60. 

Connor Mendell, Fort Zumwalt South (MO), 2024
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-foot-11, 155-pounds.
Hit: RH. Wide stance, preloaded weight on the back leg, short, smooth stride. Flashes bat speed, short, level swing plane, hits the ball where it's pitched.
Power: 80.91 max exit velocity, averaged 74.68 mph. 245’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 70 mph. INF - 74 mph. Short arm angle, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.26.-2.34 pop times. Catcher: Athletic, balanced setup, quiet, soft hands receiving, plus blocking, throws are playing to the bag. Infield: quick first step, sure handed, clean exchange.
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60. 

Donald Timon, Mascoutah (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-foot-11, 170-pounds.
Hit: RH. Simple, balance stance, hands start low, toe tap stride. Barrel control, middle of the field approach, long, level swing.
Power: 83.33 max exit velocity, averaged 70.33 mph. 278’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 72 mph. Short, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.00-2.12 pop times. Quick feet and exchange, sure handed, consistent footwork, athletic base.
Run: 7.48 runner in the 60.

Wyatt Wathen, Lafayette  (MO), 2025
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-foot-6, 130-pounds.
Hit: SH. Crouch, balance stance, quick, short stride, arm bar load.  Short, uphill swing, whole field approach.
Power: 81.31 max exit velocity, averaged 75.68 mph. 256’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 70 mph. INF - 73 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.18-2.32 pop times. Catcher: Deadens the baseball on blocks, flashes soft hands, quiet setup, clean exchange, accurate throws. Infield: Plays through the baseball, field in the center of the body, clean exchange.
Run: 7.41 runner in the 60. 

RELATED CONTENT