Underclass Showcase: Catcher Analysis

On Oct. 21 at The MAX, the PBR Illinois staff hosted its final showcase of the 2018 season, the Underclass Showcase. There were more than 80 prospects from the area in attendance, predominantly representing the 2021 class, with a handful of 2022 prospects in the mix. It’s clear that the state’s underclass talent is as bright as ever.

Today, we’ll start analyzing the prospects who made it to The MAX last month, beginning with the group of catchers.

Sophomores Ty Batusich (Joliet West) and Sebastian Cabeza (Kaneland) were two backstops who stood out in particular. Batusich, a top-25-ranked prospect in the state’s 2021 class, elevated his stock at the Underclass Showcase. In the left-handed batter’s box, the Joliet West standout impressed with his feel for the barrel and looks like he’ll be able to stick at catcher.

As for Cabeza, the durable Kaneland catcher put together a solid all-around day at the event. The physical 5-foot-9, 175-pound prospect is an aggressive right-handed hitter with the chance to hit for some power one day.

We have the complete reports on both Batusich and Cabeza below, as well as the write-ups on all 13 other catchers who took reps at the showcase last month. We previously published the Statistical Analysis from the event, which you can find here. Keep an eye out tomorrow when we examine the day’s outfielders.

TOP PROSPECTS

1. Ty Batusich, C, Joliet West, 2021
5-foot-11, 175-pound, strong, athletically-built, left-handed hitting catcher. One of the top 2021 catchers in we have seen to date in Illinois. Offensively, tall setup, low hands, gets separation in load, short stride and maintains balance through contact. Present bat speed, path stays short to the ball and level through the hitting zone. Consistently found the barrel, ball jumps off the bat, line-drive, gap-to-gap approach; 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, athletic behind the plate; clean and quick out of the crouch, natural catcher actions. Strong, sure hands, short arm action and throws were accurate with carry; topped at 78 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.12-2.19. 7.36 runner in the 60, laser-timed. High-follow 2021 catcher.

2. Sebastian Cabeza, C, Kaneland, 2021
5-foot-9, 175-pound, right-handed hitting catcher; strong, durable build. 7.45 runner in the 60, laser-timed. At the plate, balanced setup, pre-pitch rhythm, presence in the box, smooth load and leg-kick timing trigger. Aggressive swing, present bat speed and strength, long, level bat path, gap-to-gap approach; 90 mph exit velocity from a tee. Behind the plate, flexible hips, steady strong hands and quick release. Short, quick arm action, throws topped at 74 mph from the crouch with effort throughout. Pop times ranged between 2.04-2.12.

3. Michael Rastrelli, C/INF, Mundelein, 2021
5-foot-10, 145-pound, well-proportioned, wiry, right-handed hitting catcher/infielder. At the plate, balanced setup, minimal load and short heel-lift stride. Simple swing, short bat path, line-drive approach and looks to control the barrel. 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. Behind the plate, athletic actions. Soft hands, clean and quick out of the crouch, Short arm action, works over-the-top and throws were true with carry, topped at 77 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.16-2.30. On the infield, steady defender, reliable hands, maintains body control on the move, loose arm action, ¾ slot and throws topped at 76 mph. 7.96 runner in the 60.

4. Luke Lawrence, C, Brother Rice, 2021
5-foot-9, 160-pound, lean, athletically-built, left-handed hitting catcher. 7.41 runner in the 60, laser-timed. At the plate, open setup, smooth loading action, leg-lift works back to square and maintains balance through contact. Fluid rhythm, loose hands, easy effort, rotational at times, pull-side approach and a lot of hard contact. 78 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, soft hands, fluid, clean and repeatable out of the crouch. Athletic, agile blocker. Short arm action, high ¾ slot, easy effort, throws around the second base bag and topped at 74 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.18-2.33.

5. Chris Akers, C, Elmwood Park, 2021
6-foot, 170-pound, athletically-built, proportional strength, catcher. Offensively, right-handed hitter, wide setup, pre-pitch load, short stride and maintains balance through contact. Loose hands at times, long, level bat path, gap-to-gap pull approach, hard contact and present bat strength; 93 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, flexible hips, low setup, quick release with effort throughout. Short, loose arm action, over-the-top slot, throws consistently around the second base bag and topped at 71 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.07-2.18. Ran a 7.53 laser-timed 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Cole Blazekovich, C, Minooka, 2022
5-foot-10, 135-pound, long-limbed, right-handed hitting catcher. Open setup, short stride works back to even, long, uphill bat path and registered a 75 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, steady hands, clean exchange, short arm action, high ¾ slot and throws topped at 66 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.40-2.50. Ran a 7.86 60.

Ethan Brooks, C, Lincoln-Way East, 2021
5-foot-9, 138-pound, well-proportioned, right-handed hitting catcher. At the plate, balanced quiet setup, short stride, level bat path and registered a 76 mph exit velocity from a tee. Behind the plate, quick, clean release at times. Short arm action, works over-the-top, accurate throws, clocked at 72 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.10-2.37. Ran a 7.64 laser-timed 60.

Brian Donlea, C/INF/OF, Barrington, 2021
6-foot-1, 190-pound, strong-bodied, multi-positional prospect. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short leg-kick trigger and swings with intent and effort. Long path, powerful approach and registered an exit velocity of 84 mph from a tee. Defensively, worked out behind the plate, on the infield and in the outfield. Behind the plate, reliable hands, quick release, short arm action, over-the-top slot and throws topped at 75 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.20-2.26. From the outfield, throws topped at 84 mph and on the infield throws clocked at 73 mph. 7.51 runner in the 60.  

Nicholas Heerde, C/INF/OF, Lincoln-Way East, 2021
5-foot-6, 140-pound, multi-positional prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, balanced, slightly open setup, short stride and maintains balance through contact. Fluid rhythm, line-drive approach and looks to control the barrel. 76 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, worked out behind the plate, on the infield and in the outfield. On the infield, steady defender, works through the baseball, reliable hands, loose, quick arm, clocked at 76 mph across the diamond. In the outfield, body control, plays through the baseball and throws topped at 76 mph. Behind the plate, quick transfer, short, over-the-top arm action, and throws clocked at 70 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.26-2.34. Ran a 7.95 60.

Noah Kuchler, C, St. Francis, 2021
5-foot-10, 175-pound, athletically-built, right-handed hitting catcher. 7.38 runner in the 60, laser-timed. Offensively, balanced setup, minimal stride, short bat path at times, pull approach and registered a 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, short arm action, high ¾ slot and throws topped at 71 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.25-2.33.   

Brian Lensegrav, C, Taft, 2021
6-foot-3, 170-pound, long and lean catcher with plenty of room for continued physical development. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced quiet setup, smooth load and short stride. Simple swing, short to the ball, middle of the field approach and registered a 78 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, clean actions and release, fundamentally sound blocker. Short, loose arm action, throws topped at 71 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.18-2.25. Ran a 7.62 60.

Cristian Santiago, C/INF, Mundelein, 2021
5-foot-8, 148-pound, well-proportioned, multi-positional prospect. At the plate, right-handed hitter, narrow, crouched setup, smooth load and short leg-kick timing trigger. Fluid rhythm, long, uphill bat path, gap-to-gap approach and 75 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, worked out behind the plate and on the infield. Behind the plate, soft hands, clean and directional out of the crouch. Short, over-the-top arm action and throws topped at 72 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.30-2.43. On the infield, fluid footwork at times, steady hands and throws clocked at 72 mph across the infield. 7.52 runner in the 60, laser-timed.

Jordan Scholl, C/RHP, Wheaton Warrenville South, 2022
5-foot-11, 135-pound, long and lean, two-way prospect; plenty of room for continued physical development. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, delivery works with rhythm, online and lands square. Arm action projects; long, loose and clean from a ¾ slot. Fastball, slight running action, thrown for strikes, sat 73-74 mph, touched 75. Curveball, 11/5 shape, action at times, 58-64 mph. Changeup, worked 66-69 mph. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short stride, long bat path, works level through the zone at times; 73 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, behind the plate, active, fundamentally sound blocker. Arm works from a ¾ slot and throws topped at 68 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.52-2.70. Ran a 8.10 60.

Matthew Tarr, INF/C, West Aurora, 2022
5-foot-11, 165-pound, athletically-built, catcher/infielder. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced, athletic setup, smooth load and short stride. Long bat path, works uphill at times, gap-to-gap approach and registered an 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, behind the plate, agile blocker, clean transfer, short arm action, over-the-top slot and throws topped at 74 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.20-2.36. On the infield, plays tall through exchange at times, loose, quick arm and throws clocked at 78 mph. 7.63 runner in the 60.

David Underdonk, C, Bolingbrook, 2021
5-foot-10, 175-pound, right-handed hitting catcher with proportional strength. Offensively, open setup, smooth load, long leg-lift timing trigger and fluid rhythm throughout. Loose, strong hands, uphill bat path, gap-to-gap approach and consistent hard contact. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, loose flexible hips, plays tall through exchange at times, short arm action, high ¾ slot and throws topped at 71 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.29-2.42. 7.94 runner in the 60.  

Logan Van Heuklon, C/INF/RHP, Dunlap, 2021
5-foot-10, 165-pound, athletically-built, multi-positional prospect. 7.55 runner in the 60, laser-timed. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced, open setup, pre-pitch load and long stride. Long bat path, level through the zone at times and 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, worked out behind the plate and on the infield. Behind the plate, flexible hips, sure hands, loose arm action and throws topped at 74 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.22-2.43. On the infield, throws clocked at 73 mph across. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, side rocker step delivery, lands square and finishes towards first base with regular effort throughout. Long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball worked straight, sat 74-75 mph, touched 77. Curveball 11/5 shape and sat 62-64 mph.

Lucas Waunn, C/INF, Fenwick, 2021
5-foot-10, 155-pound, lean, left-handed hitting catcher/infielder. At the plate, wide setup, smooth load, short stride. Minimal wasted movement, level through the zone, middle of the field approach and registered an 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, behind the plate, steady hands, clean release, short arm action, high ¾ slot and throws topped at 68 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.30-2.44. On the infield, shuffles through release and throws clocked at 69 mph. 7.77 runner in the 60.

Kyle Williams, C, West Aurora, 2021
5-foot-8, 150-pound, right-handed hitting catcher, athletic, strong build. 7.58 runner in the 60, laser-timed. At the plate, wide setup, minimal loading action, short leg-lift trigger. Long, level bat path, gap-to-gap approach and flashed bat strength. 74 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, steady hands, clean transfer, out of the crouch early, accurate arm, topped at 68 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.29-2.40.

RELATED CONTENT