On Sunday, October 11th the PBR Illinois staff hosted the fall Unsigned Senior Showcase at The MAX in McCook, IL. The event featured nearly 100 prospects with a plethora of them committing to colleges already. Shortly after the event’s conclusion, we provided some instant analysis from the day's top performers in our Quick Hits and Statistical Analysis posts. We continue our post-event analysis today, rolling out scouting reports on each position from the event, starting with the catchers. 

Plainfield Central backstop and recent St. Charles CC commit, Joshua Cunniff, took home the top spot thanks to his defensive prowess. Cunniff has a strong body suited to stick behind the plate and one of the top arms at the event, topping at 80 mph from a quick release. Cunniff's arm plays with carry and was consistently around the second-base bag. 

Read on below for an in-depth look at the top-ranked catchers from the event, as well as the best-of-the-rest.

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Joshua Cunniff, Plainfield Central (IL), 2021 St. Charles CC commit.
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds. Athletic, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Athletic in the box, tall balanced setup, smooth load, short leg-lift trigger. Strong quick hands, easy effort, short level swing, line drive gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. 88+ mph exit velocity on pitches middle-up during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. Short action, over-the-top slot, throws play accurate and with carry.
Defense: 2.00-2.11 pop times. Athletic setup, soft quiet hands, works to get underneath and present the pitch at the bottom of the zone. Fluid footwork out of the crouch, clean exchange.
Run: 7.09 runner in the 60. Above-average runner for position.

2. Gino Gazzillo, Mount Carmel (IL), 2021 Joliet JC commit. 
Positional Profile: C/1B 
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Athletic, strong build.
Hit: LHH. Simple balanced setup, minimal load and short leg kick. Strong, twitchy hands, short level swing, stays connected, line drive gap-to-gap approach, fluid rhythm.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. 97+ mph exit velocity on pitches up and in during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Long action, over-the-top slot, throws consistently around the bag.
Defense: 2.12-2.26 pop times. Natural catcher actions, soft quiet hands, ability to stick pitches, fluid footwork, plays on the balls of his feet and quick transfer out of the crouch.
Run: 7.32 runner in the 60. 

3. Joe Fiorillo, Lockport (IL), 2021 Milwaukee Area Tech JC commit.
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-9, 185-pounds. Strong compact build.
Hit: LHH. Crouched, balanced setup, minimal load and stays balanced throughout. Simple swing, strong quick hands, short level swing, line drive approach to all fields, fluid rhythm.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. 93+ mph exit velocity on pitches up and in during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot, throws play accurate and flash carry.
Defense: 2.08-2.18 pop times. Quiet receiver, presents a low target, minimal wasted movement and sure-handed. Replaces feet out of the crouch, quick glove-to-hand transfer.
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60. Above-average runner for position.

3. Brian Lensegrav Jr., Taft (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-3, 215-pounds. Physically-advanced, strong frame.
Hit: RHH. Tall balance setup, minimal load, short stride, repeatable swing. Strong hands, quick uphill swing, gets extension after contact, all field approach, fluid rhythm.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. 90+ mph exit velocity on pitches middle-middle during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Loose arm action, over-the-top slot, throws play accurate.
Defense: 2.08-2.25 pop times. Athletic setup, quick feet, soft hands, quick clean transfer.
Run: 7.3 runner in the 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Austin Bean, Grayslake Central (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 6-4, 185-pounds. Lean lanky frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced closed setup, short stride. Long level swing, line drive gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above 85 mph exit velocity on pitches low and away during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Long loose arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.11-2.29 pop times. Tall setup, work towards the baseball, fluid footwork, average hands, clean transfer.
Run: 7.85 runner in the 60. 

Brynden Cleveland, Shepard (IL), 2021 Concordia (WI) commit.
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-11, 187-pounds. Strong athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Wide balanced setup, minimal load, short stride stays closed. Aggressive swing, quick strong hands, long uphill swing, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. 97+ mph exit velocity on pitches middle away during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short arm action, High 3/4 slot, throws play accurate.
Defense: 2.19-2.27 pop times. Athletic behind the plate, quick feet, works in line, reliable hands.
Run: 7.18 runner in the 60. Above-average runner for position.

Scott Emma, Wheaton Warrenville South (IL), 2021 
Positional Profile: C/2B 
Body: 5-6, 150-pounds. Short, compact build with strength in lower half.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, square setup, short leg-lift timing trigger and finishes on backside. Aggressive swing, bat stays level through the zone and sprayed line drives to all fields.
Power: 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. 86% on plane efficiency, second-best at the event, via Blast.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short, over-the-top arm action. Throws were consistently around the second-base bag.
Defense: 2.11-2.29 pop times. Flexible hips, wide base setup. Sure-handed, works to present and stick pitches. Clean out of the crouch, active feet, works on-line.
Run: 7.20 runner in the 60.

Aidan Herrick, Richmond-Burton  (IL), 2021 College of Lake County commit.
Positional Profile: C/3B 
Body: 5-10, 165-pounds. Lean athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Athletic in the box, wide balance setup, short stride. Simple swing, uphill path, line drive approach, uses the entire field and fluid rhythm.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. 86+ mph exit velocity on pitches middle away during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot, throws flash carry.
Defense: 2.13-2.25 pop times. Fluid footwork, soft hands, stick pitches in and around the zone, clean out of the chute.
Run: 7.53 runner in the 60.

Tyler Jacobsen, Jacobs (IL), 2021 Kishwaukee commit.
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds. Well-proportioned build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth loading action and short leg-lift stride.  Aggressive swing, finishes on balance, level path, extension through contact and gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above 85 mph exit velocity on pitches middle middle during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.17-2.30 pop times. Athletic setup, fluid footwork, average hands, clean transfer.
Run: 7.21 runner in the 60. 

Brenden Naylor, Lake Zurich (IL), 2021 Aurora University commit.
Positional Profile: C/2B 
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Athletic frame. 
Hit: RHH. Simple balance setup, minimal load, short stride, stays balanced through contact. Quick hand, short level swings, gets extension after contact, all field approach, fluid rhythm.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. 
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot, throws play around second base.
Defense: 2.17-2.26 pop times. Receives with soft, quiet hands, open setup. Out of the crouch, sets up in a more upright position, clean transfer.
Run: 7.78 runner in the 60.

Rocco Royer, Lake Forest  (IL), 2021 
Positional Profile: C/RHP 
Body: 6-1, 175-pounds. Strength in lower half.
Hit: RHH. Balance setup, smooth load action, short leg kick trigger.  Aggressive in the box, quick hands, long uphill swing, all field approach.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. 92+ mph exit velocity on pitches middle/middle during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.04-2.16 pop times. Open setup, quick feet, sure-handed, quick glove-to-hand release.
Run: 7.53 runner in the 60. 

Luke Staerkel, Walther Christian (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds. Strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Tall open setup, minimal load, long stride. Hands stay close to body, short level swing, line drive gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 59 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.72-2.86 pop times. Sets up open in the crouch.
Run: 7.47 runner in the 60. 

Lucas Waunn, Fenwick (IL), 2021 
Positional Profile: C/3B 
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Athletic frame, lean build.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, slightly open setup, smooth load action, long stride. Quick hands, short uphill swing, line drive gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. 89+ mph exit velocity on pitches middle away during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot, throws play accurate.
Defense: 2.18-2.34 pop times. Natural catcher actions, low setup, quiet feet, average hands, clean exchange.
Run: 7.42 runner in the 60. 

Michael White, Saint Patrick (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Strong build.
Hit: RHH. BalanceD crouch setup, hands load into short stride, repeatable swing. Long uphill path, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.51-2.61 pop times. Narrow setup, steady hands, clean exchange.
Run: 7.57 runner in the 60. 

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