On Saturday, February 24th, our staff hosted the Preseason All-State: Underclass event at The MAX in McCook, IL. This event was host to just over 130 of the top 2026 and 2027 grads from around the state, and gave our staff one final look at these prospects before the spring season began. 

Today, we begin our post-event rollout from the event with a look at each and every catcher from the day.

There was no shortage of talent at this event, as each catcher could have warranted being ranked, so cutting it at five was no easy task. 

Three power bats that just missed on the rankings are Keegan Seipp (O’Fallon, 2027), Dylan Kassab (Hinsdale Central, 2026) and Caleb Hornbrook (Normal University, 2026).

Seipp, a physical left-handed hitter, stands in at 6-foot-2, 217-pounds and gave one of the louder looks throughout BP, working his max EV up to 98 mph with a 342’ max distance. 

Kassab is another physical backstop that had a loud round of BP, reaching as high as 98 mph for his EV while averaging 93 mph. He also showed off a strong arm throughout his round of defense, topping out at 78 mph from the chute. 

Hornbrook popped as an intriguing right-handed bat to follow closely moving forward. He has a powerful swing that stays through the zone and uses the middle of the field, reaching up to 92 mph for his max EV. 

Continue reading below to see which five prospects our staff deemed at the top overall catchers from the event. 

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Adam Swanson, Ottawa Township (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 183-pounds. Strong build, round shoulders, developed lower-half.
Hit: RHH. Slightly crouched setup with more weight on back leg, short leg lift into medium stride. Quick, strong hands, flat path, worked mostly middle/away, gets the head out when driving it up the middle and pull-side. 74.1 mph bat speed with 16 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 100 max exit velocity, averaged 95.1 mph. 318’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. Short to the ear, high 3/4 release.
Defense: 1.87-2.00 pop times. Soft hands, quick/clean transfer, works directional out of the chute, quick footwork.
Run: 6.71 runner in the 60. 

2. Brandon Thomsen, St. Viator (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-1, 173.9-pounds. Lean, high-waisted frame, projectable.
Hit: RHH. Narrow setup, hangs foot into a long stride. Coils hands before moving into a flat path, used the whole field. 65.2 mph bat speed with 5 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 90.8 mph. 345’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Throws play with accuracy, short arm circle, high 3/4 release.
Defense: 1.92-1.99 pop times. Soft hands, subtle frames, works to beat the ball to spots and stick them for strikes, flexible hips, quick/clean transfer out of the glove, overall impressive round.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60. 

3. Ryan Wilberding, Libertyville (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-1, 185-pounds. Durable, proportionate frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced base, controlled stride. Loose, strong hands, flat path, looks to keep the ball on a line up the middle.  mph bat speed with  G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 91.5 mph. 293’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. Short arm out of the glove into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.01-2.12 pop times. Soft, subtle frames, works in-line out of the chute, gains ground, clean transfer.
Run: 7.44 runner in the 60. 

4. Max Heineman, Normal University (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-10, 171.3-pounds. Some present strength throughout, evenly proportioned.
Hit: RHH. Simple, crouched setup, medium leg lift into shorter stride. Looks to stay on top of the ball, loose hands, elevates with authority to the pull-side. 76.8 mph bat speed with 8 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 84.5 mph. 327’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Clean, short to the ear out of the glove, high 3/4 release.
Defense: 2.01-2.10 pop times. Works under the baseball and frames pitches around the zone, clean/quick transfer to hand, works in-line out of the crouch.
Run: 7.38 runner in the 60. 

5. Maxx Grieme, Taylorville (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 183-pounds. Proportionate frame with some strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, relaxed setup, slightly open, simple stride works back to even. Loose, strong hands, flat path, works the ball to the whole field. 62.3 mph bat speed with 14 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 84.3 mph. 302’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Clean glove-to-hand, short to the ear with a 3/4 release.
Defense: 1.93-2.01 pop times. Works under the baseball with strong hands while receiving, clean transfer, works in-line and gains ground out of the chute, works to deaden the ball out front on blocks.
Run: 7.41 runner in the 60. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY

Myles Broome, Brother Rice (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds. Athletic, compact build.
Hit: RHH. Relaxed setup, weight starts more in his back leg, hangs foot into a longer stride. Looks to stay on top of the ball, downhill path, worked on the barrel up the middle with line drives. 68.9 mph bat speed with 10 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 80.5 mph. 260’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Medium arm circle, high 3/4 release.
Defense: 2.04-2.11 pop times. Soft receiver, quick/clean transfer, gains ground to second while working in-line with the base out of the chute, athletic mover from the crouch.
Run: 7.24 runner in the 60. 

Peter Corthinos, Maine South (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-7, 155-pounds. Compact, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, small leg lift, short stride. Swings with intent, creates extension out front, intent to elevate, sneaky power. 71.6 mph bat speed with 21 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 84.8 mph. 320’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Short and quick to the ear with a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 1.93-2.00 pop times. Soft hands receiving, clean transfer, works in-line out of the chute with intent, proper angles while blocking and works to deaden the ball out front.
Run: 7.71 runner in the 60. 

Caleb Hornbrook, Normal University (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Durable build, some strength in the lower-half.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open setup, medium leg lift, gets into back side, short stride. Strong hands, mostly short to the ball, works long through the zone with intent to elevate, looked to stay up the middle of the field. 67.2 mph bat speed with 7 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 87.1 mph. 324’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short to the ear, high 3/4 release, throws played on the bag.
Defense: 2.00-2.04 pop times. Works under the baseball to present pitches, soft hands while receiving, works in-line out of the chute, works to deaden the ball out front.
Run: 7.43 runner in the 60. 

Dylan Kassab, Hinsdale Central (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-11, 190-pounds. Strong, durable frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide, open setup, knee-knocks into a medium stride. Strong hands, flat path, on the barrel up the middle of the field with line-drives and some elevated contact. 75.6 mph bat speed with 23 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 98 max exit velocity, averaged 93.1 mph. 315’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short arm circle, high 3/4 release.
Defense: 2.00-2.05 pop times. Sure-handed receiver, works to present pitches around the zone for strikes, clean transfer, works in-line on throws.
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60. 

Brody Lindemann, Belleville East (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 176.2-pounds. Some present strength in the lower-half, high-waisted, projectable.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, short stride, repeats. Hands rock back slightly into a steep path, looks to stay on top of the baseball. 63.9 mph bat speed with 11 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 77.2 mph. 293’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Medium arm circle in the back, high 3/4 release.
Defense: 2.00-2.07 pop times. Flexible hips, works under the baseball, clean glove-to-hand, not rushed, works in-line out of the chute.
Run: 8.40 runner in the 60. 

Keegan Seipp, O'Fallon (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-2, 215-pounds. Physical, strong frame.
Hit: LHH. Wide base, minimal hand load and stride, simple and repeats. Works to stay short through the zone, clear intent to stay on top of the ball, worked mostly middle/pull-side.  mph bat speed with  G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 98 max exit velocity, averaged 87.4 mph. 342’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short and to the ear out of the glove, high 3/4 release.
Defense: 2.19-2.25 pop times. Strong hands, works under the baseball while receiving, clean transfer, works in-line out of the chute and gains ground.
Run: 7.72 runner in the 60. 

Drew Stevens, Normal Community (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Trim build, frame is starting to mature.
Hit: RHH. Slightly crouched setup, small leg lift load, short stride. Strong hands, flat path, looks to stay on top of the ball, consistently worked up the middle of the field. 73.2 mph bat speed with 10 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 88.6 mph. 318’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short to the ear, high 3/4 release.
Defense: 2.07-2.16 pop times. Flexible hips, works under the baseball with strong hands, clean glove-to-hand, works in-line out of the chute, deadens the ball out front on blocks.
Run: 7.68 runner in the 60. 

James Tatroe, Prairie Ridge (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 172-pounds. Evenly distributed weight.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open, taller stance, short leg lift into short stride. Downhill path, elevates up the middle of the field, gets some extension through the ball. 67.6 mph bat speed with 9 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 85.3 mph. 325’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short arm out of the glove with a clean path, high 3/4 release.
Defense: 2.11-2.19 pop times. Soft receiver, works to stick the ball out front, clean glove-to-hand, works in-line out of the chute.
Run: 7.92 runner in the 60. 

Matthew Tomfohrde, Hinsdale Central (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-1, 180-pounds. Strong, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, even setup, simple toe-tap stride. Hands stay direct and work flat through the zone, worked the ball consistently up the middle. 69.2 mph bat speed with 9 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 85.1 mph. 282’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. OF - 83 mph. Short arm circle, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.18-2.23 pop times. C: Works in-line to second, moves well out of the crouch. OF: Active footwork, moves well laterally, one-hand gather to the side.
Run: 7.24 runner in the 60. 

Trey Webster, Brother Rice (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 193-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Open base, works back to even with a longer stride, hangs foot and stays under control. Flat path, looks to go middle/away, controlled swing with a balanced finish. 68.2 mph bat speed with 19 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 78.6 mph. 240’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. High 3/4 release, short out of the glove.
Defense: 2.06-2.14 pop times. Sure-handed, works directional out of the crouch with a clean transfer.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60. 

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