On Aug. 25, the PBR Illinois team visited Triton College in River Grove, Ill., to host its annual Chicagoland Open showcase – a late summer event that perennially produces high-level prospects to continue to follow.

Today, we’re beginning to analyze each of the prospects who made it out to this showcase, starting with event’s catchers.

Mundelein junior Michael Rastarelli is uncommitted and ranked at No. 112 on the state’s 2021 board, deserves some additional mention here. He was arguably the top prospect inside this group for his hard line-drive approach from the right side. Rastarelli was also, statistically, the top defender inside this group. He’s athletic and receives with soft hands and plays with bounce.

Make a note for the future on this 2024 backstop, too: Angel Jimenez (Disney II Magnet). For a 2024 grad, he’s already playing way above his years. He swings an advanced right-handed bat and has all the necessary actions behind the plate with athleticism and arm strength.

For reports on all of the catchers who attended the Chicagoland Open, continue on below.

ALL PROSPECTS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Jacob Bialecki, St. Francis De Sales Toledo (OH), 2020
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-9, 170-pounds. Strong build.
Hit: RHH. Tall, slightly open setup, smooth load action, short stride. Path is level, short to the ball at times,, timing varies, flashed bat strength.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Over the top slot, short action, efficient release.
Defense: 2.12-2.22 pop times. Hands works quick to transfer the baseball, stays low through reception.
Run: 7.79 runner in the 60.

Brian Daker, Hinsdale Central, 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 165-pounds. Strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, balanced feet, loads hands back and into lower half, short stride. Path works uphill with some length, mostly opposite field contact.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Arm plays short, quick release, over the top slot. worked accurate to the bag, occasional carry.
Defense: 2.15-2.22 pop times. Showed actions and played with some bounce, gets out of the crouch well. Quiet receiver, soft block, sound mechanics.
Run: 7.92 runner in the 60. 

Ian Dillow, Lake Forest, 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-0, 170-pounds. Projectable frame, long lean strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, short stride, subtle hand load. Bat strength on short path, occasional gap to gap approach, hits off back side with occasional hard contact.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Over the top slot, long release.
Defense: 2.25-2.37 pop times. Sets up tall and gets tall out of the crouch, quiet receiving within framework.
Run: 7.78 runner in the 60. 

AJ Gaca, St. Charles East, 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 195-pounds. Strong throughout, strong lower half, wide shouldered.
Hit: RHH. Tall, open setup, narrow stance, quick front foot trigger. Long, uphill path, lifts contact, occasional pop. Bat strength.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short, over the top slot.
Defense: 2.19-2.33 pop times. Soft hands, blocks well, solid base.
Run: 8.10 runner in the 60. 

Jared Griffin, Riverdale, 2020
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 165-pounds. Strong build.
Hit: RHH. Tall, slightly open stance, leg kick stride, good balance through contact. Hard contact off the bat, short path, above average bat speed, showed extension through contact.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Flashed pull side pop at times.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Short arm action, works over the top, deliberate release.
Defense: 2.15-2.27 pop times. Works tall out of the crouch, short footwork.
Run: 8.08 runner in the 60. 

Angel Jimenez, Disney II Magnet, 2024
Positional Profile: C/RHP Advanced two-way player at his age. Strong follow in the class.
Body: 5-foot-6, 138-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, slightly closed stance, leg kick trigger, maintains good balance through contact. Loose hands, advanced bat speed for age, gap to gap contact.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short, over the top release, above average arm strength for age, arm showed ability to be accurate.
Defense: 2.36-2.44 pop times. Flashed athletic actions, gets out of the crouch quickly, feet work, stays tall on block.
Run: 7.76 runner in the 60. 

Brett Macak, Monticello, 2020
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 175-pounds. Large frame and build.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, tall setup, smooth loading action, short stride, average balance. Line drive contact, worked gap to gap, above average bat speed. Made hard contact in BP.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Long action out of over the top slot.
Defense: 2.19-2.29 pop times. Tall out of the crouch, subtle receiving with narrow setup.
Run: 7.91 runner in the 60. 

Michael Rastrelli, Mundelein, 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-0, 155-pounds. Lanky frame, lean build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, short stride, smooth loading action. Hands work, play loose in swing, line drive contact and hits in rhythm. Hard line drives at times.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Strong arm out of short over the top slot, played accurate and flashed carry.
Defense: 2.10-2.19 pop times. Athletic crouch, sets up tall, footwork bounces out of the crouch, solid block, works up to down receiving.
Run: 7.76 runner in the 60. 

Cristian Santiago, Mundelein, 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-9, 152-pounds. Average frame, carries some present strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, slightly crouched setup, short leg lift stride, maintains good balance throughout. Short path, works uphill, swing works in rhythm. Lifted contact, some bat speed present.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short, over the top arm action, showed ability to play accurate to the bag.
Defense: 2.11-2.26 pop times. Sits tall in the crouch on pops to second, feet work directional to go get the baseball. Showed quietness receiving the baseball, works within framework.
Run: 7.38 runner in the 60. 

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