The third annual Prep Baseball Report Preseason I.D. - McHenry at Pro Player Academy in McHenry, IL took place on Sunday, January 28th. The event featured close to 100 prospects from all high school classes.

Below is an early look at some of the standout performances. Stay tuned for full statistical breakdown later in the week, as well as videos and full scouting reports.

CLICK HERE for complete roster.

CATCHERS

The catching crop at McHenry was clearly the strongest defensive group of the day. A stable of strong-bodied receivers showed above to well-above average skill sets behind the dish that will play at the next level.

+ Ben Harris (Prairie Ridge, 2019) stood out as the top catch and throw guy, posting an event best 1.97 pop time with a strong arm that carried well at 77 mph. His 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame just adds to his stock.

+ One of the better 2020 catchers was Logan Delgado (Antioch). He showed easy, natural actions out of the crouch, gaining ground to his target. He’s a strong 5-foot-11, 185-pound with an arm to match. Hitting from the left-side, you could make the argument that hi bat may even be ahead of his advanced defensive skills.

+ At just a freshman, Camden Janik (Wauconda, 2021) showed one of the top arms in attendance (77 mph). He is a compact and strong 5-foot-9, 175-pounds and moves well with soft hands behind the plate.

OUTFIELDERS

+ Kyle Hetherington (Crystal Lake South) and Dominic Listi (Prairie Ridge) are two 2019 outfielders with similar profiles. Both are left/left prospects with present athleticism, natural outfield actions and can get on the mound as well. Hetherington has a loose, quick bat and made a lot of hard contact. Listi flashed quick-twitch and a line-drive approach.

+ Justin Binz (Mundelein, 2019) has a highly athletic, projectable 6-foot-4, 170-pound frame and utilizes his long limbs in his swing well. Flashed bat speed and hard pull-side contact in his round of BP

+ 2020 Daniel Laughery (Grant) had a solid overall day. Ran a 4.26 home-to-first was 86 mph from the outfield and registered an 87 mph exit velocity. Laughery has present bat strength and consistently found the barrel.  

INFIELDERS

+ INF Evan Geske (Woodstock, 2019) has a compact swing, line-drive, spray approach and feel for the barrel. On the infield he is a steady defender with an athletic arm action.

+ 6-foot-2, 190-pound, 3B Nathan Hardman (Normal University) flashed some of the best bat speed of the day. Strong, quick hands, creates advanced bat speed with lift in his swing; 91 mph exit velocity from a tee.

+ INF/RHP Evan Tocmo (Huntley, 2020) plays the game with confidence and impressed with his two-way ability. On the mound he has a loose, easy arm and filled up the strike zone with three pitches. Also, has natural infield actions, soft hands and maintains body control on the move.

+ RHP/OF Kyle Maurer (Huntley, 2019) was another two-way prospect who showed well on the mound. Maurer has a short, quick arm and repeatable delivery. His fastball topped at 83 mph and both of his offspeed pitches are above-average offerings.

+ 202s Brandon Jernigan (Huntley) and Mikal Ashley (Grant) are two physical corner infielders with power potential in there right-handed bats. Ashley swings angry yet stays under control while Jernigan has present bat strength and lift in his swing.

PITCHERs

+ 2019 RHP Joseph Kaminski (McHenry West) had the best fastball velocity of the day at 85 mph, but it was the action on his 11/5 curveball that caught our scouts’ eye.

+ RHP Jared Novak (Benet, 2020) is one of the highest ceiling prospects in attendance, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound righty, his fastball sat 82-83 mph, touching 84 mph and showed serious confidence in his secondary stuff, arguably his best attribute.

+ Although not quite as polished as Novak, RHP Cole Bhardwaj (Jacobs, 2020) looks to have similar upside. A projectable lanky frame and loose arm action produced an 80-82 mph fastball that has much more in the tank.

+ LHP Ryan Weaver (Cary-Grove, 2021) is one to keep and eye on. Just a freshman, the fastball velocity isn’t there yet, but undoubtedly will come out of an easy arm action that should feel for multiple pitches.

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