On Sunday, October 16, the PBR Illinois staff hosted the Underclass Showcase at The MAX in McCook, Illinois. The event featured just under 70 players from the 2025-2026 grad classes and brought together some of the most talented underclass prospects in the state.

Today, we begin our post-event rollout with the catchers, moving around the diamond over the next few days and eventually finishing up with the pitchers later this week. 

Now, lets dive into all of the catching prospects from the event. 

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Jaden Fauske, Nazareth Academy  (IL), 2025; Louisville commit
Positional Profile: SS/C
Body: 6-2, 182-pounds. Advanced strength throughout.
Hit: LHH. Narrow, open setup, slightly crouched, fluid load into a controlled medium stride. Loose athletic hands, short to contact, uphill through the zone and works gap-to-gap. Effortless rhythm, ball jumps off the barrel with ease. Middle-of-the-order type bat.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 90.5 mph. 355’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. INF - 84 mph. Firm, strong arm, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 1.93-2.01 pop times. Worked out behind the plate and on the infield. Hands play low and steady on the infield. Quick glove-to-hand abilities, advanced release. Smooth double play turn on the infield. Athletic and quick behind the plate with advanced glove-to-hand release.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60. 

2. Peter Corthinos, Maine South (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-5, 140-pounds. Compact, athletic look.
Hit: RHH. Athletic look, balanced setup, smooth and simple hand load, short stride and controlled through contact. Level swing, length through the zone, athletic hands, on plane and works gap-to-gap.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 75.7 mph. 305’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. INF - 74 mph. Clean catch/release out of the crouch, short arm circle into an over-the-top slot. On the infield, loose arm action that can play from multiple angles.
Defense: 2.11-2.18 pop times. Active defender, worked out on the infield and behind the plate. Natural catcher, quick and bouncy out of the crouch. On the infield, plays low to the ground, clean, quick release.
Run: 7.63 runner in the 60. 

3. Alex Kiefer, Mount Vernon (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 185-pounds.
Hit: SH. Balanced setup, slightly crouched, high-leg-kick into a lift-and-place stride. Strong, quick hands, level path to contact, worked up the middle and on the barrel.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 83.8 mph. 282’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short out of the glove into an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.10-2.33 pop times. Steady hands receiving the baseball, clean catch/throw out of the crouch, footwork gains ground in-line with second on throws.
Run: 7.57 runner in the 60. 

4. Joey Gumuls, Marist (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-9, 160-pounds.
Hit: SH. Narrow base, slightly crouched, long stride, creates hand extension at footstrike. Simple swing, hands work direct to the baseball, short bat path, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 74.8 mph. 269’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Long out of the glove into an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.04-2.18 pop times. Steady, confident hands, clean transfer with a long draw out of the glove, feet work in-line with second.
Run: 7.44 runner in the 60. 

5. Angelo Lundeen, Lyons Township (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 166-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, hands start high and work back into a subtle bat wrap, lead leg lifts into a short stride. Strong hands, direct to contact, jump off the barrel and creates backspin to the gaps.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 75.1 mph. 305’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. INF - 78 mph. INF: Long arm action, high 3/4 slot. C: Short to the ear, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.11-2.20 pop times. On the infield, Fluid exchange, plays into center of body, clean double play turn. Behind the plate, clean exchange with directional footwork out of the crouch, works to deaden the ball out front on blocks.
Run: 7.96 runner in the 60. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Andrew Banaszak, St. Laurence  (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 160-pounds. Some strength throughout the frame, room to add on.
Hit: RHH. Balanced lower half, hands start high and load in rhythm, creates some separation at foot strike, short stride. Strong hands, long swing and hits off front foot. Creates jump off the barrel and is comfortable working to both gaps.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 82.6 mph. 284’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short arm out of the glove into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.12-2.25 pop times. Clean transfer, directional footwork out of the crouch, drops quickly into blocks and works to deaden the ball out front.
Run: 8.02 runner in the 60. 

Owen Chael, York  (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 170-pounds. Athletic, proportioned strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, weight drifts onto back hip, minimal stride, controlled through contact. Balanced swing, minimal wasted movement, loose strong hands. On time and on the barrel working to both gaps.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 81 mph. 284’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. INF - 74 mph. INF: Long arm action, high 3/4 slot. C: Short out of the glove into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.19-2.25 pop times. INF: Steady hands, gains ground and plays tall through release. C: Quick/clean transfer, active footwork, gains ground to second on throws.
Run: 7.36 runner in the 60. 

Lucas Farabaugh, Ottawa Township  (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-10, 140-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall, open stance, bat wraps as hips rotate, rhythmic load to create separation, short stride with balance. Stays short and compact; repeats and stays on-plane, pull-side tendencies.
Power: 77 max exit velocity, averaged 67.3 mph. 225’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 66 mph. INF - 69 mph. INF: Long, loose arm, high 3/4 slot. C: Short arm circle into an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.35-2.44 pop times. INF: Fields into body on the infield, looks natural on the move. C: Soft hands, clean transfer, quiet feet that work in-line with second on throws.
Run: 7.66 runner in the 60. 

Soren Hansen, Grayslake Central  (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-10, 150-pounds. High waist, room to add on strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, handsy load into a low slot, short stride. Hands work on top of the baseball, flat through the zone, backspin contact.
Power: 82 max exit velocity, averaged 64.9 mph. 296’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 66 mph. Short arm into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.23-2.37 pop times. Clean transfer, works to deaden the ball out front on blocks.
Run: 8.25 runner in the 60. 

Freddie Matvias, DePaul College Prep (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-1, 165-pounds. Wiry limbs, high waist with room to fill out.
Hit: RHH. Open base with some balance in the lower half, hands start high, bat tip load with a high leg kick trigger. Long-levers, quick hands, creates sneaky jump off the barrel, pull-side tendencies.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 84.7 mph. 293’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short to the ear out of the glove, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.11-2.35 pop times. Clean catch and release, feet work in-line with second on throws.
Run: 7.80 runner in the 60. 

Conor McCabe, Lincoln-Way Central (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 6-1, 155-pounds. Wiry, long limbs, room to add strength.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup with some knee bend, bat wrap load, short stride. Balanced finish, simple swing, quick/direct hands, uses the middle of the field.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 79.7 mph. 274’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. INF - 71 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.33-2.51 pop times. Clean release, fields in the center of body.
Run: 7.72 runner in the 60. 

Alex Nielsen, Antioch  (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-6, 155-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, simple and smooth hand load, short controlled leg kick trigger. Quiet at the plate, short to contact, uphill out front and works gap-to-gap, simple swing and approach.
Power: 81 max exit velocity, averaged 67.2 mph. 263’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Short, compact, clean arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.20-2.43 pop times. Clean/quick transfer, feet work in-line and gain ground to second on throws.
Run: 7.74 runner in the 60. 

Talon Thompson, Routt Catholic (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-10, 140-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Narrow, crouched base, more weight on the back knee, minimal hand load. Long and uphill bat path.
Power: 77 max exit velocity, averaged 72.8 mph. 259’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short to the ear, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.35-2.43 pop times. Steady receiver of the baseball, clean/deliberate transfer, feet work in-line with second on throws.
Run: 7.56 runner in the 60. 

Eddie Zuniga, Mundelein  (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-8, 130-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup with slight knee bend, slight bat waggle to load, short stride. Level path, loose handsy swing, uses the middle of the field.
Power: 75 max exit velocity, averaged 64 mph. 184’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. INF - 66 mph. Firm arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.35-2.51 pop times. Clean release, fields into body, gains ground through exchange at times.
Run: 8.17 runner in the 60. 

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