On Jan. 31, the PBR Illinois team hosted its first event of 2021, the McHenry Preseason I.D., at Pro Player Academy in McHenry, Ill. For the past five years, this event has provided our staff with an opportunity to evaluate high school-aged prospects from Northern Illinois, primarily. The McHenry event has historically revealed to us some of the area’s top talent, and this year was no different.

If you missed us in McHenry, check out our showcase page to see when we’re in the neighborhood next.

In the week following the event, our staff collaborated to highlight the biggest takeaways from the showcase, and we published them within this Quick Hits piece. We also published our traditional statistics inside of this Statistical Analysis post, as well as data taken from our Blast Motion and TrackMan partners, which you can find here and here.

This week, we’re beginning to roll out scouting reports from this showcase, starting with the event’s catchers. Here, the sophomore Ryan Bakes (Huntley), a South Carolina recruit, reaffirmed his status as one of the top 2023s in the state and Midwest. We were also introduced to fellow Huntley prospect Ryan Kelly (2022; uncommitted), a junior who stood out a several ways, both here and on the mound.

Landing just outside the top-10 are two 2024 right-handed bats to keep an eye on: Zachary Pyles (Warren) and Payton Sensabaugh (Marian Central Catholic). Pyles has a physical presence in the box and made some of the hardest, loudest contact of the day. He his max exit speed was measured at 93.78 mph, and he batted one ball at a max estimated distance of 352 feet during BP. As for Sensabaugh, he took one of the more polished rounds of BP on the day, spraying line-drives to all fields. He has loose, whippy levers and advanced feel for the barrel.

For full scouting reports on each of the day's catchers, continue on below.

TOP CATCHER PROSPECTS

1. Ryan Bakes, Huntley (IL), 2023; South Carolina commit.
Positional Profile: C; One of the top 2023 catchers in the Midwest.
Body: 5-foot-9, 187-pounds. Wide-shouldered, muscle-bound frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, quiet load, short stride and minimal wasted movement throughout. Creates advanced bat speed for his age with minimal effort. Short, compact swing, feel for the barrel, gap-to-gap approach with intent to drive the baseball with authority. Flashed big pull-side power. One of the top right-handed bats in the Illinois' 2023 class.
Power: 97.73 max exit velocity, averaged 88.83 mph. 356’ max distance. Some of the best raw power in the 2023 class.
Arm: RH. C - 84 mph. Plus arm for his age. Works short and quick from an over-the-top slot. Throws were consistently on the bag, played true and flashed plus carry and finish to the target.
Defense: 1.93-1.98 pop times. Highly-efficient out of the crouch. Simple, athletic feet, directional. Advanced glove-to-hand release, quick transfer.
Run: 4.36 runner in the 60. Advanced runner for his age and position.

2. Ryan Kelly, Huntley (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/RHP Was one of the top two-way prospects in attendance.
Body: 5-foot-11, 195-pounds. Thick, strong frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, quiet setup, smooth loading action and toe-tap stride. Aggressive/intentful swing, creates above-average bat speed, hands work on top of the baseball, bat stays level and through the zone, consistently on the barrel; gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 95.53 max exit velocity, averaged 91.16 mph. 328’ max distance. Peak hand speed of 23.1 mph and T74.3 mph bat speed per BLAST.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. Short, over-the-top arm action. Throws play true with tilt and consistently on the bag.
Defense: 2.00-2.16 pop times. Steady hands, replaces his feet, directional and repeatable out of the crouch.
Run: 4.30 runner in the 60. 

3. Jacob Filip, Lakes Community (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/RHP. Stood out with his two-way abilities.
Body: 6-foot, 177-pounds. Solid lower half.
Hit: LHH. Balanced stance, on time loading action with leg lift trigger.  Short path is quick to contact, initiates swing quickly and in sequence. Uses the whole field with a gap to gap approach.
Power: 96.15 max exit velocity, averaged 91.15 mph. 268’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 81 mph. Arm carried out of the crouch, short over the top slot.
Defense: 1.97-2.11 pop times. Quick cean exchange, athletic actions.
Run: 4.36 runner in the 60. 

4. Dylan Sayles, Hononegah (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-foot, 170-pounds. Lean athletic frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced stance, short stride and smooth loading action, maintains strong balance through contact. Hits in rhythm with gap to gap approach, showed extension through contact with above average bat speed.
Power: 88.87 max exit velocity, averaged 81.4 mph. 277’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. OF - 85 mph. Natural over the top slot, short out of the crouch, gets length from the outfield, flashed carry.
Defense: 2.07-2.18 pop times. Athletic actions, above average footwork both out of the crouch and in the outfield. Tall setup receiving the baseball, hands work.
Run: 4.44 runner in the 60. 

5. Alexander Tagler, Lemont (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-8, 180-pounds. Compact frame with strength attached throughout, thick lower half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, loads quick into a strong hitting position, smooth rhythm, short stride.  Strong wrists and forearms, fast hands, present bat strength. Short path through the zone, easy gap-to-gap rhythm, hard contact on the barrel.
Power: 91.55 max exit velocity, averaged 77.58 mph. 248’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 1.97-2.15 pop times. Athletic actions, works out of the chute quickly and in line to target. Soft hands at gather, smooth exchange, short trigger release. Looks the part behind the plate.
Run: 4.18 runner in the 60. Ran the fastest home-to-first time of this catcher group. 

6. Ryan Hamilton, Hononegah (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 180-pounds. Strong, well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, active pre-pitch hand rhythm, utilizes a leg kick timing trigger.  Loose hands and wrists, simple right-handed stroke, quick bat. Long bat path, gap-to-gap approach, hard contact on the barrel.
Power: 86.51 max exit velocity, averaged 78.38 mph. 281’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot. Accurate throws to the bag.
Defense: 2.04-2.37 pop times. Athletic stance, quick hip turn at gather, feet shuffle in line to target, plays through some.
Run: 4.80 runner in the 60. 

7. Ryan Kempf, Crystal Lake Central (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/INF
Body: 5-foot-10, 180-pounds. Strong, well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, hands start high and drop slightly at load, short leg kick timing trigger.  Loose hands/wrists with hand speed, averaged 24.18 mph of hand speed per Blast Motion. Simple and easy right-handed stroke. Bat stays short and flat through the zone, travels on a level plane, pull-side tendency.
Power: 93.2 max exit velocity, averaged 86.12 mph. 256’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. INF - 79 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.09-2.18 pop times. Worked out behind the plate and on the infield. Fluid lower half with flexible hips, works in line to target, clean exchange, short actions to release. Works around the baseball on the infield, steady hands play out front of body, controlled on the move, plays through the baseball; corner infield profile.
Run: 4.47 runner in the 60. 

8. Mason Rasmussen, Barrington (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot, 200-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, relaxed and balanced, subtle lifted stride paired with quick hand load. Loose aggressive hands, keeps barrel on slight uphill plane.
Power: 91.85 max exit velocity, averaged 82.44 mph. 276’ max distance. Showed above-average pull side power.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short, over the top, above average arm.
Defense: 2.18-2.36 pop times. Quick exchange at times, showed flexible receiving position.
Run: 4.86 runner in the 60. 

9. Austin Leonard, Hampshire (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 175-pounds. Proportional frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced slightly crouched setup, minimal load, short stride, stays balanced through contact.  Simple swing, hands stay short to the baseball, level bat path through the zone, line drive approach with feel to work across the yard.
Power: 92.63 max exit velocity, averaged 84.7 mph. 270’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Long and loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.03-2.16 pop times. Balanced base, works quick from the crouch, steady hand transfer, short to release.
Run: 4.26 runner in the 60. 

T-10. Noah Riley, Cary Grove (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. Lanky, proportional frame with upside.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, narrow base, slight hand drop at load, short stride to even.  Loose hands, short and level bat path with some leverage through contact at times. Consistent line drive approach, clear juice off the barrel, fluid rhythm throughout.
Power: 86.99 max exit velocity, averaged 76.75 mph. 307’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Short arm stroke, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.11-2.19 pop times. Quiet controlled actions from behind the plate, quick from the crouch, clean exchange with no additional movement, short release.
Run: 4.50 runner in the 60. 

T-10. Connor Rodgers, McHenry (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-foot-3, 185-pounds. Lean athletic shape.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, leg lift trigger, maintains balance, hand separate up and back. Fluid swing, simple and creates hard contact with repeatable actions. Quick hands create short path and line drive contact.
Power: 91.67 max exit velocity, averaged 87.23 mph. 268’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short, over the top arm action, played true and accurate.
Defense: 2.11-2.26 pop times. Quick short exchange, sways to receive the baseball, athletic feet out of the crouch.
Run: 4.58 runner in the 60. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Colin Christensen, Wauconda (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-foot-8, 145-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Slightly crouched and open setup, subtle leg lift to even, smooth load. Short path, level, bat stays connected and showed ability to keep on plane. Ability to use the whole field with some line drive tendency.
Power: 80.8 max exit velocity, averaged 69.48 mph. 220’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. OF - 74 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.29-2.37 pop times. Showed best behind the plate, feel for receiving the baseball, willingness to block, showed occasional bounce and direction out of the crouch. Outfield actions run through the baseball, attacks in a direct line, crow hop through release.
Run: 4.65 runner in the 60. 

Ashton Duvall, Belvidere North (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 140-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Slightly closed setup, slight leg lift into tucked loading position. Short path, stays on top of the baseball.
Power: 83.36 max exit velocity, averaged 70.11 mph. 217’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.32-2.47 pop times. Low setup, deliberate out of the crouch, move directionally toward second base.
Run: 5.01 runner in the 60.

Sean Kempf, Crystal Lake Central (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/INF
Body: 5-foot-9, 150-pounds. Athletic frame with some wiry strength attached.
Hit: RHH. Balanced slightly open setup, smooth load as hands slot into a strong hitting position, toe-tap timing trigger.  Short and simple bat path, flashed line drive feel to the pull-side, easy effort throughout.
Power: 85.72 max exit velocity, averaged 80.82 mph. 298’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. INF - 73 mph. Arm plays short and comes out of an over-the-top window.
Defense: 2.28-2.38 pop times. Worked out behind the plate and on the infield. Athletic setup from the crouch, flexible lower half, works direct to target, long to release. Active feet on the infield, glove hand works out front of body at times, controls body well on the move.
Run: 4.72 runner in the 60. 

Peter Kenoian, Oak Park-River Forest (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-11, 150-pounds. Athletic, lanky frame with upside.
Hit: RHH. Athletic stance, open lower half with balance, smooth load with a slight wrap, short stride to even.  Loose and easy swing that he repeats. Long uphill bat path, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 87.85 max exit velocity, averaged 80.54 mph. 290’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short trigger, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.18-2.32 pop times. Works upright at gather, quick hand transfer, no wasted movement to release.
Run: 4.87 runner in the 60. 

Zachary Pyles, Warren (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-11, 210-pounds. Thick build with strength.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, leg kick trigger, loads hands forward. Short to contact, level path, line drive gap to gap approach with above average bat speed.
Power: 93.78 max exit velocity, averaged 84.41 mph. 351’ max distance. Well above-average power for his age.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short over the top slot, played true at times.
Defense: 2.22-2.39 pop times. Sets up hinged at the waist, long footwork out of the crouch, gaining ground.
Run: 4.87 runner in the 60. 

Trevor Schmitt, Monroe (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot, 145-pounds. Lanky frame with upside levers.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, hands start back with minimal movement at load, quick leg lift trigger to footstrike.  Level bat path with a flat barrel head through the zone, line drive approach.
Power: 84.66 max exit velocity, averaged 71.23 mph. 203’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 66 mph. Short draw finishes out of a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.22-2.38 pop times. Narrow stance, lower half works in line with the bag from the chute.
Run: 4.62 runner in the 60. 

Payton Sensabaugh, Marian Central Catholic (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-foot-8, 133-pounds. Lean, wiry frame that projects.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, smooth bat coil into load, leg kick trigger, athletic balance through contact.  Short and level bat path through the zone, extends through contact. Line drive feel offensively and showed comfort going the other way. Fluid rhythm throughout, looks the part in the box with upside.
Power: 84.83 max exit velocity, averaged 78.28 mph. 228’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. OF - 76 mph. Short and loose arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.25-2.36 pop times. Took reps behind the plate and as an outfielder. Narrow stance from the crouch, feet shuffle in line to the bag, long to release at times. Active feet in the outfield, fields low to the ground and around the baseball, plays through release at times.
Run: 4.50 runner in the 60. 

Riley Spears, Richmond (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-7, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, slightly closed stance, minimal load, short stride.  Quick wrists, short and uphill bat path.
Power: 81.34 max exit velocity, averaged 61.49 mph. 239’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.37-2.48 pop times. Starts balanced from the crouch, long to release.
Run: 5.05 runner in the 60. 

Elijah Varble, Rockford Christian (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-9, 145-pounds. Lean, athletic build with room for added weight.
Hit: RHH. Wide stance, hands start high, active pre-pitch rhythm, smooth load, short stride.  Short bat path, occasional gap-to-gap contact.
Power: 85.76 max exit velocity, averaged 72.28 mph. 249’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.12-2.23 pop times. Narrow stance, hips hinge forward slightly, works linear to target, some length to release
Run: 4.61 runner in the 60. 

Michael Wanhala, Huntley (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-foot-9, 170-pounds. Proportionally strong build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, subtle hand load backward, quick leg kick timing trigger.  Short and uphill bat path, flashed gap-to-gap feel.
Power: 83.04 max exit velocity, averaged 73.23 mph. 255’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. OF - 77 mph. Arm plays short from behind the plate and finishes from an over-the-top slot with accuracy to the bag. Works longer with a high 3/4 finish from the outfield.
Defense: 2.15-2.30 pop times. Worked out behind the plate and in the outfield. Quiet and controlled actions behind the dish, works quick from the crouch, clean exchange and transfer to release. Plays with some pre-pitch rhythm in the outfield, works around the baseball, smooth transfer and plays through release.
Run: 4.36 runner in the 60. 

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