Jimmy
Janicki

Troy signee. Janicki finished the week 5-for-10 with two home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored. In their 10-4 win over Lyons, Janicki went 2-for-4 with a home run, RBI and one run scored, and he finished the week with a 3-for-4 performance, tallying a double, home run, two RBIs and one run scored in their 6-1 win over Lyons.

SUPER 60: Janicki burst on the scene his sophomore season as the starting catcher for Downers Grove North and earned an invitation to the PBR Future Games that summer. He eventually committed to Troy University and has continued to trend upwards ever since. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound two-sport athlete played linebacker on the football team this fall and helped lead his squad to a runner-up 7A finish. At the Super 60, the right/right catcher continued to show a polished all-around game that we have become accustomed to seeing. Every tool continues to tick up for the talented backstop, who improved in every statistical category; 6.97 60, 84 mph from the crouch, 1.87-1.95 pop times and a max exit velocity of 104 mph. He was all over the barrel with authority throughout his round, averaging 97.2 mph off the bat with a number of his swings coming in at 100+. He also averaged the fourth best average bat speed at 77.9 mph, as well as the fifth best average hand speed of the event at 24.2 mph. What makes the numbers more impressive is how balanced, short to the ball and easy Janicki swings the bat. It's a direct path that results in hard backspin contact and he uses the whole field. Defensively, he is a steady receiver with clean, repeatable actions and a big arm that plays consistently around the bag. One of the top prospects in the state should be a close follow for scouts this spring.

Janicki was the standout in a loaded Downers Grove North lineup, capturing the WSC Silver Conference Player of the Year award en route to putting together a loud offensive season in his junior campaign. In 125 at-bats, Janicki slashed .488/.496/.776 with 22 extra-base hits, including 14 doubles and six home runs. His 53 RBIs were amongst the highest in the entire state and a Downers Grove North school record. He also swatted a walk-off two-run home run in the regional championship game to keep the Trojans' season alive. Aside from his efforts at the plate, Janicki is one of the top defensive backstops in the state, regardless of class. Committed to Troy, Janicki figures to be a force for Downers Grove North yet again next season.

Janicki was the standout in a loaded Downers Grove North lineup, capturing the WSC Silver Conference Player of the Year award en route to putting together a loud offensive season in his junior campaign. In 125 at-bats, Janicki slashed .488/.496/.776 with 22 extra-base hits, including 14 doubles and six home runs. His 53 RBIs were amongst the highest in the entire state and a Downers Grove North school record. He also swatted a walk-off two-run home run in the regional championship game to keep the Trojans’ season alive. Aside from his efforts at the plate, Janicki is one of the top defensive backstops in the state, regardless of class. Committed to Troy, Janicki figures to be a force for Downers Grove North yet again next season.

Troy commit. Currently ranked No. 16 in the state. Physical 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame with a strong lower-half and broad shoulders. Simple right-handed stroke that stays on-time, finishing the day 2-for-3 with an RBI. Behind the plate, Janicki is a premium defender, controlling the run game with an in-game pop of 1.96 seconds, putting strong throws on the bag with seemingly no effort and carry. His hands are confident and work to steal strikes, also moving athletically out of the crouch to block balls in the dirt. 

Troy commit. Currently ranked No. 16 in the state. Physical 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame with a strong lower-half and broad shoulders. Simple right-handed stroke that stays on-time, finishing the day 2-for-3 with an RBI. Behind the plate, Janicki is a premium defender, controlling the run game with an in-game pop of 1.96 seconds, putting strong throws on the bag with seemingly no effort and carry. His hands are confident and work to steal strikes, also moving athletically out of the crouch to block balls in the dirt.

Troy commit. Currently ranked No. 16 in the state. Built at a physical 6-foot-3, 210-pounds with a strong lower-half. Janicki is one of the top catchers in the state, boasting a legit sub-2.00 in-game pop-time with strong/accurate throws on the bag consistently. He is a confident receiver, sticking pitches and presenting them with strong hands - also dropping quickly into blocks to keep the ball in front to both sides. At the plate, Janicki finished the game 2-for-3 with a home run, triple, two RBIs and a run scored. The right-handed hitter remains extremely simple at the plate with a stock setup and short path to the ball. He sees spin well, sitting back on a breaking ball that hung over the plate and lifting it over the left-field wall for a home run. High-level 2024 backstop. 

Troy commit. Currently ranked No. 16 in the state. Built at a physical 6-foot-3, 210-pounds with a strong lower-half. Janicki is one of the top catchers in the state, boasting a legit sub-2.00 in-game pop-time with strong/accurate throws on the bag consistently. He is a confident receiver, sticking pitches and presenting them with strong hands - also dropping quickly into blocks to keep the ball in front to both sides. At the plate, Janicki finished the game 2-for-3 with a home run, triple, two RBIs and a run scored. The right-handed hitter remains extremely simple at the plate with a stock setup and short path to the ball. He sees spin well, sitting back on a breaking ball that hung over the plate and lifting it over the left-field wall for a home run. High-level 2024 backstop.

C Jimmy Janicki (Downers Grove North) and INF/RHP David Cox (Nazareth) are also two other prospects off of Team Illinois at last summer’s Future Games that deserve a mention from the event.

Janicki, a Troy commit, continues to fill out the uniform with his 6-foot-3, 210-pound, broad-shouldered frame and he showed the top hand speed of the event, averaging 24.6 mph to go along with a peak exit velocity of 100.7 mph, 91.4 mph average. Janicki’s round progressively got better as he went and by the end of it he was all over the barrel, with easy, loud, line-drive contact back up the middle and to the pull-side. He als showed his usual clean and easy actions behind the plate with an accurate strong arm that played at 82 mph (up from 80 mph) with pop times ranging from 1.94-1.97.

Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-3, 210-pounds. Strong, athletic frame with more room for continued physical development.
Hit: RHH. Upright, quiet setup, minimal wasted movement and short stride. Simple, strong, repeatable swing, ball jumps off the barrel and works gap-to-gap. Easy twitch and strong levers, feel for the barrel.
Power: 101 max exit velocity, averaged 91.4 mph. 308’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 82 mph. Short, clean arm action, plays from an over-the-top slot. When at its best plays true and with carry.
Defense: 1.94-1.97 pop times. Athletic and clean behind the plate. Soft hands, agile blocker and flexible hips. Easy and efficient out of the crouch, maintains body control and direction, repeatable.
Run: 7.02 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-3, 210-pounds. Strong, athletic frame with  more room for continued physical development.
Hit: RHH. Upright, quiet setup, minimal wasted movement and short stride. Simple, strong, repeatable swing, ball jumps off the barrel and works gap-to-gap. Easy twitch and strong levers, feel for the barrel.
Power: 101 max exit velocity, averaged 91.4 mph. 308’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 82 mph. Short, clean arm action, plays from an over-the-top slot. When at its best plays true and with carry.
Defense: 1.94-1.97 pop times. Athletic and clean behind the plate. Soft hands, agile blocker and flexible hips. Easy and efficient out of the crouch, maintains body control and direction, repeatable.
Run: 7.02 runner in the 60. 

Janicki, a Troy commit, continues to fill out the uniform with his 6-foot-3, 210-pound, broad-shouldered frame and he showed the top hand speed of the event, averaging 24.6 mph to go along with a peak exit velocity of 100.7 mph, 91.4 mph average. Janicki’s round progressively got better as he went and by the end of it he was all over the barrel, with easy, loud, line-drive contact back up the middle and to the pull-side. He als showed his usual clean and easy actions behind the plate with an accurate strong arm that played at 82 mph (up from 80 mph) with pop times ranging from 1.94-1.97.

Another major winner from the Future Games, who rises roughly 20 spots and slots in at 15th right behind Tunink, is C Jimmy Janicki (Downers Grove North, 2024). After catching our attention during the IHSA season and earning an invite to the Future Games from there, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Janicki blasted balls in BP at LakePoint, averaging 90.9 mph off the barrel with 302 feet per batted ball. He showed some of the event’s loudest juice, ambushing his hardest ball at 101 mph at 376 feet, per TrackMan. Janicki performed throughout the event as well, finding the barrel with authority while taking home ‘Player of the Game’ honors in Team Illinois’ third and final victory. His strength translated behind the plate too, where Janicki popped in the 1.97-to-2.01 range during the workout portion, topping at 80 mph from the crouch. A standout on the football field as well, Janicki is the top uncommitted backstop in the Illinois’ 2024 class.

Uncommitted. Physical frame, standing 6-foot-3, 205-pounds, strong lower-half. Started behind the plate and showed some upside to all sides of his game, both behind the dish and at the plate. The right-handed hitter starts in a somewhat upright position, hands high, stride is short and repeatable; his hands drop at foot strike while creating some separation, moving with a flat path through the zone and line-drive approach. Behind the plate, Janicki has soft/receptive hands that work under the ball to present pitches around the zone; he moves well into blocks, both out in front and side-to-side, deadening the ball out front. Out of the crouch, his feet work directionally and gain ground on his throws, also moving with a quick transfer; his arm plays with true backspin and effortless carry, standing out visually immediately.

Uncommitted. Physical frame, standing 6-foot-3, 205-pounds, strong lower-half. Started behind the plate and showed some upside to all sides of his game, both behind the dish and at the plate. The right-handed hitter starts in a somewhat upright position, hands high, stride is short and repeatable; his hands drop at foot strike while creating some separation, moving with a flat path through the zone and line-drive approach. Behind the plate, Janicki has soft/receptive hands that work under the ball to present pitches around the zone; he moves well into blocks, both out in front and side-to-side, deadening the ball out front. Out of the crouch, his feet work directionally and gain ground on his throws, also moving with a quick transfer; his arm plays with true backspin and effortless carry, standing out visually immediately.

Uncommitted. 6-foot-3, 205-pound, strong-bodied, right-handed hitting catcher. Caught and hit in the five-hole for a talented lineup. Finished 1-for-2 with a walk and double to the right field wall that led to an early Trojans lead. Tall, upright setup, slightly unorthodox look. Gets foot down on time and has long, strong levers with easy jump off the barrel. Easy overall effort, direct path and creates leverage. Defensively, above-average, fundamentally sound receiver, quiet actions with strong wrists and receptive hands. Comfortable and willing blocker, deadened the ball multiple times right out front, made it look easy. Clean and efficient out of the crouch, accurate arm from a high ¾ slot. Flashed a sub 2.0 in game pop time. High ceiling 2024 catching prospect.

Uncommitted. 6-foot-3, 205-pound, strong-bodied, right-handed hitting catcher. Caught and hit in the five-hole for a talented lineup. Finished 1-for-2 with a walk and double to the right field wall that led to an early Trojans lead. Tall, upright setup, slightly unorthodox look. Gets foot down on time and has long, strong levers with easy jump off the barrel. Easy overall effort, direct path and creates leverage. Defensively, above-average, fundamentally sound receiver, quiet actions with strong wrists and receptive hands. Comfortable and willing blocker, deadened the ball multiple times right out front, made it look easy. Clean and efficient out of the crouch, accurate arm from a high ¾ slot. Flashed a sub 2.0 in game pop time. High ceiling 2024 catching prospect.