On Sunday, Aug. 21, the PBR Illinois team hosted the Chicagoland Open at the Triton College in River Grove, Ill. The open event featured close to 90 prospects from all high school classes (2023-2026), and gave our staff an ample look at a number of prospects to follow moving forward.

For a complete list of the player’s that attended this event, click HERE. 

In the week that followed this event, we produced post-event analysis that includes performance highlights inside of our Quick Hits story, a look at the traditional stats measured within our Statistical Analysis piece and some other measurable data inside our Data Dive.

Beck Kjeldbjerg (Warren, 2023) and Trevor Cote (Woodstock, 2025) are two catchers worth noting that just missed out on the Top-3 below. Kjeldbjerg is a left-handed hitter with an athletic 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame. Cote has a flat, barrel-controlled right-handed swing with above-average bat to ball skills for his age.

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Joey Russo, Mount Carmel (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-0, 215-pounds. Thick, strong overall build.
Hit: RHH. Relaxed, balanced setup, leg-lift timing trigger. Confident look in the box, strong hands, stays compact and repeatable. Consistent hard contact, wore out the middle of the field.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 89.7 mph. 342’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate and on the bag.
Defense: 2.12-2.32 pop times. Clean, easy, upright release.
Run: 7.76 runner in the 60. 

2. Matthew Carrano, St. Laurence (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-1, 215-pounds. Strong, physically advanced frame with broad shoulders.
Hit: RHH. Crouched, slightly open setup, short stride. Long swing, leverage to the pull-side, slight lift through the zone and strong hands.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 88.2 mph. 336’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. INF - 76 mph. Some life and carry, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.11-2.19 pop times. Clean footwork, soft hands, clean exchange, loose deliberate actions.
Run: 7.86 runner in the 60. 

3. Danny Szafraniec, Loyola Academy (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-10, 145-pounds. High-waisted frame with room to fill out.
Hit: RHH. Tall, narrow setup, quiet load and stride. Easy hands, stays inside the baseball, uses the whole field, repeatable with feel for the barrel and finishes on balance.
Power: 79 max exit velocity, averaged 70 mph. 217’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.29-2.44 pop times. Clean exchange, gains ground, soft agile blocker.
Run: 8.25 runner in the 60. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Myles Brincks, Harvard (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds. Athletic, lean frame with room to fill out.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly open setup, short stride. Twitchy, strong hands, pull-side approach and flashed bat speed. Flashed sneaky jump to the pull-side.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 81.5 mph. 344’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Long arm action, 3/4 slot, flashed accuracy.
Defense: 2.04-2.26 pop times. Clean transfer, gains ground.
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60. 

Trevor Cote, Woodstock (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-9, 150-pounds. Lean, wiry build with broad shoulders.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load and toe-tap stride. Aggressive swing, twitchy hands, stays flat and on top of the baseball, backspins the baseball
Power: 84 max exit velocity, averaged 73.4 mph. 289’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Long draw, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.26-2.36 pop times. Clean transfer, gains ground out of the crouch.
Run: 7.92 runner in the 60. 

Nate Crick, Cary Grove (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Calm, slightly open setup, fluid load and stride. Fluid swing, uphill path and strong hands. Uphill, lifted, pull-side approach.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 74.6 mph. 316’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Long draw, full arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.26-2.40 pop times. Clean transfer, gains ground.
Run: 7.88 runner in the 60. 

Benjamin Fromm, Glenbrook North (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, deep load and toe-tap stride. Strong hands, lifted approach and uses the whole field.
Power: 84 max exit velocity, averaged 78.4 mph. 287’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Compact arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.33-2.40 pop times. Quick transfer, gains ground, agile blocker, quickness out of the crouch.
Run: 7.98 runner in the 60.

Quinn Hester, Notre Dame College Prep (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-9, 152-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, small stride. Handsy swing, flat through the zone, line-drive approach.
Power: 83 max exit velocity, averaged 74.9 mph. 288’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Compact arm actions, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.18-2.32 pop times. Clean, easy, solid catcher actions.
Run: 7.96 runner in the 60. 

Michael Hultman, Andrew (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-1, 200-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, knee-knock stride and timing trigger. Quiet swing, long path, strong hands and ball jumped off the bat to the pull-side at times.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 88.6 mph. 342’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. INF - 72 mph. Long arm swing, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.36-2.58 pop times. Plays from the ground up, secures baseball into body, clean exchange on the infield.
Run: 7.97 runner in the 60. 

Patrick Kennedy, Champaign Central (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-0, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, quiet load and short stride. Balanced, repeatable swing, uphill tendencies through the zone, lifted approach to the middle of the field.
Power: 80 max exit velocity, averaged 74.5 mph. 276’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot, flashed accuracy.
Defense: 2.36-2.51 pop times. Clean transfer, some feel, gains ground.
Run: 8.46 runner in the 60. 

Beck Kjeldbjerg, Warren Township (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 6-1, 180-pounds. Evenly proportioned weight with room to fill out.
Hit: LHH. Tall, open setup, coiled load. Swings with controlled aggression, flashed bat speed, flashed strength and lift to the pull-side.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 81.5 mph. 305’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. INF - 80 mph. Short arm action, firm over-the-top slot and plays with true-four seam carry.
Defense: 2.22-2.43 pop times. Clean transfer, gains ground out of the crouch, soft hands, two-hand gather shuffle to release.
Run: 7.48 runner in the 60. 

Cooper Koslowski, Fraser  (MI), 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-0, 155-pounds. Projectable build with room to fill out.
Hit: RHH. Upright setup, minimal pre-pitch actions and short stride. Long path, works uphill through the zone, pull-side tendencies.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 77.8 mph. 282’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. INF - 73 mph. Short, clean arm action, multiple slots, comfortable throwing from low 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.29-2.61 pop times. Clean and easy infield actions. Steady hands.
Run: 8.60 runner in the 60. 

Ryan O'Connor, Plainfield North (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-7, 135-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, fluid deep load and short stride. Athletic hands, natural lift through the zone and works gap-to-gap with minimal effort throughout.
Power: 80 max exit velocity, averaged 73 mph. 279’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 66 mph. Quick trigger, compact arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.30-2.55 pop times. Catcher actions, quick exchange, gains ground.
Run: 8.28 runner in the 60. 

Tyler Rosenberg, Wauconda (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 160-pounds. High-waisted frame with room for added strength.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, quiet load and short stride. Quiet lower half, minimal wasted movement, simple swing, stays direct to the baseball.
Power: 81 max exit velocity, averaged 71.2 mph. 253’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 64 mph. OF - 69 mph. Short arm action, over the top, accurate on the bag.
Defense: 2.48-2.72 pop times. Confident direct routes, confident with the glove, clean exchange in the outfield.
Run: 8.48 runner in the 60. 

Anthony Sexton, Lincoln-Way East (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds. Athletic frame, lean with room for added strength.
Hit: RHH. Wide, quiet setup, minimal pre-pitch movement. Simple swing, flat path, line-drive approach, pull-side tendencies.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 87.8 mph. 284’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. High 3/4 slot, compact action, accurate.
Defense: 2.29-2.44 pop times. Quick feet, clean transfer, gains ground.
Run: 7.49 runner in the 60. 

Jackson Sher, Stevenson (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-0, 192-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, quiet setup, fluid load and short stride. Strong hands, flashed looseness, on the barrel consistently, pull-side approach.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 76.1 mph. 279’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.34-2.43 pop times. Clean transfer, gains ground towards second base.
Run: 8.23 runner in the 60. 

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