Prep Baseball Report

Unsigned Senior Showcase: Catcher Analysis


By: Illinois Scouting Staff

On Sunday, October 3, the PBR Illinois staff traveled back to The MAX Sports Complex in McCook, Illinois, to host the annual Unsigned Senior Showcase. This event was open to all uncommitted prospects in the state’s 2022 class that are still looking for a place to call home at the collegiate level.

Shortly after the event’s conclusion our staff rolled out several post-event content pieces, all of which can be found HERE

We’ll begin rolling out the scouting reports from the day this week, starting with the catching group and working our way around the diamond. Before we do so, here are a few names that stood out: 

+ C/RHP Jacob Filip (Lakes Community), currently ranked No. 129 in Illinois’, was one of the top two-way prospects at the event. Despite sitting 87-89 mph on the mound at the event, he may be an even better position player. Filip, a 6-foot, 180-pound, left-handed hitting catcher, ran a 6.90 laser time 60 yard dash and topped at 85 mph; one of the top velocities we have seen out of the crouch all year long. Offensively, Filip attacks the baseball on a slightly uphill angle from the left side, repeating with loose, strong hands that attack the pull-side. He consistently worked on the barrel and squared his hardest hit ball up at 96 mph. Filip’s physicality certainly popped defensively, where he showed off a strong, accurate arm that peaked at 85 mph to the bag. High-follow uncommitted two-way prospect.

Jacob Filip

+ C Brandon Mahler (Vernon Hills) impressed as one of the top defenders in the entire showcase, regardless of position. He’s an athletic blocker of the baseball, with soft hands and a quick transfer to release. His arm peaked at 80 mph, producing throws that carried to the target and stayed in line. Offensively, Mahler’s right-handed whips through the zone with above-average bat speed, creating consistent hard contact with a whole field approach.

+ A 6-foot-1, 175-pound athlete, C Cole Blazekovich (Minooka) was another backstop that performed in front of our staff. Blazekovich has a simple, repeatable right-handed swing with above-average feel for the barrel. Defensively, Blazekovich showed soft hands and a quick exchange, consistently popping accurate throws to his target.

Read below for all the catcher reports from this event. 

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Jacob Filip, Lakes Community  (IL), 2022; John A. Logan JC commit
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Well-proportioned strength throughout frame.
Hit: L. Balanced setup, fluid pre-pitch load and long toe-tap stride. Hits with rhythm throughout. Advanced hand speed and rotational acceleration (22.1 g average). Loose hands, natural lift throughout and uses the middle of the field. Consistently on the barrel and with authority.
Power: 95.98 max exit velocity, averaged 90.25 mph. 295’ max distance. Second highest average exit velocity from the event.
Arm: R. C - 85 mph. Short, quick arm action, plays from a 3/4 to high 3/4 slot. Advanced arm strength.
Defense: 2.02 - 2.07 pop times. Quiet receiver, minimal movement, sure-handed. Agile, soft block.
Run: 6.90 runner in the 60. 

2. Brandon Mahler, Vernon Hills (IL), 2022; Concordia-Chicago commit
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-11, 180-pounds. Thick torso, strong lower half.
Hit: R. Balanced setup, minimal load, long stride. Long uphill swing. Creates a lot of lift. Consistent hard contact. Pull side power.
Power: 90.72 max exit velocity, averaged 83.1 mph. 345’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 80 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot, above average arm strength.
Defense: 2.03 - 2.10 pop times. Flexible. Soft block. Deadens ball out front.
Run: 7.43 runner in the 60. 

3. Cole Blazekovich, Minooka  (IL), 2022; Loras College commit.
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-1, 175-pounds. Long, lean torso. Room for growth.
Hit: R. Open setup. Pre-loaded back leg. Strides to even pre-pitch.  Repeatable, level swing path through the zone. Uses the middle of the field.
Power: 83.69 max exit velocity, averaged 75.59 mph. 311’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 74 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top arm slot. Accuracy. Average arm strength.
Defense: 2.13 - 2.21 pop times. Soft hands. Upright and Athletic position. Fluid footwork.
Run: 7.54 runner in the 60.

3. Carter Hall, Champaign Central (IL), 2022; Morton JC commit
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-10, 165-pounds. Sloped shoulders, thin-waisted.
Hit: R. Simple setup. Quiet in the box. Short stride. Short, level swing path. Natural pull side power. Uses the whole field.
Power: 86.4 max exit velocity, averaged 82.15 mph. 310’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 76 mph. INF - 73 mph. Catcher: Short arm action, 3/4 to high ¾ arm slot. Consistently around the second base bag. Infield: Short arm action, 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.01 - 2.09 pop times. Catcher: Sure handed. Feet work in line with second base bag. Infield: Natural infield actions. Balanced footwork. Plays with body control on the move.
Run: 7.47 runner in the 60. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Julian Budziszewski, Morton West (IL), 2022; College of Dupage commit
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-8, 165-pounds. Thick, strong lower-half.
Hit: R. Wide base, closed front side, short leg lift, level swing. Quick bat through the zone, feel for the barrel. Right/right-center field approach.
Power: 86.85 max exit velocity, averaged 72.78 mph. 269’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 70 mph. INF - 67 mph. Catcher: Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot. Consistently around the second base bag. Infield: Short arm action, 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.15 - 2.25 pop times. Catcher: Receptive hands. Quick, direct footwork. Infield: Fluid, balanced footwork. Plays with rhythm and confidence. Ranges well both left and right. Body control on the move.
Run: 7.68 runner in the 60. 

Owen Cutinello, South Elgin  (IL), 2022; Elgin CC commit
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-2, 190-pounds. Strength throughout upper body.
Hit: R. Open setup, minimal load, short stride. Long bat path, out on front foot at times.
Power: 87.34 max exit velocity, averaged 79.15 mph. 303’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 75 mph. INF - 78 mph. Catcher: Low-effort, short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot. Flashed accuracy.  Infield: Short arm action, 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.13 - 2.22 pop times. Catcher: Loose, easy, fluid actions. Clean transfer. Infield: Smooth actions. Soft hands. Glove tap on transfer.
Run: 7.42 runner in the 60. 

Frank Freeman, St Ignatius (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-1, 165-pounds. Wide shoulders, high-waisted. Projectable frame.
Hit: R. Upright, slightly open setup, long stride. Long, uphill bat path. Pull-side tendencies.
Power: 82.22 max exit velocity, averaged 74.66 mph. 266’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 78 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top arm slot. Consistently around the second base bag.
Defense: 2.13 - 2.19 pop times. Steady hands. Blocks ball out front. Quick footwork.
Run: 7.70 runner in the 60. 

William Gimbel, Joliet Catholic (IL), 2022; Trine University commit
Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds. Lean frame. Room to add strength throughout.
Hit: R. Narrow setup. Short, knee-knock stride. Simple swing, easy effort, natural pull side approach.
Power: 81.27 max exit velocity, averaged 74.85 mph. 262’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 72 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot. Consistently around second base bag.
Defense: 2.09 - 2.12 pop times. Works to present pitches in and around the zone. Quick feet. Athletic position. Deadens ball out front.
Run: 8.02 runner in the 60. 

Joseph Guzman, Morton (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-7, 170-pounds. Thick, strong lower-half. Solid upper body.
Hit: R. Wide set up. Small, quick leg lift. Long swing, works uphill. Natural lift. Uses the whole field.
Power: 77.38 max exit velocity, averaged 69.89 mph. 249’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 64 mph. INF - 69 mph. Catcher: Short arm action, over-the-top arm slot. Lacks arm strength. Infield: Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.69 - 2.84 pop times. Catcher: Average hands. Clean exchange. Infield: Sure-handed.
Run: 8.30 runner in the 60. 

Michael Jeffers, Stagg  (IL), 2022; Joliet JC commit.
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-9, 160-pounds. Compact frame. Round shoulders.
Hit: S. Right-handed: Athletic, slightly open set up. Short, quick stride. Left-handed: Balanced. Toe-tap time mechanism.  Right-handed: Simple approach. Uphill, compact bat path. Short to the baseball. Pull-side approach. Left-handed. Simple, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 85.24 max exit velocity, averaged 74.38 mph. 283’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 74 mph. Long arm action, length in back-swing. Over-the-top arm slot. Flashed carry on throws.
Defense: 2.06 - 2.14 pop times. Agile, athletic actions. Clean transfer. Long to release. Plays with confidence.
Run: 7.56 runner in the 60. 

Eddy Martinez, Muchin College Prep (IL), 2022 
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-9, 200-pounds. Stocky build.
Hit: R. Feet start shoulder width apart. Vertical bat held low and away from body. Hand hitch. Big load. Bat strength.  Swings with hands. Short, compact bat path through the zone. Good feel for the barrel. Center/right-center field approach.
Power: 90.6 max exit velocity, averaged 75.7 mph. 269’ max distance.
Arm: R. C - 65 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top arm slot. Below average arm strength.
Defense: 2.31 - 2.46 pop times. Firm hands. Upright position. Tall at gather. Long to release.
Run: 8.73 runner in the 60. 

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