On Oct. 2, PBR Illinois hosted the fall’s Unsigned Senior Showcase, as it does each and every fall, at The MAX complex in McCook, Ill., where nearly 70 prospects participated. These Class of 2023 athletes remain uncommitted headed into the final offseason of their prep careers, and this group that performed at The MAX last weekend underscored the unsigned talent still remaining in Illinois.

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 who our scouting staff deemed as the top catching prospects from the event. 

One prospect that just missed in the post-event rankings is Preston Lund (Homewood-Flossmoor). Listed at 5-foot-8, 170-pounds, Lund has a lean/compact frame with round shoulders and proportioned strength. The right-handed hitter has a long, flat stroke at the plate which favors his pull-side and middle of the field. Defensively, he has steady hands that work under the baseball and present pitches around the zone. His transfer is quick/clean and pair with a 73 mph velocity down to second - reaching as low as 2.10 for his pop-time.

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Kevin Geake, Glenbrook North (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Crouched, slightly open setup, pre-pitch load. Strong hands, length through the zone, controlled intent. Flashed bat speed, line-drive approach, pull-side tendencies.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 89.7 mph. 321’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short to the ear out of the glove into an over-the-top slot. Throws play with some life and accuracy.
Defense: 2.08-2.25 pop times. Steady/strong hands, works to present pitches in and around the zone. Quick/clean transfer, feet work in-line with second on throws.
Run: 7.09 runner in the 60. 

2. Aiden Knipper, Lincoln-Way East (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-1, 185-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, relaxed, quiet setup, minimal load. Easy, repeatable swing, uphill path and works the ball to the middle of the field with lift.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 83.2 mph. 360’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short arm out of the glove into a high 3/4 to over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.11-2.19 pop times. Quiet receiver of the baseball, clean transfer, directional footwork out of the crouch. Works to deaden the ball out front on blocks.
Run: 7.24 runner in the 60. 

3. Liam Egan, Marist (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, quiet load and short stride. Loose, strong hands, whippy through the zone and uses the middle of the field.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 77.1 mph. 275’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short out of the glove into a high 3/4 slot. Throws play with some accuracy and carry.
Defense: 2.14-2.26 pop times. Athletic mover into blocks, deadens the ball out front. Steady hands, works to present pitches around the zone. Quick/clean transfer, gains ground on throws to second.
Run: 7.58 runner in the 60. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Nathan Bajic, Manteno (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-10, 165-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall, slightly open setup, fluid load and controlled stride. Loose, athletic hands, uphill path, balanced finish.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 76.3 mph. 297’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short out of the glove, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.19-2.33 pop times. Works under the baseball tp present pitches around the zone, clean transfer, feet work in-line out of the crouch. Deadens the ball out front on blocks.
Run: 7.55 runner in the 60. 

Patrick Collins, Kaneland (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds. Strong, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, front shoulder down, quiet load and stride. Simple direct swing, strong hands, repeats, uses the middle of the field.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 82.4 mph. 297’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. INF - 67 mph. Short to the ear into an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.14-2.22 pop times. 1B: Clean hands and actions at first base. Secures into the body, clean release. C: Steady, confident hands, quick/clean transfer, takes momentum into throws, directional footwork out of the crouch. Athletic blocker, moves well side-to-side.
Run: 7.52 runner in the 60. 

Payton Evans, Bloomington (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, minimal load and toe-tap stride. Simple swing, short to the ball, whole field approach.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 80 mph. 283’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short to the ear into an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.22-2.29 pop times. Clean transfer, directional footwork out of the crouch.
Run: 7.33 runner in the 60. 

Preston Lund, Homewood-Flossmoor (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-8, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, slight load and toe-tap stride. Strong hands, long path, stays level through the zone and ball jumps off the bat. Uses the middle of the field.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 88.6 mph. 360’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short to the ear into an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.10-2.25 pop times. Quiet, confident receiver of the baseball, quick/clean transfer, quick/directional footwork out of the crouch. Moves quickly out of the crouch.
Run: 7.63 runner in the 60. 

Roberto Maldonado II, Ogden International (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 195-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, quiet load and teo-tap stride. Easy, strong hands, creates advanced jump off the barrel when synced up. Powerful bat with pull-side tendencies.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 86.8 mph. 343’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. OF - 76 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.32-2.44 pop times. OF: Gets behind the baseball, secures it through release. C: Steady hands when receiving the baseball, clean transfer, directional footwork out of the crouch.
Run: 7.02 runner in the 60. 

Markese Mcclellan, Crete Monee (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall, balanced setup, smooth load and short leg-kick trigger. Lets the ball travel, strong hands, uphill path, looks to drive and lift the baseball to the middle of the field.
Power: 84 max exit velocity, averaged 78.9 mph. 287’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short out of the glove into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.28-2.38 pop times. Steady hands when receiving, clean transfer, feet work directionally out of the crouch. Athletic mover out of the crouch.
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60. 

Jake Tyler, Riverside-Brookfield (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride. Balanced, controlled finish, loose hands, long path and works gap-to-gap.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 79.4 mph. 318’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. OF - 80 mph. Short out of the glove into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.04-2.14 pop times. OF: Plays quick, attacks the baseball and plays through in rhythm. C: Clean transfer, footwork works in-line to second on throws, moves quickly out of the crouch.
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60. 

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