Prep Baseball Report

Class of 2022 Showcase: Catcher Analysis


By Kevin Cronin and Drew Locascio
Illinois Staff

On July 15th, the PBR Illinois staff hosted the Class of 2022 Showcase at Lee Pfund Stadium in Wheaton, Ill. This annual event was open to all incoming juniors in the state and serves as an identifier for the PBR Future Games and other invite-only events.

Shortly following the event we took a deep dive into the statistical leaders from the event. Today we begin our positional analysis of the event, starting with the catchers.

At the top of the list sits, left-handed hitter, Logan Gregorio (Waubonsie). Gregorio who just debuted in the Illinois 2022 rankings for the first time, has a repeatable left-handed swing with feel for the barrel and uses the entire field. 

For a look at the rest of the backstops from the event, read on below.

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Logan Gregorio, Waubonsie Valley (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Strong, well-proportioned build.
Hit: LHH. Slightly open wide balance setup, short stride. Advanced approach, stays within himself, fast bat, short level swing, line drive gap-to-gap approach, fluid rhythm.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. 89+ mph exit velocity on pitches middle in during BP, per Trackman.
 Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. OF - 71 mph. Short loose arm action, over-the-top slot.
 Defense: 2.17-2.25 pop times. Soft hands, quick clean exchange, feet work on-line with second.
 Run: 7.80 runner in the 60.

(Logan Gregorio)

2. Osvaldo Ballesteros Jr., St. Laurence (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Athletic frame, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Wide balance setup, high leg kick.  Short uphill swing, pull approach.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above 87 mph exit velocity on pitches middle up during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 81 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot, throws played accurate, flashed carry.
Defense: 2.04-2.18 pop times. Average hands, clean exchange.
Run: 7.73 runner in the 60. 

3. Max Oliveira, Loyola (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 6-1, 160-pounds. Strong build.
Hit: RHH. Open balance setup, short stride.  Fast short level swing, pull approach.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above 93 mph exit velocity on pitches middle down during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. INF - 69 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot, throws play accurate.
Defense: 2.09-2.15 pop times. Athletic setup, quick footwork, quick clean exchange.
Run: 7.44 runner in the 60. 

4. Aiden Rowe, Hinsdale Central  (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-1, 235-pounds. Big frame, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Tall open setup, smooth load, long leg kick. Strong uphill swing, gap-to-gap approach, fluid rhythm.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above 86 mph exit velocity on pitches middle in during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot, throws play accurately.
Defense: 2.08-2.11 pop times. Fundamentally sound blocker, deadens the baseball, average hands, quick exchange.
Run: 7.74 runner in the 60. 

5. Robb Meister, Hersey (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-10, 165-pounds. Athletic frame, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Compact balance setup, smooth load, short stride. Short level swing, line drive gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above 90 mph exit velocity on pitches low away during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. INF - 74 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot, throws played accurate.
Defense: 2.08-2.15 pop times. Soft hands, clean exchange, feet work towards second.
Run: 7.53 runner in the 60. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Quinn Butera, Jacobs  (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-11, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balance setup, smooth load, short leg lift. Level swing, line drive pull approach.
Power: 74 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 65 mph. INF - 69 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, throws play accurate.
Defense: 2.29-2.36 pop times. Average hands, clean exchange.
Run: 7.38 runner in the 60. 

Jack Desmond, Glenbard West (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds. Big frame, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Balance setup, short stride.  Short uphill swing, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, throws play accurate.
Defense: 2.03-2.18 pop times. Soft hands, quick exchange.
Run: 7.72 runner in the 60. 

Carter Hall, Champaign Central (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-10, 140-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Simple wide balance setup, small leg lift. Short level swing, line drive gap-to-gap approach, fluid rhythm.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. INF - 73 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot..
Defense: 2.18-2.25 pop times. average hands, clean exchange.
Run: 7.75 runner in the 60. 

Colin Husko, Wauconda (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/C
Body: 5-9, 145-pounds. Average frame, lean build.
Hit: LHH. Slightly open balance setup, short leg lift. Short level swing, line drive, oppo approach.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above 87 mph exit velocity on pitches middle in during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. INF - 76 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, throws play accurate.
Defense: 2.14-2.18 pop times. Clean block, average hands, quick clean exchange.
Run: 7.32 runner in the 60. 

Zachary Janes, Walter Payton College Prep (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 165-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide balance setup, leg kick. Level swing, line drive gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above 85 mph exit velocity on pitches middle down during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, throws played accurate.
Defense: 2.25-2.32 pop times. Average hands, clean exchange.
Run: 7.42 runner in the 60. 

Coby Miller, St Joseph Ogden (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-11, 180-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Balance setup, short stride.  Long uphill swing, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above 88 mph exit velocity on pitches low and in during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.29-2.34 pop times. Clean exchange.
Run: 7.47 runner in the 60. 

Oscar Nach, Lincoln Park (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-9, 145-pounds. Small frame, lean build.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open balance setup, short leg lift. short uphill swing, pull approach.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above 85 mph exit velocity on pitches middle away during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, throws play accurate.
Defense: 2.25-2.34 pop times. Average hands, clean exchange, works through the baseball.
Run: 7.37 runner in the 60. 

Patrick Nelson, Bartlett (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Big frame, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Tall slightly open setup, short stride. Long uphill swing, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above 90 mph exit velocity on pitches middle up during BP, per Trackman.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.21-2.33 pop times. Average hands.
Run: 7.28 runner in the 60. 

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