Prep Baseball Report

Aurora Preseason ID: Catcher Analysis


By: Illinois Scouting Staff

The first Preseason ID of the year, the Aurora Preseason ID, was held on Saturday, February 4th at the Aurora Sports Dome. The open event featured 70 prospects from across the state of Illinois from all high school grad classes. 

A number of  unknown players heading into the event put themselves on the map, while a number of other familiar faces continued to show improvements to their game.

Below you'll find scouting reports on every catcher that was in attendance. 

TOP CATCHERS

1. Kyle Binder, Brimfield (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-10, 185-pounds. Strong, physical build.
Hit: RHH. Relaxed, balanced setup, smooth load and minimal stride. Strong hands, sits into the backside, compact, natural lift through the zone and worked both gaps.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 85.6 mph. 319’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph.  Short draw, high 3/4 slot, flashed accuracy to the second base bag.
Defense: 2.04-2.15 pop times. Clean transfer, sure-handed receiver.
Run: 7.42 runner in the 60. 

2. Jordan Gozum, Bolingbrook (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-7, 140-pounds. Athletic, with room for added strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, slight load and leg-kick trigger. Short path, looks to control the barrel, line-drive middle of the field approach.
Power: 81 max exit velocity, averaged 74.4 mph. 244’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. INF - 77 mph. C: Over the top, carry to second. INF: High 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.03-2.15 pop times. C: Quick/clean hands, quick feet, works in-line to second. INF: Quick feet, steady hands, clean transfer.
Run: 7.09 runner in the 60. 

3. Phillip Yu, Yorkville (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds. Proportional, athletic frame.
Hit: SH. Balanced, upright setup, minimal load and controlled stride. Athletic hands, bat stays on plane, level through the zone and line-drive approach.
Power: 76 max exit velocity, averaged 70.8 mph. 254’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. INF - 72 mph. C: Short compact draw into a high 3/4 slot. INF: Short out of the glove into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.32-2.39 pop times. C: Advanced receiver, replaces feet towards second. INF: Two-hand gather out front, shuffle to throw.
Run: 8.39 runner in the 60. 

4. Aiden Simmons, Plainfield North (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-2, 165-pounds. Long, loose-limbed frame, projects.
Hit: RHH. Upright, slightly open setup, short stride. Easy swing, stays on balance throughout, loose hands, long path, creates leverage to the pull-side.
Power: 83 max exit velocity, averaged 74.2 mph. 303’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph.  Long draw into an over the top slot, flashed accuracy.
Defense: 2.02-2.12 pop times. Quick release and glove-to-hand transfer, replaces feet, works in-line to second, sure handed receiver, reliable blocker.
Run: 7.40 runner in the 60. 

5. Owen Myket, Metea Valley (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 195-pounds. High waisted, athletic frame with strength.
Hit: LHH. Wide setup, slightly crouched, long stride. Athletic hands, short and direct to the ball, present hand and bat strength, uphill through the zone, lifted hard contact to the middle of the field.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 87.9 mph. 334’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph.  Long draw into an over the top slot.
Defense: 2.25-2.34 pop times. Clean transfer, soft blocker, athletic mover out of the crouch.
Run: 7.28 runner in the 60. 

5. Carson Stevens, Neuqua Valley (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-1, 205-pounds. Strong, big-bodied frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, big loading action, long stride. Aggressive swing, flat path, present bat speed, ball jumps off the bat, on the barrel consistently throughout.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 88.6 mph. 355’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph.  Long draw into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.06-2.21 pop times. Feet work in-line to second, quick mover out of the crouch.
Run: 7.90 runner in the 60. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Adam Ceres, Yorkville (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-1, 169-pounds. Lean, athletic, projectable frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, fluid load and minimal stride. Loose hands, long path, uphill tendencies at times and used the middle of the field.
Power: 80 max exit velocity, averaged 72.1 mph. 287’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. INF - 64 mph. C: Long draw into a 3/4 slot. INF: Long 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.33-2.53 pop times. C: Replaces feet in-line to second, sound blocker. INF: Two-hand gather out front, feel for the first base bag.
Run: 8.17 runner in the 60. 

Trevor Cote, Woodstock (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 150-pounds. Wiry, upside frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, minimal load and short leg-lift trigger. Athletic hands, flat through the zone, gets extension through contact, line-drive approach and uses the whole field.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 76.7 mph. 275’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short draw, over the top slot.
Defense: 2.22-2.43 pop times. Soft hands, quiet receiver, clean transfer.
Run: 7.86 runner in the 60. 

Liam Grove, Bolingbrook (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds. Proportioned frame with some more room to grow.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, short stride and minimal load. Simple swing, short path, controls the barrel, line-drive approach.
Power: 75 max exit velocity, averaged 65.2 mph. 209’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph.  Catcher arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.32-2.40 pop times. Clean transfer, works in-line to second, sure handed receiver.
Run: 8.08 runner in the 60. 

David Juarez, Huntley (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-7, 170-pounds. Proportional frame, strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, hands held high, short stride. Simple swing, level through the zone and uses the middle of the field.
Power: 82 max exit velocity, averaged 69.3 mph. 208’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 66 mph.  Compact arm action, 3/4 slot, flashes accuracy to second.
Defense: 2.32-2.46 pop times. Gains ground to second, feet work in-line, sure handed receiver.
Run: 8.37 runner in the 60. 

Anthony Perez, Joliet Catholic (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-4, 140-pounds. High waisted, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load and stride. Long path, occasional uphill tendencies, on time, middle to pull side-approach.
Power: 79 max exit velocity, averaged 70.2 mph. 274’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. INF - 68 mph. C: Quick transfer into an over the top slot. INF: Short compact draw, free and easy, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.20-2.28 pop times. C: Gains ground to second, feet work in-line. INF: Steady hands, two hand gather out front.
Run: 8.05 runner in the 60. 

Noah Peters, Belleville East (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-0, 200-pounds. Strong, big-bodied frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, fluid load and short stride. Stays compact, short to the ball, strong hands, balanced finish.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 76.1 mph. 306’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph.  Longer draw into a 3/4 slot, flashed accuracy to second.
Defense: 2.15-2.39 pop times. Quick transfer, feet work in-line to second, soft hands, quiet receiver.
Run: 9.14 runner in the 60. 

Jess Seaton, Yorkville Christian (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-6, 155-pounds. High waisted, strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly crouched setup, short stride. Aggressive swing, loose hands, flat through the zone.
Power: 78 max exit velocity, averaged 68.3 mph. 213’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Long arm action into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.28-2.40 pop times. Soft hands, sound blocker, feet work in-line to second.
Run: 8.45 runner in the 60. 

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