On Sunday, August 22, the PBR Illinois scouting staff hosted the ninth annual Chicagoland Open at Triton College in River Grove, IL. Roughly 80+ prospects attended and provided our staff with an up-to-date look at their particular skill-sets or, for some, a first glance at the talents they bring to the baseball field.

Shortly after the event our staff published several content-related pieces, including a quick analysis of the day's standouts, stat leaders, and a look at the advanced data we have at our disposal. You can find all of that information by clicking HERE. 

We’ll begin our individual player analysis rollout today with the catchers and work our way around the diamond as the week progresses. Read below for all the scouting reports on the event’s backstops. 

CATCHING PROSPECTS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Rakim Ali, Morgan Park (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-foot-8, 130-pounds. Lean frame, thin waist.
Hit: RHH. Upright stance, quiet and simple load, leg lift trigger into a short stride.  Long path to contact, level barrel with an occasional uphill angle, worked middle-in.
Power: 80 max exit velocity, averaged 73.1 mph. 218’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.25-2.38 pop times. Wide base, feet gain ground, soft hands with a clean exchange to release.
Run: 7.87 runner in the 60. 

Matthew Goldasich, Sacred-Heart Griffin (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-foot-2, 190-pounds. Strong, well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Tall stance, minimal load, short stride.  Long and uphill bat path, flashed some power to the pull-side.
Power: 90.3 max exit velocity, averaged 86.3 mph. 321’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.19-2.32 pop times. Taller posture, feet stay in line to target, clean and quick transfer.
Run: 7.59 runner in the 60.

Cooper Jolin, Middleton (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 5-foot-10, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load, short stride.  Long and level path, high two-hand finish.
Power: 76.6 max exit velocity, averaged 69.2 mph. 223’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. INF - 76 mph. Shorter compact arm circle on the backside, high 3/4 finish.
Defense: 2.31-2.34 pop times. Took reps behind the plate and on the infield. Feet work in line to target from the crouch, longer to release. Active feet on the infield, two-hand gather.
Run: 8.36 runner in the 60. 

Eddie Martinez, Muchin College Prep (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-9, 200-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced lower half, bat starts at midline and drifts back, barrel wraps at load, high leg kick trigger.  Long bat path, flat barrel, looks to elevate to the pull-side.
Power: 85.9 max exit velocity, averaged 74.2 mph. 306’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 60 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.59-2.81 pop times. Upright stance, tall posture throughout. 

Joseph Perona, Lane Tech (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-foot, 165-pounds. Athletic frame that projects.
Hit: LHH. Slightly upright stance with some lower half bend, open base. Hands coil some at load, short stride.  Loose wrists, present hand speed, short and uphill path to contact, pull-side approach.
Power: 88.9 max exit velocity, averaged 82.2 mph. 312’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. OF - 82 mph. Shorter, compact arm action that finishes from a slightly elevated 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.14-2.28 pop times. Worked out behind the plate and in the outfield. Athletic stance in the crouch, soft hands, clean transfer, plays through the baseball to target. Active feet in the outfield, crow hops to release.
Run: 6.86 runner in the 60. 

Jake Peterson, Grayslake Central (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-7, 135-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: LHH. Taller stance, rhythmic hand load, high leg kick timing trigger.  Long and level bat path, repeats plane. Line drive approach, comfortable up the middle.
Power: 77.6 max exit velocity, averaged 70.5 mph. 212’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.38-2.44 pop times. Quick feet from the crouch, clean hand transfer to release.
Run: 7.91 runner in the 60. 

Noah Tomaras, Lemont (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-foot-10, 170-pounds. Strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Crouched stance, wider base, active hands throughout, short stride. Present hand speed (22 mph avg.), quick wrists. Short and level bat path, stays on plane and repeats. Line drive approach, all-fields feel.
Power: 84.5 max exit velocity, averaged 79.6 mph. 232’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.18-2.24 pop times. Athletic stance, wide hips, gains ground to target. Soft hands, quick hand transfer, clean to release.
Run: 7.50 runner in the 60. 

Luke Tsilis, Bradley Bourbonnais community (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-foot, 160-pounds. Lanky frame, projects.
Hit: RHH. Tall stance, high front shoulder, front arm bars, slight leg lift trigger. Twitchy wrists, quick hands (23.9 mph avg.). Short and simple swing, works on top of the baseball, line drive approach.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 81.9 mph. 320’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. INF - 74 mph. Arm plays longer from behind the plate, shorter/compact window on the infield, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.31-2.52 pop times. Took reps behind the plate and on the infield. Lower half works in line from the crouch, long transfer to release. Glove plays under midline, two-hand gather.
Run: 7.02 runner in the 60. 

Damian Valdez, Addison Trail  (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-foot-4, 125-pounds. Lean frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, hands start and stay back throughout, leg lift timing trigger.  Long and uphill bat path.
Power: 73.5 max exit velocity, averaged 62.4 mph. 194’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate around the bag.
Defense: 2.26-2.32 pop times. Athletic stance, feet work in line to target, clean transfer to release.
Run: 7.78 runner in the 60. 

RELATED CONTENT