Joliet Preseason ID: Catcher Analysis

On Sunday, Feb. 26, the PBR Illinois team hosted the Joliet Preseason ID at Rhino Baseball Academy in Shorewood, Ill. The event featured 120 players from the surrounding area and gave our staff an in-depth look at numerous prospects before the IHSA season takes off.

Today, we begin our positional analysis from the event with a look at the catchers in attendance. 

One catcher of note was, Mason Palermo (Oswego East, 2025), who had a strong defensive showing and should be a name to follow moving forward. Palermo has natural catcher actions, registered a low pop time of 1.98, was 77 mph from the crouch and also ran a 7.11 laser-timed 60.

Read on below for a look at all of the catchers from the event. 

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS (listed alphabetically)

Oscar Alexander Jr., West Aurora (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-6, 140-pounds. Well proportioned, room to fill out.
Hit: RHH. Weight starts on the back foot, high/long stride.  Handsy swing, works uphill, drove the baseball to all fields.
Power: 77 max exit velocity, averaged 70.8 mph. 268’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 62 mph. Low 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.38-2.51 pop times. Soft hands, clean transfer, works in-line, soft blocker.
Run: 8.69 runner in the 60. 

Mason Daros, St Charles East (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-5, 160-pounds. Sturdy build with some present strength.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, works back to even with a medium stride.  Short hands to the ball, level path.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 83.7 mph. 287’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Compact, quick arm action.
Defense: 2.19-2.26 pop times. Soft hands, quick transfer.
Run: 7.32 runner in the 60. 

Jameson Fisher, Peoria Christian (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-8, 150-pounds. Athletic build, well proportioned.
Hit: RHH. Two-taps into a medium stride. Handsy swing that works downhill to flat through the zone, middle/oppo approach.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 79 mph. 220’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. OF - 81 mph. Short, quick arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.01-2.08 pop times. Plays fast, active feet, covers ground, soft hands, quick transfer.
Run: 7.36 runner in the 60. 

Canden Hardman, Lexington (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-0, 215-pounds. Sturdy build with strength.
Hit: RHH. Tall, slightly open stance. Two-taps into stride. Hands work under the ball into an uphill path with intent to lift.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 80.2 mph. 211’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.25-2.44 pop times. Soft hands, quiet receiver.
Run: 7.95 runner in the 60. 

Rhett Harris, Minooka (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 177-pounds. Long levers, high-waisted build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, short stride. Creates some hand separation at footstrike, uses the whole field, on the barrel.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 83.1 mph. 275’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short, quick arm action.
Defense: 2.32-2.54 pop times. Quick transfer, one hop to target.
Run: 7.96 runner in the 60. 

Joshua Howard, Lincoln-Way West (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Athletic frame, projectable.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, small leg lift stride. Flat, rotational path to the ball and through the zone, uses the whole field.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 85 mph. 289’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.18-2.26 pop times. Soft hands, works up through the baseball, quick transfer, smooth blocker.
Run: 7.18 runner in the 60. 

Jacob Kozelka, Lockport (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 170-pounds. Long levers, fill coming.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced setup, hangs foot slightly into a medium stride. Hands work under the ball into an uphill path, intent to lift, and uses the whole field.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 83.7 mph. 303’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short, quick, whippy arm action.
Defense: 2.37-2.40 pop times. Soft hands, works up through the baseball, quick transfer.
Run: 7.65 runner in the 60. 

Zach Ohlund, Wilmington (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 215-pounds. Sturdy, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Stock setup, quiet leg lift, small stride. Loose/whippy swing, uphill path, on the barrel with some authority.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 83.6 mph. 294’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Over the top arm action.
Defense: 2.29-2.44 pop times. Works fast, quick, clean transfer, works in-line, one hop to target.
Run: 7.77 runner in the 60. 

Mason Palermo, Oswego East (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-11, 167-pounds. Lean, athletic frame with room for added muscle.
Hit: RHH. Narrow, upright setup, open front foot, works back to level. Loose hands with an uphill path, on the barrel to the whole field.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 80.1 mph. 303’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short draw into a high 3/4 slot, loose arm action, accurate to the second base bag.
Defense: 1.98-2.03 pop times. Quiet receiver, quick transfer, athletic mover out of the crouch, works in-line to second base.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60. 

Quinn Scott, United Township (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds. Well proportioned, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Two-taps into a long stride.  Some bat strength, uphill path.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 74.9 mph. 293’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. INF - 73 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot
Defense: 2.33-2.28 pop times. Steady hands, easy release, secures the baseball through transfer.
Run: 8.51 runner in the 60. 

Wesley Urbanowski, Loyola Academy (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 160-pounds. Well proportioned frame, room to add strength.
Hit: RHH. Weight starts on the back foot, moves into a long stride. Creates extension at footstrike, on the barrel up the middle and oppo, extension through contact.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 81 mph. 279’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Over the top arm action, long.
Defense: 2.28-2.26 pop times. Quiet receiver, soft hands, clean transfer.
Run: 7.69 runner in the 60. 

Luke Vercelli, Joliet Catholic (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds. Sturdy build with strength.
Hit: RHH. Weight starts on back foot, medium/short stride.  Creates extension at footstrike, flat path, uses the whole field.
Power: 78 max exit velocity, averaged 70.2 mph. 75’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 64 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.28-2.44 pop times. Works to get behind the baseball, clean footwork, gains ground.
Run: 8.66 runner in the 60. 

Parker Zasada, Andrew (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-10, 172-pounds. Well proportioned, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced setup, long stride. Short hands to the ball, level path, pull-side approach with some elevated contact.
Power: 81 max exit velocity, averaged 74.1 mph. 277’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Compact arm, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.12-2.17 pop times. Soft hands, quick first step, works in-line, smooth blocker.
Run: 7.57 runner in the 60. 

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