On Sunday, Feb. 27, the PBR Illinois team hosted the Joliet Preseason ID at Rhino Baseball Academy in Shorewood, Ill. The event featured 125 players from the surrounding area and gave our staff an in-depth look at numerous prospects before the IHSA season takes off.

In the week that followed this event, we produced post-event analysis that includes performance highlights inside of our Quick Hits story, a look at the traditional stats measured within our Statistical Analysis piece, batted-ball and pitch data compiled in TrackMan Files, swing metrics captured on the Blast Motion Board, and sight scores from an athletic perspective tracked on the Vizual Edge Scoreboard.

You can learn more about the state-of-the-art technologies featured at our showcases within the hyperlinks above. Today we’ll begin our post-event process by rolling out the individual scouting reports of the day, starting with the catcher position while working our way across the diamond as the week continues. 

A couple other catchers worth mentioning were 2025 Julian Esparza (St. Laurence) and 2023 Henry Saul (Batavia). Esparza has a physical frame for his age to go along with a loose, aggressive swing from the right side of the plate. Esparza also showed quiet actions behind the plate with soft hands. Saul has a compact, strong frame and repeatable right-handed swing with natural lift to the pull side of the diamond. Saul also moves well behind the plate with athletic defensive actions and his arm topped at 75 mph. 

Read on below for a look at the top-five catchers and the best of the rest from the day. 

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Blaine Williams, Tremont (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, fluid pre-pitch actions. Strong hands, flat through the zone, works on top of the baseball. Occasionally back spun line drives to all fields.
Power: 93.6 max exit velocity, averaged 79.4 mph. 319’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 85 mph. High 3/4 slot, life and carry on throws, quick/athletic arm.
Defense: 2.02-2.19 pop times. Athletic actions, quick feet, quick exchange, good feel, some rhythm
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60. 

2. Daniel Connelly, Mundelein (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, quiet pre-pitch actions. Advanced bat strength, flashed bat speed and swings with intent. Consistently on the barrel with authority.
Power: 94.6 max exit velocity, averaged 88.1 mph. 349’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. High 3/4 release, some life and accuracy.
Defense: 2.08-2.19 pop times. Quick footwork, clean exchange, soft hands.
Run: 7.42 runner in the 60. 

3. Michael Carrano, St. Laurence (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-1, 220-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Wide setup, balanced, smooth load and stride. Explosive hands, uphill path, repeatable swing, feel for the barrel and drove balls with authority to both gaps.
Power: 96.8 max exit velocity, averaged 89.8 mph. 357’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. INF - 77 mph. Over the top release, throws have carry through target, loose arm, quick exchange. INF: Clean arm that plays from an athletic 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.08-2.26 pop times. Quick footwork, clean exchange, fluid actions, feet play through the ball.
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60. 

4. Noah Brandt, Somonauk (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-8, 140-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, slightly open and easy pre-pitch actions. Loose, easy hands, level through the zone, line-drive approach and flashed feel for the barrel.
Power: 91.6 max exit velocity, averaged 85.1 mph. 305’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Balanced setup, clean arm action, loose arm, throws are on target with carry.
Defense: 2.13-2.27 pop times. Athletic actions, good feel/direction, soft hands, good direction, plays well through the ball.
Run: 7.88 runner in the 60. 

5. Tysen Sorensen, Normal University (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-1, 178-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide, slightly open setup, smooth load and short stride. Present bat speed, athletic hands, compact swing at times, presence and intent throughout his round. Sprayed hard contact to both gaps.
Power: 86.2 max exit velocity, averaged 75 mph. 254’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. Life and carry on throws, quick arm, high 3/4 release, loose arm action.
Defense: 2.03-2.07 pop times. Quick footwork, quick release, clean exchange, athletic footwork through the ball.
Run: 7.17 runner in the 60. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Ryan Anderson, Andrew (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-8, 183-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load and short stride. Easy effort, lifted approach, uses the middle of the field.
Power: 77 max exit velocity, averaged 57.6 mph. 215’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 66 mph. Balanced setup, clean/quick exchange.
Defense: 2.56-2.65 pop times. Fluid footwork with a clean exchange, sure-handed.
Run: 8.12 runner in the 60. 

Darian Arteaga, Joliet Catholic (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Relaxed, comfortable look, easy pre-pitch actions. Direct hands, lift through contact, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 83.6 max exit velocity, averaged 75 mph. 267’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 66 mph. Balanced setup, quick exchange, throws have some carry and are on target.
Defense: 2.31-2.47 pop times. Clean exchange, fluid footwork, soft hands.
Run: 7.68 runner in the 60. 

Andrew Banaszak, St. Laurence (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-0, 160-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced relaxed look and setup in the box. Easy, loose hands, works uphill at times and stays on balance.
Power: 83.5 max exit velocity, averaged 75.4 mph. 230’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Narrow setup, loose arm, quick arm, carry with some life.
Defense: 2.32-2.38 pop times. Athletic actions, clean footwork, quick exchange, soft hands.
Run: 8.04 runner in the 60. 

Julian Esparza, St. Laurence (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-7, 185-pounds. Compact body with strength in lower half.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, fluid load and stride works back to even. Loose hands, fluid path, uphill through contact, Hard elevated contact back up the middle of the field.
Power: 85.8 max exit velocity, averaged 77.3 mph. 289’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Balanced setup, high 3/4 slot, loose arm action and on target.
Defense: 2.32-2.46 pop times. Quick feet, loose actions, quick hands, clean exchange.
Run: 8.16 runner in the 60. 

Eric Lewis, Oswego East (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-8, 145-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, wide setup, fluid load and short stride. Direct path, strength in hands, long path, works gap-to-gap.
Power: 85.7 max exit velocity, averaged 75.9 mph. 270’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short arm action, over the top release, quick arm.
Defense: 2.19-2.32 pop times. Quick footwork, quick exchange, throws online.
Run: 7.49 runner in the 60. 

Preston Lund, Homewood-Flossmoor (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-7, 165-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, weight-shift load and no stride. Long path, stays level through the zone at times, line-drive approach.
Power: 89.1 max exit velocity, averaged 77.2 mph. 323’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. High over the top release, quick exchange, loose arm.
Defense: 2.15-2.25 pop times. Quick feet, quick exchange, soft hands, stays low, moves with high energy.
Run: 7.17 runner in the 60. 

Mason Palermo, Oswego East (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-11, 147-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly open setup, short stride. Easy, loose swing, stays through the hitting zone, lift at times and works to both gaps.
Power: 83.7 max exit velocity, averaged 74.4 mph. 272’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. INF - 78 mph. Balanced setup, athletic actions, loose, quick arm and accurate. INF: Loose arm that plays from a high 3/4 slot, easy effort with life out of the hand.
Defense: 2.19-2.26 pop times. Athletic actions, quick feet, quick exchange, good feel. INF Soft hands, quick feet, clean exchange.
Run: 7.01 runner in the 60. 

Joshua Prosise, Joliet West (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-5, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, pre-pitch load and toe-tap stride. Hits with rhythm, long path, easy effort and occasional lift through contact.
Power: 82 max exit velocity, averaged 72.8 mph. 283’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. High 3/4 release, loose arm, some quickness, accurate.
Defense: 2.38-2.47 pop times. Clean exchange, clean footwork, moves well.
Run: 7.91 runner in the 60. 

Jude Ruddy, Marmion Academy (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-6, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, fluid pre-pitch actions and stride. Aggressive, strong swing, intentful look. Long path, hard contact, ball jumps off the barrel at times.
Power: 90.6 max exit velocity, averaged 77.5 mph. 251’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Over the top and quick release, loose arm action.
Defense: 2.21-2.25 pop times. Great footwork, quick footwork, clean exchange, athletic.
Run: 7.18 runner in the 60. 

Michael Sanfratello, Providence Catholic (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-9, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, quiet setup, and simple stride. Simple, repeatable swing, fluid hands, stays through the zone and uses the whole field.
Power: 83.5 max exit velocity, averaged 74.8 mph. 279’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 64 mph. OF - 67 mph. C: Over the top release, loose arm action. OF: Short out of the glove into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.26-2.64 pop times. C: High release, clean exchange, athletic footwork that works in-line. OF: Soft hands, athletic footwork with a clean exchange.
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60.

Henry Saul, Batavia (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 180-pounds. Thick, strong-bodied frame.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, slightly open, short stride. Physical presence, strong hands, swings with a purpose, advanced bat strength and was on the barrel with authority throughout BP.
Power: 92.2 max exit velocity, averaged 85.2 mph. 287’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Easy actions from a 3/4 slot, loose.
Defense: 2.14-2.20 pop times. Quick feet, quick exchange, soft hands.
Run: 7.57 runner in the 60.  

Jake Tyler, Riverside-Brookfield (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-11, 145-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load and short stride. Easy swing, long path, stays level through the zone at times, uses the whole field.
Power: 84.5 max exit velocity, averaged 78.8 mph. 280’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Long out of the glove into a low 3/4 slot, accurate.
Defense: 2.20-2.59 pop times. Clean footwork, repeatable/athletic release with soft hands.
Run: 7.40 runner in the 60. 

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