Prep Baseball Report

Underclass Showcase: Catcher Analysis


By: Illinois Scouting Staff

On Sunday, Oct. 17, the PBR Illinois staff returned to The MAX Sports Complex to host the fall’s Underclass Showcase. This annual event serves as an opportunity for prospects in the state’s 2024-25 classes to display their talents in front of our scouting staff prior to the start of the off-season. There were nearly 60 prospects who made the trip to The MAX on Sunday to participate in a pro-style workout in front of our evaluators.

Shortly after the event’s conclusion, our staff published a multitude of post-event content pieces relating to what we saw on the day. To find those, click HERE

Now we’ll put the finishing touches on this event by rolling out our individual position-by-position analysis from this event. We’ll start today with the catching group and work our way around the diamond as the week rolls on. 

All of the catcher reports, found below. 

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Enzo Infelise, Providence Catholic (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: 3B/1B
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds. Thick, strong build with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Athletic setup, knee-knocks into a long stride.  Loose arms with bat speed through the zone, uphill path with natural lift, explosive hands.
Power: 90.93 max exit velocity, averaged 88.37 mph. 341’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. INF - 81 mph. From behind the plate; short over-the-top slot, quick arm, throws have carry. From the infield; loose, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.00 - 2.01 pop times. From behind the plate; soft hands, quick transfer with athletic feet out of the crouch. From the infield; sure-handed, moves well for size.
Run: 8.50 runner in the 60. 

2. Blake Jenner, Providence Catholic (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-7, 140-pounds. Athletic frame with strength.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup with evenly distributed weight, toe-taps into a minimal stride.  Twitchy hands and wrists, swings with intent. Wiry barrel strength, feel to stay on the barrel. Consistently peppered hard line drives back up the middle.
Power: 85.07 max exit velocity, averaged 80.96 mph. 288’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. INF - 69 mph. From behind the plate; short, high 3/4 slot. From the infield; Loose 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.06 - 2.21 pop times. From behind the plate; quick first step out of the crouch. From the infield; sure-handed, two-hand gather.
Run: 7.22 runner in the 60. Quick first step, athletic runner.

3. Owen Young, Joliet West (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-8, 180-pounds. Strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Athletic setup, short stride with quiet hands.  Quick hands, level plane, on the barrel to the pull-side.
Power: 88.98 max exit velocity, averaged 77.72 mph. 260’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. INF - 71 mph. From behind the plate; short over-the-top slot, carry with accuracy to the bag. From the infield; Short/clean 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.02 - 2.14 pop times. From behind the plate; soft hands with a quick transfer, directional feet out of the crouch. From the infield; clean transfer with the ability to keep the ball in front to both sides.
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60. 

3. Aiden Simmons, Plainfield North (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-2, 165-pounds. Long, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open setup, toe taps into a short stride.  Works uphill to contact, long path.
Power: 86.98 max exit velocity, averaged 82.31 mph. 279’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short over-the-top slot, quick arm, throws have carry.
Defense: 2.12 - 2.21 pop times. Sure-handed, athletic blocker.
Run: 7.43 runner in the 60. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Colin Adams, Schaumburg (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds. Athletic build with upside.
Hit: RHH. Athletic setup, lek-kicks into a long stride.  Quick wrists, short and uphill path.
Power: 88.59 max exit velocity, averaged 77.3 mph. 321’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Defense: 2.15 - 2.22 pop times. Athletic blocker, quick feet out of the crouch.
Run: 7.51 runner in the 60. 

Quinn Drews, Huntley (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-7, 165-pounds. Athletic, defined build.
Hit: RHH. Athletic setup, slightly open, small leg-kick timing trigger into a short stride.  Steep angle to contact.
Power: 86.03 max exit velocity, averaged 71.65 mph. 272’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short over-the-top slot, accurate throws with carry.
Defense: 2.06 - 2.08 pop times. Quick transfer, athletic blocker with directional feet out of the crouch.
Run: 8.11 runner in the 60. 

Henry Joyce, Hinsdale South (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-1, 175-pounds. Strong, well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Upright setup, drops into a slight crouch as he strides out, long stride.  Some hand twitch. Level plane, worked back up the middle.
Power: 81.49 max exit velocity, averaged 71.37 mph. 222’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 65 mph. Loose 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.31 - 2.64 pop times. Steady handed, moves well out of the crouch.
Run: 7.89 runner in the 60. 

Quinn Mateja, Lyons Township  (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-1, 155-pounds. Long-limbed, projectable frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide/balanced setup, toe-taps into a minimal stride.  Flashed some hand twitch, uphill attack angle.
Power: 82.96 max exit velocity, averaged 78.07 mph. 303’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.38 - 2.51 pop times. Active/willing blocker, directional feet out of the crouch.
Run: 7.73 runner in the 60. 

AJ Snell, Beecher (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-7, 125-pounds. Wiry frame.
Hit: RHH. Upright/open setup, toe-taps into a short stride.  Stays short through the zone, sprayed line drives to all fields.
Power: 83.24 max exit velocity, averaged 70.99 mph. 241’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. OF - 71 mph. From behind the plate; short, over the top slot, some carry to the bag. From the outfield; short over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.22 - 2.56 pop times. From behind the plate; sure-handed with quick and directional feet out of the crouch. From the outfield; sure-handed plays through the ball.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60. 

Cristian Zaragoza, Lyons (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-10, 158-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide/crouched setup, short stride.  Stays short to the baseball, line drive plane. Repeats, some twitch.
Power: 80.59 max exit velocity, averaged 67.73 mph. 210’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.14 - 2.25 pop times. Soft hands with a quick transfer.
Run: 7.54 runner in the 60. 

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