On Saturday, February 17th, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff traveled to the SportsBarn in Wood River, IL, to host the inaugural Southern Illinois Preseason ID. This event, which was open to all current HS grad classes, featured 60+ players from southern Illinois that participated in a pro-style workout in front of our staff, gathering unrivaled data and measurables in the process. 

All of our events offer players the opportunity to update their recruiting resume and showcase their talents in front of our staff. We also use these events as identifiers for future invite-only events, like the Preseason All-State, the Illinois State Games, and the prestigious Prep Baseball Future Games that take place at the tail end of the summer.

For a full roster of those in attendance, click HERE. To see all of the statistics and all of the content we rolled out after the event, click HERE.

Today we are starting our roll-out of the scouting reports from this event. We'll begin with the catchers and make our way around the diamond over the next few days with all of the individual player reports from this year's Southern Illinois Preseason ID. For now, continue reading below to learn more about the crop of catchers that attended this event in February.

+ One player that just missed the cut in the top five is C Matthew Hesse (Althoff Catholic, 2025). A strong, compact athlete, Hesse barreled line drives throughout his round from a simple, repeatable swing. He’s been productive for the Crusaders throughout the spring as well and is a follow uncommitted junior backstop from the St. Louis area. 

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Anderson Kaufmann, Alton (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Well-proportioned frame with lean strength.
Hit: RHH. Quiet start, really looks the part. Tall stance, narrow base, loads in rhythm and strides short with balance through contact.  Extension through contact, uphill path, intent to lift the ball, middle of the field approach. 65.1 mph bat speed with 12 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 83.8 mph. 316’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Short quick arm stroke, high 3/4 finish with intent.
Defense: 2.00-2.03 pop times. Athletic feet, quick out the crouch, keeps his direction to the bag. Square blocker.
Run: 7.18 runner in the 60. 

2. Chase Niemeyer, Marion (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-10, 185-pounds. Strong, well-proportioned athlete.
Hit: RHH. Slightly crouched stance, starts closed. Active fluid hands pre-pitch, fluid load, short stride with balanced through contact.  Level path, fluid finish at times. Line drive contact to the middle part of the field. 68.4 mph bat speed with 6 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 76.2 mph. 301’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short arm stroke, high 3/4 finish. On the bag throughout his round.
Defense: 1.97-2.01 pop times. Athletic behind the plate, balanced. Soft hands, easy transfer, quick to release and keeps his direction. Soft blocker, chests up the baseball.
Run: 7.59 runner in the 60. 

3. Alex Kiefer, Mount Vernon (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 190-pounds. Sturdy, compact frame, strong lower half.
Hit: SH. Balanced base, high hand start, loads in rhythm, short stride.  Flat, more direct and level path to contact from the right side, more uphill from the left. Flashed gap-to-gap feel. 64 mph bat speed with 10 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 93.2 mph max exit velocity, averaged 80.3 mph. 337’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short and loose arm, played on the bag often from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 1.94-2.01 pop times. Athletic mover, quick from the crouch. Soft hands, steady gather, clean release and keeps his direction.
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60. 

4. Augustus Johnes, Edwardsville (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-3, 204-pounds. Physical stature with strength throughout, really looks the part.
Hit: RHH. Closed start, balanced lower half, barrel tip load, quick leg lift trigger.  Strong hands with bat speed. Uphill bat path, intent to elevate. Pull-side approach with easy power that way.  81.7 mph bat speed with 9 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 88.7 mph. 366’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Above-average arm strength for age.
Defense: 1.99-2.06 pop times. Narrow base, drifts away from the bag at times, feet stay in line. Quick glove-to-hand.
Run: 7.62 runner in the 60. 

5. Beau Breyman, Freeburg Community High Sch (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds. Sturdy frame, strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Tall slightly open start, high hand start, bat tip load, strides to closed. Uphill path with intent to lift, middle of the field approach. 67.1 mph bat speed with 19 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 72 mph. 252’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Short arm stroke, over-the-top finish. On the bag.
Defense: 2.04-2.19 pop times. Tall at gather, in-line footwork, steady hand transfer to release.
Run: 7.65 runner in the 60. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Asher Cantu, O'Fallon (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-3, 210-pounds. Square-shouldered, physically advanced frame that holds strength and plenty room for more.
Hit: LHH. Square start, high back elbow and back rests over the back shoulder, minimal stride.  Long and uphill bat path, intentful finish, pull-side approach. 78.3 mph bat speed with 8 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 83 mph. 354’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. OF - 81 mph. Short, whippy arm action, throws show carry from a 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.14-2.20 pop times. OF: One-hand gather out front, easy mover. C: Feet work in line to the bag, long transfer to release.
Run: 7.58 runner in the 60. 

Tanner Chamberlain, Waterloo (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 210-pounds. Strong compact frame, physical lower half.
Hit: RHH. Tall narrow stance, controlled hand load, leg lift hovers. Hands stay on top of the ball, line drive contact to the middle of the field at times. 66.7 mph bat speed with 12 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 75.6 mph. 304’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. OF - 77 mph. Short, quick arm action, low 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.07-2.10 pop times. OF: Gathers ball out front and in-stride, minimal crow hop. C: Wide base, sits into hips. Feet work to the glove-side part of the bag, quick transfer to release.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60. 

Matthew Hesse, Althoff Catholic (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Strong, compact frame.
Hit: RHH. Tall stance, smooth load, leg lift trigger. Level bat path, extension through contact, intent to lift the ball on finish. 65.3 mph bat speed with 16 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 83.1 mph. 271’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top finish.
Defense: 2.11-2.19 pop times. Upright start, quick feet, clean glove-to-hand, quick release.
Run: 7.93 runner in the 60. 

Brody Lindemann, Belleville East (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds. Physical, well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced base, fluid hand tip load, toe-tap timing trigger. Level path that works uphill at times, one-hand finish, pull-side approach. 60.8 mph bat speed with 8 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 83 max exit velocity, averaged 77.4 mph. 304’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. INF - 73 mph. Short stroke with some reach on the backside, 3/4 finish.
Defense: 2.09-2.15 pop times. INF: Some bounce pre-pitch. Lower half works around the baseball in rhythm. Steady hands, glove works out front, clean to release. C: Narrow base, feet interchange in line to the bag, steady transfer to release. Worked around the baseball on blocks.
Run: 8.14 runner in the 60. 

Carson Moll, Mascoutah High School (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds. Physical frame, holds strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Wide base with balance, quick bat tip load as hands draw back, leg lift trigger.  Strong hands. Flat bat path with barrel length to contact. Hard off the barrel at times, sprayed middle-in line drives. 65.9 mph bat speed with 10 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 82.6 mph. 325’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short tight arm path, over-the-top finish.
Defense: 2.07-2.19 pop times. Works upright at gather, feet stay in line to the bag, steady hand transfer to release.
Run: 8.02 runner in the 60. 

Sean Murphy, Edwardsville (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-9, 170-pounds. Compact, muscle-bound frame.
Hit: RHH. Tall start with some knee bend, high hand start, minimal stride. Short, direct path, occasional line drive contact up the middle. 59.3 mph bat speed with 9 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 84 max exit velocity, averaged 74.6 mph. 214’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Tight compact arm path, over-the-top finish.
Defense: 2.00-2.07 pop times. Square start, quick feet that turn in line to target, clean glove-to-hand and stays in line with the bag.
Run: 7.64 runner in the 60. 

Baron Odam, Taylorville Sr High School (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/C
Body: 6-3, 175-pounds. Long limbs, lean levers, upside frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced base, slightly open start. Bat starts rested over back shoulder and wraps at load. Strides short. Long, level bat path. Middle of the field approach. 62.3 mph bat speed with 10 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 81 max exit velocity, averaged 64.2 mph. 245’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. OF - 84 mph. Long, clean arm action with quickness out front. Throws have carry and accuracy from a 3/4 arm slot. Shortens up from behind the plate.
Defense: 2.23-2.25 pop times. OF: Attacks ball with confidence, moves well around the ball, crow hop on throws. C: Lower half opens up to the bag, steady transfer, some length to release.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60. 

Noah Peters, Belleville East (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-1, 200-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide slightly crouched setup, fluid toe tap load.  Uphill path with intent to lift. Occasional hard contact to the pull-side. 68.9 mph bat speed with 13 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 84.2 mph. 282’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short compact arm stroke finishes from a 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.04-2.12 pop times. Tall at gather, in line to target, clean hand transfer at times.
Run: 8.58 runner in the 60. 

Grant Peterson, Edwardsville (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-9, 182-pounds. Broad shoulders, lower half strength.
Hit: RHH. Lower half bend, barrel tip load, quick toe-tap trigger. Fluid hands, long and level bat path, stays on plane, line drive feel. 65.6 mph bat speed with 16 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 78.7 mph. 255’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 65 mph. Short arm path finishes from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.25-2.33 pop times. Wide base, works in line to the bag, steady hand transfer to release.
Run: 7.93 runner in the 60. 

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