2025 Prep Baseball Illinois Player of the Year: Quinn Schambow

June 19, 2025
By: Illinois Staff

Throughout his prep career, C Quinn Shambow (Libertyville, 2025; Oklahoma State commit) has been one of the top prospects in the state’s 2025 class. From the 2021 Prep Baseball Junior Future Games, Illinois State Games, 2023 Prep Baseball Future Games, and capping off his event circuit with the coveted Super 60 Showcase this past winter, Schambow has continually impressed our staff. Currently, he’s ranked No. 7 in Illinois’ senior class and No. 136 nationally.

For his impressive efforts this season, Quinn Schambow has been named the 2025 Prep Baseball Illinois Player of the Year.

Schambow has continually looked the part of the one top catchers in the country, showing natural actions behind the plate, soft hands, and a plus arm that he routinely showed off by back-picking runners and shutting down an opposing running game. Additionally, he helped lead Libertyville to the 2025 4A State Title, their first in program history, while leading the pitching staff from behind the dish throughout the year where they pitched to a 1.12 ERA with 308 strikeouts and 95 walks in 262 total innings pitched. Libertyville’s pitching staff was one of the most complete in recent memory and Schambow played a huge part in their success. Schambow, who caught basically every inning of the spring, also garnered national defensive attention, taking home the ABCA Gold Glove award, given to the top defensive catcher in the country. Out of the 11 arms who collected innings in the spring, only one had an ERA over 1.50.

At the plate, his numbers were equally as impressive, batting .449 on the year, totalling three home runs, four triples, 18 doubles, 47 RBI, 32 runs and 21 walks on the season. He also was 27 of 29 in stolen bases which speaks to his athleticism, especially given the fact that most catchers are pinch-run for in high school baseball.

Our staff was able to see Schambow multiple times throughout the spring, and here’s what we had to say:

MAY 24: “Oklahoma State commit, currently ranked No. 7 in the state and No. 136 nationally. 6-foot, 209-pound frame, rounded and broad shoulders with present strength throughout, durable yet athletic build. Started behind the plate and hit out of the two-hole for the Wildcats, showing his usual premium defense and strong right-handed bat. The right-handed hitter continues to show an advanced knowledge of the strike zone, not chasing a single pitch out of it in this look. He is able to create length through the zone with easy bat-strength, leaving the yard to the opposite field for a solo home run. Advanced receiver, steals numerous strikes throughout the game, premium glove-to-hand and arm-strength to pair, flicks the ball with ease to his target with true carry, led the Super 60 in catcher’s velocity this past winter (T86 mph). Continues to look the part as an MLB Draft follow.”

APRIL 1: “Oklahoma State commit, currently ranked No. 7 in the state, No. 121 nationally. Started behind the plate and hit leadoff, continuing to show that he is one of the top prep catchers in the entire country. Strong, 6-foot, 210-pound frame with strong shoulders and strength in his lower-half. Took quality at-bats throughout the day with good swing decisions, didn’t expand the zone or chase, walked twice and was on the barrel with a single up the middle, easy bat-speed with strong hands, quick out of the box. Advanced receiver of the baseball, works under the ball with strong hands, works to present pitches around the zone and steal strikes, natural hands and actions, subtle frames. Arm strength is plus, easy life with carry, flashed a 1.92 in between innings, played accurate on the bag. One of the top prep defensive catchers in the country with bat-strength in his right-handed swing.”

Feb. 3, Super 60: “Coming off a fall in which he was one, if not the most dominant quarterback in the state, we were excited to see how Schambow would do in a showcase setting. The broad-shouldered, 6-foot, 209-pound backtop got things started with a respectable 7.00 in the 60 with a peak running speed just under 20 mph (19.8 mph). He showed some strength and feel for the barrel from the right side of the plate throughout his rounds, working up to 97.6 mph with a wood bat and averaging 92.3 mph. Also notably, he had the second-best Vizual Edge score of the entire event with a 81.59. Where he really shined was behind the plate, taking arguably the best round of defense out of everyone in attendance. He has natural actions with soft hands, and his operation down to second is controlled and unrushed, though he still created pop-times in the 1.95-2.02 range. He had the strongest arm in attendance, reaching up to 86 mph from the chute, playing true with impressive accuracy and carry to the bag. Schambow is primed for his biggest spring yet, and he will be one of the most followed catchers in the country for this upcoming draft.”

Although Schambow’s prep career is over, he capped it off in style, helping secure Libertyville’s first baseball state championship this past weekend in Joliet. His future looks bright whether he’s headed to Stillwater to compete for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, or if he hears his name called in the 2025 MLB Draft.