On Monday, January 19th, we kicked off our winter ID circuit with the Aurora Preseason ID, held at the Sports Zone in Aurora, IL. This event was host to roughly 50 players from around the state and allowed all in attendance to showcase their off-season gains in a pro-style workout. 

Today, we continue our post-event content with a look at every single catcher from the day, including a top-5 ranking of who our staff thought showed the best on the day. 

Brock Zaremba (Lincoln-Way East) and Chase Smith (Lake Park) are a couple 2028’s from the day worth mentioning and will be prospects to follow in the coming years, both showing upside right-handed swings in their rounds of BP. 

Top Catching Prospects 

1. Maddux Carson, Geneva (IL), 2029
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-9, 135 pounds. Athletic, high-waisted frame, projectable.
Hit: RHH. Athletic balanced base, hangs foot into a longer, controlled stride.  Athletic hands, controlled aggression, on the barrel hard pull-side. 66.3 mph bat speed with 8g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 mph max exit velocity (81.7 avg.); 306-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Plays true from a higher slot, carry and on the bag.
Defense: 1.95-2.09 pop time range; Steady hands, soft receiver, clean transfers, works in-line with second, works low and through his target, athletic blocker.
Athletic Testing: 7.66 runner in the 60-yard dash; 20.00-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 53.85 Edge Score.

2. Waylon Marko, Hononegah (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 190 pounds. Physical, high-waisted frame. Noticeable strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Narrow setup, long stride, gains ground.  Bat-speed with intent, loud results to the whole field, intent to lift, stays through it up the middle and the other way with length through the zone.  74.8 mph bat speed with 11g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 102 mph max exit velocity (95.1 avg.); 398-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. Strong arm with life, short to the ear into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.02-2.13 pop time range; Sure-handed, clean glove-to-hand, deliberate footwork to his target, stays in-line, easy blocker and deadens the ball out front.
Athletic Testing: 7.45 runner in the 60-yard dash; 28.50-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 67.82 Edge Score.

3. Isaiah Roundtree, Champaign Central (IL), 2029
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-8, 150 pounds. Athletic, compact frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, easy and simple stride.  Twitchy, athletic hands, easy bat-speed, pull-side intent while working on the barrel.  74.2 mph bat speed with 17g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 mph max exit velocity (75.2 avg.); 331-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 66 mph. Arm speed out front, medium circle, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.15-2.26 pop time range; Quick hands, athletic and fluid transfer, efficient release and glove-to-hand, works in-line from the chute, quick footwork, clean blocks, deadens the ball out front.
Athletic Testing: 7.87 runner in the 60-yard dash; 22.50-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 63.07 Edge Score.

4. Oscar Alexander Jr., West Aurora (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-10, 175 pounds. Athletic, muscular build.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, hangs foot into a longer stride.  Longer intentful swing, clear bat-speed and strength, intent to do damage, hard lifted contact pull-side.  73.9 mph bat speed with 15g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 102 mph max exit velocity (94 avg.); 380-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short arm circle, athletic arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 1.94-1.96 pop time range; Quick hands and glove-to-hand, stays in-line, efficient blocker, creates angle to deaden the ball out front.
Athletic Testing: 7.60 runner in the 60-yard dash; 24.30-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 80.1 Edge Score.

5. Colin Ogden, Plainfield North (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-3, 205 pounds. Strong, physical build.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, slightly open, works back to even. Strong, creates length through the zone and through impact, uses the whole field with authority.  73.1 mph bat speed with 12g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 102 mph max exit velocity (90.8 avg.); 364-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 83 mph. Arm plays with clear life to his target, compact circle into a 3/4 slot.
Defense: 1.94-2.14 pop time range; Steady hands, deliberate glove-to-hand, works in-line from the chute.
Athletic Testing: 7.28 runner in the 60-yard dash; 24.30-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 76.08 Edge Score.
Athletic Testing: 7.78 runner in the 60-yard dash; 18.10-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 77.85 Edge Score.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically) 

Tristan Irwin, Buffalo Grove (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-8, 180 pounds. Sturdy, well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, short stride, simple.  Short to the ball, pull-side/middle approach, turns into back hip and works uphill.  62.8 mph bat speed with 16g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 87 mph max exit velocity (82.1 avg.); 305-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 62 mph. Short, compact arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.44-2.51 pop time range; One-knee setup, feet work in-line out of the crouch, steady transfers.
Athletic Testing: 8.38 runner in the 60-yard dash; 16.10-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 75.7 Edge Score.

Scott Nessinger, Plainfield East (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-3, 165 pounds. Trim build with room to fill.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, minimal stride, balanced.  Short to the ball with length through the zone, easy, line-drive approach, middle of the field feel.  60 mph bat speed with 10g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 85 mph max exit velocity (78.4 avg.); 309-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short arm action, over the top slot.
Defense: 2.39-2.45 pop time range; One-knee receiving setup, steady hands, stays in-line, deliberate glove-to-hand.
Athletic Testing: 7.85 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Vizual Edge: 76.23 Edge Score.

Chase Smith, Lake Park (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 180 pounds. Sturdy build with some physicality.
Hit: RHH. Longer stride, gains ground to the mound.  Short to the ball, flat swing, on the barrel up the middle, some feel to use the whole field,  66.6 mph bat speed with 14g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 mph max exit velocity (80.5 avg.); 348-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. INF - 72 mph. Short arm action, over the top slot.
Defense: 2.18-2.34 pop time range; Two hand gather out front, stays behind the ball, steady double play turn.
Athletic Testing: 8.00 runner in the 60-yard dash; 19.60-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 63.96 Edge Score.

Reid Staub, Plainfield South (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-9, 180 pounds. Sturdy, compact frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide, spread out base, long stride, controlled forward move.  Feel to use the middle of the field, uphill intent through the zone, line-drive contact throughout with some lift as well.   60.4 mph bat speed with 11g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 90 mph max exit velocity (77.8 avg.); 316-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short and compact arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.13-2.35 pop time range; Steady glove-to-hand, works in-line to his target, clean transfers, active and willing blocker, sure-handed receiver.
Athletic Testing: 8.06 runner in the 60-yard dash; 19.70-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 79.8 Edge Score.

Ben VanHout, Naperville North (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-9, 142 pounds. Trim, compact build with room to fill.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced base, short and quick stride.  Short to the ball, works on top of the ball, line-drive intent, middle/pull approach.  52.5 mph bat speed with 6g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 75 mph max exit velocity (70 avg.); 240-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. Medium arm circle, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.24-2.45 pop time range; Deliberate glove-to-hand, works in-line, steady footwork to second, clean block, deadends the ball out front.
Athletic Testing: 8.57 runner in the 60-yard dash; 16.60-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 50.74 Edge Score.

Allen Weber, Naperville Central (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-10, 145 pounds. Trim, high-waisted frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced base, minimal stride, simple and repeats.  Quick hands, easy and simple swing, balanced, line-drive approach up the middle.  66.8 mph bat speed with 7g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 85 mph max exit velocity (80.7 avg.); 298-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 65 mph. Medium arm path, 3/4 release.
Defense: 2.31-2.40 pop time range; Clean glove-to-hand, stays low and in his legs when working to second, stays in-line.
Athletic Testing: 7.09 runner in the 60-yard dash; 19.60-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 74.05 Edge Score.

Jayden Williams, Schaumburg (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 175 pounds. Trim, compact frame.
Hit: RHH. Narrow base, long stride, gains ground to the mound.  Intentful swing pull-side, flat path with some lift at times.  64.3 mph bat speed with 13g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 85 mph max exit velocity (76.5 avg.); 206-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, flashes arm speed out front.
Defense: 2.09-2.15 pop time range; One-knee setup, feet work quick out of the crouch, quick transfers. Comfortable receiving actions, works up through the baseball, loose-wristed at times.
Athletic Testing: 7.56 runner in the 60-yard dash; 20.20-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 53.18 Edge Score.

Brock Zaremba, Lincoln-Way East (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-8, 165 pounds. Compact frame with some present strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, simple and controlled stride.  Easy, loose swing, balanced, works to stay up the middle of the field.  61.8 mph bat speed with 16g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 86 mph max exit velocity (78.8 avg.); 270-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 63 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.39-2.53 pop time range; Square setup, quick footwork, feet work inline, quick transfers. One-knee setup when receiving, works up through the baseball, presents big target pre-pitch, comfortable receiving actions.

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