On Saturday, February 15th, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff hosted the McHenry Preseason ID at Pro Player Academy in McHenry, IL. This event is typically one of our larger and more talented on our calender, and this year was no different with nearly 120 players in attendance. 

Today, we are starting our post-event rollout with a look at every single catcher from the day, as well as who our staff deemed as the top catching prospects.

TOP CATCHING PROSPECTS

1. Brady Klepfer, Huntley (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-0, 176 pounds. Athletic with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open and relaxed, heavy hand load with some whip to the barrel. Strong hands with some rhythm, quick bat speed, hard on the barrel to the pull-side.  77.6 mph bat speed with 12g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 mph max exit velocity (86.1 avg.); 340-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. INF - 84 mph. INF: Quick and compact arm, 3/4 release, throws with ease. C: Dart thrower, quick arm, stays on top of the ball, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 1.94-2.16 pop time range; INF: Two-hand gather into body, moves well laterally, clean double play turn. C: Soft receiving, low and athletic crouch, quick transfer.
Athletic Testing: 3.94 runner in the 30-yard dash; 20.40-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 66.42 Edge Score.

2. Liam Schultz, Burlington Central (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 195 pounds.
Hit: LHH. Loose and tall, quiet load, long stride. Simple and strong, direct to the ball, on the barrel up the middle with some lift. 68.8 mph bat speed with 22g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 mph max exit velocity (88 avg.); 329-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. INF - 80 mph. INF: Short, dart thrower, 3/4 slot with some whip. C: Short, hand to ear, high 3/4 slot, quick actions.
Defense: 1.94-2.07 pop time range; INF: Two-hand gather, steady footwork, clean double play turn. C: Relaxed behind the plate, quick to get rid of the ball, athletic.
Athletic Testing: 4.47 runner in the 30-yard dash; 20.00-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 68.87 Edge Score.

3. Anthony Nuccio, Rolling Meadows (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-10, 155 pounds. Highly projectable, athletic, proportionate.
Hit: LHH. Starts in a slight crouch, easy load into a shorter stride, lands in-line, balanced finish.  Loose hands, flatter path, works to stay up the middle of the field.  63.6 mph bat speed with 8g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 85 mph max exit velocity (78.8 avg.); 268-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Short, hand to ear, low 3/4 slot, possesses looseness.
Defense: 2.06-2.14 pop time range; Gets into a higher crouch when ready to throw, natural look, smooth transfer.
Athletic Testing: 4.38 runner in the 30-yard dash; 21.80-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 69.64 Edge Score.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Flip Acevedo, Huntley (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-11, 195 pounds.
Hit: LHH. Strong stance with a slight crouch, loads with a minimal stride, balanced finish. Longer, flatter path, heavy barrel actions with strength at impact. 64.1 mph bat speed with 10g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 83 mph max exit velocity (76.7 avg.); 287-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short, over the top slot.
Defense: 2.18-2.28 pop time range; Low and athletic crouch, steady glove, throws in-line.
Athletic Testing: 4.95 runner in the 30-yard dash; 18.30-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 73.91 Edge Score.

Luke Flaskamp, Jacobs (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-8, 155 pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, simple, loose throughout, lands in-line. Compact and easy swing, stays level hitting line drives. 69.1 mph bat speed with 14g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 94 mph max exit velocity (76.1 avg.); 305-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Easy, controlled, longer action with a quick release.
Defense: 2.01-2.35 pop time range; Soft hands, quick and smooth transfer.
Athletic Testing: 4.06 runner in the 30-yard dash; 22.60-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 62.39 Edge Score.

Colin Hernon, Marian Central Catholic (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/C
Body: 6-3, 170 pounds. Lengthy with projection.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, low hands, toe tap stride. Easy effort with some levers, shorter path to ball.  65.5 mph bat speed with 10g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 87 mph max exit velocity (74.3 avg.); 283-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Dart thrower, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.09-2.27 pop time range; Loose hands with a soft gather, smooth throws.
Athletic Testing: 4.25 runner in the 30-yard dash; 16.90-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 77.91 Edge Score.

Vincenzo Jean-Louis, Huntley (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-6, 139.8 pounds.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open, easy leg lift, lands in-line, balanced finish.  Loose and easy, shorter path to ball, works to stay up the middle,  57.3 mph bat speed with 11g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 79 mph max exit velocity (72.7 avg.); 254-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 63 mph. Dart thrower, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.37-2.57 pop time range; Either starts in a high crouch or sits on back leg, athletic blocker.
Athletic Testing: 4.45 runner in the 30-yard dash; 17.10-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 69.79 Edge Score.

Spencer Kim, Huntley (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-8, 150 pounds. Strong and athletic.
Hit: RHH. Wide stance, slightly open, loads in setup, quiet toe tap stride.  Swings with intent, works on top of the baseball, works to keep the ball on a line up the middle. 67.6 mph bat speed with 13g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 mph max exit velocity (77.7 avg.); 274-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Hand to ear, 3/4 slot, easy arm.
Defense: 2.00-2.19 pop time range; Relaxed, smooth transfer, athletic blocker.
Athletic Testing: 4.17 runner in the 30-yard dash; 18.00-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 66.59 Edge Score.

Rocco Lentine, Huntley (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 155 pounds.
Hit: RHH. Stands in the front of the box, hands to ear, heavy back knee bend during load, strides in-line. Compact and easy swing, shorter path to ball.  60.9 mph bat speed with 10g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 87 mph max exit velocity (77.2 avg.); 280-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Shorter action with looseness, low 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.28-2.45 pop time range; Relaxed behind the plate, soft gather.
Athletic Testing: 4.10 runner in the 30-yard dash; 21.10-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 43.25 Edge Score.

James Leppert, Burlington Central (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 165 pounds. Athletic, good proportions, projectable.
Hit: RHH. Narrow stance, long stride, uses front side for leverage. Longer, flat path, stays through the zone, works to use the whole field. 60 mph bat speed with 8g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 84 mph max exit velocity (74.1 avg.); 247-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Compact, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.06-2.34 pop time range; Low crouch, controlled, athletic blocker.
Athletic Testing: 4.19 runner in the 30-yard dash; 20.00-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 71.19 Edge Score.

Waylon Marko, Hononegah (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-10, 170 pounds. Strong and athletic.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, stiff front leg into stride, explosive, heavy hand load. Uphill path with intent to lift, long follow through. 68.6 mph bat speed with 10g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 94 mph max exit velocity (85.9 avg.); 354-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short, over the top, full extension.
Defense: 2.00-2.19 pop time range; Low crouch, athletic, soft blocker, explosive during throw down.
Athletic Testing: 4.37 runner in the 30-yard dash; 24.60-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 66.92 Edge Score.

Casey McCleary, Stillman Valley (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-0, 165 pounds. Athletic with more fill on its way.
Hit: RHH. Wide and open stance, heavy lower half action getting into legs, longer stride in-line. Works through with a flatter path, heavy pull-side barrel action. 66.7 mph bat speed with 13g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 89 mph max exit velocity (77.4 avg.); 329-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Loose arm with some whip, hand to ear, low 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.03-2.25 pop time range; Relaxed behind the plate, soft blocker.
Athletic Testing: 4.27 runner in the 30-yard dash; 17.20-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 76.13 Edge Score.

Noah Meyer, Huntley (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-2, 185 pounds. Lengthy with projection.
Hit: RHH. Narrow and slightly open setup, early load and footstrike. Flatter path, works up the middle, possesses some whip to barrel. 61.7 mph bat speed with 13g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 83 mph max exit velocity (67.7 avg.); 237-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Short circle, high 3/4 slot, stays on top of the ball.
Defense: 2.19-2.31 pop time range; Steady hands, shoots up to get rid of the ball.
Athletic Testing: 4.14 runner in the 30-yard dash; 23.20-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 78.43 Edge Score.

Samuel Reuter, Warren Township (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-11, 140 pounds. Good proportions, athletic.
Hit: RHH. Loose and balanced, gradual load onto back leg, double tap stride during load.  Works to stay up the middle, easy and compact swing.  57.1 mph bat speed with 6g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 86 mph max exit velocity (79.3 avg.); 266-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Low and short arm action, low 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.20-2.28 pop time range; Starts with a low glove, soft gather, quick transfer.
Athletic Testing: 4.28 runner in the 30-yard dash; 15.30-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 71.32 Edge Score.

Nicholas Sherry, Burlington Central (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-0, 160 pounds. Well-proportioned build with developing strength.
Hit: RHH. Tall stance, loose lower half, quiet load into stride, lands in-line. Simple swing, short to the ball ,works to stay up the middle, line-drive approach. 67.9 mph bat speed with 9g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 85 mph max exit velocity (77.7 avg.); 319-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Hand to ear, over the top, quick actions.
Defense: 2.13-2.21 pop time range; Athletic mover behind the plate, soft gather, quick transfer.
Athletic Testing: 4.35 runner in the 30-yard dash; 15.40-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 73.69 Edge Score.

Ryan Stolarick, Lakes Community (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-2, 175 pounds. Good proportions with projection.
Hit: RHH. Wide stance, gradual load on backside into a toe tap stride. Strength at impact, intent to elevate pullside and up the middle. 67.6 mph bat speed with 6g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 mph max exit velocity (85.9 avg.); 345-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Loose and easy, low 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.15-2.26 pop time range; Low crouch, steady hands, stays loose in throw down.
Athletic Testing: 4.06 runner in the 30-yard dash; 22.80-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 52.2 Edge Score.

Chace Waterson, Woodstock (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-7, 152 pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced with slight bend in knees, gradual load, lifts front leg during load, utilizes front side for leverage. Simple and compact, works through the zone with a slightly uphill path. 63.9 mph bat speed with 18g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 79 mph max exit velocity (72.5 avg.); 280-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Short, hand to ear, over the top slot.
Defense: 2.19-2.28 pop time range; Athletic, strong blocker, quick out of the crouch.
Athletic Testing: 4.31 runner in the 30-yard dash; 16.60-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 57.29 Edge Score.

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