On Sunday, October 5th, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff hosted the Unsigned Senior Showcase at The Max in McCook, IL. This event has consistently acted as a great opportunity for uncommitted seniors to get in front of a number of schools as the fall is winding down. There are numerous commits from the event each year, including a handful already from this year’s event.

Today, we are beginning our post-event rollout with a look at every single catcher from the day, along with a Top-3 ranking of who our staff thought showed the best on the day.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Quin Paprockas, Montini Catholic (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-10, 190 pounds. Strong and durable frame.
Hit: RHH. Even setup, short and simple stride, repeats. Hands work mostly direct and with a flat path, easy and balanced, gets to his power easily, some feel to lift up the middle. 73.1 mph bat speed with 5g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 94 mph max exit velocity (86.5 avg.); 345-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short and clean arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 1.94-2.01 pop time range; Clean glove to hand, works low and in-line from the chute, gains ground, active from the crouch.
Athletic Testing: 7.54 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Vizual Edge: 57.31 Edge Score.

2. Dominic Ciaburri, Wauconda (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-2, 185 pounds. Long levered frame, room to add strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Wide base with a minimal stride, quick hand load. Direct to the baseball with a flat path, some whip in the hands, some spray up the middle and to both sides. 64 mph bat speed with 10g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 90 mph max exit velocity (80.6 avg.); 163-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short to the ear, over the top slot.
Defense: 2.07-2.26 pop time range; Works in-line from the chute, works low and through his release, active and willing blocker.
Athletic Testing: 7.78 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Vizual Edge: 62.09 Edge Score.

T3. Eddie Zuniga, Mundelein HS (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 175 pounds. Wiry, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, spread out, short stride. Hands work short to the ball, flat path, athletic move through the baseball, works to keep it on a line, middle and pull-side approach. 63.5 mph bat speed with 15g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 87 mph max exit velocity (83.5 avg.); 254-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 81 mph. Big life out of the hand, arm-speed with whip, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.05-2.15 pop time range; Quick transfer, works in-line to the plate, gains ground from the chute.
Athletic Testing: 7.21 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Vizual Edge: 73.7 Edge Score.

T3. Noah Gaietto, Amundsen (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-11, 171 pounds. Athletic and projectable frame, lean levers.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup with evenly distributed weight, hangs foot into a medium/longer stride. Easy and handsy, flat path, creates some loft at times, looked to stay up the middle of the field. 68 mph bat speed with 8g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 mph max exit velocity (87.8 avg.); 336-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. INF - 78 mph. INF: Short circle, quick and easy release with a flick from a 3/4 slot. C: Short arm circle, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.07-2.20 pop time range; INF: Soft feet, sure-handed actions with a two-hand funnel, quick burst and range up the middle. C: Clean glove-to-hand, works in-line from the crouch, active and willing blocker.
Athletic Testing: 7.14 runner in the 60-yard dash; 19.8-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 62.32 Edge Score.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Aiden Frerichs, Milford (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-11, 154.1 pounds. Lean, proportionate build.
Hit: RHH. Wide and balanced base, even setup, short stride. Flat swing, easy hands, looks to stay on-time up the middle, showed feel to go the other way. 69.5 mph bat speed with 10g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 93 mph max exit velocity (82.2 avg.); 246-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. OF - 84 mph. OF: Medium arm circle, high 3/4 slot, clean. C: Medium circle, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.16-2.20 pop time range; OF: Attacks the baseball, one-hand gather, moves well into a crowhop. C: Steady hands receiving, clean transfers, works in-line, shuffles through his throws, soft blocker.
Athletic Testing: 7.65 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Vizual Edge: 70.23 Edge Score.

Wyatt Groberski, Hersey (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 165 pounds. Athletic build, wiry with room to add strength, high waist.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, slightly open, hangs foot and coils back to even. Flat swing with some looseness, balanced through impact, some feel to use the whole field, mostly pull-side. 67.4 mph bat speed with 18g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 89 mph max exit velocity (79.4 avg.); 314-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. OF - 81 mph. C: Short and to the ear, high 3/4 slot. OF: Long, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: 2.19-2.29 pop time range; C: Steady hands, clean transfers, works in-line from the chute, gains ground to his target with efficient footwork. OF: Deliberate footwork, one-hand gather, plays through the ball and moves well into a crowhop.
Athletic Testing: 7.44 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Vizual Edge: 86.27 Edge Score.

David Klein, Nazareth Academy (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-2, 233 pounds. Strong, durable and proportionate frame.
Hit: RHH. Narrow and coiled base, slightly open, quick trigger into a medium stride. Strong hands, flat path, line-drive intent pull-side, showed some lifted contact at times. 67.6 mph bat speed with 13g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 mph max exit velocity (75.4 avg.); 282-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Shorter arm circle, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.12-2.14 pop time range; Clean glove-to-hand and transfers, quick feet, works in-line, athletic block, quick and deadens the ball out front.
Athletic Testing: 7.92 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Vizual Edge: 79.69 Edge Score.

Jacob Ostby, Mount Carmel (IL), 2026 | Saint Xavier commit
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-9, 167.3 pounds. Compact, strong frame, broad shoulders, developed lower-half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced base, easy stride and load, balanced. Easy bat-speed with some uphill intent, controlled aggression, looks to lift middle of the field. 71 mph bat speed with 11g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 89 mph max exit velocity (78.5 avg.); 267-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.07-2.08 pop time range; Clean glove to hand, active footwork and stays low from the chute, deadens the ball out front on blocks.
Athletic Testing: 7.71 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Vizual Edge: 79.85 Edge Score.

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