Birmingham Summer ID: Data Dive, Pitchers
July 4, 2024
GARDENDALE, AL - The Birmingham Summer ID was held on Wednesday, June 26th at Gardendale High School in Gardendale, AL. This event was an open event hosting some talented prospects from the 2025-2027 classes in Alabama. These players went through extended pro-style workout that included batting practice using Trackman and Blast Motion, ran the 60-yard dash using Swift Performance, and much more. Pitchers were able to throw during a simulated bullpen and were able to get numbers and metrics off of our Trackman unit, such as pitch velocity, spin rate, horizontal & vertical movement & much more. There were some players who showed up and continued to build off of prior performances, but there were also some new names who jumped onto our radar with a strong showing this week.
Continuing our post-event coverage for this event, we dive into the advanced metrics and analytics from the event. Please continue to check back over the next week, as we will release quick hits articles, other various event leaderboards, individual scouting reports, and much more on each player present at the event.
View entire event stats HERE.
FASTBALL
MAX VELOCITY (MPH)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Velocity (max) |
1 | Wyatt Williams | AL | Thompson | 2026 | RHP | 89.3 mph |
2 | Braden McCrary | AL | Hueytown | 2025 | RHP | 87.4 mph |
3 | Clete OBryant | AL | Coosa Christian | 2025 | LHP | 82.9 mph |
4 | Caleb Banks | AL | Gardendale | 2026 | OF | 82.4 mph |
5 | Garrett Edwards | AL | Oak Mountain High School | 2025 | RHP | 82.4 mph |
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Wyatt Williams | AL | Thompson | 2026 | RHP | 2196 rpm |
2 | Jonah Turner | AL | HewittTrussville High School | 2027 | RHP | 2164 rpm |
3 | Brock Garrett | AL | Chelsea | 2026 | RHP | 2094 rpm |
4 | Connor Drake | AL | Madison County | 2026 | SS | 2069 rpm |
5 | Braden McCrary | AL | Hueytown | 2025 | RHP | 1985 rpm |
Spin Rate: This metric calculates the rate of spin on the baseball as it leaves the pitcher’s hand, measured in revolutions per minute (rpm). Historical data shows that high-spin fastballs lessen the impact of gravity, allowing for more ‘rise’ (or less fall, in other words) as it carries through the zone. Low-spin fastballs typically indicate the pitch has greater horizontal action, often making it tougher to square up, but generally easier to make contact with, leading to more ground balls, while high-spin fastballs show a correlation with swings and misses.
SPIN EFFICIENCY% (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Efficiency % (avg) |
1 | Jackson Drake | AL | Leeds High School | 2027 | SS | 94 % |
2 | Brock Garrett | AL | Chelsea | 2026 | RHP | 94 % |
3 | Garrett Edwards | AL | Oak Mountain High School | 2025 | RHP | 91 % |
4 | Haines Bridges | AL | Vestavia Hills | 2027 | C | 90 % |
5 | Jonah Turner | AL | HewittTrussville High School | 2027 | RHP | 89 % |
Spin Efficiency: This metric is the percentage of the raw spin rate that directly impacts pitch movement; so while raw spin is measured by revolutions per minute (rpm), spin efficiency is the ratio of true spin divided by raw spin. It’s important to understand that more is not always better when it comes to spin efficiency. The optimal spin efficiency on a pitch depends on the pitch type and should be understood in the context of a pitcher’s entire arsenal. Regarding the true four-seam fastball, a spin efficiency close to 100 percent is preferable, indicating that nearly all the backspin generated on the ball as it leaves the pitcher’s hand is contributing to the “riding” action the pitch has as it enters and exits the strike zone, making it especially effective in the upper third of the strike zone.
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Brock Garrett | AL | Chelsea | 2026 | RHP | 19.9 in |
2 | Evan Hill | AL | Cherokee County High School | 2026 | 1B | 19.7 in |
3 | Connor Drake | AL | Madison County | 2026 | SS | 19.1 in |
4 | Jackson Drake | AL | Leeds High School | 2027 | SS | 19.0 in |
5 | Jonah Turner | AL | HewittTrussville High School | 2027 | RHP | 18.4 in |
Induced Vertical Break: Used in short form as "IVB," this metric is most important on fastballs for creating rise and on curveballs for creating depth – it can also have some use when measuring sliders and cutters as well. Sliders tend to be closer to zero inches while cutters are generally between 5 and 15 inches. Usually fastballs and curveballs with large IVB have higher spin efficiencies as well. Sliders generally have very little (closer to zero) IVB and very low spin efficiency. You could also categorize IVB into spin rate as this is part of the “useful movement” you’re looking for. IVB is also a huge part of the vertical approach angle.
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Clete OBryant | AL | Coosa Christian | 2025 | LHP | -14.6 |
2 | Garrett Edwards | AL | Oak Mountain High School | 2025 | RHP | 13.0 |
3 | Evan Hill | AL | Cherokee County High School | 2026 | 1B | 12.8 |
4 | Jackson Drake | AL | Leeds High School | 2027 | SS | 12.7 |
5 | Brock Garrett | AL | Chelsea | 2026 | RHP | 12.7 |
Horizontal Break: Outlined on TrackMan’s own website: “... horizontal movement is measured in inches between where the pitch actually crosses the front of home plate side-wise, and where it would have crossed home plate side-wise if had it traveled in a perfectly straight line from release. A positive number means the break was to the right from the pitcher’s perspective, while a negative number means the break was to the left from the pitcher’s perspective.”
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Chad “CJ” Horn | AL | Helena | 2027 | RHP | 85 % |
2 | Evan Hill | AL | Cherokee County High School | 2026 | 1B | 62 % |
3 | Haines Bridges | AL | Vestavia Hills | 2027 | C | 57 % |
Average MLB pitchers throw 62 percent strikes, and better pitchers throw strikes 65 percent of the time, or a ratio of roughly 2:1, strikes to balls.
CURVEBALL
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Braden McCrary | AL | Hueytown | 2025 | RHP | 2953 rpm |
2 | Brock Garrett | AL | Chelsea | 2026 | RHP | 2241 rpm |
3 | Chad “CJ” Horn | AL | Helena | 2027 | RHP | 2218 rpm |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Braden McCrary | AL | Hueytown | 2025 | RHP | -17.1 |
2 | Brady Carden | AL | Westbrook Christian | 2026 | OF | -12.0 |
3 | Conner Abston | AL | Brooks | 2026 | OF | -10.2 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Brock Garrett | AL | Chelsea | 2026 | RHP | 100 % |
2 | Braden McCrary | AL | Hueytown | 2025 | RHP | 66 % |
3 | Brady Smith | AL | Leeds High School | 2027 | 3B | 50 % |
^ | Jackson Drake | AL | Leeds High School | 2027 | SS | 50 % |
SLIDER
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Braden McCrary | AL | Hueytown | 2025 | RHP | 2976 |
2 | Wyatt Williams | AL | Thompson | 2026 | RHP | 2318 |
3 | Clete OBryant | AL | Coosa Christian | 2025 | LHP | 2174 |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Braden McCrary | AL | Hueytown | 2025 | RHP | -18.2 |
2 | Wyatt Williams | AL | Thompson | 2026 | RHP | -7.7 |
3 | Haines Bridges | AL | Vestavia Hills | 2027 | C | -4.4 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Braden McCrary | AL | Hueytown | 2025 | RHP | 100 % |
2 | Haines Bridges | AL | Vestavia Hills | 2027 | C | 50 % |
^ | Wyatt Williams | AL | Thompson | 2026 | RHP | 50 % |
^ | Clete OBryant | AL | Coosa Christian | 2025 | LHP | 50 % |
CHANGEUP
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Brock Garrett | AL | Chelsea | 2026 | RHP | 1911 rpm |
2 | Garrett Edwards | AL | Oak Mountain High School | 2025 | RHP | 1897 rpm |
3 | Conner Abston | AL | Brooks | 2026 | OF | 1870 rpm |
4 | Jonah Turner | AL | HewittTrussville High School | 2027 | RHP | 1861 rpm |
5 | Connor Drake | AL | Madison County | 2026 | SS | 1852 rpm |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Garrett Edwards | AL | Oak Mountain High School | 2025 | RHP | 15.3 |
2 | Chad “CJ” Horn | AL | Helena | 2027 | RHP | 14.1 |
3 | Connor Drake | AL | Madison County | 2026 | SS | 13.6 |
4 | Conner Abston | AL | Brooks | 2026 | OF | 12.9 |
5 | Evan Hill | AL | Cherokee County High School | 2026 | 1B | 11.8 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Brady Carden | AL | Westbrook Christian | 2026 | OF | 100 % |
^ | Jackson Drake | AL | Leeds High School | 2027 | SS | 100 % |
2 | Chad “CJ” Horn | AL | Helena | 2027 | RHP | 75 % |
3 | Conner Abston | AL | Brooks | 2026 | OF | 66 % |
+ CLICK HERE for a look at the complete statistics from the event.
Upcoming Events
SHOWCASE | DATE | LOCATION |
Tuscaloosa Rising Stars ID | July 9th, 2024 | Northridge High School (Tuscaloosa, AL) |
Tuscaloosa Summer ID | July 9th, 2024 | Northridge High School (Tuscaloosa, AL) |
Montgomery Rising Stars ID | July 16th, 2024 | Stanhope Elmore High School (Millbrook, AL) |
Montgomery Summer ID | July 16th, 2024 | Stanhope Elmore High School (Millbrook, AL) |
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