South AL Preseason All-State: Data Dive, Pitchers
January 15, 2024
SARALAND, AL - The South AL Preseason All-State was held on Sunday, January 7th at Saraland High School in Saraland, AL. This event was an invite-only event that consisted of some of the top prospects from the 2024-2028 classes. 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 in simulated bullpens during the workout 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 on Sunday.
Last week, we broke down the stat leaders from the more traditional categories in our statistical analysis. Today, we will take an even closer look at the position players in attendance with the help of our tech partners, broken down by the categories and leaderboards below.
FASTBALL
MAX VELOCITY (MPH)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Velocity (max) |
1 | Jacob Driver | AL | Marbury High School | 2025 | RHP | 87.0 mph |
2 | Tyler Johnson | AL | Wetumpka | 2025 | 3B | 86.5 mph |
3 | Harrison Cook | AL | Fairhope High School | 2025 | RHP | 86.4 mph |
4 | Brady Richardson | AL | Enterprise High School | 2025 | SS | 86.3 mph |
5 | Riley Wilemon | AL | Faith Academy | 2026 | RHP | 86.1 mph |
6 | Aaron Bailey | AL | McAdory High School | 2026 | 3B | 86.0 mph |
7 | Brayden Cooper | AL | Spanish Fort | 2024 | RHP | 85.5 mph |
8 | Judson Harris | AL | Gulf Shores | 2027 | OF | 85.0 mph |
9 | Jacob Rowell | AL | Saraland High School | 2026 | RHP | 84.9 mph |
10 | Kepler Lively | AL | Chilton County | 2024 | RHP | 82.7 mph |
11 | Landen Booth | AL | Mary G Montgomery | 2025 | RHP | 82.6 mph |
12 | Alex Gaston | AL | MOBILE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 2026 | RHP | 82.5 mph |
13 | Brooks McDonald | AL | St. Paul's Episcopal School | 2025 | 1B | 82.0 mph |
14 | Jack Blanchard | AL | Daphne High School | 2026 | OF | 81.9 mph |
15 | Brodie Wilson | AL | FAITH ACADEMY | 2027 | RHP | 81.8 mph |
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Riley Wilemon | AL | Faith Academy | 2026 | RHP | 2379 rpm |
2 | Brooks McDonald | AL | St. Paul's Episcopal School | 2025 | 1B | 2181 rpm |
3 | Aiden Urnis | AL | Prattville High School | 2026 | SS | 2159 rpm |
4 | Harrison Cook | AL | Fairhope High School | 2025 | RHP | 2153 rpm |
5 | Landen Booth | AL | Mary G Montgomery | 2025 | RHP | 2118 rpm |
6 | Davis Ford | AL | Opelika | 2025 | LHP | 2096 rpm |
7 | Brady Richardson | AL | Enterprise High School | 2025 | SS | 2093 rpm |
8 | Brodie Wilson | AL | FAITH ACADEMY | 2027 | RHP | 2081 rpm |
9 | Carter McCammon | MS | Resurrection Catholic | 2025 | 3B | 2068 rpm |
10 | Parker Cranmore | AL | Daphne | 2027 | 3B | 2056 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 | Davis Ford | AL | Opelika | 2025 | LHP | 93 % |
2 | Canaan Whitman | AL | Oxford High School | 2026 | C | 92 % |
3 | Jacob Driver | AL | Marbury High School | 2025 | RHP | 91 % |
4 | Austyn Miller | AL | Cottonwood | 2025 | RHP | 91 % |
5 | Aaron Bailey | AL | McAdory High School | 2026 | 3B | 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 | Aaron Bailey | AL | McAdory High School | 2026 | 3B | 19.9 in |
2 | Dtric Butler | AL | Saraland High School | 2026 | RHP | 19.3 in |
3 | Jacob Driver | AL | Marbury High School | 2025 | RHP | 18.8 in |
4 | Will Fitzhugh | AL | Bayside Academy | 2027 | 3B | 18.5 in |
5 | Ty McGinley | AL | Fairhope | 2027 | SS | 17.3 in |
6 | Dylan Ackerman | AL | Daphne High School | 2025 | 1B | 17.1 in |
7 | Austyn Miller | AL | Cottonwood | 2025 | RHP | 16.8 in |
8 | Brooks McDonald | AL | St. Paul's Episcopal School | 2025 | 1B | 16.7 in |
9 | Judson Harris | AL | Gulf Shores | 2027 | OF | 16.7 in |
10 | Kepler Lively | AL | Chilton County | 2024 | RHP | 16.4 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 | Jack Blanchard | AL | Daphne High School | 2026 | OF | 17.3 |
2 | Davis Ford | AL | Opelika | 2025 | LHP | -16.9 |
3 | Seth Turner | AL | Marbury | 2025 | OF | 14.5 |
4 | Tyler Johnson | AL | Wetumpka | 2025 | 3B | 14.3 |
5 | Alex Rippy | AL | Gulf Shores | 2024 | RHP | 13.6 |
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 | Dylan Ackerman | AL | Daphne High School | 2025 | 1B | 87 % |
2 | Landen Booth | AL | Mary G Montgomery | 2025 | RHP | 85 % |
^ | Ty McGinley | AL | Fairhope | 2027 | SS | 85 % |
3 | Kepler Lively | AL | Chilton County | 2024 | RHP | 83 % |
4 | Jordan Schreier | AL | Gulf Shores | 2028 | RHP | 75 % |
^ | Will Fitzhugh | AL | Bayside Academy | 2027 | 3B | 75 % |
5 | Harrison Cook | AL | Fairhope High School | 2025 | RHP | 71 % |
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 | Brooks McDonald | AL | St. Paul's Episcopal School | 2025 | 1B | 2624 rpm |
2 | Davis Ford | AL | Opelika | 2025 | LHP | 2507 rpm |
3 | Jacob Rowell | AL | Saraland High School | 2026 | RHP | 2495 rpm |
4 | Aaron Bailey | AL | McAdory High School | 2026 | 3B | 2400 rpm |
5 | Judson Harris | AL | Gulf Shores | 2027 | OF | 2323 rpm |
6 | Harrison Cook | AL | Fairhope High School | 2025 | RHP | 2300 rpm |
7 | Riley Wilemon | AL | Faith Academy | 2026 | RHP | 2266 rpm |
8 | Danny Lumpkin | AL | Bayside Academy | 2028 | RHP | 2162 rpm |
9 | Will Fitzhugh | AL | Bayside Academy | 2027 | 3B | 2133 rpm |
10 | Alex Rippy | AL | Gulf Shores | 2024 | RHP | 2108 rpm |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Harrison Cook | AL | Fairhope High School | 2025 | RHP | -21.6 |
2 | Davis Ford | AL | Opelika | 2025 | LHP | 21.3 |
3 | Alex Rippy | AL | Gulf Shores | 2024 | RHP | -19.4 |
4 | Benton Howell Jr | AL | Marbury | 2025 | LHP | 19.1 |
5 | Brooks McDonald | AL | St. Paul's Episcopal School | 2025 | 1B | -19.0 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Jordan Schreier | AL | Gulf Shores | 2028 | RHP | 100 % |
^ | Aaron Bailey | AL | McAdory High School | 2026 | 3B | 100 % |
2 | Alex Gaston | AL | MOBILE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 2026 | RHP | 60 % |
^ | Harrison Cook | AL | Fairhope High School | 2025 | RHP | 60 % |
SLIDER
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Jacob Rowell | AL | Saraland High School | 2026 | RHP | 2570 |
2 | Davis Ford | AL | Opelika | 2025 | LHP | 2462 |
3 | Parker Cranmore | AL | Daphne | 2027 | 3B | 2387 |
4 | Seth Turner | AL | Marbury | 2025 | OF | 2324 |
5 | Judson Harris | AL | Gulf Shores | 2027 | OF | 2236 |
6 | Danny Lumpkin | AL | Bayside Academy | 2028 | RHP | 2197 |
7 | Aaron Bailey | AL | McAdory High School | 2026 | 3B | 2191 |
8 | Dylan Ackerman | AL | Daphne High School | 2025 | 1B | 2140 |
9 | Benton Howell Jr | AL | Marbury | 2025 | LHP | 2041 |
10 | Jack Blanchard | AL | Daphne High School | 2026 | OF | 2040 |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Parker Cranmore | AL | Daphne | 2027 | 3B | -18.2 |
2 | Davis Ford | AL | Opelika | 2025 | LHP | 15.6 |
3 | Ty McGinley | AL | Fairhope | 2027 | SS | -13.6 |
4 | Jacob Rowell | AL | Saraland High School | 2026 | RHP | -12.8 |
5 | Judson Harris | AL | Gulf Shores | 2027 | OF | -12.3 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Kepler Lively | AL | Chilton County | 2024 | RHP | 50 % |
^ | Dylan Ackerman | AL | Daphne High School | 2025 | 1B | 50 % |
^ | Luke Green | AL | Vestavia Hills High School | 2026 | SS | 50 % |
CHANGEUP
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Brodie Wilson | AL | FAITH ACADEMY | 2027 | RHP | 2005 rpm |
2 | Austyn Miller | AL | Cottonwood | 2025 | RHP | 1811 rpm |
3 | Aiden Urnis | AL | Prattville High School | 2026 | SS | 1783 rpm |
4 | Brooks McDonald | AL | St. Paul's Episcopal School | 2025 | 1B | 1737 rpm |
5 | Jack Blanchard | AL | Daphne High School | 2026 | OF | 1727 rpm |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Tyler Johnson | AL | Wetumpka | 2025 | 3B | 20.4 |
2 | Aiden Urnis | AL | Prattville High School | 2026 | SS | 18.9 |
3 | Jack Blanchard | AL | Daphne High School | 2026 | OF | 17.9 |
4 | Parker Cranmore | AL | Daphne | 2027 | 3B | 17.1 |
5 | Jordan Schreier | AL | Gulf Shores | 2028 | RHP | 17.1 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Alex Rippy | AL | Gulf Shores | 2024 | RHP | 100 % |
2 | Brooks McDonald | AL | St. Paul's Episcopal School | 2025 | 1B | 66 % |
^ | Jacob Rowell | AL | Saraland High School | 2026 | RHP | 66 % |
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