Arizona Rising Stars ID (Session II): Pitching Data Dive
April 30, 2024
This past Saturday, the Prep Baseball Arizona staff hosted it's second Rising Stars ID of the season with the Arizona Rising Stars ID (Session II) at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. This event featured prospects from the 2028 and 2029 classes and served as an identifier for Arizona's Jr. Future Games team. The event featured over 30 prospects and allowed our staff to collect updates data and metrics via our series of tech partners.
Earlier this week, we broke down the top measurable data performers from the event with our Statistical Analysis article. Now, we will take a further in-depth look at the top pitchers with the help of our tech partnerships, broken down by the categories down below:
For complete event results, click here.
To view upcoming event schedule, click here.
FASTBALL
MAX VELOCITY (MPH)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Velocity (max) |
1 | Cooper LeRoy | AZ | Mesquite High School | 2028 | 1B | 85.4 mph |
2 | Russell Nelson | AZ | Casteel High School | 2029 | RHP | 84.3 mph |
3 | Jackson Leigh | AZ | Pinnacle High School | 2028 | OF | 83.4 mph |
4 | Chase Fillman | AZ | Millennium | 2028 | OF | 83.1 mph |
5 | Kingston Sinner | AZ | Saguaro | 2028 | OF | 81.2 mph |
6 | Brock White | AZ | Mountain View High School | 2028 | SS | 81.1 mph |
7 | Troy Tewers | AZ | Liberty High School | 2028 | 3B | 80.0 mph |
8 | Hugh Hurkmans | AZ | Corona Del Sol High School | 2028 | 3B | 78.8 mph |
9 | Max Nibarger | AZ | Casteel | 2028 | SS | 77.8 mph |
10 | Austin Webb | AZ | NOTRE DAME PREPARATORY | 2028 | RHP | 76.7 mph |
Max Fastball Velocity: This metric calculates the speed of the pitch as it’s released from the pitcher’s hand.
SPIN RATE (AVG)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Troy Tewers | AZ | Liberty High School | 2028 | 3B | 2243 rpm |
2 | Kingston Sinner | AZ | Saguaro | 2028 | OF | 2180 rpm |
3 | Russell Nelson | AZ | Casteel High School | 2029 | RHP | 2159 rpm |
4 | Jayson Veit | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2028 | 1B | 2145 rpm |
5 | Jackson Leigh | AZ | Pinnacle High School | 2028 | OF | 2098 rpm |
6 | JJ Lott | AZ | Chaparral | 2029 | LHP | 2052 rpm |
7 | Brock White | AZ | Mountain View High School | 2028 | SS | 2039 rpm |
8 | Max Nibarger | AZ | Casteel | 2028 | SS | 1996 rpm |
9 | Martin Chavez Jr. | AZ | Salpointe Catholic School | 2028 | 2B | 1905 rpm |
10 | Austin Webb | AZ | NOTRE DAME PREPARATORY | 2028 | RHP | 1886 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.
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Cayden Mitchell | AZ | Desert Vista | 2028 | OF | 16.0 in |
2 | Brock White | AZ | Mountain View High School | 2028 | SS | 14.6 in |
3 | Jayson Veit | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2028 | 1B | 14.3 in |
4 | Tallen Dannenfeldt | AZ | Perry High School | 2028 | 1B | 13.9 in |
5 | Kingston Sinner | AZ | Saguaro | 2028 | OF | 13.7 in |
6 | Landon Swinehart | AZ | Millennium High School | 2028 | OF | 13.6 in |
7 | Martin Chavez Jr. | AZ | Salpointe Catholic School | 2028 | 2B | 13.5 in |
8 | Cooper LeRoy | AZ | Mesquite High School | 2028 | 1B | 13.3 in |
9 | Hugh Hurkmans | AZ | Corona Del Sol High School | 2028 | 3B | 12.3 in |
10 | Chase Fillman | AZ | Millennium | 2028 | OF | 11.9 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 | Cruz Chavez | AZ | Chaparral High School | 2028 | 1B | -17.3 |
2 | Braden Grimm | AZ | Horizon High School | 2029 | 1B | 15.5 |
3 | Martin Chavez Jr. | AZ | Salpointe Catholic School | 2028 | 2B | 13.0 |
4 | Jayson Veit | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2028 | 1B | 11.4 |
5 | Hugh Hurkmans | AZ | Corona Del Sol High School | 2028 | 3B | 11.2 |
6 | Jackson Leigh | AZ | Pinnacle High School | 2028 | OF | 10.2 |
7 | Russell Nelson | AZ | Casteel High School | 2029 | RHP | 10.2 |
8 | Chase Fillman | AZ | Millennium | 2028 | OF | -9.6 |
9 | JJ Lott | AZ | Chaparral | 2029 | LHP | -8.2 |
10 | Max Nibarger | AZ | Casteel | 2028 | SS | 8.1 |
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 | Landon Swinehart | AZ | Millennium High School | 2028 | OF | 83 % |
2 | Martin Chavez Jr. | AZ | Salpointe Catholic School | 2028 | 2B | 66 % |
^ | Hunter Chambers | AZ | Verrado High School | 2028 | OF | 66 % |
^ | Russell Nelson | AZ | Casteel High School | 2029 | RHP | 66 % |
3 | Kingston Sinner | AZ | Saguaro | 2028 | OF | 62 % |
4 | Braden Grimm | AZ | Horizon High School | 2029 | 1B | 60 % |
5 | Chase Fillman | AZ | Millennium | 2028 | OF | 57 % |
^ | Hugh Hurkmans | AZ | Corona Del Sol High School | 2028 | 3B | 57 % |
^ | Cayden Mitchell | AZ | Desert Vista | 2028 | OF | 57 % |
CURVEBALL
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Kingston Sinner | AZ | Saguaro | 2028 | OF | 2421 rpm |
2 | Ricky Faulkner | AZ | Saguaro | 2028 | 2B | 2130 rpm |
3 | Jackson Leigh | AZ | Pinnacle High School | 2028 | OF | 2043 rpm |
4 | Jayson Veit | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2028 | 1B | 1778 rpm |
5 | Tallen Dannenfeldt | AZ | Perry High School | 2028 | 1B | 1714 rpm |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Cayden Mitchell | AZ | Desert Vista | 2028 | OF | 16.0 in |
2 | Brock White | AZ | Mountain View High School | 2028 | SS | 14.6 in |
3 | Jayson Veit | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2028 | 1B | 14.3 in |
4 | Tallen Dannenfeldt | AZ | Perry High School | 2028 | 1B | 13.9 in |
5 | Kingston Sinner | AZ | Saguaro | 2028 | OF | 13.7 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Landon Swinehart | AZ | Millennium High School | 2028 | OF | 10.9 |
2 | Jackson Leigh | AZ | Pinnacle High School | 2028 | OF | -10.1 |
3 | Tallen Dannenfeldt | AZ | Perry High School | 2028 | 1B | -8.5 |
4 | Ricky Faulkner | AZ | Saguaro | 2028 | 2B | -7.8 |
5 | Jayson Veit | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2028 | 1B | -6.7 |
STRIKE ZONE %
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Landon Swinehart | AZ | Millennium High School | 2028 | OF | 10.9 |
2 | Jackson Leigh | AZ | Pinnacle High School | 2028 | OF | -10.1 |
SLIDER
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Chase Fillman | AZ | Millennium | 2028 | OF | 2301 |
2 | Max Nibarger | AZ | Casteel | 2028 | SS | 2299 |
3 | Martin Chavez Jr. | AZ | Salpointe Catholic School | 2028 | 2B | 2285 |
4 | Troy Tewers | AZ | Liberty High School | 2028 | 3B | 2268 |
5 | Ricky Faulkner | AZ | Saguaro | 2028 | 2B | 2169 |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Chase Fillman | AZ | Millennium | 2028 | OF | -12.2 in |
2 | Martin Chavez Jr. | AZ | Salpointe Catholic School | 2028 | 2B | -7.9 in |
3 | Cruz Chavez | AZ | Chaparral High School | 2028 | 1B | -6.7 in |
4 | Jackson Leigh | AZ | Pinnacle High School | 2028 | OF | -6.5 in |
5 | Cayden Mitchell | AZ | Desert Vista | 2028 | OF | 5.7 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Hunter Chambers | AZ | Verrado High School | 2028 | OF | -20.2 |
2 | Max Nibarger | AZ | Casteel | 2028 | SS | -19.1 |
3 | Jackson Leigh | AZ | Pinnacle High School | 2028 | OF | -17.9 |
4 | Chase Fillman | AZ | Millennium | 2028 | OF | 13.5 |
5 | Martin Chavez Jr. | AZ | Salpointe Catholic School | 2028 | 2B | -13.0 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Ricky Faulkner | AZ | Saguaro | 2028 | 2B | 100 % |
2 | Jayson Veit | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2028 | 1B | 80 % |
3 | Austin Webb | AZ | NOTRE DAME PREPARATORY | 2028 | RHP | 66 % |
4 | Russell Nelson | AZ | Casteel High School | 2029 | RHP | 60 % |
5 | Hugh Hurkmans | AZ | Corona Del Sol High School | 2028 | 3B | 50 % |
^ | Hunter Chambers | AZ | Verrado High School | 2028 | OF | 50 % |
CHANGEUP
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Chase Fillman | AZ | Millennium | 2028 | OF | -18.1 |
2 | JJ Lott | AZ | Chaparral | 2029 | LHP | -14.3 |
3 | Jackson Leigh | AZ | Pinnacle High School | 2028 | OF | 13.4 |
4 | Cruz Chavez | AZ | Chaparral High School | 2028 | 1B | -12.4 |
5 | Braden Grimm | AZ | Horizon High School | 2029 | 1B | 12.1 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Brock White | AZ | Mountain View High School | 2028 | SS | 80 % |
2 | Landon Swinehart | AZ | Millennium High School | 2028 | OF | 60 % |
^ | Troy Tewers | AZ | Liberty High School | 2028 | 3B | 60 % |
^ | Hugh Hurkmans | AZ | Corona Del Sol High School | 2028 | 3B | 60 % |
3 | Cruz Chavez | AZ | Chaparral High School | 2028 | 1B | 50 % |
^ | JJ Lott | AZ | Chaparral | 2029 | LHP | 50 % |
UPCOMING EVENTS
SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
Mesa Summer ID | AZ | 05/29 | Desert Ridge High School - Mesa, AZ |
2024 ProCase - West | AZ | 06/02 | Pepperdine University |
Top Prospect Games: Upperclass (Invite-Only) | AZ | 06/03 | Grand Canyon University - Phoenix, AZ |
Top Prospect Games: Underclass (Invite-Only) | AZ | 06/10 | American Family Fields of Phoenix |
West Side Summer ID | AZ | 06/18 | Canyon View High School - Waddell, AZ |
Glendale Summer ID | AZ | 07/16 | Apollo High School - Glendale, AZ |
Future Games (Class of 2026/27) | NATIONAL | 07/24 | LakePoint Sports |
Junior Future Games (Class of 2028/29) | NATIONAL | 07/24 | LakePoint Sports |
Senior Future Games (Class of 2025) | NATIONAL | 07/24 | LakePoint Sports |
RECENT NEWS
- AZ Arizona Commitment Board: Class of 2025 8/30/24
- AZ Arizona Commitment Board: 2024 Class 8/30/24
- AZ Tucson Summer ID: Pitching Data Dive 8/28/24
- AZ Arizona 2025 Rankings Update 8/28/24
- AZ Tucson Summer ID: Quick Hits 8/27/24
- AZ Tucson Summer ID: Positional Data Dive 8/27/24
- AZ Tucson Summer ID: Statistical Analysis 8/26/24
- AZ Inaugural New Mexico State Games 8/20/24