Tucson Preseason ID: Pitching Data Dive
January 23, 2024
On Saturday, January 20th, the PBR Arizona staff hosted it's second Preseason ID of the month with the Tucson Preseason ID at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona. This event featured 14 prospects from the 2024 - 2028 classes and allowed our staff an opportunity to get an in-depth look and analysis of the players in attendance.
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 | Kash Espinosa | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2026 | RHP | 75.9 mph |
2 | William (Austin) Feurstock | AZ | Ironwood Ridge | 2026 | SS | 73.4 mph |
3 | Tanner Sultan | AZ | Catalina Foothills High School | 2028 | SS | 72.0 mph |
4 | Christopher Bennett | NM | Silver | 2025 | C | 67.2 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 | Kash Espinosa | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2026 | RHP | 1992 rpm |
2 | William (Austin) Feurstock | AZ | Ironwood Ridge | 2026 | SS | 1940 rpm |
3 | Christopher Bennett | NM | Silver | 2025 | C | 1849 rpm |
4 | Tanner Sultan | AZ | Catalina Foothills High School | 2028 | SS | 1784 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 | Kash Espinosa | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2026 | RHP | 18.3 in |
2 | Christopher Bennett | NM | Silver | 2025 | C | 14.2 in |
3 | Tanner Sultan | AZ | Catalina Foothills High School | 2028 | SS | 10.6 in |
4 | William (Austin) Feurstock | AZ | Ironwood Ridge | 2026 | SS | 6.8 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 | Tanner Sultan | AZ | Catalina Foothills High School | 2028 | SS | 13.6 |
2 | Kash Espinosa | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2026 | RHP | 11.4 |
3 | William (Austin) Feurstock | AZ | Ironwood Ridge | 2026 | SS | 9.9 |
4 | Christopher Bennett | NM | Silver | 2025 | C | 1.2 |
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 | Kash Espinosa | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2026 | RHP | 83 % |
2 | Tanner Sultan | AZ | Catalina Foothills High School | 2028 | SS | 66 % |
3 | William (Austin) Feurstock | AZ | Ironwood Ridge | 2026 | SS | 50 % |
^ | Christopher Bennett | NM | Silver | 2025 | C | 50 % |
CURVEBALL
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | William (Austin) Feurstock | AZ | Ironwood Ridge | 2026 | SS | 2032 rpm |
2 | Christopher Bennett | NM | Silver | 2025 | C | 1923 rpm |
3 | Tanner Sultan | AZ | Catalina Foothills High School | 2028 | SS | 1910 rpm |
4 | Kash Espinosa | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2026 | RHP | 1739 rpm |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Kash Espinosa | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2026 | RHP | 18.3 in |
2 | Christopher Bennett | NM | Silver | 2025 | C | 14.2 in |
3 | Tanner Sultan | AZ | Catalina Foothills High School | 2028 | SS | 10.6 in |
4 | William (Austin) Feurstock | AZ | Ironwood Ridge | 2026 | SS | 6.8 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | William (Austin) Feurstock | AZ | Ironwood Ridge | 2026 | SS | -16.9 |
2 | Christopher Bennett | NM | Silver | 2025 | C | -10.0 |
3 | Tanner Sultan | AZ | Catalina Foothills High School | 2028 | SS | -8.9 |
4 | Kash Espinosa | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2026 | RHP | -8.6 |
SLIDER
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | William (Austin) Feurstock | AZ | Ironwood Ridge | 2026 | SS | 2026 |
2 | Christopher Bennett | NM | Silver | 2025 | C | 1932 |
3 | Tanner Sultan | AZ | Catalina Foothills High School | 2028 | SS | 1915 |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | William (Austin) Feurstock | AZ | Ironwood Ridge | 2026 | SS | -3.5 in |
2 | Tanner Sultan | AZ | Catalina Foothills High School | 2028 | SS | 2.3 in |
3 | Christopher Bennett | NM | Silver | 2025 | C | 1.4 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Christopher Bennett | NM | Silver | 2025 | C | -7.9 |
2 | William (Austin) Feurstock | AZ | Ironwood Ridge | 2026 | SS | -5.9 |
3 | Tanner Sultan | AZ | Catalina Foothills High School | 2028 | SS | -4.5 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | William (Austin) Feurstock | AZ | Ironwood Ridge | 2026 | SS | 50 % |
^ | Christopher Bennett | NM | Silver | 2025 | C | 50 % |
CHANGEUP
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | William (Austin) Feurstock | AZ | Ironwood Ridge | 2026 | SS | 11.8 |
2 | Tanner Sultan | AZ | Catalina Foothills High School | 2028 | SS | 8.2 |
3 | Kash Espinosa | AZ | Salpointe Catholic | 2026 | RHP | 7.1 |
4 | Christopher Bennett | NM | Silver | 2025 | C | -4.3 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Christopher Bennett | NM | Silver | 2025 | C | 100 % |
2 | William (Austin) Feurstock | AZ | Ironwood Ridge | 2026 | SS | 50 % |
UPCOMING EVENTS
SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
Mesa Preseason ID | AZ | 01/24 | Desert Ridge High School - Mesa, AZ |
Preseason All-State Games: Underclass (Invite-Only) | AZ | 01/27 | Casteel High School - Queen Creek, AZ |
Preseason All-State Games: Upperclass (Invite-Only) | AZ | 02/03 | Cactus Shadows High School - Scottsdale, AZ |
Super 60 Pro Showcase | NATIONAL | 02/04 | The MAX - McCook, IL |
Arizona Rising Stars ID | AZ | 04/13 | Grand Canyon University - Phoenix, AZ |
Arizona Rising Stars ID - Session 2 | AZ | 04/27 | Grand Canyon University - Phoenix, AZ |
RECENT NEWS
- AZ Glendale Summer ID: Pitching Data Dive 7/19/24
- AZ Glendale Summer ID: Positional Data Dive 7/18/24
- AZ Glendale Summer ID: Statistical Analysis 7/17/24
- AZ Arizona Commitment Board: 2024 Class 7/01/24
- AZ Arizona's Most Viewed Profiles - June 7/01/24
- AZ West Side ID: Quick Hits 6/23/24
- AZ West Side Summer ID: Positional Data Dive 6/23/24
- AZ West Side Summer ID: Pitching Data Dive 6/22/24