Underclass Preseason All-State: Pitching Data Dive
January 30, 2024
This past Saturday and Sunday, the PBR Arizona staff hosted it's marquee event of the preseason with the Underclass Preseason All-State at Casteel High School in Queen Creek, Arizona. This event featured roughly 85 prospects from the 2026 and 2027 classes and featured a large crop of Arizona's top underclass prospects for a pro-style workout on Saturday, followed by live-game action on Sunday.
The event allowed our staff to collect updated data on all athletes, as well as give us an up-close look at the players ahead of the high school season and our updated rankings that will be rolling out.
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 | Jaxen Maxey | AZ | Valley Christian | 2026 | OF | 89.8 mph |
2 | Carter Jacobson | AZ | Corona Del Sol | 2026 | OF | 88.4 mph |
3 | Vinnie Keck | AZ | Saguaro | 2026 | RHP | 88.3 mph |
4 | Blake Gonzales | AZ | Hamilton | 2027 | 3B | 88.1 mph |
5 | Roman Carrington | AZ | Homeschool (AZ) | 2026 | SS | 87.8 mph |
6 | Ryan Bresaw | AZ | Basha | 2026 | RHP | 87.0 mph |
7 | Henry Verhamme | AZ | Cactus Shadows High School | 2026 | SS | 87.0 mph |
8 | Erick Jaylen Jimenez | AZ | Sandra Day O'Connor High School | 2027 | RHP | 86.7 mph |
9 | Soren Etheridge | AZ | PHOENIX COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | 2027 | RHP | 86.1 mph |
10 | Sam Jenkins | AZ | Notre Dame Prep | 2027 | RHP | 86.0 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 | Erick Jaylen Jimenez | AZ | Sandra Day O'Connor High School | 2027 | RHP | 2576 rpm |
2 | Jaxen Maxey | AZ | Valley Christian | 2026 | OF | 2263 rpm |
3 | Maxx Kane | AZ | Casteel | 2026 | OF | 2253 rpm |
4 | Roman Carrington | AZ | Homeschool (AZ) | 2026 | SS | 2236 rpm |
5 | Conor Rae | AZ | Hamilton High School | 2027 | SS | 2211 rpm |
6 | Noah Weiss | AZ | Pinnacle | 2026 | RHP | 2177 rpm |
7 | Frank Gearhart | AZ | Hamilton High School | 2026 | 1B | 2176 rpm |
8 | Sam Jenkins | AZ | Notre Dame Prep | 2027 | RHP | 2149 rpm |
9 | Raydon Rocha | AZ | Mica Mountain High | 2026 | SS | 2139 rpm |
10 | Blake Gonzales | AZ | Hamilton | 2027 | 3B | 2101 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 | Kobe Olivares | AZ | Casteel High School | 2026 | OF | 21.1 in |
2 | Stephen Preston | AZ | Shadow Ridge | 2027 | SS | 19.4 in |
3 | Vinnie Keck | AZ | Saguaro | 2026 | RHP | 17.3 in |
4 | Colin Eick | AZ | Casteel | 2026 | 2B | 16.9 in |
5 | Cayden Hokanson | AZ | Casteel High School | 2026 | RHP | 16.7 in |
6 | Hawk Licari | AZ | Cactus Shadows High School | 2027 | LHP | 16.6 in |
7 | Roman Carrington | AZ | Homeschool (AZ) | 2026 | SS | 16.5 in |
8 | Carter Jacobson | AZ | Corona Del Sol | 2026 | OF | 16.2 in |
9 | Sam Jenkins | AZ | Notre Dame Prep | 2027 | RHP | 15.9 in |
10 | Soren Etheridge | AZ | PHOENIX COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | 2027 | RHP | 15.9 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 | Jack McDonough | AZ | Perry High School | 2027 | RHP | 19.2 |
2 | Alex Korbesmeyer | AZ | Pinnacle High School | 2026 | 1B | 18.1 |
3 | Frank Gearhart | AZ | Hamilton High School | 2026 | 1B | 16.8 |
4 | Ryan Sanchez | AZ | Valley Christian | 2027 | C | 15.9 |
5 | Roman Carrington | AZ | Homeschool (AZ) | 2026 | SS | 15.9 |
6 | Mitchell Lamoreaux | AZ | Mountain View | 2027 | OF | 15.0 |
7 | Owen Konerko | AZ | Cactus Shadows High School | 2027 | 3B | 13.0 |
8 | Dylan Keith | AZ | Red Mountain | 2027 | OF | 13.0 |
9 | Noah Weiss | AZ | Pinnacle | 2026 | RHP | 12.8 |
10 | Tanner Terry | AZ | Notre Dame Prep | 2027 | C | 12.8 |
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 | Cayden Hokanson | AZ | Casteel High School | 2026 | RHP | 88 % |
2 | Hawk Licari | AZ | Cactus Shadows High School | 2027 | LHP | 76 % |
3 | Ethan Rauscher | AZ | Casteel | 2027 | 2B | 75 % |
4 | Dean Thompson | AZ | Hamilton | 2027 | 1B | 66 % |
5 | Angel Armenta | AZ | Walden Grove | 2026 | C | 63 % |
^ | Mitchell Lamoreaux | AZ | Mountain View | 2027 | OF | 63 % |
6 | Carter Jacobson | AZ | Corona Del Sol | 2026 | OF | 62 % |
^ | Tanner Terry | AZ | Notre Dame Prep | 2027 | C | 62 % |
7 | Grady Openden | AZ | Brophy College Preparatory | 2027 | OF | 60 % |
^ | Merrick Phelps | AZ | Casteel | 2027 | LHP | 60 % |
CURVEBALL
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Maxx Kane | AZ | Casteel | 2026 | OF | 2449 rpm |
2 | Erick Jaylen Jimenez | AZ | Sandra Day O'Connor High School | 2027 | RHP | 2326 rpm |
3 | Sam Jenkins | AZ | Notre Dame Prep | 2027 | RHP | 2205 rpm |
4 | Conor Rae | AZ | Hamilton High School | 2027 | SS | 2118 rpm |
5 | Raydon Rocha | AZ | Mica Mountain High | 2026 | SS | 2100 rpm |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Kobe Olivares | AZ | Casteel High School | 2026 | OF | 21.1 in |
2 | Stephen Preston | AZ | Shadow Ridge | 2027 | SS | 19.4 in |
3 | Vinnie Keck | AZ | Saguaro | 2026 | RHP | 17.3 in |
4 | Colin Eick | AZ | Casteel | 2026 | 2B | 16.9 in |
5 | Cayden Hokanson | AZ | Casteel High School | 2026 | RHP | 16.7 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Talin Roth | AZ | Casteel | 2027 | RHP | -16.0 |
2 | Maxx Kane | AZ | Casteel | 2026 | OF | 13.3 |
3 | Erick Jaylen Jimenez | AZ | Sandra Day O'Connor High School | 2027 | RHP | -12.9 |
4 | Raydon Rocha | AZ | Mica Mountain High | 2026 | SS | -12.7 |
5 | Kobe Olivares | AZ | Casteel High School | 2026 | OF | -10.7 |
STRIKE ZONE %
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Talin Roth | AZ | Casteel | 2027 | RHP | -16.0 |
2 | Maxx Kane | AZ | Casteel | 2026 | OF | 13.3 |
3 | Erick Jaylen Jimenez | AZ | Sandra Day O'Connor High School | 2027 | RHP | -12.9 |
4 | Raydon Rocha | AZ | Mica Mountain High | 2026 | SS | -12.7 |
SLIDER
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Henry Verhamme | AZ | Cactus Shadows High School | 2026 | SS | 2295 |
2 | Dean Thompson | AZ | Hamilton | 2027 | 1B | 2254 |
3 | Vinnie Keck | AZ | Saguaro | 2026 | RHP | 2229 |
4 | Conor Rae | AZ | Hamilton High School | 2027 | SS | 2228 |
5 | Cooper Gribbons | AZ | Casteel | 2027 | 1B | 2171 |
6 | Noah Weiss | AZ | Pinnacle | 2026 | RHP | 2153 |
7 | Tanner Terry | AZ | Notre Dame Prep | 2027 | C | 2134 |
8 | Logan Reber | AZ | Casteel | 2026 | C | 2125 |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Grady Openden | AZ | Brophy College Preparatory | 2027 | OF | -9.1 in |
2 | Dean Thompson | AZ | Hamilton | 2027 | 1B | 8.4 in |
3 | Logan Reber | AZ | Casteel | 2026 | C | -7.4 in |
4 | Jack McDonough | AZ | Perry High School | 2027 | RHP | 7.3 in |
5 | Ethan Rauscher | AZ | Casteel | 2027 | 2B | 6.4 in |
6 | Colin Eick | AZ | Casteel | 2026 | 2B | 5.4 in |
7 | Vinnie Keck | AZ | Saguaro | 2026 | RHP | -5.2 in |
8 | Frank Gearhart | AZ | Hamilton High School | 2026 | 1B | -5.1 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Merrick Phelps | AZ | Casteel | 2027 | LHP | 15.5 |
2 | Henry Verhamme | AZ | Cactus Shadows High School | 2026 | SS | -14.6 |
3 | Vinnie Keck | AZ | Saguaro | 2026 | RHP | -14.5 |
4 | Frank Gearhart | AZ | Hamilton High School | 2026 | 1B | -13.3 |
5 | Cooper Gribbons | AZ | Casteel | 2027 | 1B | -10.9 |
6 | Logan Reber | AZ | Casteel | 2026 | C | -10.6 |
7 | Grady Openden | AZ | Brophy College Preparatory | 2027 | OF | -10.0 |
8 | Mitchell Lamoreaux | AZ | Mountain View | 2027 | OF | -8.8 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Alex Korbesmeyer | AZ | Pinnacle High School | 2026 | 1B | 100 % |
^ | Angel Armenta | AZ | Walden Grove | 2026 | C | 100 % |
^ | Conor Rae | AZ | Hamilton High School | 2027 | SS | 100 % |
2 | Mitchell Lamoreaux | AZ | Mountain View | 2027 | OF | 80 % |
3 | Bennett Nordini | AZ | Desert Mountain | 2026 | 3B | 75 % |
4 | Noah Weiss | AZ | Pinnacle | 2026 | RHP | 66 % |
^ | Mario Pedraza | AZ | Williams | 2026 | RHP | 66 % |
^ | Tanner Terry | AZ | Notre Dame Prep | 2027 | C | 66 % |
CHANGEUP
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Erick Jaylen Jimenez | AZ | Sandra Day O'Connor High School | 2027 | RHP | 19.1 |
2 | Max Jelinek | AZ | Saguaro | 2027 | RHP | 18.3 |
3 | Carter Jacobson | AZ | Corona Del Sol | 2026 | OF | 18.0 |
4 | Maverick Bolen | AZ | Horizon | 2027 | C | 16.9 |
5 | Dylan Keith | AZ | Red Mountain | 2027 | OF | 16.4 |
6 | Conor Rae | AZ | Hamilton High School | 2027 | SS | 16.4 |
7 | Frank Gearhart | AZ | Hamilton High School | 2026 | 1B | 16.2 |
8 | Tanner Terry | AZ | Notre Dame Prep | 2027 | C | 16.0 |
9 | Noah Weiss | AZ | Pinnacle | 2026 | RHP | 15.7 |
10 | Talin Roth | AZ | Casteel | 2027 | RHP | 15.2 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Tanner Terry | AZ | Notre Dame Prep | 2027 | C | 100 % |
^ | Stephen Preston | AZ | Shadow Ridge | 2027 | SS | 100 % |
^ | Cayden Hokanson | AZ | Casteel High School | 2026 | RHP | 100 % |
2 | Talin Roth | AZ | Casteel | 2027 | RHP | 50 % |
^ | Maxx Kane | AZ | Casteel | 2026 | OF | 50 % |
^ | Merrick Phelps | AZ | Casteel | 2027 | LHP | 50 % |
UPCOMING EVENTS
SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
Mesa Preseason ID | AZ | 01/31 | Desert Ridge High School - Mesa, 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 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
- AZ 2024 Future Games: Arizona Stat Leaders 8/04/24
- AZ Junior Future Games: Quick Hits 8/01/24