Lakepoint Rising Stars I.D: Data Dive - Pitchers
June 3, 2024
On May 29th, The Prep Baseball Georgia Staff hosted the Lakepoint Rising Stars ID at Lakepoint Sports. This event featured players from the 2028-2029 classes, and it provided our staff with an in-depth look at some high-follow players for the summer season. Inside today’s Pitching Data dive we will highlight the players with top metrics per Trackman.
Earlier, 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 pitchers 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 | Zeke Dotson | GA | Dawson County High School | 2029 | RHP | 79.8 mph |
2 | Merrik McGrath | GA | Johns Creek High School | 2028 | RHP | 79.4 mph |
3 | Brantley Willis | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | RHP | 78.6 mph |
4 | Manny Munoz | GA | Alpharetta High School | 2029 | RHP | 76.8 mph |
5 | Christian Osborne | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | C | 76.1 mph |
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Bradley Willingham | GA | Central-Carrollton | 2028 | SS | 2006 rpm |
2 | Merrik McGrath | GA | Johns Creek High School | 2028 | RHP | 2004 rpm |
3 | Brantley Willis | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | RHP | 1908 rpm |
4 | Christian Osborne | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | C | 1893 rpm |
5 | Zeke Dotson | GA | Dawson County High School | 2029 | RHP | 1728 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 | Brantley Willis | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | RHP | 95 % |
2 | Zeke Dotson | GA | Dawson County High School | 2029 | RHP | 94 % |
3 | Christian Osborne | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | C | 92 % |
4 | Ethan Patti | GA | Woodstock High School | 2029 | 3B | 90 % |
5 | Manny Munoz | GA | Alpharetta High School | 2029 | RHP | 86 % |
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 | Christian Osborne | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | C | 15.3 in |
2 | Jayden Falsetta | GA | North Cobb High School | 2029 | 1B | 15.1 in |
3 | Bradley Willingham | GA | Central-Carrollton | 2028 | SS | 14.8 in |
4 | Zeke Dotson | GA | Dawson County High School | 2029 | RHP | 14.1 in |
5 | Brantley Willis | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | RHP | 12.8 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 | Manny Munoz | GA | Alpharetta High School | 2029 | RHP | 19.0 |
2 | Brantley Willis | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | RHP | 18.8 |
3 | Christian Osborne | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | C | 17.0 |
4 | Zeke Dotson | GA | Dawson County High School | 2029 | RHP | 15.8 |
5 | Ethan Patti | GA | Woodstock High School | 2029 | 3B | 11.8 |
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 | Ethan Patti | GA | Woodstock High School | 2029 | 3B | 60 % |
2 | Bradley Willingham | GA | Central-Carrollton | 2028 | SS | 55 % |
3 | Christian Osborne | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | C | 50 % |
^ | Brantley Willis | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | RHP | 50 % |
4 | Manny Munoz | GA | Alpharetta High School | 2029 | RHP | 42 % |
5 | Jayden Falsetta | GA | North Cobb High School | 2029 | 1B | 25 % |
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 | Brantley Willis | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | RHP | 2060 rpm |
2 | Christian Osborne | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | C | 1870 rpm |
3 | Zeke Dotson | GA | Dawson County High School | 2029 | RHP | 1802 rpm |
4 | Bradley Willingham | GA | Central-Carrollton | 2028 | SS | 1712 rpm |
5 | Ethan Patti | GA | Woodstock High School | 2029 | 3B | 1670 rpm |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Manny Munoz | GA | Alpharetta High School | 2029 | RHP | -6.8 in |
2 | Bradley Willingham | GA | Central-Carrollton | 2028 | SS | -5.6 in |
3 | Brantley Willis | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | RHP | -1.2 in |
4 | Ethan Patti | GA | Woodstock High School | 2029 | 3B | 0.9 in |
5 | Christian Osborne | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | C | -0.8 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Brantley Willis | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | RHP | -16.8 |
2 | Manny Munoz | GA | Alpharetta High School | 2029 | RHP | -6.9 |
3 | Jayden Falsetta | GA | North Cobb High School | 2029 | 1B | -4.1 |
4 | Zeke Dotson | GA | Dawson County High School | 2029 | RHP | -3.6 |
5 | Christian Osborne | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | C | -2.1 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Manny Munoz | GA | Alpharetta High School | 2029 | RHP | 66 % |
2 | Ethan Patti | GA | Woodstock High School | 2029 | 3B | 50 % |
3 | Bradley Willingham | GA | Central-Carrollton | 2028 | SS | 42 % |
4 | Zeke Dotson | GA | Dawson County High School | 2029 | RHP | 33 % |
5 | Christian Osborne | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | C | 20 % |
SLIDER
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Merrik McGrath | GA | Johns Creek High School | 2028 | RHP | 2316 |
2 | Zeke Dotson | GA | Dawson County High School | 2029 | RHP | 1705 |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Merrik McGrath | GA | Johns Creek High School | 2028 | RHP | -3.4 in |
2 | Zeke Dotson | GA | Dawson County High School | 2029 | RHP | 2.2 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Merrik McGrath | GA | Johns Creek High School | 2028 | RHP | -11.7 |
2 | Zeke Dotson | GA | Dawson County High School | 2029 | RHP | -0.9 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Zeke Dotson | GA | Dawson County High School | 2029 | RHP | 40 % |
2 | Merrik McGrath | GA | Johns Creek High School | 2028 | RHP | 20 % |
CHANGEUP
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Merrik McGrath | GA | Johns Creek High School | 2028 | RHP | 1795 rpm |
2 | Manny Munoz | GA | Alpharetta High School | 2029 | RHP | 1770 rpm |
3 | Zeke Dotson | GA | Dawson County High School | 2029 | RHP | 1480 rpm |
4 | Brantley Willis | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | RHP | 1435 rpm |
5 | Ethan Patti | GA | Woodstock High School | 2029 | 3B | 1239 rpm |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Manny Munoz | GA | Alpharetta High School | 2029 | RHP | 19.3 |
2 | Zeke Dotson | GA | Dawson County High School | 2029 | RHP | 16.8 |
3 | Ethan Patti | GA | Woodstock High School | 2029 | 3B | 15.0 |
4 | Brantley Willis | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | RHP | 15.0 |
5 | Christian Osborne | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | C | 12.4 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Zeke Dotson | GA | Dawson County High School | 2029 | RHP | 100 % |
^ | Christian Osborne | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | C | 100 % |
2 | Manny Munoz | GA | Alpharetta High School | 2029 | RHP | 66 % |
3 | Merrik McGrath | GA | Johns Creek High School | 2028 | RHP | 40 % |
^ | Brantley Willis | GA | Pierce County High School | 2028 | RHP | 40 % |
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