Prep Baseball Scout Day: Southeast Sox: Data Dive - Pitchers
May 28, 2024
On May 24th, the Prep Baseball Georgia Staff traveled to Oglethorpe University in Brookhaven for a Scout Day with the Southeast Sox. This event featured players from the 2025-2026 classes, and it provided our staff with an in-depth look at some high-follow players into the summer.
Inside today’s Pitching Data dive we will highlight the players with top metrics per Trackman.
Early this 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 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 | Leonardo Yoshioka | GA | Rabun County High School | 2025 | RHP | 89.7 mph |
2 | Maddox Frazier | GA | Cartersville | 2025 | 3B | 86.1 mph |
3 | Brandon Mercer | GA | Veterans High School | 2026 | SS | 85.5 mph |
4 | Luke Lively | GA | Armuchee High School | 2025 | OF | 84.8 mph |
5 | Parker Wilson | GA | Lassiter High School | 2025 | RHP | 84.3 mph |
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Brandon Mercer | GA | Veterans High School | 2026 | SS | 2291 rpm |
2 | Leonardo Yoshioka | GA | Rabun County High School | 2025 | RHP | 2282 rpm |
3 | Dillon Jones | GA | Brookwood High School | 2025 | LHP | 2264 rpm |
4 | Hunter Morton | AL | Pike Road High School | 2025 | RHP | 2202 rpm |
5 | Parker Wilson | GA | Lassiter High School | 2025 | RHP | 2194 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 | Austin Daves | GA | Woodland | 2025 | LHP | 93 % |
2 | Leonardo Yoshioka | GA | Rabun County High School | 2025 | RHP | 93 % |
3 | Brody Gray | GA | North Paulding High School | 2025 | LHP | 93 % |
4 | Grayson Zinkand | GA | Dunwoody High School | 2025 | RHP | 92 % |
5 | Maddox Frazier | GA | Cartersville | 2025 | 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 | Alex Mason | GA | Walton High School | 2026 | RHP | 18.8 in |
2 | Brody Gray | GA | North Paulding High School | 2025 | LHP | 18.7 in |
3 | Dylan Larsen | GA | Brookwood | 2025 | RHP | 18.0 in |
4 | Grayson Zinkand | GA | Dunwoody High School | 2025 | RHP | 17.6 in |
5 | Maddox Frazier | GA | Cartersville | 2025 | 3B | 17.4 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 | Nahdir Jackson | GA | Hillgrove High School | 2026 | RHP | 14.3 |
2 | Grayson Zinkand | GA | Dunwoody High School | 2025 | RHP | 13.3 |
3 | Ethan Lower | GA | Alexander High School | 2026 | LHP | -12.4 |
4 | Austin Daves | GA | Woodland | 2025 | LHP | -11.7 |
5 | Brandon Mercer | GA | Veterans High School | 2026 | SS | 11.2 |
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 | Dylan Larsen | GA | Brookwood | 2025 | RHP | 75 % |
2 | Brandon Mercer | GA | Veterans High School | 2026 | SS | 66 % |
3 | Parker Wilson | GA | Lassiter High School | 2025 | RHP | 60 % |
^ | Ethan Lower | GA | Alexander High School | 2026 | LHP | 60 % |
^ | Dillon Jones | GA | Brookwood High School | 2025 | LHP | 60 % |
4 | Austin Daves | GA | Woodland | 2025 | LHP | 57 % |
5 | Luke Lively | GA | Armuchee High School | 2025 | OF | 50 % |
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 | Nahdir Jackson | GA | Hillgrove High School | 2026 | RHP | 2746 rpm |
2 | Maddox Frazier | GA | Cartersville | 2025 | 3B | 2418 rpm |
3 | Luke Lively | GA | Armuchee High School | 2025 | OF | 2352 rpm |
4 | Parker Wilson | GA | Lassiter High School | 2025 | RHP | 2200 rpm |
5 | Austin Daves | GA | Woodland | 2025 | LHP | 2182 rpm |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Will Clark | GA | Allatoona High School | 2025 | RHP | 10.5 in |
2 | Brayden Mathis | GA | Alexander | 2026 | LHP | -10.1 in |
3 | Luke Lively | GA | Armuchee High School | 2025 | OF | -8.8 in |
4 | Alex Mason | GA | Walton High School | 2026 | RHP | 8.6 in |
5 | Dillon Jones | GA | Brookwood High School | 2025 | LHP | -8.6 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Brody Gray | GA | North Paulding High School | 2025 | LHP | 14.1 |
2 | Alex Mason | GA | Walton High School | 2026 | RHP | -13.4 |
3 | Brayden Mathis | GA | Alexander | 2026 | LHP | 12.1 |
4 | Maddox Frazier | GA | Cartersville | 2025 | 3B | -10.7 |
5 | Luke Lively | GA | Armuchee High School | 2025 | OF | -9.3 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Brayden Mathis | GA | Alexander | 2026 | LHP | 75 % |
2 | Dylan Larsen | GA | Brookwood | 2025 | RHP | 66 % |
^ | Brody Gray | GA | North Paulding High School | 2025 | LHP | 66 % |
3 | Alex Mason | GA | Walton High School | 2026 | RHP | 50 % |
^ | Dillon Jones | GA | Brookwood High School | 2025 | LHP | 50 % |
^ | Nahdir Jackson | GA | Hillgrove High School | 2026 | RHP | 50 % |
^ | Maddox Frazier | GA | Cartersville | 2025 | 3B | 50 % |
4 | Leonardo Yoshioka | GA | Rabun County High School | 2025 | RHP | 40 % |
5 | Luke Lively | GA | Armuchee High School | 2025 | OF | 25 % |
^ | Grayson Zinkand | GA | Dunwoody High School | 2025 | RHP | 25 % |
^ | Austin Daves | GA | Woodland | 2025 | LHP | 25 % |
SLIDER
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Nahdir Jackson | GA | Hillgrove High School | 2026 | RHP | 2580 |
2 | Parker Wilson | GA | Lassiter High School | 2025 | RHP | 2464 |
3 | Hunter Morton | AL | Pike Road High School | 2025 | RHP | 2457 |
4 | Brandon Mercer | GA | Veterans High School | 2026 | SS | 2404 |
5 | Maddox Frazier | GA | Cartersville | 2025 | 3B | 2314 |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Nahdir Jackson | GA | Hillgrove High School | 2026 | RHP | 7.7 in |
2 | Hunter Morton | AL | Pike Road High School | 2025 | RHP | -7.4 in |
3 | Parker Wilson | GA | Lassiter High School | 2025 | RHP | -7.1 in |
4 | Maddox Frazier | GA | Cartersville | 2025 | 3B | -7.0 in |
5 | Aaron Mackinson | GA | MT BETHEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 2025 | RHP | -6.8 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Ethan Lower | GA | Alexander High School | 2026 | LHP | 16.9 |
2 | Hunter Morton | AL | Pike Road High School | 2025 | RHP | -13.7 |
3 | Brandon Mercer | GA | Veterans High School | 2026 | SS | -13.6 |
4 | Aaron Mackinson | GA | MT BETHEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 2025 | RHP | -12.3 |
5 | Maddox Frazier | GA | Cartersville | 2025 | 3B | -11.6 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Brandon Mercer | GA | Veterans High School | 2026 | SS | 50 % |
^ | Nahdir Jackson | GA | Hillgrove High School | 2026 | RHP | 50 % |
^ | Grayson Zinkand | GA | Dunwoody High School | 2025 | RHP | 50 % |
2 | Hunter Morton | AL | Pike Road High School | 2025 | RHP | 33 % |
^ | Ethan Lower | GA | Alexander High School | 2026 | LHP | 33 % |
^ | Parker Wilson | GA | Lassiter High School | 2025 | RHP | 33 % |
3 | Aaron Mackinson | GA | MT BETHEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 2025 | RHP | 25 % |
CHANGEUP
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Leonardo Yoshioka | GA | Rabun County High School | 2025 | RHP | 2156 rpm |
2 | Aaron Mackinson | GA | MT BETHEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 2025 | RHP | 1939 rpm |
3 | Ethan Lower | GA | Alexander High School | 2026 | LHP | 1851 rpm |
4 | Austin Daves | GA | Woodland | 2025 | LHP | 1847 rpm |
5 | Nahdir Jackson | GA | Hillgrove High School | 2026 | RHP | 1791 rpm |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Leonardo Yoshioka | GA | Rabun County High School | 2025 | RHP | 18.2 |
2 | Ethan Lower | GA | Alexander High School | 2026 | LHP | -15.6 |
3 | Austin Daves | GA | Woodland | 2025 | LHP | -15.3 |
4 | Brandon Mercer | GA | Veterans High School | 2026 | SS | 11.6 |
5 | Grayson Zinkand | GA | Dunwoody High School | 2025 | RHP | 11.5 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Aaron Mackinson | GA | MT BETHEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 2025 | RHP | 100 % |
^ | Leonardo Yoshioka | GA | Rabun County High School | 2025 | RHP | 100 % |
2 | Luke Lively | GA | Armuchee High School | 2025 | OF | 75 % |
3 | Nahdir Jackson | GA | Hillgrove High School | 2026 | RHP | 66 % |
^ | Alex Mason | GA | Walton High School | 2026 | RHP | 66 % |
4 | Brody Gray | GA | North Paulding High School | 2025 | LHP | 50 % |
^ | Brayden Mathis | GA | Alexander | 2026 | LHP | 50 % |
^ | Will Clark | GA | Allatoona High School | 2025 | RHP | 50 % |
5 | Hunter Morton | AL | Pike Road High School | 2025 | RHP | 33 % |
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