Trackman Traits - Pitching: 2023 RHP Raymond Saatman (Sayre HS)

Welcome to Trackman Traits! In this piece we will be dissecting the numbers the Trackman produces and the effect they can have on a pitcher's approach. Below there will be definitions of each category that we believe to be the most important for a young arm to keep in mind as well as breaking down an arm and giving suggestions on how they can improve their game. Keep in mind, in some categories it is better to be further away from average even if the numbers are wavering on below average. 
 

FASTBALL VELOCITY

Fastball velocity doesn't go much deeper than just looking at the numbers and comparing them to the graphic below! Fastball velocity complements just about all of the other metrics that are measured. If you throw hard, it makes all your other pitches/metrics even better.

FASTBALL SPIN RATE

Spin rate is a measurement that if you are below average or above average, you can pitch with more room for error. On the other hand, if you are average you should try to throw in the bottom half of the zone with exceptional command. High spin fastballs profile as one that is frequently described as having "late life". Low spin fastballs tend to profile as a fastball that has heavy feel to it. Pitch movement is still dependent on spin direction of the pitch but Trackman does not have that metric displayed on profiles. 

BAUER UNITS

Bauer Units are an easier way of determining how useful the spin numbers are compared to the velocity. We can calculate this metric by taking average spin rate and dividing it by average velocity. Bauer Units are useful because we can have a case of two pitchers with the same spin numbers, ex. 2200 RPM, but one pitcher throws 90 MPH and the other throws 83 MPH. The pitcher throwing 90 MPH with 2200 spin is not as impressive as the pitcher throwing 83 MPH with the same spin. Typically, we would tell the harder throwing pitcher to throw up in the zone purely off his velocity and his high spin, but because his Bauer Units would equate to around 24 that would be only 1 unit off of average (23), therefore he would want to hammer the bottom of the zone. On the other side, the pitcher throwing 83 MPH has a Bauer Unit measurement of 26 which is incredibly impressive. This would allow him to throw up in the zone even though his velocity is not blow away type numbers because he produces above average spin with that slated velocity. 

FASTBALL INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK

As far as deception and importance goes, fast induced vertical break (IVB) may be the most important. Induced vertical break is not what is sounds. IVB simply means the pitch is "breaking" upward from the average level a pitch falls from release to home plate. This is a stat that you want to stay away from being average at. Fortunately, this can be tweaked slightly depending on release height. To put it simply, the higher number =  more "rise" the pitch has compared to average. Lower number = more depth the pitch has to it. 

CURVEBALL SPIN RATE

Spin rate on curveballs is pretty simple: higher spin = nastier stuff. There are some ways to manipulate spin numbers slightly but for the most part spin is spin. At the moment, there are no well known ways to change your spin in a big way. Spin not only dictates how sharp your curveball is, but it can also aid in keeping hitters honest by having similar rotation matching that of your fastball. 

Fastball Breakdown

Velocity: Saatman impresses very much initially with his velocity. With max velo around 86 MPH and working velo 84-85 MPH he sets himself up well for a '23 arm. The best thing about young arms is there is always room for them to grow and mature. Saatman has velocity on his side already but he could add more simply by adding to his frame. 

Spin Rate (SR): With Saatman having well above average velocity, he even has well above average spin. It appears that Saatman has the given ability to spin the ball. Because velocity and spin move on a linear path, his spin will only go higher if he continues to throw his fastball the same way when his velocity increases. There are no definite ways to increase spin in large increments, but there are certainly ways to kill it quickly. Unless Saatman begins cutting his fastball or anything similar when his velocity jumps, his spin should continue to climb the ladder. 

Bauer Units: Bauer Units are valuable in the evaluation of if the spin is good for the level of velocity. Falling in around 27 units, it is apparent that Saatman creates some really good spin for his velocity. His spin is well above the typical amount for his velocity. This usually means that there could be an uptick in velocity coming soon or there is a leak in velo somewhere within his mechanics. 

Induced Vertical Break (IVB): Saatman falls into the upper half of the chart for induced vertical break. This can be used to his advantage often as he is clearly going to be a power arm with good spin. Venturing up in the zone on punch out counts or even in any advantage count would be something he could get away with. Although his IVB numbers aren't incredible, they are good enough to be a bottom of the zone guy that ventures up now and again. 

Slider Breakdown

Spin Rate (SR): Saatman's Trackman profile says this pitch is a curveball but by looking at the numbers we can see that it profiles as more of a slider. With the spin he induces it puts him in the top 50% which would be "average". Since spin is a number that can't be directly manipulated, there isn't much he can do to increase it but throw the pitch harder. Spin directly has an effect on movement, so higher spin = bigger slider. 

Horizontal/Vertical Break: When we look at horizontal movement (HM) you want to think about it on a number line scale from the pitcher's view to home. At pitcher's mound, the measurement would be zero if someone threw a pitch that didn't move to either side. If a pitch moves to the left, it is a negative number and if a pitch moves to the right it would be a positive number. When a slider has a negative number it means is has some vertical depth to it. When we pair this with the horizontal movement coming in around 8" is a quality pitch. This pitch is fairly elite with big sweeping movements side to side. Saatman could easily throw this on the outer half of the plate to a RHH and let it work off the plate for swing and misses. He could even throw this right at a RHH and let it break in zone or throw it as a back door, early count pitch to a LHH. 

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