TRACKMAN ARSENAL ANALYSIS

The TrackMan Arsenal Analysis is an overview of a pitcher’s data captured by the same optically-enhanced radar technology found at Major League stadiums. 

This data has become significantly important for high school, Juco and 4-year players. College programs have evolved beyond radar velocity readings, looking deeper into a pitcher's ability to spin and move the ball. In addition to velocity, TrackMan provides pitchers with valuable data points such as spin rate, spin direction, horizontal movement, vertical movement and more. Ultimately providing feedback to college coaches, MLB scouts and the players themselves; to enhance training and also to identify prospects of interest above and beyond simple velocity readings.

At select PBR Showcases and Events, amateur players now have access to the same technology shared by professionals and are able to see how their pitching arsenal compares with those across the state and the country. The TrackMan Arsenal Analysis will highlight those metrics and explain the benefits behind the numbers. 

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Nicolas Argento, RHP, Wayzata, 2021
Trackman Scouting Report

 

At 89-to-91 miles per hour, Nicolas Argento’s velocity profiles well against the nation’s high school arms, landing in the top 10% of those measured on Trackman. During the PBR Midwest Pro Day in September 2020, the right-hander maxed out at 90.74, his highest velocity reading of the season. 

Based on his fastball profile alone, it’s easy to see why major college programs had interest in Argento. He combines this quality fastball with a slider and a changeup. Which ultimately led him to committing to the University of North Carolina.

What separates his fastball is the amount of horizontal run he generates. In three showcases in 2020, Argento has averaged 15 inches of movement or more, diving toward his arm side. Coupled with the high average spin rate over 2,200 RPM (close to being in the top 10% of high school fastball spin rate), this equates to very heavy sinking action. 

According to the Trackman data, his slider shows a positive vertical angle (between 4-5 inches), minimal horizontal movement (near 0 inches), and an average spin rate slightly below his fastball (2,100 RPM). This movement profile is frequently attributed to a pitcher’s fingers staying behind the ball at release, rather than around the side like a football grip, creating that backspin action. With the heavy sink action on his fastball, Argento’s slider gives hitters a different look. 

According to the Trackman data, his slider shows a positive vertical angle (between 4-5 inches), minimal horizontal movement (near 0 inches), and an average spin rate slightly below his fastball (2,100 RPM). This movement profile is frequently attributed to a pitcher’s fingers staying behind the ball at release, rather than around the side like a football grip, creating that backspin action. With the heavy sink action on his fastball, Argento’s slider gives hitters a different look. 

Argento’s changeup moves similarly to his fastball, only with a bit more vertical drop and less horizontal run. This pitch has similar movement direction to his fastball but comes in with 10 miles per hour off of his velocity at 78 miles per hour with approximately 600 fewer rpms. This makes it a solid tunnel pitch, making it difficult for hitters to separate the two pitches.

His three-pitch mix, highlighted by the action on his fastball, gives Argento the foundational tools to succeed at the next level.

	Velo (max)	Avg Spin	Vert. (inches)	Hor. (inches)
Fastball	90.21	2,255	15.3	16.4
Slider	79.53	2,081	3.9	-0.5
Changeup	81.84	1,438	13.3	14.3

*Data from PBR Midwest Pro Day in September 2020

Parker Hageman has published data analysis for over a decade. In addition to co-founding Twins Daily, he has contributed to ESPN, Baseball Prospectus, Star Tribune and WCCO. He is currently an assistant coach at Chanhassen (Minn.) High School. You can follow him on Twitter at @HagemanParker.