Welcome back 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: Peguero possesses high end velocity for a high school arm. With velocity alone he could over power most hitters he faces, but one thing we look at along side fastball velo is the zone %. This is obviously a measurement of how often his fastball is zoned up. Typically a pitcher wants to float around 60% in the zone. This is something that could easily be dialed in along side his stellar velocity and he could continue to prosper even more from it.

Spin Rate: When we look at his spin rate there is nothing extremely eye popping about his numbers so immediately we think, " okay how can Carlos pitch efficiently with his well above average velocity but low spin numbers?" According to Driveline, someone who throws with low spin would benefit through learning a two seam fastball or a sinker to throw as their primary pitch. Low spin balls catch more air on their flight and don't have that some rise effect due to the magnus force on the ball. If Peguero were to learn a sinker it would help him a lot because he has hints of power velo along side a heavy feeling on his ball. Pitching low in the zone will work, but adding a sinker to his plate would help him even more.  

Bauer Units: Peguero falls right into the average or even below average mark on the Bauer Unit scale. This means his spin on his fastball doesn't have that same effect that a high spin ball would to a hitter's eyes. Throwing down in the zone and maybe occasionally chaining the eye level would probably be the best route for Carlos. 

Induced Vertical Break: Taking a look at the IVB chart tips us off pretty quickly that Peguero is slated just about average with his IVB. As said above in the top half of the article, some units are okay to be below average in. In the case of IVB, elite above average and bottom of the chart below average are essentially equally as valuable. See, with less IVB than even the average run-of-the-mill pitcher can induce, Peguero is now presenting his fastball with incredible depth to it. Whether he is purposely doing this or not, his is producing some tremendous numbers. As said earlier, learning a true sinker would be a huge leap in the right direction. His fastball has the IVB numbers to qualify as a sinker, but not the horizontal movement (HM). This can be increased by some simple tinker with finger placement, etc. Ideally, he would want his HM to be around 20". 

Slider Breakdown

Spin Rate: Peguero has very low spin rate on his slider. This could be something as simple as trying to make the pitch move with his wrist snap or not throwing it with full intent similar to his fastball. Spin rate can be slightly improved by adjusting his fingers on the ball to maybe generate a little more spin. With low spin on his slider, another option could be learning a change up as well. Seeing as how he is a low spin guy all together a change up would present itself nicely as it is a low spin pitch naturally. Split change ups are typically liked among the sinker community because they are thrown similarly to their fastball.  

Horizontal/Vertical Break: As break is typically extremely dependent on spin, his break numbers kind of speak for themselves. They are both slightly below average, where in this category you want your break numbers to be above average. I think there is some velocity left in the tank with his slider which in turn would affect the spin and movement. I would not recommended completely scrapping the slider all together, because the more he trusts the pitch and becomes comfortable with it he could end up turning it into an elite pitch. 

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