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: Murray does not possess blow away velocity at the moment. Sitting 80-82 MPH would put Murray around the top 50% of high school arms. With a long, lanky frame he has room to fill in and gain better feel for the way his body moves. Murray possesses clean, repeatable mechanics with a lot more left in the tank. 

Spin Rate: There are some concrete facts here as to whether Murray has a higher velo ceiling than we think rather than just guessing based off physical appearance. With a max SR of 2421 RPM, Murray presents a fastball that plays to a much higher velo than it would with average spin. Typically, when we see an arm with high spin but the velo doesn't quite match up, you can assume there is a leak in velocity somewhere within the mechanics. Although it was said Murray has clean mechanics, there still may be some things he can clean up or move quicker to gain velocity. 

Bauer Units: With a max Bauer Unit measurement of 30, it's pretty easy to say that Murray has a sneaky fastball that has some hop from time to time. Bauer Units are so valuable because you have the numbers right in front of you saying "yes, he does in-fact have the ability to naturally spin the ball". 

Induced Vertical Break: 21" max and 17" average IVB give us even more of a concrete idea of how well Murray's ball is playing through the zone. With a touch more velocity and possibly a couple ticks up in RPM, Murray could see himself being an every day top of the zone type arm. At the moment, he isn't quite there yet but he could mix it up from time to time as a put away pitch. 

Curveball Breakdown

Spin Rate: Murray possesses a fairly decent breaking ball that could be taken to the next level simply by trust and reps. There are flashes of quality movement but at the end of the day when a curveball has less spin than the fastball it comes down to a trust issue with the pitch. When someone, Jared Murray in this case, does not true their curveball they try and manipulate the spin by forcing it to break/spin in their release by snapping the wrist over instead of just find a comfortable grip and angling the wrist and throwing it with fastball arm speed. 

Horizontal/Vertical Break: Right now with the IVB and HM numbers we have present, Murray's curveball gets slated in the top 25%. With almost no horizontal movement on average, the max number possibly being an outlier due to a yanked pitch or different release, his curveball is not moving much either way side to side. This type of curveball is one that would profile as a 12-6 curveball due to the vertical movement being fairly high paired with virtually no movement to either side. If spin can be improved, Jared Murray may have an elite, barrel missing curveball in his repertoire. Someone who throws a tall curveball and has good IVB numbers on their fastball has a deadly combo to work with. Throwing high heat and following it up with a tall, 12-6 curveball is something that lives in hitter's nightmares. This combo is liable to lock hitters up and get some of "sword" swings we are used to seeing on social media nowadays! Keep an eye on Jared Murray as he is one with room to fill in and a ceiling that he isn't close to touching yet. 

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