Trackman Traits - Pitching: Maxwell McGrady (Central Bucks East)
December 21, 2020
Trackman Traits - Pitching: Maxwell McGrady (Central Bucks East)
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.
CURVE BALL 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.
2020 Scouting Reports
Physical: Physical, imposing 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame with advanced strength in the lower half and feel for his body; mound presence stands out.
Pitching: RHP - Utilized a slow tempo in the delivery and the ball jumps out of his hand through a quick high ¾ arm-slot with slight hip pull away from the plate. Fastball worked 84-87 mph with good life and with extra juice above the belt. Mixed a quality 68-71 mph breaking ball that featured 11/5 and 12/6 shape depending on how he spun it which has the makings of an out pitch. Dropped in a 75-76 mph CH as well with occasional arm-side fade.
2/08/20
Physical: 6-foot-1, 195-pound primary pitcher.
Pitching: Sat 88-90 from a high 3/4 arm slot with a quick arm and command of three pitches. Fastball has riding life late in the zone. Maintains arm speed on curveball at 70-74 with 11/5 spin and consistent two-plane action. Slider at 73-74 showed later, shorter break. The left-handed hitter starts from an open stance and initiates his swing with a knee-to-knee stride. Hands work very well through contact creating backspin and present power. Registered a bat exit velocity of 91 mph and ran a 7.28 60-yard dash. Moves well in the outfield and showcased straight line throws of 88 mph to home plate.
Fastball Breakdown
Velocity: Simply taking a look at his velocity in reference to the graphic above, you can see that Maxwell is in the top 10% for high school velocity. If we were going to take a very surface are look at Max we could just tell him to go out and try to over power hitters, but there more to it than that. The next couple numbers we look at will be able to help us get a better read on where the success can lie within his repertoire.
Spin Rate: McGrady also lies in the top 10% for fastball spin rate. Seeing as how spin rate and velocity travel on a linear path with each other, it can be said that he will most likely remain a "high spin guy" in the future. By looking at this metric and fastball velocity it would be easy to say McGrady should throw up in the zone for swing and miss fastballs, but let's take one more look at an easy metric to help determine this conclusion.
Bauer Units: Right away we know that McGrady is far above the average in Bauer Units (23). Because this measurement takes velocity into account when looking at the spin rate, we know that if McGrady were to throw fastballs in the upper half of the zone, the frequency of them would be up to him, he would find success in missing barrels and inducing fly balls and weak contact. Seeing as how the spin and velocity are both in the top 10%, hitters are not used to seeing this type of pitch flight so they would have a hard time adjusting.
Induced Vertical Break: If we take a look at his Fastball IVB we actually have a tangible measurement of ball flight. On average for his FB the IVB was 18" and the maximum was 20". This tells us that although he has high Bauer Units with spin and velocity, it is still possible that he can throw up in the zone but due to the IVB not being in a higher percentile it would be suggested that he only venture up in the zone looking for a punch out or an early count swing and miss.
Curveball Breakdown
When evaluating a curveball we have to remember that the eye test is always the easiest way, not the same can be said for a fastball. McGrady's curveball numbers are not as eye popping as his fastball. If you look at his spin they would in between the top 75%-top 50% region on the graphic above, but if we look at the metric we haven't broken down it would be the IVB. At -9" this would once again, put his off the charts in the highest rank possible for this measurement. He showcases a curveball with nearly the same amount of horizontal break as vertical break. When these measurements are nearly the same it would qualify his curveball as more of a "slurve" pitch due to the tilt of the pitch being diagonal as opposed to more vertical as most curveballs are.
UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| 2021 Preseason All-State - South/Central | PA | 02/06 | Iron Horse Sports Complex |
| Super 60 Pro Showcase | NATIONAL | 02/07 | MOSH Performance Center |
| 2021 Preseason All-State - Pittsburgh (3PM Session) | PA | 02/07 | All American Fieldhouse |
| 2021 Preseason All-State - Pittsburgh (9AM Session) | PA | 02/07 | All American Fieldhouse |
| 2021 Northeast ProCase (2021 Grads Only) | PA | 02/13 | Liberty Sports Arena |
| 2021 Preseason All-State - Erie | PA | 02/13 | Erie Premier Sports |
| 2021 Preseason All-State - North/Central | PA | 02/14 | Liberty Sports Arena |
| 2021 Preseason All-State - East (11AM Session) | PA | 02/27 | Keystone State Baseball Academy |
| 2021 Preseason All-State East (3PM Session) | PA | 02/27 | Keystone State Baseball Academy |
| 2021 JR PA State Games Trials - Central | PA | 03/06 | Liberty Sports Arena |
| 2021 JR PA State Games Trials - East | PA | 03/14 | Keystone State Baseball Academy |
| 2021 JR PA State Games Trials - West | PA | 03/14 | All American Fieldhouse |
Physical: Extremely strong and durable 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame with projectability throughout / imposing presence on the mound.
Pitching: RHP - Slow and deliberate rocker step with controlled pace throughout the delivery, medium-high leg lift with hip coil at the top of the stack and races down the mound with advanced lower half drive off of a bent backside, landed directional towards the plate while getting good extension over the front side out of a power high ¾ arm-slot. FB had downhill plane and heaviness to it at 85-88 mph (2343 rpms of spin per Trackman Baseball), paired a quality 69-71 mph CB featuring 11/5 shape and late depth to it out of the same slot. High strikeout potential with the ability to season a third pitch as he moves forward.