Georgia Senior Games: Data Dive - Pitchers
September 11, 2023
On September 2nd, we hosted Class of 2024 grads at the Georgia Senior Games. This event featured some of the top uncommitted 2024 players in the state, and it provided our staff with an in-depth look at some high-follow players into the fall and next spring.
Inside today’s Pitching Data dive we will highlight the players with top metrics per Trackman.
Early this week, we broke down the stat leaders from the more traditional categories in our statistical analysis. Today, we will take an even closer look at the pitchers in attendance with the help of our tech partners, broken down by the categories and leaderboards below.
FASTBALL
MAX VELOCITY (MPH)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Velocity (max) |
1 | Brycen Horne | GA | Mary Persons | 2024 | RHP | 88.9 mph |
2 | Sebastian Haggard | GA | Ringgold | 2024 | RHP | 87.8 mph |
3 | Tommy Dowd | GA | Cambridge High School | 2024 | RHP | 87.4 mph |
4 | Dozier Swain | GA | Terrell Academy | 2024 | OF | 87.0 mph |
5 | Sawyer Wilson | GA | Cartersville High School | 2024 | RHP | 86.2 mph |
6 | Foster Currie | GA | Sprayberry | 2024 | OF | 85.4 mph |
7 | Lucas Hurd | GA | Lakeside | 2024 | SS | 85.1 mph |
8 | Elias (Eli) Hanna | GA | Greater Atlanta Christian | 2024 | RHP | 84.6 mph |
9 | Landon Estes | GA | North Paulding | 2024 | RHP | 84.6 mph |
10 | Andrew Bernard | GA | Norcross | 2024 | SS | 84.3 mph |
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Joshua Gray Emmett | GA | Apalachee | 2024 | LHP | 2207 rpm |
2 | Landon Estes | GA | North Paulding | 2024 | RHP | 2197 rpm |
3 | Dozier Swain | GA | Terrell Academy | 2024 | OF | 2151 rpm |
4 | Sawyer Wilson | GA | Cartersville High School | 2024 | RHP | 2127 rpm |
5 | Lucas Hurd | GA | Lakeside | 2024 | SS | 2091 rpm |
6 | Sebastian Haggard | GA | Ringgold | 2024 | RHP | 2079 rpm |
7 | Elias (Eli) Hanna | GA | Greater Atlanta Christian | 2024 | RHP | 2078 rpm |
8 | Andrew Bernard | GA | Norcross | 2024 | SS | 2037 rpm |
9 | Tommy Dowd | GA | Cambridge High School | 2024 | RHP | 1996 rpm |
10 | Brycen Horne | GA | Mary Persons | 2024 | RHP | 1949 rpm |
Spin Rate: This metric calculates the rate of spin on the baseball as it leaves the pitcher’s hand, measured in revolutions per minute (rpm). Historical data shows that high-spin fastballs lessen the impact of gravity, allowing for more ‘rise’ (or less fall, in other words) as it carries through the zone. Low-spin fastballs typically indicate the pitch has greater horizontal action, often making it tougher to square up, but generally easier to make contact with, leading to more ground balls, while high-spin fastballs show a correlation with swings and misses.
SPIN EFFICIENCY% (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Efficiency % (avg) |
1 | Sebi Nastase | GA | Blessed trinity Catholic | 2024 | RHP | 95 % |
2 | Lance Frazer | GA | Johns Creek | 2024 | RHP | 94 % |
3 | Eli Gardenhire | TN | Boyd Buchanan | 2024 | LHP | 94 % |
4 | William Alexander | GA | Victory Baptist School | 2024 | SS | 93 % |
5 | Garrett Waugh | GA | East Jackson | 2024 | LHP | 87 % |
6 | Sebastian Haggard | GA | Ringgold | 2024 | RHP | 86 % |
7 | Heath Henley | GA | Alexander | 2024 | RHP | 86 % |
8 | Foster Currie | GA | Sprayberry | 2024 | OF | 86 % |
9 | Tommy Dowd | GA | Cambridge High School | 2024 | RHP | 84 % |
10 | Virgil Heath | GA | Brookwood | 2024 | 3B | 84 % |
Spin Efficiency: This metric is the percentage of the raw spin rate that directly impacts pitch movement; so while raw spin is measured by revolutions per minute (rpm), spin efficiency is the ratio of true spin divided by raw spin. It’s important to understand that more is not always better when it comes to spin efficiency. The optimal spin efficiency on a pitch depends on the pitch type and should be understood in the context of a pitcher’s entire arsenal. Regarding the true four-seam fastball, a spin efficiency close to 100 percent is preferable, indicating that nearly all the backspin generated on the ball as it leaves the pitcher’s hand is contributing to the “riding” action the pitch has as it enters and exits the strike zone, making it especially effective in the upper third of the strike zone.
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Garrett Waugh | GA | East Jackson | 2024 | LHP | 20.3 in |
2 | Sebastian Haggard | GA | Ringgold | 2024 | RHP | 19.2 in |
3 | Eli Gardenhire | TN | Boyd Buchanan | 2024 | LHP | 18.7 in |
4 | Landon Estes | GA | North Paulding | 2024 | RHP | 17.7 in |
5 | Dozier Swain | GA | Terrell Academy | 2024 | OF | 16.5 in |
6 | Sebi Nastase | GA | Blessed trinity Catholic | 2024 | RHP | 15.9 in |
7 | Lance Frazer | GA | Johns Creek | 2024 | RHP | 15.8 in |
8 | Brycen Horne | GA | Mary Persons | 2024 | RHP | 14.8 in |
9 | Andrew Bernard | GA | Norcross | 2024 | SS | 14.8 in |
10 | Virgil Heath | GA | Brookwood | 2024 | 3B | 14.8 in |
Induced Vertical Break: Used in short form as "IVB," this metric is most important on fastballs for creating rise and on curveballs for creating depth – it can also have some use when measuring sliders and cutters as well. Sliders tend to be closer to zero inches while cutters are generally between 5 and 15 inches. Usually fastballs and curveballs with large IVB have higher spin efficiencies as well. Sliders generally have very little (closer to zero) IVB and very low spin efficiency. You could also categorize IVB into spin rate as this is part of the “useful movement” you’re looking for. IVB is also a huge part of the vertical approach angle.
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Tommy Dowd | GA | Cambridge High School | 2024 | RHP | 17.6 |
2 | Sebi Nastase | GA | Blessed trinity Catholic | 2024 | RHP | 15.3 |
3 | Sawyer Wilson | GA | Cartersville High School | 2024 | RHP | 14.5 |
4 | Gavin Wein | GA | Cambridge | 2024 | RHP | 12.1 |
5 | Heath Henley | GA | Alexander | 2024 | RHP | 12.0 |
6 | Eli Gardenhire | TN | Boyd Buchanan | 2024 | LHP | -11.2 |
7 | William Alexander | GA | Victory Baptist School | 2024 | SS | 10.4 |
8 | Foster Currie | GA | Sprayberry | 2024 | OF | 10.1 |
9 | Virgil Heath | GA | Brookwood | 2024 | 3B | 10.0 |
10 | Ross Ducey | GA | Benedictine military school | 2024 | SS | 9.9 |
Horizontal Break: Outlined on TrackMan’s own website: “... horizontal movement is measured in inches between where the pitch actually crosses the front of home plate side-wise, and where it would have crossed home plate side-wise if had it traveled in a perfectly straight line from release. A positive number means the break was to the right from the pitcher’s perspective, while a negative number means the break was to the left from the pitcher’s perspective.”
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Brooks Gresehover | GA | Marietta | 2024 | SS | 100 % |
2 | Tommy Dowd | GA | Cambridge High School | 2024 | RHP | 78 % |
3 | Landon Estes | GA | North Paulding | 2024 | RHP | 74 % |
4 | Joshua Gray Emmett | GA | Apalachee | 2024 | LHP | 67 % |
5 | Duncan Kennedy | GA | North Cobb | 2024 | RHP | 60 % |
6 | Sebastian Haggard | GA | Ringgold | 2024 | RHP | 58 % |
7 | Virgil Heath | GA | Brookwood | 2024 | 3B | 57 % |
^ | Foster Currie | GA | Sprayberry | 2024 | OF | 57 % |
8 | Jordan Oldknow | GA | Seckinger | 2024 | 3B | 56 % |
9 | Lance Frazer | GA | Johns Creek | 2024 | RHP | 54 % |
10 | Eli Gardenhire | TN | Boyd Buchanan | 2024 | LHP | 52 % |
Average MLB pitchers throw 62 percent strikes, and better pitchers throw strikes 65 percent of the time, or a ratio of roughly 2:1, strikes to balls.
CURVEBALL
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Landon Tankersley | GA | Houston County | 2024 | RHP | 2597 rpm |
2 | Virgil Heath | GA | Brookwood | 2024 | 3B | 2380 rpm |
3 | Dozier Swain | GA | Terrell Academy | 2024 | OF | 2367 rpm |
4 | Joshua Gray Emmett | GA | Apalachee | 2024 | LHP | 2353 rpm |
5 | Sawyer Wilson | GA | Cartersville High School | 2024 | RHP | 2322 rpm |
6 | Sebastian Haggard | GA | Ringgold | 2024 | RHP | 2314 rpm |
7 | Jordan Oldknow | GA | Seckinger | 2024 | 3B | 2076 rpm |
8 | Landon Estes | GA | North Paulding | 2024 | RHP | 2060 rpm |
9 | Andrew Bernard | GA | Norcross | 2024 | SS | 2054 rpm |
10 | Eli Gardenhire | TN | Boyd Buchanan | 2024 | LHP | 2021 rpm |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Dozier Swain | GA | Terrell Academy | 2024 | OF | -12.9 in |
2 | Virgil Heath | GA | Brookwood | 2024 | 3B | -11.0 in |
3 | Landon Tankersley | GA | Houston County | 2024 | RHP | -10.2 in |
4 | Sawyer Wilson | GA | Cartersville High School | 2024 | RHP | -7.4 in |
5 | Duncan Kennedy | GA | North Cobb | 2024 | RHP | -6.6 in |
6 | Joshua Gray Emmett | GA | Apalachee | 2024 | LHP | -6.1 in |
7 | Sebastian Haggard | GA | Ringgold | 2024 | RHP | 4.4 in |
8 | Landon Estes | GA | North Paulding | 2024 | RHP | 4.1 in |
9 | William Wallace | GA | Archer | 2024 | OF | 3.6 in |
10 | Will Maier | GA | Grayson | 2024 | RHP | 3.1 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Sawyer Wilson | GA | Cartersville High School | 2024 | RHP | -14.6 |
2 | Gavin Wein | GA | Cambridge | 2024 | RHP | -13.1 |
3 | Landon Tankersley | GA | Houston County | 2024 | RHP | -12.7 |
4 | Virgil Heath | GA | Brookwood | 2024 | 3B | -11.9 |
5 | Dozier Swain | GA | Terrell Academy | 2024 | OF | -11.9 |
6 | Jordan Oldknow | GA | Seckinger | 2024 | 3B | -11.7 |
7 | Joshua Gray Emmett | GA | Apalachee | 2024 | LHP | 11.5 |
8 | Shelton Whigham | GA | Roswell | 2024 | 1B | 10.9 |
9 | Eli Gardenhire | TN | Boyd Buchanan | 2024 | LHP | 8.5 |
10 | Andrew Bernard | GA | Norcross | 2024 | SS | -7.9 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Landon Tankersley | GA | Houston County | 2024 | RHP | 81 % |
2 | Garrett Waugh | GA | East Jackson | 2024 | LHP | 71 % |
3 | Andrew Bernard | GA | Norcross | 2024 | SS | 60 % |
4 | Shelton Whigham | GA | Roswell | 2024 | 1B | 50 % |
^ | Duncan Kennedy | GA | North Cobb | 2024 | RHP | 50 % |
^ | Foster Currie | GA | Sprayberry | 2024 | OF | 50 % |
5 | Ross Ducey | GA | Benedictine military school | 2024 | SS | 40 % |
6 | Virgil Heath | GA | Brookwood | 2024 | 3B | 33 % |
^ | Jordan Oldknow | GA | Seckinger | 2024 | 3B | 33 % |
^ | Eli Gardenhire | TN | Boyd Buchanan | 2024 | LHP | 33 % |
7 | Heath Henley | GA | Alexander | 2024 | RHP | 30 % |
8 | William Alexander | GA | Victory Baptist School | 2024 | SS | 28 % |
9 | Landon Estes | GA | North Paulding | 2024 | RHP | 27 % |
10 | Sebastian Haggard | GA | Ringgold | 2024 | RHP | 25 % |
SLIDER
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Joshua Gray Emmett | GA | Apalachee | 2024 | LHP | 2431 |
2 | Elias (Eli) Hanna | GA | Greater Atlanta Christian | 2024 | RHP | 2390 |
3 | Landon Tankersley | GA | Houston County | 2024 | RHP | 2296 |
4 | Lucas Hurd | GA | Lakeside | 2024 | SS | 2278 |
5 | Brycen Horne | GA | Mary Persons | 2024 | RHP | 2199 |
6 | Tommy Dowd | GA | Cambridge High School | 2024 | RHP | 2192 |
7 | Brooks Gresehover | GA | Marietta | 2024 | SS | 2074 |
8 | Lance Frazer | GA | Johns Creek | 2024 | RHP | 1982 |
9 | Sebastian Haggard | GA | Ringgold | 2024 | RHP | 1851 |
10 | Eli Gardenhire | TN | Boyd Buchanan | 2024 | LHP | 1840 |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Sebastian Haggard | GA | Ringgold | 2024 | RHP | 12.9 in |
2 | Eli Gardenhire | TN | Boyd Buchanan | 2024 | LHP | 9.6 in |
3 | Lucas Hurd | GA | Lakeside | 2024 | SS | 6.4 in |
4 | Landon Tankersley | GA | Houston County | 2024 | RHP | -3.7 in |
5 | Brooks Gresehover | GA | Marietta | 2024 | SS | -3.0 in |
6 | Elias (Eli) Hanna | GA | Greater Atlanta Christian | 2024 | RHP | -2.5 in |
7 | Lance Frazer | GA | Johns Creek | 2024 | RHP | 2.0 in |
8 | Will Maier | GA | Grayson | 2024 | RHP | 1.0 in |
9 | Brycen Horne | GA | Mary Persons | 2024 | RHP | -0.8 in |
10 | Joshua Gray Emmett | GA | Apalachee | 2024 | LHP | 0.6 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Tommy Dowd | GA | Cambridge High School | 2024 | RHP | -14.4 |
2 | Elias (Eli) Hanna | GA | Greater Atlanta Christian | 2024 | RHP | -11.6 |
3 | Eli Gardenhire | TN | Boyd Buchanan | 2024 | LHP | -11.3 |
4 | Landon Tankersley | GA | Houston County | 2024 | RHP | -10.5 |
5 | Joshua Gray Emmett | GA | Apalachee | 2024 | LHP | 10.5 |
6 | Brooks Gresehover | GA | Marietta | 2024 | SS | -8.6 |
7 | Lucas Hurd | GA | Lakeside | 2024 | SS | -7.5 |
8 | Brycen Horne | GA | Mary Persons | 2024 | RHP | -7.0 |
9 | Sebastian Haggard | GA | Ringgold | 2024 | RHP | -5.9 |
10 | Will Maier | GA | Grayson | 2024 | RHP | -4.5 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Will Maier | GA | Grayson | 2024 | RHP | 100 % |
2 | Tommy Dowd | GA | Cambridge High School | 2024 | RHP | 75 % |
3 | Landon Tankersley | GA | Houston County | 2024 | RHP | 62 % |
4 | Brooks Gresehover | GA | Marietta | 2024 | SS | 57 % |
5 | Elias (Eli) Hanna | GA | Greater Atlanta Christian | 2024 | RHP | 50 % |
6 | Sebastian Haggard | GA | Ringgold | 2024 | RHP | 33 % |
^ | Lance Frazer | GA | Johns Creek | 2024 | RHP | 33 % |
^ | Eli Gardenhire | TN | Boyd Buchanan | 2024 | LHP | 33 % |
7 | Joshua Gray Emmett | GA | Apalachee | 2024 | LHP | 30 % |
8 | Lucas Hurd | GA | Lakeside | 2024 | SS | 20 % |
CHANGEUP
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Brycen Horne | GA | Mary Persons | 2024 | RHP | 1849 rpm |
2 | Eli Gardenhire | TN | Boyd Buchanan | 2024 | LHP | 1725 rpm |
3 | Landon Estes | GA | North Paulding | 2024 | RHP | 1644 rpm |
4 | Dozier Swain | GA | Terrell Academy | 2024 | OF | 1617 rpm |
5 | Sawyer Wilson | GA | Cartersville High School | 2024 | RHP | 1597 rpm |
6 | Lucas Hurd | GA | Lakeside | 2024 | SS | 1544 rpm |
7 | Garrett Waugh | GA | East Jackson | 2024 | LHP | 1453 rpm |
8 | Gavin Wein | GA | Cambridge | 2024 | RHP | 1436 rpm |
9 | Foster Currie | GA | Sprayberry | 2024 | OF | 1374 rpm |
10 | Shelton Whigham | GA | Roswell | 2024 | 1B | 1354 rpm |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Gavin Wein | GA | Cambridge | 2024 | RHP | 15.5 |
2 | Foster Currie | GA | Sprayberry | 2024 | OF | 14.5 |
3 | Eli Gardenhire | TN | Boyd Buchanan | 2024 | LHP | -14.4 |
4 | Lucas Hurd | GA | Lakeside | 2024 | SS | 13.7 |
5 | Sawyer Wilson | GA | Cartersville High School | 2024 | RHP | 13.5 |
6 | Dozier Swain | GA | Terrell Academy | 2024 | OF | 12.4 |
7 | Sebastian Haggard | GA | Ringgold | 2024 | RHP | 10.9 |
8 | Landon Estes | GA | North Paulding | 2024 | RHP | 6.3 |
9 | Jordan Oldknow | GA | Seckinger | 2024 | 3B | 5.3 |
10 | Shelton Whigham | GA | Roswell | 2024 | 1B | 4.6 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Sebastian Haggard | GA | Ringgold | 2024 | RHP | 100 % |
^ | Dozier Swain | GA | Terrell Academy | 2024 | OF | 100 % |
2 | Lucas Hurd | GA | Lakeside | 2024 | SS | 50 % |
^ | Sawyer Wilson | GA | Cartersville High School | 2024 | RHP | 50 % |
3 | Brycen Horne | GA | Mary Persons | 2024 | RHP | 33 % |
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