Joliet Preseason ID: Pitching Data Dive
March 8, 2023
On Sunday, Feb. 26, the PBR Illinois team hosted the Joliet Preseason ID at Rhino Baseball Academy in Shorewood, Ill. The event featured almost 130 players from the surrounding area and gave our staff an in-depth look at numerous prospects before the IHSA season takes off.
Monday, we took a closer look at some of the immediate standouts who caught our attention with our Quick Hits. Yesterday, we published our statistical analysis, where we broke down the stat leaders from the more traditional categories. Today, we will take a further in-depth look at the top pitchers with the help of our tech partnerships, broken down by the categories down below:
TRACKMAN
FASTBALL
VELOCITY (MAX)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Velocity (max) |
1 | Keegan Waters | IL | Morris | 2024 | RHP | 88.2 mph |
2 | Ryan Exline | IL | Tinley Park | 2024 | RHP | 87.0 mph |
3 | Elliott Alicea | IL | Burlington Central | 2024 | OF | 85.9 mph |
4 | Ryan Sobun | IL | Joliet West | 2025 | 2B | 85.8 mph |
5 | John Meier | IL | Glenbrook South | 2024 | RHP | 85.6 mph |
Max Fastball Velocity: This metric calculates the speed of the pitch as it’s released from the pitcher’s hand.
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
Spin Rate (avg)
1
Matthew Szyska
IL
Prospect
2024
RHP
2304 rpm
2
Lucas Grant
IL
Joliet Catholic
2025
LHP
2240 rpm
3
Jack Zlogar
IL
Providence Catholic
2023
RHP
2234 rpm
4
Braydon McKendrick
IL
Brother Rice
2026
LHP
2202 rpm
5
Bode Bregar
IL
Oswego East
2024
RHP
2186 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.
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
IVB (avg)
1
Colin Pfeifer
IL
Morris
2025
LHP
20.4 in
2
Bradley Crawford
IL
Glenbrook South
2024
RHP
18.7 in
3
Lawrence Dennis Jr.
IL
Lincoln Park
2026
RHP
18.3 in
4
Collin Duffy
IL
Maine West
2024
RHP
18.2 in
5
Ian Campbell
IL
Joliet Catholic
2026
RHP
17.5 in
6
Jimmy Sloan
IL
St. Laurence
2024
OF
17.1 in
7
Noah Pharo
IL
minooka
2025
16.9 in
8
Andrew Mueller
IL
St. Francis
2024
RHP
16.7 in
9
Canden Hardman
IL
Lexington
2024
C
16.7 in
10
Caleb Edwards
IL
Tremont
2024
3B
16.3 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
Alek Terlecki
IL
Glenwood
2025
1B
-20.1
2
Ryan Young
IL
Manteno
2024
LHP
-17.2
3
Lucas Grant
IL
Joliet Catholic
2025
LHP
-16.7
4
Nolan Buchen
IL
Orion
2025
2B
16.1
5
Aaron Katz
IL
Hinsdale Central
2026
RHP
15.6
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
Cody DelFavero
IL
Morris
2024
OF
100 %
^
Gabe Sanders
IL
Yorkville
2026
LHP
100 %
^
Michael Boenzi
IL
Lake Zurich
2025
RHP
100 %
2
Jacob Kozelka
IL
Lockport
2025
C
83 %
3
Jacob Oberwise
IL
Saint Viator
2026
3B
80 %
4
Andrew Mueller
IL
St. Francis
2024
RHP
77 %
^
Ian Campbell
IL
Joliet Catholic
2026
RHP
77 %
5
Bode Bregar
IL
Oswego East
2024
RHP
71 %
^
Ashton Janowski
IL
Oak Forest
2025
RHP
71 %
^
Jack Zlogar
IL
Providence Catholic
2023
RHP
71 %
Average MLB pitchers throw 62% strikes, and better pitchers throw strikes 65% of the time, or roughly 2:1 strikes to balls.
CURVEBALL
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
Spin Rate (avg)
1
John Balla
IL
Hersey
2024
RHP
2621 rpm
2
Michael Boenzi
IL
Lake Zurich
2025
RHP
2591 rpm
3
Ryan Exline
IL
Tinley Park
2024
RHP
2523 rpm
4
Alec Novotney
IL
Marquette Academy
2026
SS
2436 rpm
5
Jack Zlogar
IL
Providence Catholic
2023
RHP
2421 rpm
6
Colin Kuchay
IL
Minooka Community High School
2026
3B
2331 rpm
7
Caleb Edwards
IL
Tremont
2024
3B
2311 rpm
8
Matthew Szyska
IL
Prospect
2024
RHP
2311 rpm
9
Lucas Grant
IL
Joliet Catholic
2025
LHP
2252 rpm
10
Camden Loomis
IL
Ottawa
2024
RHP
2230 rpm
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
IVB (avg)
1
Nolan Hooper
IL
Yorkville Christian
2025
RHP
-17.4 in
2
Noah Pharo
IL
minooka
2025
-14.7 in
3
Bradley Crawford
IL
Glenbrook South
2024
RHP
-14.3 in
4
Carson Miller
IL
Wheaton Academy
2025
1B
-12.0 in
5
John Balla
IL
Hersey
2024
RHP
-11.5 in
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
HM (avg)
1
Jack Zlogar
IL
Providence Catholic
2023
RHP
-18.8
2
Jacob Kozelka
IL
Lockport
2025
C
-17.5
3
Aaron Katz
IL
Hinsdale Central
2026
RHP
-16.8
4
Michael Boenzi
IL
Lake Zurich
2025
RHP
-16.6
5
John Balla
IL
Hersey
2024
RHP
-15.6
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
Zone %
1
Jimmy Sloan
IL
St. Laurence
2024
OF
80 %
^
Caleb Edwards
IL
Tremont
2024
3B
80 %
^
Jerry O'Reilly
IL
Ridgewood
2024
LHP
80 %
^
Jacob Kozelka
IL
Lockport
2025
C
80 %
^
Jack Zlogar
IL
Providence Catholic
2023
RHP
80 %
2
Matthew Szyska
IL
Prospect
2024
RHP
75 %
3
Colin Pfeifer
IL
Morris
2025
LHP
66 %
4
Jack Hughes
IL
Marmion Academy
2025
LHP
60 %
^
Nash Brubaker
IL
Herscher
2026
1B
60 %
^
Michael Langan
IL
Neuqua Valley
2025
3B
60 %
^
Colin Kuchay
IL
Minooka Community High School
2026
3B
60 %
^
Joshua Prosise
IL
Joliet West
2024
3B
60 %
^
Adam Gerl
IL
Lincoln-Way West
2025
RHP
60 %
^
Nolan Buchen
IL
Orion
2025
2B
60 %
SLIDER
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
Spin Rate (avg)
1
Matthew Szyska
IL
Prospect
2024
RHP
2503
2
Bode Bregar
IL
Oswego East
2024
RHP
2398
3
Benjamin Shea
IL
Lincoln-Way West
2024
SS
2374
4
Cody Yakimisky
IL
Mundelein
2024
RHP
2348
5
Gavin Fuscone
IL
St. Charles East
2026
2B
2287
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
IVB (avg)
1
Benjamin Shea
IL
Lincoln-Way West
2024
SS
-18.0 in
2
Nolan Hooper
IL
Yorkville Christian
2025
RHP
-16.9 in
3
Braydon McKendrick
IL
Brother Rice
2026
LHP
-10.0 in
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
HM (avg)
1
Canden Hardman
IL
Lexington
2024
C
-15.0
2
Noah Pharo
IL
minooka
2025
-14.3
3
Cody Yakimisky
IL
Mundelein
2024
RHP
-13.3
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
Zone %
1
Nolan Hooper
IL
Yorkville Christian
2025
RHP
100 %
^
Bode Bregar
IL
Oswego East
2024
RHP
100 %
2
Canden Hardman
IL
Lexington
2024
C
80 %
3
Gavin Fuscone
IL
St. Charles East
2026
2B
66 %
^
Nolan Sullivan
IL
Brother Rice
2026
LHP
66 %
4
Pablo Herrera
IL
Plainfield South High School
2025
3B
60 %
^
Matthew Szyska
IL
Prospect
2024
RHP
60 %
^
Justin Buckner
IL
St. Rita
2025
RHP
60 %
CHANGEUP
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
HM (avg)
1
Subhaan Khan
IL
Saint Charles North
2026
RHP
17.1
2
Ryan Sobun
IL
Joliet West
2025
2B
16.2
3
Cade Laudeman
IL
Morris Community
2026
RHP
16.1
4
Aaron Katz
IL
Hinsdale Central
2026
RHP
15.8
5
Jack Zlogar
IL
Providence Catholic
2023
RHP
15.6
6
Jackson Miranda
IL
Minooka
2026
3B
15.2
7
Andrew Mueller
IL
St. Francis
2024
RHP
15.1
8
Lucas Grant
IL
Joliet Catholic
2025
LHP
-15.1
9
Michael Langan
IL
Neuqua Valley
2025
3B
14.9
10
Alec Novotney
IL
Marquette Academy
2026
SS
14.8
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
Spin Score (max)
1
Lawrence Dennis Jr.
IL
Lincoln Park
2026
RHP
30
2
Colin Kuchay
IL
Minooka Community High School
2026
3B
30
3
Matthew Szyska
IL
Prospect
2024
RHP
29
4
Bradley Crawford
IL
Glenbrook South
2024
RHP
28
5
Carson Miller
IL
Wheaton Academy
2025
1B
28
+ CLICK HERE for a look at the complete statistics from the event.
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