Milwaukee Preseason ID: Pitching Data Dive
March 30, 2023
On March 18, the PBR Wisconsin team hosted its largest events on the state’s showcase calendar: the Milwaukee Preseason ID at the MOSH Performance Center in Franklin, Wis. Over 240 players from across the state met in the Milwaukee area to participate in this event, a Preseason ID that consistently provides our staff with need-to-know names and players to consider for future invite-only events, like the PBR Future Games, among others.
Yesterday, we published 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
Kyle Alivo
WI
St. Thomas More
2024
RHP
91.1 mph
2
Tyler Wille
WI
Kettle Moraine
2024
LHP
89.9 mph
3
Payten Jibben
WI
Oak Creek
2024
RHP
89.8 mph
4
Ben Moser
WI
Sussex Hamilton
2024
RHP
89.3 mph
5
Robert Barrera
WI
Union Grove
2024
LHP
89.1 mph
6
Adam Urban
WI
Wauwatosa West
2024
RHP
88.8 mph
7
Sam Moses
WI
Cedarburg
2024
RHP
87.8 mph
8
Tannis Lange
WI
Waukesha South
2024
LHP
87.6 mph
9
Tyler Suttner
WI
Waukesha North
2024
RHP
87.3 mph
10
Miles Burchardt
WI
Kettle Moraine
2024
RHP
87.3 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
Jude Ackeret
WI
Cedar Grove Belgium
2024
LHP
2495 rpm
2
Bennett Wolfe
WI
Mukwonago
2024
RHP
2387 rpm
3
Ben Moser
WI
Sussex Hamilton
2024
RHP
2355 rpm
4
Tyler Suttner
WI
Waukesha North
2024
RHP
2341 rpm
5
Nicholas Heisl
WI
Germantown
2024
RHP
2338 rpm
6
Brady Rickert
WI
Oak Creek
2024
RHP
2328 rpm
7
Aidan Perdreau
WI
Mukwonago
2024
3B
2327 rpm
8
Kyle Alivo
WI
St. Thomas More
2024
RHP
2324 rpm
9
Adam Kudronowicz
WI
Mukwonago
2025
LHP
2313 rpm
10
Sawyer Kowalkowski
WI
Ozaukee
2024
OF
2312 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
Noah Ruleford
WI
Burlington High
2026
LHP
21.3 in
2
AJ Curtis
WI
Waukesha North
2024
RHP
19.2 in
3
Payten Jibben
WI
Oak Creek
2024
RHP
18.2 in
4
Logan Laufenberg
WI
Hartford Union
2026
1B
17.9 in
5
Peyton Lenell
WI
Brookfield Central High
2026
SS
17.7 in
6
Paul Goryl
WI
Holmen
2025
OF
17.7 in
7
Ryan Berghauer
WI
Brookfield East
2024
OF
17.6 in
8
Connor Nowak
WI
Menomonee Falls
2026
RHP
17.5 in
9
Robert Barrera
WI
Union Grove
2024
LHP
17.4 in
10
Lennox Peacock
MI
Escanaba
2026
RHP
17.4 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
Tyler Wille
WI
Kettle Moraine
2024
LHP
-17.1
2
Ryan Buchta
WI
Oak Creek
2025
RHP
16.8
3
Chance Ruby
WI
Wilmot
2026
SS
16.8
4
Caden Constantine
WI
Oak Creek High
2026
OF
16.1
5
Ben Verges
WI
Franklin
2025
LHP
-15.9
6
Cooper Dye
WI
Union Grove
2026
3B
15.4
7
Peyton Lenell
WI
Brookfield Central High
2026
SS
15.2
8
Max Frieseke
WI
Whitefish Bay
2025
LHP
-14.8
9
Mike Schoon
WI
University School of Milwaukee
2024
RHP
14.3
10
Tyler Conger
WI
Waukesha South
2024
RHP
14.0
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
Graham Kasten
WI
University School of Milwaukee
2024
1B
85 %
2
Ryan Apel
WI
Homestead
2025
3B
83 %
^
Shane Kimmel
WI
Brookfield East
2026
RHP
83 %
^
Nolan Meis
WI
Lakeside Lutheran
2025
SS
83 %
^
Jack Tschudy
WI
Muskego High
2026
RHP
83 %
3
Adam Urban
WI
Wauwatosa West
2024
RHP
75 %
^
Cruz Ramirez
WI
Muskego
2026
SS
75 %
^
Connor Weeks
WI
Big Foot
2025
OF
75 %
4
Ayden Lysaght
WI
Elkhorn Area High
2025
LHP
71 %
^
Tyler Burns
WI
Mukwonago
2024
RHP
71 %
^
Manuel Sostre
WI
St Thomas More
2025
RHP
71 %
5
Logan Zaverl
WI
Germantown
2025
RHP
66 %
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
Nicholas Heisl
WI
Germantown
2024
RHP
2973 rpm
2
Bennett Wolfe
WI
Mukwonago
2024
RHP
2463 rpm
3
Ben Jimenez
WI
Waukesha South
2024
3B
2439 rpm
4
Oliver Gonzalez
WI
St. Thomas More
2024
3B
2416 rpm
5
Fletcher Filla
WI
Germantown
2024
RHP
2415 rpm
6
Tyler Sachen
WI
Campbellsport
2024
RHP
2395 rpm
7
Grady Loper
WI
Arrowhead
2026
1B
2228 rpm
8
Brayden Pampuch
WI
Mukwonago
2023
RHP
2226 rpm
9
Jude Ackeret
WI
Cedar Grove Belgium
2024
LHP
2226 rpm
10
Sawyer Kowalkowski
WI
Ozaukee
2024
OF
2218 rpm
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
IVB (avg)
1
Ayden Lysaght
WI
Elkhorn Area High
2025
LHP
-16.7 in
2
Jaxon Clayton
WI
Brookfield Central
2025
SS
-14.9 in
3
Gabriel Peters
WI
Waukesha South
2024
SS
-14.8 in
4
Fletcher Filla
WI
Germantown
2024
RHP
-14.7 in
5
Logan Zaverl
WI
Germantown
2025
RHP
-14.2 in
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
HM (avg)
1
Carter Behling
WI
Burlington High
2025
OF
-18.2
2
Nicholas Heisl
WI
Germantown
2024
RHP
-18.0
3
Payton Kaiser
WI
New Berlin West
2024
RHP
-17.7
4
Ben Jimenez
WI
Waukesha South
2024
3B
-17.2
5
Jack Lefler
WI
Sussex Hamilton
2024
SS
-17.0
6
Logan Laufenberg
WI
Hartford Union
2026
1B
-16.8
7
AJ Curtis
WI
Waukesha North
2024
RHP
-16.1
8
Reed Ratay
WI
Kettle Moraine Lutheran
2024
RHP
15.5
9
SAM POLYOCK
WI
Badger High
2024
RHP
-15.5
10
Oliver Gonzalez
WI
St. Thomas More
2024
3B
-15.1
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
Zone %
1
Logan Laufenberg
WI
Hartford Union
2026
1B
100 %
^
AJ Curtis
WI
Waukesha North
2024
RHP
100 %
^
Mariano Taormina
WI
Brookfield East
2026
RHP
100 %
^
Cruz Ramirez
WI
Muskego
2026
SS
100 %
2
Payten Jibben
WI
Oak Creek
2024
RHP
83 %
^
Brayden Alivo
WI
St. Thomas More
2026
SS
83 %
3
Noah Ruleford
WI
Burlington High
2026
LHP
80 %
4
Jayden Pryor
WI
Oak Creek
2026
RHP
75 %
5
Connor Nowak
WI
Menomonee Falls
2026
RHP
66 %
^
Rhett Emons
WI
West Allis Central
2024
2B
66 %
SLIDER
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
Spin Rate (avg)
1
Nicholas Heisl
WI
Germantown
2024
RHP
2894
2
Bryce Balistreri
WI
Pius XI
2024
RHP
2653
3
Brayden Rohde
WI
Oak Creek
2024
RHP
2565
4
Nolan Meis
WI
Lakeside Lutheran
2025
SS
2514
5
Tyler Suttner
WI
Waukesha North
2024
RHP
2495
6
Oliver Gonzalez
WI
St. Thomas More
2024
3B
2470
7
Jude Ackeret
WI
Cedar Grove Belgium
2024
LHP
2466
8
Jack Perkowski
WI
Hartford
2025
LHP
2414
9
Adam Urban
WI
Wauwatosa West
2024
RHP
2403
10
Jaxon Clayton
WI
Brookfield Central
2025
SS
2393
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
IVB (avg)
1
Oliver Gonzalez
WI
St. Thomas More
2024
3B
-11.4 in
2
Nolan Meis
WI
Lakeside Lutheran
2025
SS
-10.2 in
3
Nicholas Heisl
WI
Germantown
2024
RHP
-10.1 in
4
Fletcher Filla
WI
Germantown
2024
RHP
-9.0 in
5
Lucas Wirth
WI
Homestead High
2025
SS
-8.3 in
6
Adam Urban
WI
Wauwatosa West
2024
RHP
-7.3 in
7
Paulson Yesbeck
WI
Elkhorn
2025
RHP
-6.9 in
8
Ryan Apel
WI
Homestead
2025
3B
-6.9 in
9
Max Frieseke
WI
Whitefish Bay
2025
LHP
6.3 in
10
Jayden Forbes
WI
Menomonee Falls
2025
RHP
6.2 in
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
HM (avg)
1
Nicholas Heisl
WI
Germantown
2024
RHP
-21.0
2
Carter Behling
WI
Burlington High
2025
OF
-20.7
3
Logan Laufenberg
WI
Hartford Union
2026
1B
-20.5
4
Parker Brown
WI
Franklin
2024
RHP
-20.1
5
Nolan Meis
WI
Lakeside Lutheran
2025
SS
-18.8
6
Ben Jimenez
WI
Waukesha South
2024
3B
-18.8
7
Joseph Herrick
WI
Franklin
2024
LHP
17.9
8
Oliver Gonzalez
WI
St. Thomas More
2024
3B
-16.9
9
Adam Kudronowicz
WI
Mukwonago
2025
LHP
14.9
10
AJ Curtis
WI
Waukesha North
2024
RHP
-14.6
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
Zone %
1
Jonathan Urban
WI
Wauwatosa West
2026
RHP
100 %
^
Cruz Ramirez
WI
Muskego
2026
SS
100 %
2
Ryan Apel
WI
Homestead
2025
3B
80 %
^
Joseph Herrick
WI
Franklin
2024
LHP
80 %
3
Jack Tschudy
WI
Muskego High
2026
RHP
75 %
4
Jack Perkowski
WI
Hartford
2025
LHP
66 %
5
Brayden Rohde
WI
Oak Creek
2024
RHP
60 %
^
Adam Kudronowicz
WI
Mukwonago
2025
LHP
60 %
^
Fletcher Filla
WI
Germantown
2024
RHP
60 %
CHANGEUP
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
HM (avg)
1
Chance Ruby
WI
Wilmot
2026
SS
21.3
2
Bryce Balistreri
WI
Pius XI
2024
RHP
19.8
3
Tyler Wille
WI
Kettle Moraine
2024
LHP
-18.9
4
Payten Jibben
WI
Oak Creek
2024
RHP
18.1
5
Peyton Lenell
WI
Brookfield Central High
2026
SS
17.7
6
Payton Kaiser
WI
New Berlin West
2024
RHP
17.0
7
Sam Moses
WI
Cedarburg
2024
RHP
16.3
8
Taiven Gass
WI
Hortonville High
2025
RHP
16.2
9
Tyler Conger
WI
Waukesha South
2024
RHP
16.1
10
Mike Schoon
WI
University School of Milwaukee
2024
RHP
15.9
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
Spin Score (max)
1
Jude Ackeret
WI
Cedar Grove Belgium
2024
LHP
32
2
Jack Lefler
WI
Sussex Hamilton
2024
SS
32
3
Nicholas Heisl
WI
Germantown
2024
RHP
32
4
Sawyer Kowalkowski
WI
Ozaukee
2024
OF
31
+ CLICK HERE for a look at the complete statistics from the event.
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