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TPG East: Trackman Traits Intriguing Arms

July 7, 2021
Mason McRae
PBR Virginia/DC

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The expanded usage of data, and the importance of it in regards to player development and player assessment is a legitimate, undeniable tool used by high school, college, and professional teams across the country. Today we break down some of the data from recent Top Prospects Game East event. See which players stood out in regards to Trackman data. 
Glossary Terms Intro & Links:

Induced Vertical Break: IVB
Vertical Approach Angle: VAA 
Horizontal Break: HB
Release Speed: RS or Velo
Release Height: RH or RelHei

Most Intriguing Data Profiled Arms:



Fastball: Threw it in the zone the third-most of the day (54.5%) and he averaged the most spin (2,112) with an extremely low release and sixth-lowest of the day. Threw the pitch at 12:45, created above average IVB (17.8 inches) with very little HB (7.8 inches). Had 20+ inches of IVB on three of his pitches. Was up to 82.8 mph, averaged out at 81 mph. Potential for flat approach angle on pitch with improved velocity as combination low release/vertical axis could give off ideal shape for heavy whiff rates.

Curveball: Loose tilt distribution. Threw it lateral from 7:00 twice, and vertical from 8:00 five times. The latter pitches played like sweeping breakers while the former ones played more like 11/5 CB’s with low spin efficiency. Averaged 1,997 rpm, -7.7 inches of IVB, and -11.5 of HB. Up to 69.8 mph with it, settled in at 68 mph. Could try and turn the pitch into two different pitches, one downward breaking CB to compliment the FB and a sweeping pitch with more velocity and plate coverage.

Changeup: 5.1 mph difference from the FB with 1,639 rpm. Shared similar movement profile to the FB with 21.7 inches of IVB and 7.2 of HB from a vertical axis. It’s a high spin efficiency pitch with almost entirely downward break.





Fastball: Had the hardest pitch all day at 85.9 mph. Averaged out at 84.0 mph with 1,968 rpm. Creates heavy backspin with slight gyro spin. His most vertical axis came at 11:45, a pitch in which he averaged 24.9 inches of IVB, his most all day. Pitch had slight cut at times, but he created 18 or more inches of lift on every single pitch. 

Curveball: Threw most of his CB’s at 3:30/3:45 and created plus sweep (14+ inches of HB), but he threw one CB (4:30 tilt with equal IVB/HB movement) that messed up his average. Threw it on average at 65.2 mph with 2,099 rpm.

Changeup: Just one CH, was thrown at 76.2 mph with a tilt similar to his FB. Movement profile looked the same as FB, just slower and with less raw movement due to less spin (1,131 rpm). 11:00 tilt, 7.8 mph slower than his FB. 



Fastball: Threw it in the zone (69.2%) more than any pitcher in the event, and 11.7% more than the next guy. Averaged the second most vertical carry on the pitch (21.2 inches) with second hardest pitch on the day (85.8 mph), and the highest average effective velocity (82.3 mph). Throws from a high, vertical slot. Gets near perfect backspin at 12:45 with slight sidespin creating slight run. Best FB on the day came from a 12:45 tilt. Created 24 inches of IVB and 9.8 inches of HB. It was his fifth hardest pitch, but had the single-most bauer units on a lone pitch (24.3) with his most raw spin (2,056 rpm). Threw just two fastballs with less than 20 inches of IVB, but one had slightly more than 13 inches of HB at 1:15 and the other had his third lowest amount of raw spin (an indication of less raw movement capabilities to work with). This is a very high spin efficiency, back spinning four-seam shape with the ability to miss bats even with a somewhat neutral approach angle due to it’s near perfect movement profile, relative to the slot at his age.

Slider: Averaged 10 or more inches of sweep on all of his sliders. Had slight drop with heavy sweep on the pitch. Threw it at 72.5 mph on average with tilts ranging from 7:45 - 8:15. Below average raw spin at 2,197 rpm. Threw it in the zone 66.7% of the time.

Changeup: Threw just one. Killed lift well and had just 6.1 inches of IVB on the pitch with 16 inches of HB. Looks like a high spin efficiency pitch at 2:15 with 1,532 rpm. Had 16.4 mph of separation from his FB.