Rising Stars Preseason All-State: Data Dive - Pitchers
March 7, 2024
Emerson, Georgia: On March 3rd The Prep Baseball Georgia hosted the Rising Stars Preseason All-State event at Lakepoint Sports. This event featured players from the 2028-2029 classes, and it provided our staff with an in-depth look at some high-follow players for the spring and summer season.
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 | Camden Shirley | GA | Trinity Christian School | 2028 | 1B | 82.3 mph |
2 | Wesley Thiry | GA | Norcross | 2028 | RHP | 82.3 mph |
3 | Connor Tysver | GA | Brookwood | 2028 | C | 79.5 mph |
4 | Kingston Jones | GA | Pope | 2028 | SS | 79.1 mph |
5 | Trent Harrison | GA | Central | 2028 | RHP | 77.4 mph |
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Alex Ayala | GA | Mill Creek | 2028 | OF | 2006 rpm |
2 | Banks Halcomb | GA | North Gwinnett | 2028 | OF | 1958 rpm |
3 | Trent Harrison | GA | Central | 2028 | RHP | 1949 rpm |
4 | Wesley Thiry | GA | Norcross | 2028 | RHP | 1930 rpm |
5 | Tyler Hickman | GA | Cartersville | 2029 | C | 1908 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 | Jaden Ross | GA | Forsyth Central High School | 2028 | OF | 95 % |
2 | Xavier Cabrera | GA | Sprayberry High School | 2029 | 1B | 94 % |
3 | Cole Roberts | GA | Walnut Grove | 2028 | 3B | 93 % |
4 | Camden Shirley | GA | Trinity Christian School | 2028 | 1B | 93 % |
5 | Tyler Hickman | GA | Cartersville | 2029 | C | 91 % |
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 | Cal Morrison | GA | Gilmer High School | 2029 | C | 23.2 in |
2 | Jaden Ross | GA | Forsyth Central High School | 2028 | OF | 21.1 in |
3 | Tyler Hickman | GA | Cartersville | 2029 | C | 19.3 in |
4 | Kyiler Elinburg | GA | Buford High School | 2029 | 1B | 19.2 in |
5 | Logan Moss | GA | Social Circle High School | 2029 | RHP | 18.7 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 | Cole Roberts | GA | Walnut Grove | 2028 | 3B | 19.3 |
2 | Xavier Cabrera | GA | Sprayberry High School | 2029 | 1B | 16.0 |
3 | Tyler Hickman | GA | Cartersville | 2029 | C | 15.4 |
4 | Trent Harrison | GA | Central | 2028 | RHP | 15.4 |
5 | Brady Fountain | GA | Oconee County High School | 2028 | SS | 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 | Cal Morrison | GA | Gilmer High School | 2029 | C | 83 % |
2 | Wesley Thiry | GA | Norcross | 2028 | RHP | 71 % |
3 | Cole Johnson | GA | Peachtree Ridge High School | 2028 | LHP | 60 % |
4 | Banks Halcomb | GA | North Gwinnett | 2028 | OF | 58 % |
5 | Josiah Davis | GA | Cherokee | 2028 | OF | 50 % |
^ | Trent Harrison | GA | Central | 2028 | RHP | 50 % |
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 | Matt Kersey | GA | Milton High School | 2028 | OF | 2164 rpm |
2 | Cooper Latson | GA | Mill Creek High School | 2028 | 3B | 2049 rpm |
3 | Cal Morrison | GA | Gilmer High School | 2029 | C | 2003 rpm |
4 | Kingston Jones | GA | Pope | 2028 | SS | 1811 rpm |
5 | Micah Von | GA | Lakeside | 2028 | SS | 1769 rpm |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Cooper Latson | GA | Mill Creek High School | 2028 | 3B | -11.1 in |
2 | Cole Johnson | GA | Peachtree Ridge High School | 2028 | LHP | 9.5 in |
3 | Matt Kersey | GA | Milton High School | 2028 | OF | 7.7 in |
4 | Cal Morrison | GA | Gilmer High School | 2029 | C | -7.3 in |
5 | Cole Roberts | GA | Walnut Grove | 2028 | 3B | 5.5 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Logan Moss | GA | Social Circle High School | 2029 | RHP | -12.6 |
2 | Cal Morrison | GA | Gilmer High School | 2029 | C | -11.1 |
3 | Caden Ponder | GA | North Gwinnett Middle School | 2029 | 1B | 9.4 |
4 | Cooper Latson | GA | Mill Creek High School | 2028 | 3B | -7.9 |
5 | Josiah Davis | GA | Cherokee | 2028 | OF | -6.1 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Kyiler Elinburg | GA | Buford High School | 2029 | 1B | 66 % |
^ | Caden Ponder | GA | North Gwinnett Middle School | 2029 | 1B | 66 % |
2 | Kingston Jones | GA | Pope | 2028 | SS | 60 % |
3 | Cooper Latson | GA | Mill Creek High School | 2028 | 3B | 50 % |
4 | Cole Johnson | GA | Peachtree Ridge High School | 2028 | LHP | 40 % |
5 | Micah Von | GA | Lakeside | 2028 | SS | 33 % |
SLIDER
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Brady Fountain | GA | Oconee County High School | 2028 | SS | 2135 |
2 | Matt Kersey | GA | Milton High School | 2028 | OF | 2125 |
3 | Connor Tysver | GA | Brookwood | 2028 | C | 2045 |
4 | Wesley Thiry | GA | Norcross | 2028 | RHP | 2000 |
5 | Banks Halcomb | GA | North Gwinnett | 2028 | OF | 1915 |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Matt Kersey | GA | Milton High School | 2028 | OF | 6.2 in |
2 | Trent Harrison | GA | Central | 2028 | RHP | 6.0 in |
3 | Alex Ayala | GA | Mill Creek | 2028 | OF | 5.5 in |
4 | Tyler Hickman | GA | Cartersville | 2029 | C | -5.2 in |
5 | Cole Roberts | GA | Walnut Grove | 2028 | 3B | 3.0 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Wesley Thiry | GA | Norcross | 2028 | RHP | -14.1 |
2 | Alex Ayala | GA | Mill Creek | 2028 | OF | -12.3 |
3 | Connor Tysver | GA | Brookwood | 2028 | C | -12.1 |
4 | James Brooks | GA | South Effingham | 2028 | SS | -11.3 |
5 | Tyler Hickman | GA | Cartersville | 2029 | C | -10.0 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Alex Ayala | GA | Mill Creek | 2028 | OF | 50 % |
^ | Tyler Hickman | GA | Cartersville | 2029 | C | 50 % |
2 | Trent Harrison | GA | Central | 2028 | RHP | 40 % |
3 | Brady Fountain | GA | Oconee County High School | 2028 | SS | 33 % |
^ | James Brooks | GA | South Effingham | 2028 | SS | 33 % |
4 | Wesley Thiry | GA | Norcross | 2028 | RHP | 20 % |
CHANGEUP
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Trent Harrison | GA | Central | 2028 | RHP | 1791 rpm |
2 | Tyler Hickman | GA | Cartersville | 2029 | C | 1738 rpm |
3 | Matt Kersey | GA | Milton High School | 2028 | OF | 1729 rpm |
4 | James Brooks | GA | South Effingham | 2028 | SS | 1724 rpm |
5 | Kyiler Elinburg | GA | Buford High School | 2029 | 1B | 1556 rpm |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Brady Fountain | GA | Oconee County High School | 2028 | SS | 16.8 |
2 | Trent Harrison | GA | Central | 2028 | RHP | 16.5 |
3 | Alex Ayala | GA | Mill Creek | 2028 | OF | -16.4 |
4 | Caden Ponder | GA | North Gwinnett Middle School | 2029 | 1B | -14.9 |
5 | Kyiler Elinburg | GA | Buford High School | 2029 | 1B | 14.3 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Alex Ayala | GA | Mill Creek | 2028 | OF | 100 % |
^ | Xavier Cabrera | GA | Sprayberry High School | 2029 | 1B | 100 % |
2 | Camden Shirley | GA | Trinity Christian School | 2028 | 1B | 80 % |
3 | Cole Johnson | GA | Peachtree Ridge High School | 2028 | LHP | 75 % |
4 | James Brooks | GA | South Effingham | 2028 | SS | 50 % |
5 | Micah Von | GA | Lakeside | 2028 | SS | 40 % |
^ | Banks Halcomb | GA | North Gwinnett | 2028 | OF | 40 % |
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