Joliet Preseason ID: Pitching Data Dive
March 1, 2024
On Feb. 25th, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff hosted the Joliet Preseason ID at the Rhino Sports Academy in Shorewood, Ill. Over 80 players participated in a pro-style workout, gathering unrivaled access to data through our state-of-the-art tech partners, as well as in-depth scouting analysis from our Prep Baseball Illinois staff.
Earlier today, we looked at the top measurable data performers from the event, found in our Statistical Analysis, where we broke down the stat leaders from the more traditional categories.
We will now 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 | Nolan Hooper | IL | Yorkville Christian High School | 2025 | RHP | 88.2 mph |
2 | Bo Anselmi | IL | John Hersey High School | 2025 | RHP | 88.0 mph |
3 | Jackson Schlott | IL | Plainfield North | 2026 | 3B | 85.8 mph |
4 | Kyle Christensen | IL | Joliet Catholic | 2026 | RHP | 85.7 mph |
5 | Ryan Sobun | IL | Joliet West | 2025 | SS | 85.1 mph |
6 | Cameron Barnes | IL | Oak Park & River Forest | 2026 | RHP | 84.7 mph |
7 | Tyree Taylor | IL | Galesburg High School | 2025 | SS | 83.7 mph |
8 | Peyton Horowicz | IL | McHenry Community High School | 2026 | RHP | 83.5 mph |
9 | Matthew Fox | IL | Lockport | 2025 | RHP | 83.0 mph |
10 | Liam Darre | IL | Batavia | 2026 | 3B | 82.9 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 | Tyree Taylor | IL | Galesburg High School | 2025 | SS | 2550 rpm |
2 | Matthew Fox | IL | Lockport | 2025 | RHP | 2407 rpm |
3 | Bo Anselmi | IL | John Hersey High School | 2025 | RHP | 2406 rpm |
4 | Sam Beringer | IL | Plainfield North | 2025 | SS | 2266 rpm |
5 | Kyle Christensen | IL | Joliet Catholic | 2026 | RHP | 2253 rpm |
6 | Ryan Sobun | IL | Joliet West | 2025 | SS | 2213 rpm |
7 | Nolan Hooper | IL | Yorkville Christian High School | 2025 | RHP | 2169 rpm |
8 | Dylan Ignacek | IL | Barrington High School | 2026 | LHP | 2161 rpm |
9 | Liam Darre | IL | Batavia | 2026 | 3B | 2113 rpm |
10 | Seth Gilliland | IL | Waubonsie Valley High School | 2025 | LHP | 2068 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 | Liam Darre | IL | Batavia | 2026 | 3B | 19.2 in |
2 | Adam Simmons | IL | Plainfield North | 2025 | LHP | 19.1 in |
3 | Kaden Chalus | IL | MARQUETTE ACADEMY | 2026 | LHP | 19.1 in |
4 | John Dollinger | IL | Grant Community High School | 2026 | C | 18.4 in |
5 | Santino Vicencio II | IL | Oswego East | 2026 | OF | 16.1 in |
6 | Tyree Taylor | IL | Galesburg High School | 2025 | SS | 16.0 in |
7 | Cole Bissias | IL | Plainfield South High School | 2026 | 1B | 15.9 in |
8 | Nolan Hooper | IL | Yorkville Christian High School | 2025 | RHP | 15.8 in |
9 | Kyle Christensen | IL | Joliet Catholic | 2026 | RHP | 15.8 in |
10 | Matthew Fox | IL | Lockport | 2025 | RHP | 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 | Lucas Farabaugh | IL | Ottawa Township | 2026 | 3B | 16.1 |
2 | Anthony Kilimnik | IL | JOLIET CATHOLIC ACADEMY | 2027 | OF | -14.8 |
3 | Nolan Buchen | IL | Orion | 2025 | 2B | 14.5 |
4 | Ryan Sobun | IL | Joliet West | 2025 | SS | 14.3 |
5 | Peyton Horowicz | IL | McHenry Community High School | 2026 | RHP | 12.3 |
6 | Tim Flanagan | IL | St. Patrick | 2026 | C | 12.0 |
7 | Joshua Hill | IL | MARIAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | 2024 | RHP | 11.9 |
8 | Nathan Scates | IL | Plainfield Central | 2026 | RHP | 11.8 |
9 | Santino Vicencio II | IL | Oswego East | 2026 | OF | 11.6 |
10 | Kaden Chalus | IL | MARQUETTE ACADEMY | 2026 | LHP | -11.3 |
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 | Evan Stinson | IL | Kenwood Academy High School | 2025 | RHP | 83 % |
2 | Nolan Buchen | IL | Orion | 2025 | 2B | 80 % |
3 | Joshua Hill | IL | MARIAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | 2024 | RHP | 62 % |
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 | Matthew Fox | IL | Lockport | 2025 | RHP | 2499 rpm |
2 | Tyree Taylor | IL | Galesburg High School | 2025 | SS | 2459 rpm |
3 | Nolan Hooper | IL | Yorkville Christian High School | 2025 | RHP | 2408 rpm |
4 | Dylan Ignacek | IL | Barrington High School | 2026 | LHP | 2391 rpm |
5 | Ryan Sobun | IL | Joliet West | 2025 | SS | 2379 rpm |
6 | Jackson Schlott | IL | Plainfield North | 2026 | 3B | 2268 rpm |
7 | Bo Anselmi | IL | John Hersey High School | 2025 | RHP | 2182 rpm |
8 | Adam Simmons | IL | Plainfield North | 2025 | LHP | 2067 rpm |
9 | Seth Gilliland | IL | Waubonsie Valley High School | 2025 | LHP | 2058 rpm |
10 | Evan Stinson | IL | Kenwood Academy High School | 2025 | RHP | 2051 rpm |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Bo Anselmi | IL | John Hersey High School | 2025 | RHP | -17.5 in |
2 | Nolan Hooper | IL | Yorkville Christian High School | 2025 | RHP | -15.6 in |
3 | Jackson Schlott | IL | Plainfield North | 2026 | 3B | -15.4 in |
4 | Cameron Barnes | IL | Oak Park & River Forest | 2026 | RHP | -15.0 in |
5 | Matthew Fox | IL | Lockport | 2025 | RHP | -12.8 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Dylan Ignacek | IL | Barrington High School | 2026 | LHP | 19.1 |
2 | Derrick Holmes | IL | Brother Rice | 2025 | OF | -16.5 |
3 | Tyree Taylor | IL | Galesburg High School | 2025 | SS | -16.0 |
4 | Matthew Fox | IL | Lockport | 2025 | RHP | -15.8 |
5 | Owen Chudzinski | IL | Lincoln-way West | 2027 | SS | -14.8 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Nolan Hooper | IL | Yorkville Christian High School | 2025 | RHP | 100 % |
2 | Derrick Holmes | IL | Brother Rice | 2025 | OF | 66 % |
^ | Lucas Farabaugh | IL | Ottawa Township | 2026 | 3B | 66 % |
3 | Tim Flanagan | IL | St. Patrick | 2026 | C | 60 % |
^ | Ryan Sobun | IL | Joliet West | 2025 | SS | 60 % |
SLIDER
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Adam Simmons | IL | Plainfield North | 2025 | LHP | 2514 |
2 | Nolan Hooper | IL | Yorkville Christian High School | 2025 | RHP | 2429 |
3 | Kyle Christensen | IL | Joliet Catholic | 2026 | RHP | 2412 |
4 | Bo Anselmi | IL | John Hersey High School | 2025 | RHP | 2356 |
5 | Sam Beringer | IL | Plainfield North | 2025 | SS | 2298 |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Nolan Hooper | IL | Yorkville Christian High School | 2025 | RHP | -15.9 in |
2 | Kaden Chalus | IL | MARQUETTE ACADEMY | 2026 | LHP | 12.5 in |
3 | Adam Simmons | IL | Plainfield North | 2025 | LHP | -8.9 in |
4 | Bo Anselmi | IL | John Hersey High School | 2025 | RHP | -4.4 in |
5 | Nathan Scates | IL | Plainfield Central | 2026 | RHP | -3.8 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Nolan Hooper | IL | Yorkville Christian High School | 2025 | RHP | -15.0 |
2 | Adam Simmons | IL | Plainfield North | 2025 | LHP | 12.9 |
3 | Bo Anselmi | IL | John Hersey High School | 2025 | RHP | -12.6 |
4 | Sam Beringer | IL | Plainfield North | 2025 | SS | -12.2 |
5 | Noah Pharo | IL | Minooka | 2025 | SS | -10.8 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Liam Darre | IL | Batavia | 2026 | 3B | 100 % |
2 | Adam Simmons | IL | Plainfield North | 2025 | LHP | 50 % |
^ | Bo Anselmi | IL | John Hersey High School | 2025 | RHP | 50 % |
CHANGEUP
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Matthew Fox | IL | Lockport | 2025 | RHP | 2090 rpm |
2 | Mason Garcia | IL | Plainfield East High School | 2026 | RHP | 1950 rpm |
3 | Dylan Ignacek | IL | Barrington High School | 2026 | LHP | 1853 rpm |
4 | Bo Anselmi | IL | John Hersey High School | 2025 | RHP | 1814 rpm |
5 | Ryan Sobun | IL | Joliet West | 2025 | SS | 1807 rpm |
6 | Noah Pharo | IL | Minooka | 2025 | SS | 1791 rpm |
7 | Lucas Farabaugh | IL | Ottawa Township | 2026 | 3B | 1727 rpm |
8 | Nolan Hooper | IL | Yorkville Christian High School | 2025 | RHP | 1708 rpm |
9 | Seth Gilliland | IL | Waubonsie Valley High School | 2025 | LHP | 1682 rpm |
10 | Cole Bissias | IL | Plainfield South High School | 2026 | 1B | 1632 rpm |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Kaden Chalus | IL | MARQUETTE ACADEMY | 2026 | LHP | 19.3 in |
2 | Liam Darre | IL | Batavia | 2026 | 3B | 16.3 in |
3 | John Dollinger | IL | Grant Community High School | 2026 | C | 16.0 in |
4 | Peyton Horowicz | IL | McHenry Community High School | 2026 | RHP | 12.6 in |
5 | Mason Garcia | IL | Plainfield East High School | 2026 | RHP | 12.3 in |
6 | Bo Anselmi | IL | John Hersey High School | 2025 | RHP | 12.3 in |
7 | Matthew Fox | IL | Lockport | 2025 | RHP | 11.9 in |
8 | Ryan Sobun | IL | Joliet West | 2025 | SS | 11.0 in |
9 | Anthony Kilimnik | IL | JOLIET CATHOLIC ACADEMY | 2027 | OF | 10.3 in |
10 | Kamden Muell | IL | Yorkville | 2026 | SS | 10.0 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Derrick Holmes | IL | Brother Rice | 2025 | OF | 18.6 |
2 | Lucas Farabaugh | IL | Ottawa Township | 2026 | 3B | 18.3 |
3 | Owen Chudzinski | IL | Lincoln-way West | 2027 | SS | 17.0 |
4 | Ryan Sobun | IL | Joliet West | 2025 | SS | 16.8 |
5 | Sam Beringer | IL | Plainfield North | 2025 | SS | 15.9 |
6 | Seth Gilliland | IL | Waubonsie Valley High School | 2025 | LHP | -15.1 |
7 | Matthew Fox | IL | Lockport | 2025 | RHP | 14.9 |
8 | Cole Bissias | IL | Plainfield South High School | 2026 | 1B | 13.7 |
9 | Joshua Hill | IL | MARIAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | 2024 | RHP | 13.3 |
10 | Noah Pharo | IL | Minooka | 2025 | SS | 13.2 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | SL |
1 | Kyle Christensen | IL | Joliet Catholic | 2026 | RHP | 75-76 mph |
2 | Liam Darre | IL | Batavia | 2026 | 3B | 73-75 mph |
3 | Nolan Hooper | IL | Yorkville Christian High School | 2025 | RHP | 72-75 mph |
+ CLICK HERE for a look at the complete statistics from the event.
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