October 31, 2023
The 2023 Rising Stars State Games were held October 28-29 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona, Florida. The event featured players from the 2027-2028 classes participating in a pro-style practice and three games over the two-day period in front of the PBR Florida scouting staff.
In today’s Pitching Data Dive, we’ll highlight the players with the best Trackman metrics.
On Monday, we broke down the statistical leaders from the more traditional categories in our statistical analysis. Today we take an even closer look at the pitchers in attendance with the help of our technical partners, broken down by category and rankings below.
TOP SPEED (MPH)
CENTER HUB SPEED (AVERAGE)
Rotation speed: This metric calculates the rotational speed of the baseball as it leaves the pitcher’s hand, measured in revolutions per minute (rpm). Historical data shows that high-spinning fastballs reduce the effects of gravity, allowing for more “rise” (or less fall, in other words) as it travels through the zone. Low-spin fastballs tend to show that the pitch has more horizontal action, often making it harder to level but generally easier to make contact with, resulting in more ground balls, while high-spin fastballs show relationship with swings and misses.
CENTRIFUGE EFFICIENCY % (AVG)
Centrifuge Efficiency: This metric is the percentage of raw RPM that directly affects pitch movement; so while raw spin is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm), spin efficiency is the ratio of true spin divided by raw spin. It is important to understand that more is not always better when it comes to spin efficiency. Optimal pitch rotation efficiency depends on the type of pitch and must be understood in the context of a pitcher’s entire arsenal. For a true four-seam fastball, a spin efficiency close to 100 percent is preferred, indicating that nearly all of the spin generated on the ball as it leaves the pitcher’s hand contributes to the “riding” action that the pitch has as it enters and exits the strike zone, making it particularly effective in the upper third of the strike zone.
INDUCED VERTICAL INTERRUPTION (AVG)
Induced vertical discontinuity: Abbreviated as “IVB”, this metric is most important for fastballs to create lift and curveballs to create depth – it can also be of some use when measuring sliders and cutters. Sliders are usually closer to zero inches, while cutters are usually between 5 and 15 inches. Typically, fastballs and curveballs with a large IVB also have higher spin efficiency. Sliders typically have very little (closer to zero) IVB and very low rotational efficiency. You can also categorize IVB into spin rate as that is part of the “useful motion” you are looking for. The IVB is also a huge part of the vertical approach angle.
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (WED)
Horizontal break: Outlined on TrackMan’s own website: “…horizontal movement is measured in inches between where the pitch actually crosses the front of the home plate on the side and where it would cross the home plate on the side if it had traveled in a perfectly straight line of 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.”
CENTER HUB SPEED (AVERAGE)
INDUCED VERTICAL INTERRUPTION (AVG)
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (WED)
CENTER HUB SPEED (AVERAGE)
INDUCED VERTICAL INTERRUPTION (AVG)
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (WED)
CENTER HUB SPEED (AVERAGE)
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (WED)
+ CLICK HERE to view full statistics from the event.