Prep Baseball Report

O'Hare Preseason ID: Pitching Data Dive


Kevin Cronin
Tech Analyst, Area Scout

On Sunday, Feb. 12, the PBR Illinois team hosted the O'Hare Preseason ID at Bo Jackson's Elite Sports in Bensenville, Ill. The event featured over 202 players and provided our staff with an in-depth look at some of the area's top prospects.

Yesterday, we broke down the top measurable data performers from the event with our Statistical Analysis.  Now, 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 Tucker King IL Lyons Township 2025 RHP 89.6 mph
2 Brayden Mazzacano IL Schaumburg 2024 OF 88.9 mph
3 Ryan Harris IL Stevenson 2026 OF 88.4 mph
4 Chase Powrozek IL Burlington Central 2025 RHP 87.4 mph
5 Jake Shumaker IL Lyons Township 2024 1B 87.0 mph
6 Andrew Kouris IL Nazareth Academy 2025 3B 86.3 mph
7 Asher Malin IL Glenbrook North 2024 RHP 84.7 mph
8 Tadgh Callaghan IL Brother Rice 2025 RHP 84.6 mph
9 Mac McGarry IL Nazareth Academy 2025 RHP 84.3 mph
10 Christian McGrath IL St. Rita 2024 RHP 84.1 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 Mac McGarry IL Nazareth Academy 2025 RHP 2299 rpm
2 Jack Wilson IL New Trier 2024 RHP 2273 rpm
3 Jackson Clark IL Hinsdale Central 2025 RHP 2237 rpm
4 Timothy McCormick IL lyons township 2025 LHP 2231 rpm
5 Kyle Wayda IL Jacobs 2025 RHP 2222 rpm
6 Max Lerner IL Glenbrook North 2025 RHP 2216 rpm
7 Andrew Kouris IL Nazareth Academy 2025 3B 2212 rpm
8 Joshua Wicker IL Fenwick 2024 2B 2186 rpm
9 Ryan Harris IL Stevenson 2026 OF 2179 rpm
10 Blake Heyer IL Montini Catholic 2026 RHP 2176 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 Drew Hyland IL NAZARETH ACADEMY 2026 OF 20.4 in
2 Aadden Guerrero IL St. Laurence 2025 SS 19.8 in
3 Gaetano Bucciferro IL Rockford Christian 2025 LF 19.5 in
4 AJ Kilburg IL Oak Park River Forest 2025 RHP 19.0 in
5 McHenry Mason IL Evanston 2024 RHP 18.8 in
6 Peyton Robinson IN Mount Carmel 2024 LHP 18.7 in
7 Beau Li IL Barrington 2026 3B 18.6 in
8 Jacob Younan IL Taft 2024 3B 18.5 in
9 Andrew Lim IL Niles West 2025 OF 18.4 in
10 Ryan Harris IL Stevenson 2026 OF 17.3 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 Thomas Ferguson IL Evanston 2024 RHP 18.4
2 Mikas Nicklin IL Loyola Academy 2026 3B 16.8
3 Alex Zagorin IL Niles North 2024 RHP 16.6
4 Jackson Clark IL Hinsdale Central 2025 RHP 16.6
5 Tucker King IL Lyons Township 2025 RHP 16.4
6 Frank Porcelli IL Downers Grove North 2024 RHP 15.9
7 Max Kaplan IL New Trier 2024 LHP -15.7
8 Andrew Kouris IL Nazareth Academy 2025 3B 15.4
9 Danny Kienzle IL Lyons Township 2025 LHP -15.2
10 Riley Blackwell IL John Hersey 2025 LHP -15.1

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 Ian MacKinnon IL Fenwick 2024 OF 100 %
2 Tucker King IL Lyons Township 2025 RHP 85 %
3 Frank Porcelli IL Downers Grove North 2024 RHP 83 %
^ Austin Dresser IL Hononegah 2024 3B 83 %
^ Pete Zimmerman IL Maine South 2024 RHP 83 %
4 Owyn Edwards IL Oak Park-River Forest 2026 RHP 80 %
5 Connor Griffin IL Main South 2026 RHP 66 %
^ Anthony Fry IL Libertyville 2025 RHP 66 %
^ Chase Riccelli IL Wheaton North 2025 2B 66 %
^ Riley Blackwell IL John Hersey 2025 LHP 66 %
^ Bobby Biggs IL Willowbrook High School 2026 RHP 66 %
^ Max Lerner IL Glenbrook North 2025 RHP 66 %
^ James Villanueva IL Lyons Township 2024 RHP 66 %

 


 

CURVEBALL

SPIN RATE (AVG.)

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Rate (avg)
1 Tadgh Callaghan IL Brother Rice 2025 RHP 2321 rpm
2 Jack Wilson IL New Trier 2024 RHP 2288 rpm
3 Owyn Edwards IL Oak Park-River Forest 2026 RHP 2286 rpm
4 Peyton Robinson IN Mount Carmel 2024 LHP 2282 rpm
5 Riggins Kohl IL York 2026 OF 2270 rpm
6 Tucker King IL Lyons Township 2025 RHP 2245 rpm
7 Max Lerner IL Glenbrook North 2025 RHP 2238 rpm
8 Caleb Williams IL South Elgin 2024 3B 2225 rpm
9 Mac McGarry IL Nazareth Academy 2025 RHP 2208 rpm
10 Johnny Nelson IL Oak Park-River Forest 2026 SS 2194 rpm

INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)

Rank Name State School Class Pos IVB (avg)
1 Blake Heyer IL Montini Catholic 2026 RHP -17.2 in
2 Warren Furio IL Lake Park 2026 RHP -16.6 in
3 AJ Kilburg IL Oak Park River Forest 2025 RHP -13.2 in
4 Bobby Biggs IL Willowbrook High School 2026 RHP -12.6 in
5 Beau Li IL Barrington 2026 3B -12.6 in

HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)

Rank Name State School Class Pos HM (avg)
1 Tucker King IL Lyons Township 2025 RHP -17.7
2 Aadden Guerrero IL St. Laurence 2025 SS -17.5
3 Grant Cook IL Hinsdale Central 2026 3B -16.9
4 Tadgh Callaghan IL Brother Rice 2025 RHP -16.1
5 Beau Li IL Barrington 2026 3B -15.1

STRIKE ZONE RATE%

Rank Name State School Class Pos Zone %
1 Warren Furio IL Lake Park 2026 RHP 80 %
^ Brooks Kooken IL Fenwick 2026 LHP 80 %
^ Cameron McCasey IL Stevenson 2026 OF 80 %
^ Jacob Conover IL Wheaton Warrenville South H S 2026 3B 80 %
^ Tadgh Callaghan IL Brother Rice 2025 RHP 80 %
2 AJ Kilburg IL Oak Park River Forest 2025 RHP 75 %
3 Alex Zagorin IL Niles North 2024 RHP 66 %
^ Max Lerner IL Glenbrook North 2025 RHP 66 %
^ Jacob Younan IL Taft 2024 3B 66 %

 


 

SLIDER

SPIN RATE (AVG.)

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Rate (avg)
1 Joshua Wicker IL Fenwick 2024 2B 2396
2 Thomas Ferguson IL Evanston 2024 RHP 2317
3 Blake Heyer IL Montini Catholic 2026 RHP 2281
4 Jack Wilson IL New Trier 2024 RHP 2195
5 Nate Brezak IL Lake Forest 2026 LHP 2182
6 Caleb Williams IL South Elgin 2024 3B 2174
7 Sam Higgins IL Maine South 2026 LHP 2156
8 Kyle Wayda IL Jacobs 2025 RHP 2108
9 Ryan Harris IL Stevenson 2026 OF 2084
10 Aadden Guerrero IL St. Laurence 2025 SS 2081

INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)

Rank Name State School Class Pos IVB (avg)
1 Blake Heyer IL Montini Catholic 2026 RHP -10.8 in
2 Thomas Ferguson IL Evanston 2024 RHP -10.5 in
3 Eli Lopez IL North Boone 2024 3B -7.0 in
4 Jaylen Ortiz IL De La Salle 2023 1B 6.8 in
5 Andrew Pastewski IL Addison Trail 2024 RHP 6.7 in

HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)

Rank Name State School Class Pos HM (avg)
1 Thomas Ferguson IL Evanston 2024 RHP -22.0
2 Jaryd Vence IL Hampshire 2024 RHP -19.5
3 Blake Heyer IL Montini Catholic 2026 RHP -18.3
4 Nate Brezak IL Lake Forest 2026 LHP 18.0
5 Aadden Guerrero IL St. Laurence 2025 SS -16.6
6 Eli Lopez IL North Boone 2024 3B -15.3
7 Max Kaplan IL New Trier 2024 LHP 15.0
8 Caleb Williams IL South Elgin 2024 3B -14.0
9 Danny Kienzle IL Lyons Township 2025 LHP 12.7
10 Jack Wilson IL New Trier 2024 RHP -11.7

STRIKE ZONE RATE%

Rank Name State School Class Pos Zone %
1 Eli Lopez IL North Boone 2024 3B 100 %
^ Jack Wilson IL New Trier 2024 RHP 100 %
2 Joshua Wicker IL Fenwick 2024 2B 80 %
^ Blake Heyer IL Montini Catholic 2026 RHP 80 %
^ James Villanueva IL Lyons Township 2024 RHP 80 %
3 Colin Geier IL Fenwick 2024 LHP 75 %
4 Jaylen Ortiz IL De La Salle 2023 1B 71 %
5 Jacob Younan IL Taft 2024 3B 66 %

 


 

CHANGEUP

HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)

Rank Name State School Class Pos HM (avg)
1 Riley Blackwell IL John Hersey 2025 LHP -18.6
2 Thomas Ferguson IL Evanston 2024 RHP 18.3
3 Tadgh Callaghan IL Brother Rice 2025 RHP 17.8
4 Brooks Kooken IL Fenwick 2026 LHP -17.1
5 Warren Furio IL Lake Park 2026 RHP 16.6
6 Brayden Mazzacano IL Schaumburg 2024 OF -15.7
7 LUKA ROGANOVIC IL Taft 2026 1B 15.7
8 Jake Shumaker IL Lyons Township 2024 1B 15.5
9 Austin Dresser IL Hononegah 2024 3B 15.4
10 Patrick Kennedy IL Champaign Central 2025 RHP 15.3

STRIKE ZONE RATE%

Rank Name State School Class Pos Zone %
1 Emmanuel Deoudes IL IC Catholic Prep 2026 SS 100 %
^ Nate Brezak IL Lake Forest 2026 LHP 100 %
^ Ben Jarnecke IL Fenwick 2025 C 100 %
2 Max Lerner IL Glenbrook North 2025 RHP 80 %
^ Will Tomczak IL Fenwick 2026 RHP 80 %
^ Thomas Ferguson IL Evanston 2024 RHP 80 %
^ Tadgh Callaghan IL Brother Rice 2025 RHP 80 %
^ Joshua Wicker IL Fenwick 2024 2B 80 %
^ Colin Geier IL Fenwick 2024 LHP 80 %
3 Liam Arnold IL Palatine 2024 RHP 75 %
4 Daniel Stone IL New Trier 2024 2B 66 %

+ CLICK HERE for a look at the complete statistics from the event.

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