Prep Baseball Report

Focusing On Being A Pitcher Proves Beneficial For Roberts


Bruce Hefflinger
PBR Michigan Senior Writer

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Focusing On Being A Pitcher Proves Beneficial For Roberts

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Kellen Roberts

Class of 2023 / RHP

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2023
  • Primary Position: RHP
    Secondary Position: 2B
  • High School: Monroe
    State: MI
  • Summer Team: Cincy Spikes
  • Height: 6-0
    Weight: 185lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R

Statistics

Pitching
89
Max FB
(06/13/22)
85 - 89
FB
(06/13/22)
69 - 71
CB
(06/13/22)
79 - 80
CH
(03/05/22)
78 - 79
SL
(03/05/22)
Pitching
Max FB
89
FB
85 - 89
CB
69 - 71
SL
73 - 79
Pitching
Max FB
86
FB
84 - 86
CB
65 - 66
CH
79 - 80
SL
78 - 79
Pitching
Max FB
86
FB
81 - 85
CB
62 - 66
Pitching
Max FB
85
FB
83 - 84
CB
67 - 68
CH
74 - 76
SL
70 - 71
Pitching
Max FB
77
FB
74 - 77
CB
58 - 61
Pitching
Max FB
80
FB
78 - 80
CB
64 - 67
CH
68 - 69
SL
69 - 71
Pitching
Max FB
80
FB
75 - 78
CB
58 - 60
CH
62 - 65
Position
7.28
60-yard
(03/06/21)
88
INF Velo
(06/22/21)
92
Exit Velo
(03/06/21)
Power Speed Score
(03/06/21)
Position
60-yard
7.28
INF Velo
85
Exit Velo
92
Power Speed Score
Position
60-yard
7.43
INF Velo
82
Exit Velo
89
Power Speed Score
Position
60-yard
7.54
INF Velo
78
Exit Velo
79
Trackman - Fastball
88.7
Velocity (max)
(06/13/22)
84.0 - 86.5
Velo Range
(06/13/22)
83.2
Eff Velocity (avg)
(06/13/22)
2384
Spin Rate (max)
(03/06/21)
2239
Spin Rate (avg)
(03/06/21)
IVB (max)
(06/13/22)
IVB (avg)
(06/13/22)
HM (max)
(03/06/21)
HM (avg)
(03/06/21)
Extension (avg)
(06/22/21)
Release Ht (avg)
(06/22/21)
Spin Score (max)
(03/06/21)
Zone %
(06/22/21)
Trackman - Fastball
Velocity (max)
88.7
Velo Range
84 - 86.5
Eff Velocity (avg)
83.2
Spin Rate (max)
2309
Spin Rate (avg)
2206
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
Trackman - Fastball
Velocity (max)
85.3
Velo Range
81.1 - 85.3
Eff Velocity (avg)
82.2
Spin Rate (max)
2241
Spin Rate (avg)
2104
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
Trackman - Fastball
Velocity (max)
85.2
Velo Range
83.5 - 85
Eff Velocity (avg)
82.5
Spin Rate (max)
2384
Spin Rate (avg)
2239
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
Trackman - Curveball
69.5
Velocity (max)
(06/13/22)
66.6 - 67.6
Velo Range
(03/06/21)
67.5
Eff Velocity (avg)
(06/13/22)
2523
Spin Rate (max)
(06/13/22)
2523
Spin Rate (avg)
(06/13/22)
IVB (max)
(03/06/21)
IVB (avg)
(06/13/22)
HM (max)
(06/13/22)
HM (avg)
(06/13/22)
Extension (avg)
(03/06/21)
Release Ht (avg)
(03/06/21)
Spin Score (max)
(06/13/22)
Trackman - Curveball
Velocity (max)
69.5
Eff Velocity (avg)
67.5
Spin Rate (max)
2523
Spin Rate (avg)
2523
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Trackman - Curveball
Velocity (max)
67.9
Velo Range
66.6 - 67.6
Eff Velocity (avg)
65.4
Spin Rate (max)
2386
Spin Rate (avg)
2360
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Trackman - Slider
79.8
Velocity (max)
(06/13/22)
74.0 - 79.0
Velo Range
(06/13/22)
74.3
Eff Velocity (avg)
(06/13/22)
2567
Spin Rate (max)
(06/13/22)
2516
Spin Rate (avg)
(06/13/22)
IVB (max)
(06/13/22)
IVB (avg)
(06/13/22)
HM (max)
(06/13/22)
HM (avg)
(06/13/22)
Extension (avg)
(06/22/21)
Release Ht (avg)
(06/22/21)
Spin Score (max)
(06/22/21)
Zone %
(06/22/21)
Trackman - Slider
Velocity (max)
79.8
Velo Range
74 - 79
Eff Velocity (avg)
74.3
Spin Rate (max)
2567
Spin Rate (avg)
2516
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Trackman - Slider
Velocity (max)
74.3
Velo Range
67.7 - 74.3
Eff Velocity (avg)
68.1
Spin Rate (max)
2475
Spin Rate (avg)
2414
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
Trackman - Slider
Velocity (max)
71.1
Velo Range
70.4 - 71.1
Eff Velocity (avg)
68.7
Spin Rate (max)
2387
Spin Rate (avg)
2367
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Trackman - ChangeUp
76.9
Velocity (max)
(03/06/21)
74.3 - 76.9
Velo Range
(03/06/21)
74.4
Eff Velocity (avg)
(03/06/21)
1562
Spin Rate (max)
(03/06/21)
1436
Spin Rate (avg)
(03/06/21)
IVB (max)
(03/06/21)
IVB (avg)
(03/06/21)
HM (max)
(03/06/21)
HM (avg)
(03/06/21)
Extension (avg)
(03/06/21)
Release Ht (avg)
(03/06/21)
Spin Score (max)
(03/06/21)
Trackman - ChangeUp
Velocity (max)
76.9
Velo Range
74.3 - 76.9
Eff Velocity (avg)
74.4
Spin Rate (max)
1562
Spin Rate (avg)
1436
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Trackman - Hitting
92.9
Exit Velocity (max)
(03/05/22)
84.2
Exit Velocity (avg)
(03/06/21)
217
Distance (avg)
(03/05/22)
330
Distance (max)
(03/05/22)
Hard Hit %
(03/06/21)
Sweet Spot %
(07/14/20)
Line Drive %
(07/14/20)
Fly Ball %
(03/05/22)
Ground Ball %
(03/06/21)
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
92.9
Exit Velocity (avg)
81.8
Distance (avg)
217
Distance (max)
330
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
91.5
Exit Velocity (avg)
83.8
Distance (avg)
180
Distance (max)
290
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
92.3
Exit Velocity (avg)
84.2
Distance (avg)
128
Distance (max)
288
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
89.4
Exit Velocity (avg)
79.2
Distance (avg)
194
Distance (max)
307
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
Blast - Hitting
24.8
Hand Speed (max)
(03/06/21)
23.4
Hand Speed (avg)
(03/06/21)
73.0
Bat Speed (max)
(03/05/22)
68.8
Bat Speed (avg)
(03/06/21)
Rot. Acc (max)
(03/06/21)
Rot. Acc (avg)
(06/22/21)
On Plane Eff (avg)
(03/05/22)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
(03/05/22)
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
21.8
Hand Speed (avg)
20.9
Bat Speed (max)
73
Bat Speed (avg)
68.6
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
21.7
Hand Speed (avg)
21
Bat Speed (max)
68.1
Bat Speed (avg)
65
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
24.8
Hand Speed (avg)
23.4
Bat Speed (max)
72.6
Bat Speed (avg)
68.8
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency

Vizual_Edge

Visual Skills
74.68
Edge Score
(03/05/22)

Pitch_Scores

Pitch Scores - Fastball
Hop+
(03/06/21)
Rise+
(03/06/21)
Sink+
(03/06/21)
Pitch Scores - Curveball
Hammer+
(03/06/21)
Sweep+
(03/06/21)
Pitch Scores - Curveball
Hammer+
Sweep+
Pitch Scores - Slider
Hammer+
(03/06/21)
Sweep+
(03/06/21)

Focusing On Being A Pitcher Proves Beneficial For Roberts

MONROE - The decision to put his full attention on being a pitcher has paid off for Kellen Roberts with a commitment to Evansville.

“Up until last year I was primarily a middle infielder,” the Monroe High School senior said. “This past summer with Arsenal I put my focus on pitching. I saw my rapid development with pitching and that I was able to get guys out.”

After seeing the 16th-rated 2023 right-handed pitcher in the state of Michigan a year ago at the Tournament of Champions in Cincinnati, Evansville witnessed what Roberts could do on the mound again this past August at the same event.

“I pitched one of my better games all summer,” Roberts revealed. “All of my pitches were working. After the game Evansville reached out and I ended up going on a visit.”

The trip to Indiana went “great” in the eyes of the 17-year-old.

“They started off showing me a bunch of classrooms and the support they have for the business program,” Roberts explained. “Academics is huge for me.”

There was more that stood out about the university that is located a little more than six hours away from his home in southeast Michigan.

“The school itself was really nice, and the coaches were great,” Roberts noted. “It was nice having all of them there and interacting with my whole family. I thought that was awesome.”

Roberts, whose college interest prior to Evansville was from Davenport and Monmouth, received an offer on the visit.

“I sat down to dinner with my parents after that and we talked over the pros and cons,” the 47th-ranked senior in Michigan related. “There were a ton of pros and no cons except that it was six hours away and my mom is going to miss me. After that I called and said I was ready to become an Ace.”

Evansville saw a lot to admire about the 6-0 185-pounder.

“They liked my projectability and that I’m able to put on size,” Roberts said. “They liked that my spin rate is high and that I throw a high percentage of strikes with a lot of swings and misses.”

Improvement over the past year helped make it all become a reality.

“Definitely my mentality has gotten better,” Roberts pointed out. “My velo was lower and that’s picked up. By working on mechanics in the offseason, I’m now able to hit my spots better.”

Roberts gave credit to John Kessling, pitching coach for his summer Spikes team, with playing a key role in his velocity going from 82-84 topping at 85 last year to 85-89 this year.

“Going into 16U summer ball is when I started thinking about college baseball,” Roberts explained. “Until then I was playing for fun. I’d always loved baseball but didn’t see myself playing college baseball. But my coaches saw my potential if I put in the work, I did more than ever before after hearing that and it paid off.”

Admittedly, the recruiting process did not go smoothly.

“It really had ups and downs this past year,” Roberts noted. “I went to a bunch of PBR events and sent out data. I got a lot of positive feedback from coaches, but then things settled down. But this summer it picked back up.”

With a commitment official, Roberts is confident about making an impact at the Missouri Valley Conference school.

“I definitely feel I can bring a lot of success on the mound,” expressed Roberts, a 3.91 student at Monroe who is planning to major in business. “I’m a huge teammate guy who will make sure the energy is there and that everyone is playing well so at the end of the season we’re playing for a regional.”

To be part of a college team has Roberts exuberant about what lies ahead at Evansville.

“I’m looking forward to becoming real close with the guys I’m going to be playing with for the next four years and building a strong relationship with them,” Roberts concluded. “It will be fun playing other programs that have had great success. I can’t wait to put the jersey on and go out and play baseball well.”



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