Welcome back to Trackman Traits. In this piece we will be dissecting the numbers the Trackman produces and the effect they can have on a pitcher's approach. Below there will be definitions of each category that we believe to be the most important for a young arm to keep in mind as well as breaking down an arm and giving suggestions on how they can improve their game. Keep in mind, in some categories it is better to be further away from average even if the numbers are wavering on below average. 

FASTBALL VELOCITY

Fastball velocity doesn't go much deeper than just looking at the numbers and comparing them to the graphic below! Fastball velocity complements just about all of the other metrics that are measured. If you throw hard, it makes all your other pitches/metrics even better.

FASTBALL SPIN RATE

Spin rate is a measurement that if you are below average or above average, you can pitch with more room for error. On the other hand, if you are average you should try to throw in the bottom half of the zone with exceptional command. High spin fastballs profile as one that is frequently described as having "late life". Low spin fastballs tend to profile as a fastball that has heavy feel to it. Pitch movement is still dependent on spin direction of the pitch but Trackman does not have that metric displayed on profiles. 

BAUER UNITS

Bauer Units are an easier way of determining how useful the spin numbers are compared to the velocity. We can calculate this metric by taking average spin rate and dividing it by average velocity. Bauer Units are useful because we can have a case of two pitchers with the same spin numbers, ex. 2200 RPM, but one pitcher throws 90 MPH and the other throws 83 MPH. The pitcher throwing 90 MPH with 2200 spin is not as impressive as the pitcher throwing 83 MPH with the same spin. Typically, we would tell the harder throwing pitcher to throw up in the zone purely off his velocity and his high spin, but because his Bauer Units would equate to around 24 that would be only 1 unit off of average (23), therefore he would want to hammer the bottom of the zone. On the other side, the pitcher throwing 83 MPH has a Bauer Unit measurement of 26 which is incredibly impressive. This would allow him to throw up in the zone even though his velocity is not blow away type numbers because he produces above average spin with that slated velocity. 

FASTBALL INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK

As far as deception and importance goes, fast induced vertical break (IVB) may be the most important. Induced vertical break is not what is sounds. IVB simply means the pitch is "breaking" upward from the average level a pitch falls from release to home plate. This is a stat that you want to stay away from being average at. Fortunately, this can be tweaked slightly depending on release height. To put it simply, the higher number =  more "rise" the pitch has compared to average. Lower number = more depth the pitch has to it. 

VERTICAL APPROACH ANGLE

Vertical Approach Angle (VAA) is essentially how steep or shallow the ball is entering the strike zone. The average entry into the zone is around -5.5 degrees for the Division 1 college level. Anything below or above that number is considered an outlier and would be ideal because it is not what the hitter is used to seeing. A VAA of -4.5 degrees would be considered a shallow entry, this, with some other variables mixed in (IVB, velocity, release height), allow for success up in the zone due to the "ride" or even sometimes "rising" effect. A VAA of -6 degrees would be considered a steep entry. This is the type of ball that has a lot of success in the bottom of the zone (including the same variables mentioned previously) because it feels like the pitcher is throwing it off Mt Everest. With the perfect combination of low IVB and high release it could be a very steep entry that would be hard to hit. 

Fastball Breakdown

Velocity: Montone holds his own when it comes to velocity. Throwing from a 5-foot-11, 175lb frame, he generates a lot of torque and intent down the mound to post these numbers. With a max velo of 87.51 MPH puts him in the top 10% among high school arms with another year of high school left. By the way Montone generates velo, I'm sure he will be able to pump out a few more MPH by the time he graduates and break through that 90 MPH barrier. 

Spin Rate: Montone has a top end fastball when it comes to spin. By no means is he blowing the roof off the chart, but the spin is still in the top 10% among HS arms. This means his fastball has the ability to have top tier movement. This is not a black and white metric where if you have good spin numbers that you automatically have elite movement. Having high spin just means that you are increasing the ceiling on your movement profile of your fastball. 

 Bauer Units: As we have discussed Bauer Units in the past, we know that this measurement is an easy way to determine how much spin a guy should have for their given velocity. Montone hangs out around 26 Bauer Units which means he is spinning the ball more than we would expect at his given velocity. Again, this means that he is technically giving his fastball a better chance to move in a more elite way

Induced Vertical Break: Montone has a max IVB measurement of 19.5 inches and an average of 13.7 inches. Surprisingly, these are not wildly high vertical break numbers for the spin he is generating. What this means is the way he is releasing the ball could have more side spin than backspin. What this means is that he could be slinging the ball from a low 3/4 slot and inducing a bunch more horizontal movement than vertical break due to the way the ball is spinning. This point is proven to be true by looking at the horizontal movement numbers. Coming in at 20 inches max and 17.3 inches on average, this fastball is moving arm side way more than what the best high school fastball moves. The top 10% of horizontal movement is 15.4 inches. Montone will see success throwing this sinker type fastball low and in to right handed hitters in the "dead" zone. Even throwing it in the bottom half of the zone will garner a lot of success due to the way his fastball is running. If Montone can tick up the velo on this fastball then he will be even more lethal. Throwing a heater at 90+MPH with nearly 20 inches will be a tough sight for the opposing hitters.

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