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: McCarron has the ability to run his fastball up around the 86 MPH mark. His cruising velo of 83-85 MPH puts him around the top 25% among high school arms. Typically, at the high school level, this type of velocity allows you to blow hitters away with only your fastball as long as it is in the zone. The goal of this article is to try give Duke a good idea of where his fastball finds the most success in the zone so when he steps on the mound in College Park he has 100% confidence in his heater.  

Spin Rate: McCarron can spin the ball at a pretty good pace. With his max SR coming in at 2372 RPM and his average at 2273 RPM, he finds himself above the top 10% for high school pitchers. Once again, high spin just gives us a good idea of potential for his pitch movement. There are a lot of things that go into the spin and movement relationship so this will be something we attack in a couple paragraphs. 

 Bauer Units: Bauer Units give us a good idea of the "expected" spin McCarron produces for the velocity he is throwing. With a Bauer Unit measurement of 28, McCarron is spinning his fastball at a much higher pace than that of an an average 83-85 MPH fastball. As said in the previous section, spinning the ball more than your velo would show means you are either in for a velocity jump or you are inherently a high spin arm and will continue to be one. Having high spin allows you to generate more "nasty" movement on your pitches than average or low spin would 

Induced Vertical Break: McCarron has a very interesting fastball profile. High spin, low IVB, high horizontal movement all makes for a fastball that gives hitter's thumb nightmares. McCarron possesses a high level heater with absurd arm side run. With these movement numbers, one can assume that his ball has a heavy type of feel due to the "sinking" movement that his induces from his low slinging slot. The ball jumps out of his hand through his clean mechanics and smooth arm action. McCarron would find the most success to his arm side and down at the knees to hitters. Typically this is called the "dead zone" for hitters and it just happens to be the place that McCarron can capture the most of his movement. The Terrapins have a funky arm on their hands that has feel for his heater and I think he will most definitely make the most out of his time there if he continues to trust the absurd movement on his fastball. 

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