Pitching

Pitching Analysis

Janik featuers a high spin fastball that sits 84-86, Topping at 87 that puts him in the top 25%, just missing the top 10%. The spin rate is also in the top 25%  giving his ball life through the zone. Sam's fastball has above average movement and showed the ability to play up in the zone with 21" vertical break and 14" of arm side run.. Janik's curveball spin rate averages in the 2300's placing him in the top 25% as well for high school. The above average spin rate and movement (-7" vertical drop / 10" horizontal ) gives him a quality second pitch that he has feel for in the zone. The change up has a good differential of 10 MPH with low spin and arm side run up to 17".  All three pitches come out of a near same release with good hand speed for an effective 3-pitch mix. 

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. 

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.