AL/MS Border Battle: Data Dive, Pitchers
October 22, 2023
BOONEVILLE, MS - The AL/MS Border Battle was held on October 14th-15th at Northeast Mississippi CC in Booneville, MS. This was an invite-only event that consisted of prospects in the 2025, 2026, & 2027 classes from both Alabama & Mississippi. These players went through a pro-style workout on Saturday and took batting practice using Trackman to record hitting metrics, then followed it up with gameplay on Sunday with pitchers throwing multiple innings. To see full statistics gathered from the event, CLICK HERE. There were some players who showed up and continued to build off of prior performances, but there were also some new names who jumped onto our radar with a strong showing this weekend.
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Last week, we broke down the stat leaders from the more traditional categories in our statistical analysis. Today, we will take an even closer look at the position players in attendance with the help of our tech partners, broken down by the categories and leaderboards below.
FASTBALL
MAX VELOCITY (MPH)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Velocity (max) |
1 | Caleb Barnett | AL | Mountain Brook | 2025 | 3B | 88.7 mph |
2 | Jon Grey Morrisson | MS | West Union Attendance Center | 2026 | 1B | 87.0 mph |
3 | Jack Doyle | AL | Madison Academy | 2025 | RHP | 86.8 mph |
4 | Charlie Cassingham | AL | Grissom | 2025 | SS | 85.9 mph |
5 | Cannon Turner | MS | Purvis | 2025 | 3B | 85.4 mph |
6 | Jackson Howell | MS | AMORY HIGH SCHOOL | 2025 | LHP | 85.2 mph |
7 | Brody Roberts | MS | Manchester Academy | 2025 | RHP | 84.6 mph |
8 | Wyatt Williams | AL | Bayside | 2026 | 1B | 84.4 mph |
9 | Noel LeBlanc | TN | Lausanne Collegiate | 2025 | RHP | 84.2 mph |
10 | Ayden Wilbanks | MS | Kossuth | 2026 | 3B | 84.2 mph |
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Cannon Turner | MS | Purvis | 2025 | 3B | 2355 rpm |
2 | Noel LeBlanc | TN | Lausanne Collegiate | 2025 | RHP | 2337 rpm |
3 | Caleb Barnett | AL | Mountain Brook | 2025 | 3B | 2296 rpm |
4 | Jack Ross | AL | Homewood High School | 2025 | 3B | 2253 rpm |
5 | Charlie Cassingham | AL | Grissom | 2025 | SS | 2194 rpm |
6 | Addison Jayroe | MS | Madison Central | 2025 | RHP | 2186 rpm |
7 | Jon Grey Morrisson | MS | West Union Attendance Center | 2026 | 1B | 2155 rpm |
8 | Payton Hunsaker | AL | Chelsea High School | 2025 | LHP | 2147 rpm |
9 | Hudson Campbell | AL | Glenwood | 2026 | OF | 2131 rpm |
10 | Cullen Patrick | AL | McGill-Toolen Catholic | 2026 | RHP | 2121 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.
SPIN EFFICIENCY% (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Efficiency % (avg) |
1 | Brody Roberts | MS | Manchester Academy | 2025 | RHP | 96 % |
2 | Lawson Hare | AL | Auburn High School | 2027 | 3B | 94 % |
3 | Payton Hunsaker | AL | Chelsea High School | 2025 | LHP | 94 % |
4 | Clark Janzen | MS | BOONEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL | 2025 | RHP | 89 % |
5 | Karter Perry | AL | Pell City High School | 2026 | OF | 89 % |
6 | Corbyn Clayton | MS | Pontotoc City | 2026 | SS | 89 % |
7 | Hudson Campbell | AL | Glenwood | 2026 | OF | 88 % |
8 | Jack Blanchard | AL | Daphne High School | 2026 | OF | 88 % |
9 | Aiden Peets | MS | MADISON RIDGELAND ACADEMY | 2026 | 2B | 88 % |
10 | Colin Watson | AL | Daphne | 2027 | OF | 87 % |
Spin Efficiency: This metric is the percentage of the raw spin rate that directly impacts pitch movement; so while raw spin is measured by revolutions per minute (rpm), spin efficiency is the ratio of true spin divided by raw spin. It’s important to understand that more is not always better when it comes to spin efficiency. The optimal spin efficiency on a pitch depends on the pitch type and should be understood in the context of a pitcher’s entire arsenal. Regarding the true four-seam fastball, a spin efficiency close to 100 percent is preferable, indicating that nearly all the backspin generated on the ball as it leaves the pitcher’s hand is contributing to the “riding” action the pitch has as it enters and exits the strike zone, making it especially effective in the upper third of the strike zone.
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Hudson Campbell | AL | Glenwood | 2026 | OF | 21.0 in |
2 | Payton Hunsaker | AL | Chelsea High School | 2025 | LHP | 19.5 in |
3 | Noel LeBlanc | TN | Lausanne Collegiate | 2025 | RHP | 18.9 in |
4 | Brody Roberts | MS | Manchester Academy | 2025 | RHP | 18.7 in |
5 | Jackson Howell | MS | AMORY HIGH SCHOOL | 2025 | LHP | 18.0 in |
6 | Corbyn Clayton | MS | Pontotoc City | 2026 | SS | 17.5 in |
7 | Caleb Barnett | AL | Mountain Brook | 2025 | 3B | 17.4 in |
8 | Braden Martin | AL | LEE-SCOTT ACADEMY | 2027 | LHP | 17.2 in |
9 | Karter Perry | AL | Pell City High School | 2026 | OF | 17.2 in |
10 | Levi Pinder | AL | GLENWOOD SCHOOL | 2025 | 3B | 17.0 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 | Jack Blanchard | AL | Daphne High School | 2026 | OF | 15.5 |
2 | Payton Hunsaker | AL | Chelsea High School | 2025 | LHP | -14.9 |
3 | Karter Perry | AL | Pell City High School | 2026 | OF | -14.0 |
4 | Jon Grey Morrisson | MS | West Union Attendance Center | 2026 | 1B | 13.5 |
5 | Stone Myrick | MS | St. Andrews Episcopal | 2025 | 1B | 11.8 |
6 | Ayden Wilbanks | MS | Kossuth | 2026 | 3B | 11.8 |
7 | Cole Gideon | MS | JACKSON PREPARATORY SCHOOL | 2025 | OF | -11.7 |
8 | Hudson Campbell | AL | Glenwood | 2026 | OF | -11.3 |
9 | Jackson Howell | MS | AMORY HIGH SCHOOL | 2025 | LHP | -11.0 |
10 | Addison Jayroe | MS | Madison Central | 2025 | RHP | 10.7 |
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 | Nolan Hansen | AL | Auburn High School | 2027 | RHP | 80 % |
2 | Reid Raper | MS | Nettleton | 2027 | SS | 76 % |
3 | Clark Janzen | MS | BOONEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL | 2025 | RHP | 71 % |
4 | Mason McCain | MS | Jackson Prep | 2027 | C | 66 % |
^ | Ayden Wilbanks | MS | Kossuth | 2026 | 3B | 66 % |
5 | Charlie Cassingham | AL | Grissom | 2025 | SS | 62 % |
6 | Noel LeBlanc | TN | Lausanne Collegiate | 2025 | RHP | 58 % |
7 | Cade Lott | MS | Booneville | 2026 | LHP | 56 % |
^ | Stone Myrick | MS | St. Andrews Episcopal | 2025 | 1B | 56 % |
8 | Joshua Burrell Jr | AL | Grissom | 2025 | SS | 55 % |
9 | Rhys Jones | AL | Spain Park High School | 2026 | SS | 53 % |
10 | Caleb Barnett | AL | Mountain Brook | 2025 | 3B | 52 % |
Average MLB pitchers throw 62 percent strikes, and better pitchers throw strikes 65 percent of the time, or a ratio of roughly 2:1, strikes to balls.
CURVEBALL
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Noel LeBlanc | TN | Lausanne Collegiate | 2025 | RHP | 2671 rpm |
2 | Charlie Cassingham | AL | Grissom | 2025 | SS | 2582 rpm |
3 | Rhys Jones | AL | Spain Park High School | 2026 | SS | 2515 rpm |
4 | Brody Roberts | MS | Manchester Academy | 2025 | RHP | 2442 rpm |
5 | DJ Blackwood | AL | Daphne | 2027 | LHP | 2245 rpm |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Rhys Jones | AL | Spain Park High School | 2026 | SS | -20.8 |
2 | Caleb Barnett | AL | Mountain Brook | 2025 | 3B | -20.0 |
3 | Levi Pinder | AL | GLENWOOD SCHOOL | 2025 | 3B | -19.3 |
4 | Noel LeBlanc | TN | Lausanne Collegiate | 2025 | RHP | -17.8 |
5 | Jack Doyle | AL | Madison Academy | 2025 | RHP | -17.7 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Colin Watson | AL | Daphne | 2027 | OF | 100 % |
2 | Cannon Turner | MS | Purvis | 2025 | 3B | 75 % |
3 | Jack Doyle | AL | Madison Academy | 2025 | RHP | 66 % |
4 | Cole Gideon | MS | JACKSON PREPARATORY SCHOOL | 2025 | OF | 60 % |
5 | Charlie Cassingham | AL | Grissom | 2025 | SS | 57 % |
^ | Rhys Jones | AL | Spain Park High School | 2026 | SS | 57 % |
SLIDER
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Jack Ross | AL | Homewood High School | 2025 | 3B | 2439 |
2 | Levi Pinder | AL | GLENWOOD SCHOOL | 2025 | 3B | 2407 |
3 | Payton Hunsaker | AL | Chelsea High School | 2025 | LHP | 2197 |
4 | Corbyn Clayton | MS | Pontotoc City | 2026 | SS | 2181 |
5 | Clark Janzen | MS | BOONEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL | 2025 | RHP | 2145 |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Levi Pinder | AL | GLENWOOD SCHOOL | 2025 | 3B | -14.4 |
2 | Corbyn Clayton | MS | Pontotoc City | 2026 | SS | -11.1 |
3 | Jack Ross | AL | Homewood High School | 2025 | 3B | -10.3 |
4 | Clark Janzen | MS | BOONEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL | 2025 | RHP | -3.8 |
5 | Jon Grey Morrisson | MS | West Union Attendance Center | 2026 | 1B | -1.7 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Corbyn Clayton | MS | Pontotoc City | 2026 | SS | 50 % |
2 | Jack Ross | AL | Homewood High School | 2025 | 3B | 46 % |
3 | Payton Hunsaker | AL | Chelsea High School | 2025 | LHP | 40 % |
4 | Jon Grey Morrisson | MS | West Union Attendance Center | 2026 | 1B | 25 % |
CHANGEUP
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Cole Gideon | MS | JACKSON PREPARATORY SCHOOL | 2025 | OF | 1807 rpm |
2 | Charlie Cassingham | AL | Grissom | 2025 | SS | 1741 rpm |
3 | Caleb Barnett | AL | Mountain Brook | 2025 | 3B | 1719 rpm |
4 | Braden Martin | AL | LEE-SCOTT ACADEMY | 2027 | LHP | 1675 rpm |
5 | Payton Hunsaker | AL | Chelsea High School | 2025 | LHP | 1640 rpm |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Payton Hunsaker | AL | Chelsea High School | 2025 | LHP | -17.7 |
2 | DJ Blackwood | AL | Daphne | 2027 | LHP | -16.2 |
3 | Hudson Campbell | AL | Glenwood | 2026 | OF | -14.0 |
4 | Cole Gideon | MS | JACKSON PREPARATORY SCHOOL | 2025 | OF | -12.6 |
5 | Ayden Wilbanks | MS | Kossuth | 2026 | 3B | 12.2 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Grant Walendzik | MS | LEWISBURG HIGH SCHOOL | 2026 | C | 100 % |
^ | Charlie Cassingham | AL | Grissom | 2025 | SS | 100 % |
^ | Cade Lott | MS | Booneville | 2026 | LHP | 100 % |
2 | Braden Martin | AL | LEE-SCOTT ACADEMY | 2027 | LHP | 66 % |
3 | Hudson Campbell | AL | Glenwood | 2026 | OF | 50 % |
^ | Stone Myrick | MS | St. Andrews Episcopal | 2025 | 1B | 50 % |
^ | Rhys Jones | AL | Spain Park High School | 2026 | SS | 50 % |
4 | Cole Gideon | MS | JACKSON PREPARATORY SCHOOL | 2025 | OF | 33 % |
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