East Georgia Preseason I.D: Data Dive - Pitchers
January 16, 2024
On January 7th , we traveled to Flowery Branch, Georgia for the East Georgia Preseason I.D at Infinite Vision Sports Academy. This event featured players from the 2025-2027 classes, and it provided our staff with an in-depth look at some high-follow players for the spring high school season. we were excited to get into the area to find some new players to keep an eye on as we head into the spring.
Inside today’s Pitching Data dive we will highlight the players with top metrics per Trackman.
Early this 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 pitchers 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 | Jack Kehnle | GA | Seckinger | 2025 | RHP | 84.9 mph |
2 | Sawyer Green | GA | Lakeside | 2025 | RHP | 84.8 mph |
3 | Drew Payne | GA | Prince Avenue Christian | 2026 | RHP | 84.8 mph |
4 | Ryan Trout | GA | North Oconee High School | 2027 | SS | 83.1 mph |
5 | Lucas Zustiak | GA | Etowah | 2027 | RHP | 79.7 mph |
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Ryan Trout | GA | North Oconee High School | 2027 | SS | 2273 rpm |
2 | Drew Payne | GA | Prince Avenue Christian | 2026 | RHP | 2119 rpm |
3 | Jack Kehnle | GA | Seckinger | 2025 | RHP | 2078 rpm |
4 | Sawyer Green | GA | Lakeside | 2025 | RHP | 2026 rpm |
5 | Grant Jackson | GA | Lakeside | 2026 | OF | 1911 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 | Grant Jackson | GA | Lakeside | 2026 | OF | 91 % |
2 | Drew Payne | GA | Prince Avenue Christian | 2026 | RHP | 90 % |
3 | Lucas Zustiak | GA | Etowah | 2027 | RHP | 88 % |
4 | Ryan Trout | GA | North Oconee High School | 2027 | SS | 80 % |
5 | Layton Sowinski | GA | Harlem High School | 2027 | C | 77 % |
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 | Ryan Trout | GA | North Oconee High School | 2027 | SS | 16.6 in |
2 | Drew Payne | GA | Prince Avenue Christian | 2026 | RHP | 15.9 in |
3 | Lucas Zustiak | GA | Etowah | 2027 | RHP | 14.6 in |
4 | Grant Jackson | GA | Lakeside | 2026 | OF | 12.2 in |
5 | Aidan Beall | GA | Woodward Academy | 2026 | RHP | 11.4 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 Kehnle | GA | Seckinger | 2025 | RHP | 14.5 |
2 | Lucas Zustiak | GA | Etowah | 2027 | RHP | 13.5 |
3 | Grant Jackson | GA | Lakeside | 2026 | OF | -13.5 |
4 | Drew Payne | GA | Prince Avenue Christian | 2026 | RHP | 13.3 |
5 | Layton Sowinski | GA | Harlem High School | 2027 | C | 9.4 |
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 | Hudson Phillips | GA | Kings Ridge Christian | 2026 | 3B | 75 % |
2 | Jack Kehnle | GA | Seckinger | 2025 | RHP | 71 % |
3 | Lucas Zustiak | GA | Etowah | 2027 | RHP | 66 % |
^ | Grant Jackson | GA | Lakeside | 2026 | OF | 66 % |
4 | Sawyer Green | GA | Lakeside | 2025 | RHP | 60 % |
5 | Drew Payne | GA | Prince Avenue Christian | 2026 | RHP | 50 % |
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 | Aidan Beall | GA | Woodward Academy | 2026 | RHP | 1951 rpm |
2 | Grant Jackson | GA | Lakeside | 2026 | OF | 1826 rpm |
3 | Hudson Phillips | GA | Kings Ridge Christian | 2026 | 3B | 1744 rpm |
4 | Connor Bridges | GA | Greenbrier | 2027 | LHP | 1732 rpm |
5 | Layton Sowinski | GA | Harlem High School | 2027 | C | 1710 rpm |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Connor Bridges | GA | Greenbrier | 2027 | LHP | -7.7 in |
2 | Layton Sowinski | GA | Harlem High School | 2027 | C | -6.8 in |
3 | Hudson Phillips | GA | Kings Ridge Christian | 2026 | 3B | -6.5 in |
4 | Grant Jackson | GA | Lakeside | 2026 | OF | -3.9 in |
5 | Aidan Beall | GA | Woodward Academy | 2026 | RHP | 3.1 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Layton Sowinski | GA | Harlem High School | 2027 | C | -6.1 |
2 | Hudson Phillips | GA | Kings Ridge Christian | 2026 | 3B | -6.1 |
3 | Connor Bridges | GA | Greenbrier | 2027 | LHP | 4.0 |
4 | Grant Jackson | GA | Lakeside | 2026 | OF | 2.7 |
5 | Aidan Beall | GA | Woodward Academy | 2026 | RHP | 0.4 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Grant Jackson | GA | Lakeside | 2026 | OF | 50 % |
2 | Aidan Beall | GA | Woodward Academy | 2026 | RHP | 33 % |
^ | Hudson Phillips | GA | Kings Ridge Christian | 2026 | 3B | 33 % |
3 | Connor Bridges | GA | Greenbrier | 2027 | LHP | 25 % |
SLIDER
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Jack Kehnle | GA | Seckinger | 2025 | RHP | 2580 |
2 | Sawyer Green | GA | Lakeside | 2025 | RHP | 2428 |
3 | Jack Johnson | GA | MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 2027 | OF | 2174 |
4 | John Whitt | GA | East Cobb Baseball Academy | 2026 | RHP | 2078 |
5 | Ryan Trout | GA | North Oconee High School | 2027 | SS | 2071 |
INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | IVB (avg) |
1 | Sawyer Green | GA | Lakeside | 2025 | RHP | -7.8 in |
2 | John Whitt | GA | East Cobb Baseball Academy | 2026 | RHP | 6.6 in |
3 | Ryan Trout | GA | North Oconee High School | 2027 | SS | -5.1 in |
4 | Drew Payne | GA | Prince Avenue Christian | 2026 | RHP | -4.4 in |
5 | Jack Kehnle | GA | Seckinger | 2025 | RHP | -2.1 in |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Jack Johnson | GA | MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 2027 | OF | -17.2 |
2 | Drew Payne | GA | Prince Avenue Christian | 2026 | RHP | -10.0 |
3 | Ryan Trout | GA | North Oconee High School | 2027 | SS | -8.9 |
4 | Lucas Zustiak | GA | Etowah | 2027 | RHP | -6.9 |
5 | Jack Kehnle | GA | Seckinger | 2025 | RHP | -6.7 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Sawyer Green | GA | Lakeside | 2025 | RHP | 100 % |
2 | Drew Payne | GA | Prince Avenue Christian | 2026 | RHP | 66 % |
3 | Jack Kehnle | GA | Seckinger | 2025 | RHP | 50 % |
^ | Ryan Trout | GA | North Oconee High School | 2027 | SS | 50 % |
4 | Lucas Zustiak | GA | Etowah | 2027 | RHP | 40 % |
5 | Jack Johnson | GA | MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 2027 | OF | 25 % |
^ | John Whitt | GA | East Cobb Baseball Academy | 2026 | RHP | 25 % |
CHANGEUP
SPIN RATE (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Spin Rate (avg) |
1 | Drew Payne | GA | Prince Avenue Christian | 2026 | RHP | 2010 rpm |
2 | Grant Jackson | GA | Lakeside | 2026 | OF | 1785 rpm |
3 | Layton Sowinski | GA | Harlem High School | 2027 | C | 1707 rpm |
4 | Jack Kehnle | GA | Seckinger | 2025 | RHP | 1595 rpm |
5 | Aidan Beall | GA | Woodward Academy | 2026 | RHP | 1500 rpm |
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | HM (avg) |
1 | Liam Collier | GA | Locust Grove High | 2027 | 1B | -17.0 |
2 | Jack Kehnle | GA | Seckinger | 2025 | RHP | 14.0 |
3 | Drew Payne | GA | Prince Avenue Christian | 2026 | RHP | -13.6 |
4 | John Whitt | GA | East Cobb Baseball Academy | 2026 | RHP | 12.8 |
5 | Grant Jackson | GA | Lakeside | 2026 | OF | -12.4 |
STRIKE ZONE RATE%
Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Zone % |
1 | Liam Collier | GA | Locust Grove High | 2027 | 1B | 66 % |
2 | Hudson Phillips | GA | Kings Ridge Christian | 2026 | 3B | 50 % |
^ | Jack Johnson | GA | MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 2027 | OF | 50 % |
^ | Connor Bridges | GA | Greenbrier | 2027 | LHP | 50 % |
3 | Lucas Zustiak | GA | Etowah | 2027 | RHP | 33 % |
^ | Grant Jackson | GA | Lakeside | 2026 | OF | 33 % |
4 | Layton Sowinski | GA | Harlem High School | 2027 | C | 25 % |
^ | John Whitt | GA | East Cobb Baseball Academy | 2026 | RHP | 25 % |
5 | Aidan Beall | GA | Woodward Academy | 2026 | RHP | 20 % |
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