Prep Baseball Report

Trackman Traits - Pitching: 2023 RHP Griffin Seibel (Glen Ridge)


Zach Guth
Advanced Scout

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. 

 

Griffin Seibel

Class of 2023 / RHP

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2023
  • Primary Position: RHP
    Secondary Position: 1B
  • High School: Glen Ridge
    State: NJ
  • Summer Team: Northeast Supreme
  • Height: 6-0
    Weight: 160lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R

Scouting Report

7/22/20

 

Physical: Long and lean 6-foot, 160-pound frame with projectability in the build. 7.68 runner in the 60-yard dash. 

Offensively: RHH. Balanced, even stance as the hands started with a slight bat wiggle above the shoulder by the ear. Utilized a leg-hang stride in order to initiate a quick bat through a slightly uphill path while hitting into a stiff front side at impact. Showcased the ability to lift the ball above the belt as well as stay on offspeed pitches down in the zone with an adjustable lower half. The hands were explosive from launch, getting through the baseball with intent. Demonstrated a mainly pull-side approach during batting practice while recording a top bat-exit velocity of 89 mph according to Trackman Baseball. 

Defensively: The primary first baseman featured solid feel around the bag with long, calculated movements and a moderately low center of gravity. Fielded the ball off of the left side of his body on the approach with a soft glove hand, recorded an accurate throwing arm across the diamond. INF - 81 mph

Pitching: RHP - Side rocker step with a moderate pace in the delivery, medium leg lift to even at the waist with a slight hip coil at the top of the stack. Got straight line towards the plate with slight downhill plane out of a high ¾ slot with length in the arm circle. FB ranged from 82-85 mph with command down in the zone as it played heavier at the plate, mixed in a tight 11/5 shaped breaking ball at 69-71 mph showing late depth. Projects well on the mound at the moment.

 

 

2/16/20

 

6-foot, 160-pound lean frame. In the box, the right-handed hitter had a max exit velocity of 84 mph. Setup consisted of tall stance and a short stride. Showed an uphill swing plane and quick bat speed, and he ended his swing with high finish. Found some barrels during his round. Pull side approach. In the infield, recorded a position velocity of 81 mph; has a fluid exchange and soft hands. Used a high ¾ slot. He recorded a time of 7.7 in the 60-yard dash. On the mound, he used a high ¾ angle with a short arm action. He is a tall-and-fall type pitcher. Lands square. Slider (72-74 mph) showed depth at locations in the bottom of the strike zone with tight 11/5 bite. His fastball sat 84-86 mph and topped out at 86 mph; shows running action and late life. His changeup (73-76) has in the zone command and some action. Threw a bigger, slower curveball at 68-70. Seibel was one of the top prospects on the mound from the event. 

 


Videos

(7/22/20)


 

Fastball Breakdown

Velocity: Seibel checks in around the top 25% of high school arms for velocity. Seeing as how he is still considered a "young" arm, this is a bright spot for Seibel. Being a sophomore and throwing 84 is nothing but good for the future. This should put him on pace to hopefully break through the 90 MPH threshold by the time he graduates. You can see some left over velocity in his mechanics as well that could be brought out by cleaning up some movements. 

Spin Rate: Seibel maxes out his spin at 2376 RPM and holds averages around 2241 RPM. For the time being we will go off of average to judge the results. With his average, Griffin finds himself in the top 10% among HS arms. With Griffin being able to spin the ball so well, we know that usually someone who is a high spin arm that doesn't quite have the velocity there to match can expect to see some velocity in the future. This is no guarantee, but it is sort of a clue to his velocity path. 

 Bauer Units: Bauer Units give us a good idea of the "expected" spin Seibel produces for the velocity he is throwing. With a Bauer Unit measurement of 29, Seibel is spinning his fastball at a much higher pace than that of an an average 84-85 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: Seibel checks in around the top 25% for HS arms in the IVB category. With an average of 17.4 inches and a max of 20.9 inches, it is easy to tell that Seibel will be a very successful top of the zone pitcher in the future. Although the numbers aren't quite there yet, does not mean they never will be. When the velocity begins to increase and round out near the "expected" spin, I can imagine that the IVB numbers for Seibel will be much higher than they are right now due to the ball traveling faster and holding plane easier with high spin rate. Give it some more hard work and patience and Seibel will be a top end pitcher by the time he is finished with high school. As for right now, Seibel will be best suited carving up the bottom of the zone as he does best. Venturing up will never be a bad thing, but the bottom of the zone seems to be the best fit for a Griffin Seibel fastball right now until he velo comes in more. 


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