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. 

CURVEBALL SPIN RATE

Spin rate on curveballs is pretty simple: higher spin = nastier stuff. There are some ways to manipulate spin numbers slightly but for the most part spin is spin. At the moment, there are no well known ways to change your spin in a big way. Spin not only dictates how sharp your curveball is, but it can also aid in keeping hitters honest by having similar rotation matching that of your fastball. 

 

Fastball Breakdown

Velocity: McCreery can run his fastball up to some pretty elite numbers. He works out of a long, stabbing arm action out of the glove into a quick arm upon foot strike. Some would call it a funky arm action that can sometimes give hitters fits because they're not used to seeing something like it. With the combination of his funky arm action and his top of the line velocity, he remains a high end swing and miss pitcher in the state. 

Spin Rate: McCreery also has elite spin on his fastball. With an average of 2234 RPM, he falls into the top of the spin rate comparison chart for HS arms. With high spin and high velocity everyone who has been keeping up with these past articles, you would immediately make the assumption that McCreery can throw in the top of the zone. That is not the case here and I will dive into that further in the IVB/HM column. 

Bauer Units: With a mac Bauer Unit measurement of 27, it is safe to say that McCreery will always be a high spin arm. When his velo goes up his spin rate will stay on the same path. The scary part of all this is that McCreery is not a top of the zone arm....but he has elite spin. What does this mean? Check it out below to get a full breakdown of why he is a tricky arm to face. 

Induced Vertical Break/Horizontal Break: McCreery is a high spin, low IVB arm. With low induced vertical break and high spin, it leaves only one other thing to chance...horizontal movement. His horizontal movement numbers are off the chart. Maxing out at 19" of arm side run, he is going to be a sinker type pitcher. The most likely reason for his love IVB but high HM numbers is going to be tilt. He is not throwing the ball with perfect 12 o'clock spin, but he is throwing it with somewhere between the lines of 1:45 or 2:30 spin. This means he is getting around the right side of the ball upon release and causing the ball to have side spin. Side spin + high spin rate = nasty arm side run. McCreery pairs up his fastball with a slider that has potential to be a great pitch. Sadly, there are no TM numbers for McCreery's slider, but don't be too upset because the good ol' eye evaluation is still present in these articles. His slider is a small, little, biting slider that he has a ton of feel for. It is a solid pitch at the moment, but is by no means a swing and miss slider. The good thing about off speed pitches, is that they can always be manipulated to be better and better. The same cannot be said about the natural ASR he induces on his fastball, that is something far out of his control but is his most valuable quality as a pitcher. 

Recent Trackman Traits