Welcome back to Trackman Traits! We will be dissecting the numbers the Trackman produces and the effect they can have on a pitcher's approach. Below are 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 goes, induced vertical break (IVB) is one of the more important metrics. 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. 

 

Fastball Breakdown

Velocity: As a high school sophomore, Accardo already sees his FB velocity among the top 10 percentile for high school arms. Nobody needs me to tell them that velocity is king in today's game, so being above average in this category is always a good way to get some eyes on you. Along with the advanced velocity, Accardo has durable, starter's build at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. These are some nice ingredients for present and future success. Let's dig a little deeper to see what else there is to like from the big right hander.

Spin Rate: Along with the advanced velocity, his max spin rate on his FB also grades in the top 10 percentile among high school arms and is just slightly below that of a top 10 percentile spin rate for college arms. His average spin has him still among the top 25 percentile of high school arms. The high velocity/high spin combo is a big plus for Accardo and should help him in carving hitters, especially at the high school level. 

Bauer Units:  His max Bauer Units of 27 is well above the average number of 23 in this category, hinting at a FB that could miss some bats up in the zone. Being 4 units above the average means that his FB is an outlier when it comes to that velocity/spin combo. With most metrics, being an outlier is important hitters are used to seeing "average" stuff. The further away you get from that average stuff, the more unique it looks and the less comfortable hitters will be in the box. 

Induced Vertical Break: For high school pitchers, Accardo's IVB numbers do not stand out as much as some of the previous metrics. The max IVB of 19.5 is just outside the 25th percentile and his average spin is just above the 50th percentile, or, is just about average. This is one category where average is exactly where you do not want to find yourself for the same reason as above, average is what hitters are used to seeing. Having an average IVB means that the pitch does not appear to have that ride or rising action through the zone typical of high IVB guys and also does not have that heavy, bowling ball feel to it as someone with low IVB numbers would. 

Vertical Approach Angle: His average VAA for his FB is -4.8 degrees, a pretty shallow entry for his FB. When FBs are thrown above the zone, their VAA is typically shallower than FBs that are thrown within the strike zone and Accardo threw many of his FBs above the zone in this bullpen, kind of skewing the numbers a bit. He did throw one letter high FB that entered the zone at -5.1 degrees, a more average entry. Like with IVB and spin, being an outlier is ideal. This is a better gauge for what his VAA truly plays like, and guys with average VAA have less margin for error when thrown up in the zone. The velo and spin combo profiles as someone that could have success up in the zone, and he probably could have limited success up in the zone and above the zone, due to the velocity he possesses. He would find more consistent success up in the zone if the IVB and VAA numbers were also at or near the top 10 percentiles because that FB would stay on plane longer, giving that 87 MPH FB appear to the hitters like its a 93-94 MPH FB. Instead, Accardo should have no problem finding success at the bottom of the strike zone and dominating at the knees. 

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