Max Fastball Velocity: This metric calculates the speed of the pitch as it is released from the pitcher’s hand.

Spin Rate: This metric calculates the rate of spin on the baseball as it leaves the pitcher’s hand, measured in revolutions per minute. Historical data shows that high-spin fastballs lessen the impact of gravity, allowing for more rise, or less fall, as the pitch carries through the zone. Low-spin fastballs typically indicate that the pitch has greater horizontal action, often making it tougher to square up but generally easier to make contact with. High-spin fastballs show a higher correlation with swings and misses.

Induced Vertical Break: Used in short form as IVB, this metric is most important on fastballs for creating rise and on curveballs and changeups for creating depth. It can also be useful when measuring sliders and cutters. Sliders tend to be closer to zero inches, while cutters are generally between five and 15 inches. Velocity and release height should also be considered when comparing IVB measurements.

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.”

For context, MLB pitchers averaged an In-Zone% of approximately 49 percent across all pitch types during the 2023 season, according to Statcast.

Spin Rate: This metric calculates the rate of spin on the baseball as it leaves the pitcher’s hand, measured in revolutions per minute. Curveball spin rate is evaluated alongside velocity and movement to determine the pitch’s overall shape and depth.

Induced Vertical Break: Curveball IVB measures the pitch’s vertical movement compared to its expected path without spin. More negative IVB readings generally indicate greater downward depth.

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: This metric measures the percentage of tracked curveballs that passed through the strike zone.

Spin Rate: This metric calculates the rate of spin on the baseball as it leaves the pitcher’s hand, measured in revolutions per minute. Slider spin rate is evaluated alongside pitch velocity, movement and spin direction.

Induced Vertical Break: Slider IVB measures the pitch’s vertical movement compared to its expected path without spin. Sliders generally produce IVB readings closer to zero than fastballs or curveballs.

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: This metric measures the percentage of tracked sliders that passed through the strike zone.

Spin Rate: This metric calculates the rate of spin on the baseball as it leaves the pitcher’s hand, measured in revolutions per minute. Changeup spin rate is evaluated alongside velocity separation and movement from the fastball.

Induced Vertical Break: Changeup IVB measures the pitch’s vertical movement compared to its expected path without spin. Lower IVB readings generally indicate greater vertical depth and separation from the fastball.

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: This metric measures the percentage of tracked changeups that passed through the strike zone.