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Underclass Preseason All-State: Pitching Data Dive

February 10, 2026
RJ Elmore
Western Operations Director

QUEEN CREEK, AZ - On Saturday, February 7, 2026, the Prep Baseball Arizona staff was at Casteel High School in Queen Creek, Arizona for the Underclass Preseason All State Showcase. The event brought together around 90 of the top underclass prospects from the 2028 through 2030 classes and served as an early season checkpoint as players prepared for the upcoming spring.

Each participant received a full Prep Baseball profile update that included a headshot, video, showcase metrics, and advanced data. With profiles accessed by college programs nationwide, the event provided meaningful exposure while giving our staff an important early look at some of the top young talent in the state as we gear up for an exciting season.

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We now take a look at the top Trackman Pitching metrics from the bullpen sessions.

FASTBALL

MAX VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos Velocity (max)
1 Cooper LeRoy AZ Perry 2028 RHP 94.0 mph
2 Chase Fillman AZ Millennium 2028 OF 89.3 mph
3 Russell Nelson AZ Casteel 2029 RHP 89.0 mph
4 Jackson Clarke AZ Estrella Foothills 2028 RHP 87.1 mph
5 Christian Estrella AZ Arizona College Prep 2028 OF 86.7 mph
6 Ryder Bell AZ Hamilton 2028 LHP 86.4 mph
7 Max Nibarger AZ Perry 2028 SS 85.1 mph
8 Caleb Smith AZ Williams Field 2029 SS 84.5 mph
9 Mikey Stortz AZ Millennium 2028 1B 84.3 mph
10 Ricky Faulkner AZ Saguaro 2028 2B 84.2 mph
11 Oliver Higgins AZ Canyon View 2028 LHP 84.2 mph
12 Tucker Harden AZ Casteel 2028 3B 83.6 mph
13 Kellan Anderson AZ Cactus Shadows 2028 OF 83.6 mph
14 Evan Hedlund AZ Casteel 2028 LHP 83.6 mph
15 Jack Lane AZ American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek 2028 OF 82.8 mph

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

HIGHEST AVG. SPIN RATE

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Rate (avg) Velocity (max)
1 Nate McMahon AZ Basha 2029 SS 2316 rpm 78.2 mph
2 Dayton Kellner AZ Hamilton 2028 3B 2270 rpm 82.0 mph
3 Dylan Vandivert AZ Brophy Prep 2029 OF 2142 rpm 80.0 mph
4 Nick Pacimeo AZ Liberty High School 2029 C 2118 rpm 79.4 mph
5 Evan Hedlund AZ Casteel 2028 LHP 2114 rpm 83.6 mph
6 Caleb Smith AZ Williams Field 2029 SS 2109 rpm 84.5 mph
7 Pax Mcfadyen AZ Kingman Academy of Learning - High School 2028 RHP 2084 rpm 82.1 mph
8 Max Nibarger AZ Perry 2028 SS 2077 rpm 85.1 mph
9 Kade Wilkins AZ Basha 2029 C 2033 rpm 77.9 mph
10 Jack Lane AZ American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek 2028 OF 2029 rpm 82.8 mph

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.

HIGHEST AVG. IVB

Rank Name State School Class Pos IVB (avg) Velocity (max)
1 Caleb Smith AZ Coconino High School 2029 OF 20.8 in 72.3 mph
2 Jayce Tardio AZ Casteel 2029 SS 19.2 in 76.0 mph
3 Kade Wilkins AZ Basha 2029 C 19.0 in 77.9 mph
4 Nick Pacimeo AZ Liberty High School 2029 C 18.4 in 79.4 mph
5 Pax Mcfadyen AZ Kingman Academy of Learning - High School 2028 RHP 17.3 in 82.1 mph
6 Jack Lane AZ American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek 2028 OF 16.6 in 82.8 mph
7 Christian Estrella AZ Arizona College Prep 2028 OF 16.6 in 86.7 mph
8 Dylan Vandivert AZ Brophy Prep 2029 OF 15.7 in 80.0 mph
9 Nate McMahon AZ Basha 2029 SS 15.5 in 78.2 mph
10 Max Nibarger AZ Perry 2028 SS 15.4 in 85.1 mph

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, cutters, and changeups as well. Sliders tend to be closer to zero inches while cutters are generally between 5 and 15 inches. Changeups with lower IVB indicate more depth. IVB simply means the pitch is "breaking" upward or downward 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. 

HIGHEST AVG. HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT

Rank Name State School Class Pos HM (avg) Velocity (max)
1 McGuire Ryan AZ Perry 2028 2B 16.7 82.7 mph
2 Ryder Bell AZ Hamilton 2028 LHP -14.7 86.4 mph
3 Oliver Higgins AZ Canyon View 2028 LHP -13.4 84.2 mph
4 Russell Nelson AZ Casteel 2029 RHP 13.4 89.0 mph
5 Tucker Harden AZ Casteel 2028 3B 12.9 83.6 mph
6 Beau Baggenstoss AZ Cactus Shadows 2029 C 12.5 81.0 mph
7 Jayce Tardio AZ Casteel 2029 SS 12.5 76.0 mph
8 Caleb Smith AZ Williams Field 2029 SS 12.1 84.5 mph
9 Jack Lane AZ American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek 2028 OF 11.8 82.8 mph
10 Pax Mcfadyen AZ Kingman Academy of Learning - High School 2028 RHP 11.7 82.1 mph

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.”

HIGHEST STRIKE ZONE RATE%

Rank Name State School Class Pos Zone %
1 Jack Lane AZ American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek 2028 OF 71 %
2 Cameron Wells AZ Valley Christian 2028 SS 66 %
^ Mikey Stortz AZ Millennium 2028 1B 66 %
3 Ryder Bell AZ Hamilton 2028 LHP 62 %
4 Caleb Smith AZ Williams Field 2029 SS 60 %
5 Jackson Clarke AZ Estrella Foothills 2028 RHP 57 %
^ Erik Lopez AZ Centennial 2028 RHP 57 %
^ Russell Nelson AZ Casteel 2029 RHP 57 %

For some context, in 2023 MLB pitchers averaged an In Zone% of around 49 percent in live game settings measured across all pitch types, according to Statcast.

CURVEBALL

HIGHEST AVG. SPIN RATE

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Rate (avg)
1 Ryder Bell AZ Hamilton 2028 LHP 2498 rpm
2 Jack Lane AZ American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek 2028 OF 2413 rpm
3 Max Nibarger AZ Perry 2028 SS 2257 rpm
4 Evan Hedlund AZ Casteel 2028 LHP 2061 rpm
5 Tucker Harden AZ Casteel 2028 3B 2054 rpm
6 Caleb Smith AZ Williams Field 2029 SS 1986 rpm
7 Jackson Clarke AZ Estrella Foothills 2028 RHP 1894 rpm
8 Cameron Wells AZ Valley Christian 2028 SS 1853 rpm
9 Dylan Vandivert AZ Brophy Prep 2029 OF 1836 rpm
10 Beau Baggenstoss AZ Cactus Shadows 2029 C 1715 rpm

HIGHEST AVG. IVB

Rank Name State School Class Pos IVB (avg)
1 Max Nibarger AZ Perry 2028 SS -14.5 in
2 Beau Baggenstoss AZ Cactus Shadows 2029 C -10.5 in
3 Caleb Smith AZ Coconino High School 2029 OF 7.9 in
4 Evan Hedlund AZ Casteel 2028 LHP -7.7 in
5 Jack Lane AZ American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek 2028 OF -5.3 in
6 PJ Brush AZ Casteel 2028 C -5.3 in
7 Tucker Harden AZ Casteel 2028 3B -4.6 in
8 Ryder Bell AZ Hamilton 2028 LHP -4.2 in
9 Dylan Vandivert AZ Brophy Prep 2029 OF 4.1 in
10 Jackson Clarke AZ Estrella Foothills 2028 RHP -1.7 in

HIGHEST AVG. HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT

Rank Name State School Class Pos HM (avg)
1 Cameron Wells AZ Valley Christian 2028 SS -18.9
2 Ryder Bell AZ Hamilton 2028 LHP 14.5
3 Tucker Harden AZ Casteel 2028 3B -11.1
4 Evan Hedlund AZ Casteel 2028 LHP 10.6
5 Max Nibarger AZ Perry 2028 SS -10.0
6 Jack Lane AZ American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek 2028 OF -8.6
7 Caleb Smith AZ Williams Field 2029 SS -8.4
8 Beau Baggenstoss AZ Cactus Shadows 2029 C -7.9
9 Mason De Hoyos AZ EVIT - Casteel High School 2029 2B -7.8
10 PJ Brush AZ Casteel 2028 C -6.6

HIGHEST STRIKE ZONE RATE%

Rank Name State School Class Pos Zone %
1 Caleb Smith AZ Coconino High School 2029 OF 100 %
2 Mason De Hoyos AZ EVIT - Casteel High School 2029 2B 75 %
^ Evan Hedlund AZ Casteel 2028 LHP 75 %
3 Jack Lane AZ American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek 2028 OF 66 %
4 PJ Brush AZ Casteel 2028 C 60 %
5 Caleb Smith AZ Williams Field 2029 SS 50 %
^ Cameron Wells AZ Valley Christian 2028 SS 50 %
^ Max Nibarger AZ Perry 2028 SS 50 %

SLIDER

HIGHEST AVG. SPIN RATE

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Rate (avg)
1 Oliver Higgins AZ Canyon View 2028 LHP 2442
2 Ryder Bell AZ Hamilton 2028 LHP 2440
3 Dayton Kellner AZ Hamilton 2028 3B 2364
4 Nate McMahon AZ Basha 2029 SS 2293
5 Russell Nelson AZ Casteel 2029 RHP 2285
6 Cooper LeRoy AZ Perry 2028 RHP 2239
7 Max Nibarger AZ Perry 2028 SS 2236
8 Chase Fillman AZ Millennium 2028 OF 2213
9 Ricky Faulkner AZ Saguaro 2028 2B 2208
10 Mikey Stortz AZ Millennium 2028 1B 2156

HIGHEST AVG. IVB

Rank Name State School Class Pos IVB (avg)
1 Caleb Smith AZ Williams Field 2029 SS 10.0 in
2 Mikey Stortz AZ Millennium 2028 1B -7.1 in
3 Max Nibarger AZ Perry 2028 SS -5.9 in
4 Cameron Wells AZ Valley Christian 2028 SS 5.7 in
5 Chase Fillman AZ Millennium 2028 OF -5.7 in
6 Evan Hedlund AZ Casteel 2028 LHP -5.0 in
7 Nate McMahon AZ Basha 2029 SS 4.6 in
8 Cooper LeRoy AZ Perry 2028 RHP -4.3 in
9 Pax Mcfadyen AZ Kingman Academy of Learning - High School 2028 RHP 4.0 in
10 Nick Pacimeo AZ Liberty High School 2029 C 2.5 in

HIGHEST AVG. HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT

Rank Name State School Class Pos HM (avg)
1 Ryder Bell AZ Hamilton 2028 LHP 16.2
2 Ricky Faulkner AZ Saguaro 2028 2B -14.3
3 Evan Hedlund AZ Casteel 2028 LHP 13.1
4 Tucker Harden AZ Casteel 2028 3B -12.1
5 Chase Fillman AZ Millennium 2028 OF 11.3
6 Mikey Stortz AZ Millennium 2028 1B -11.1
7 Oliver Higgins AZ Canyon View 2028 LHP 10.9
8 Russell Nelson AZ Casteel 2029 RHP -10.9
9 Mason De Hoyos AZ EVIT - Casteel High School 2029 2B -10.1
10 Dayton Kellner AZ Hamilton 2028 3B -9.8

HIGHEST STRIKE ZONE RATE%

Rank Name State School Class Pos Zone %
1 Russell Nelson AZ Casteel 2029 RHP 100 %
2 Cooper LeRoy AZ Perry 2028 RHP 80 %
3 Nate McMahon AZ Basha 2029 SS 66 %
^ Evan Hedlund AZ Casteel 2028 LHP 66 %
4 Oliver Higgins AZ Canyon View 2028 LHP 60 %
^ Ryder Bell AZ Hamilton 2028 LHP 60 %
^ Tucker Harden AZ Casteel 2028 3B 60 %
5 Jackson Clarke AZ Estrella Foothills 2028 RHP 50 %
^ Jayce Tardio AZ Casteel 2029 SS 50 %
^ Nick Pacimeo AZ Liberty High School 2029 C 50 %
^ Dayton Kellner AZ Hamilton 2028 3B 50 %
^ Ricky Faulkner AZ Saguaro 2028 2B 50 %
^ Max Nibarger AZ Perry 2028 SS 50 %

CHANGEUP

AVG CHANGEUP SPIN RATE (RPM)

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Rate (avg) HM (avg)
1 Mikey Stortz AZ Millennium 2028 1B 1852 rpm 12.2
2 Nick Pacimeo AZ Liberty High School 2029 C 1716 rpm 12.7
3 Caleb Smith AZ Williams Field 2029 SS 1689 rpm 17.7
4 Dayton Kellner AZ Hamilton 2028 3B 1684 rpm 14.0
5 Ryder Bell AZ Hamilton 2028 LHP 1630 rpm -12.2
6 Jayce Tardio AZ Casteel 2029 SS 1622 rpm 13.0
7 Evan Hedlund AZ Casteel 2028 LHP 1591 rpm -9.1
8 Kellan Anderson AZ Cactus Shadows 2028 OF 1543 rpm 9.3
9 Oliver Higgins AZ Canyon View 2028 LHP 1440 rpm -11.8
10 Cooper LeRoy AZ Perry 2028 RHP 1399 rpm 16.1

AVG. IVB

Rank Name State School Class Pos IVB (avg) HM (avg)
1 Kellan Anderson AZ Cactus Shadows 2028 OF 15.0 in 9.3
2 Caleb Smith AZ Coconino High School 2029 OF 14.1 in 9.0
3 Jayce Tardio AZ Casteel 2029 SS 12.2 in 13.0
4 Nick Pacimeo AZ Liberty High School 2029 C 12.1 in 12.7
5 Mason De Hoyos AZ EVIT - Casteel High School 2029 2B 12.0 in -1.1
6 Erik Lopez AZ Centennial 2028 RHP 12.0 in 10.6
7 Chase Fillman AZ Millennium 2028 OF 10.2 in -11.5
8 Caleb Smith AZ Williams Field 2029 SS 8.9 in 17.7
9 Mikey Stortz AZ Millennium 2028 1B 7.7 in 12.2
10 Cameron Wells AZ Valley Christian 2028 SS 7.1 in 10.0

HIGHEST AVG. HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT

Rank Name State School Class Pos HM (avg) IVB (avg)
1 Caleb Smith AZ Williams Field 2029 SS 17.7 8.9 in
2 Cooper LeRoy AZ Perry 2028 RHP 16.1 1.4 in
3 Russell Nelson AZ Casteel 2029 RHP 15.0 5.6 in
4 Dayton Kellner AZ Hamilton 2028 3B 14.0 -1.3 in
5 Jayce Tardio AZ Casteel 2029 SS 13.0 12.2 in
6 Nick Pacimeo AZ Liberty High School 2029 C 12.7 12.1 in
7 Mikey Stortz AZ Millennium 2028 1B 12.2 7.7 in
8 Ryder Bell AZ Hamilton 2028 LHP -12.2 0.8 in
9 McGuire Ryan AZ Perry 2028 2B 11.9 5.3 in
10 Oliver Higgins AZ Canyon View 2028 LHP -11.8 5.3 in

HIGHEST STRIKE ZONE RATE%

Rank Name State School Class Pos Zone % Velocity (max)
1 Pax Mcfadyen AZ Kingman Academy of Learning - High School 2028 RHP 100 % 75.5 mph
2 Mason De Hoyos AZ EVIT - Casteel High School 2029 2B 75 % 64.5 mph
^ PJ Brush AZ Casteel 2028 C 75 % 75.6 mph
3 Jayce Tardio AZ Casteel 2029 SS 50 % 73.0 mph
^ Ryder Bell AZ Hamilton 2028 LHP 50 % 79.1 mph
^ Kellan Anderson AZ Cactus Shadows 2028 OF 50 % 78.1 mph
^ Evan Hedlund AZ Casteel 2028 LHP 50 % 77.4 mph
^ Russell Nelson AZ Casteel 2029 RHP 50 % 79.9 mph

CUTTER

MAX VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos Velocity (max)
1 Russell Nelson AZ Casteel 2029 RHP 83.2 mph
2 Ricky Faulkner AZ Saguaro 2028 2B 79.4 mph
3 Beau Baggenstoss AZ Cactus Shadows 2029 C 70.8 mph

HIGHEST AVG. HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT

Rank Name State School Class Pos HM (avg)
1 Beau Baggenstoss AZ Cactus Shadows 2029 C -3.8
2 Russell Nelson AZ Casteel 2029 RHP 2.9
3 Ricky Faulkner AZ Saguaro 2028 2B -0.1

AVG. IVB

Rank Name State School Class Pos IVB (avg)
1 Ricky Faulkner AZ Saguaro 2028 2B 9.3 in
2 Russell Nelson AZ Casteel 2029 RHP 6.3 in
3 Beau Baggenstoss AZ Cactus Shadows 2029 C 3.1 in

HIGHEST STRIKE ZONE RATE%

Rank Name State School Class Pos Zone %
1 Ricky Faulkner AZ Saguaro 2028 2B 100 %
2 Russell Nelson AZ Casteel 2029 RHP 75 %
3 Beau Baggenstoss AZ Cactus Shadows 2029 C 25 %

SPLITTER

AVG SPIN RATE (RPM)

Rank Name State School Class Pos Spin Rate (avg)
1 Jack Lane AZ American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek 2028 OF 913 rpm
2 Max Nibarger AZ Perry 2028 SS 906 rpm
3 Erik Lopez AZ Centennial 2028 RHP 842 rpm

AVG. IVB

Rank Name State School Class Pos IVB (avg)
1 Jack Lane AZ American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek 2028 OF 5.3 in
2 Max Nibarger AZ Perry 2028 SS -5.2 in
3 Kade Wilkins AZ Basha 2029 C 4.1 in
4 Erik Lopez AZ Centennial 2028 RHP 2.0 in

HIGHEST AVG. HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT

Rank Name State School Class Pos HM (avg)
1 Erik Lopez AZ Centennial 2028 RHP 6.9
2 Kade Wilkins AZ Basha 2029 C 6.8
3 Max Nibarger AZ Perry 2028 SS -4.9
4 Jack Lane AZ American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek 2028 OF 1.5

HIGHEST STRIKE ZONE RATE%

Rank Name State School Class Pos Zone %
1 Max Nibarger AZ Perry 2028 SS 60 %
2 Jack Lane AZ American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek 2028 OF 50 %

+ Click here to view the event statistics in its entirety.