Best of Fall: Spin Analytics on Breaking Balls
December 23, 2025
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Best of the Fall: 2025 Edition
The 2025 fall season featured some of the highest-quality events in the region, giving players the chance to measure themselves against the top talent in their state, class, and even nationally. From Scout Days to ID events and Top Prospect Games, athletes tested their skills in pro-style workouts, live competition, and advanced analytics sessions. Players updating their profiles through these events now connect with over 1,000 college programs and every MLB organization that subscribes to Prep Baseball’s trusted information, ensuring their performance is seen by the right eyes.
Best of the Fall 2026: Breaking Ball Spin Rate Leaders
As part of our Best of the Fall 2026 series, today we highlight pitchers who generated elite spin rates on their breaking balls during fall events across North Carolina. Using TrackMan data captured in event bullpens and live game action at the Top Prospect Games, this leaderboard identifies arms whose breaking pitches stood out for their ability to create sharp, late action.
Why Spin Matters on Breaking Balls
Spin rate plays a critical role in shaping breaking balls, though its impact can vary by pitch type. On a curveball, spin is a strong indicator of both potential movement and abruptness. Higher spin rates often translate to tighter rotation, increased depth, and more decisive break as the ball approaches the plate.
With sliders, spin still provides valuable context, but it tells a slightly different story. While spin helps establish a baseline for pitch quality, the start of the turn, length of the movement, and overall shape are often more influential than pure spin alone. For sliders, spin works best when paired with movement profiles to give a complete picture of effectiveness.
The leaderboards below feature both overall leaders and class-by-class standouts, spotlighting pitchers whose breaking ball spin stood out throughout the fall. These arms enter the spring season with measurable traits that suggest the ability to miss bats and disrupt hitters at higher levels.