Data Dive: Preseason All-State West Pitchers
February 20, 2026
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Preseason All-State West: Invite-Only Talent Showcases in Maiden
On Sunday, February 8, 2026, Prep Baseball hosted the Preseason All-State West at Athlete’s Lab Performance Center in Maiden, NC. The invite-only event featured 50 of the top players in North Carolina, bringing together high-level talent from across the state for a complete evaluation ahead of the spring season.
The workout began with athletic testing, where players ran a laser-timed 30-yard dash and recorded jump and grip strength metrics. The testing component provided an early look at explosiveness, acceleration, and overall strength — key indicators as players continue to develop physically.
Inside Athlete’s Lab Performance Center, the spacious indoor facility allowed position players to move freely during defensive evaluations while also giving hitters the opportunity to see full ball flight during batting practice. The setup created a true pro-style environment, blending athletic testing, defensive actions, and offensive performance into one comprehensive workout.
With 50 premier players in attendance, the event has already generated significant buzz within the scouting community. As player information, statistics, and analytics are released in the coming weeks, that attention is expected to grow even more.
This blog series will break down statistical leaders and standout performances from the Preseason All-State West, highlighting top metrics across multiple categories and providing context behind the numbers.
To view the full roster and complete statistical breakdown from the event, click here:
https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/event/NC/preseason-all-state--west--invite-only
DATA DIVE -Pitchers
+ FASTBALL
MAX FASTBALL VELOCITY
Max Fastball Velocity: This metric calculates the speed of the pitch as it’s released from the pitcher’s hand.
HIGHEST AVG. SPIN RATE
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) as the pitch carries through the zone. Low-spin fastballs typically indicate greater horizontal action, often making them tougher to square up but generally easier to make contact with, leading to more ground balls. High-spin fastballs show a correlation with swings and misses.
HIGHEST AVG. IVB
Induced Vertical Break (IVB): 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 be useful when measuring sliders and cutters. Sliders tend to be closer to zero inches, while cutters are generally between 5 and 15 inches. Fastballs and curveballs with large IVB usually have higher spin efficiency. Sliders generally have very little (closer to zero) IVB and low spin efficiency. It’s important to consider pitch velocity and release height when evaluating IVB measurements.
HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)
Horizontal Break: Horizontal movement is measured in inches between where the pitch actually crosses the front of home plate side-to-side and where it would have crossed if 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.
HIGHEST STRIKE ZONE RATE%
For 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
HIGHEST AVG. IVB
HIGHEST AVG. HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT
SLIDER
HIGHEST AVG. SPIN RATE
HIGHEST AVG. IVB
HIGHEST AVG. HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT
CHANGEUP
HIGHEST AVG. HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT
HIGHEST AVG. IVB
HIGHEST STRIKE ZONE RATE%
+ Click here to view the event statistics in its entirety.
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