PA Preseason ID: Last Chance: Pitching Data Dive

March 12, 2026
Nick DiBenedetto
Northeast Content

On February 28th, the Prep Baseball Pennsylvania staff hosted the 2026 PA Preseason ID: Last Chance at Misericordia University in Dallas, PA. Over 85 players participated in a pro-style workout, gathering unrivaled access to data through our state-of-the-art tech partners, as well as in-depth scouting analysis from our Prep Baseball Pennsylvania staff.

Today, we will take a further in-depth look at the top pitchers with the help of our tech partnerships, broken down by the categories down below:

Trackman

FASTBALL

VELOCITY (MAX)

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Velocity (max)
1	Cam Rakaczewski	PA	Greencastle-Antrim	2028	SS	89.2 mph
2	Thatcher Brown	PA	Germantown Academy	2027	RHP	88.9 mph
3	Ben Gracie-Griffin	PA	State College Area	2028	RHP	88.9 mph
4	Markus Jones	PA	Salisbury	2027	3B	88.4 mph
5	Vincent Boland	PA	Hollidaysburg Area	2027	RHP	87.3 mph
6	Brett Pollock	PA	Souderton Area	2027	C	86.3 mph
7	Nicholas Carson	PA	Warwick SHS	2027	3B	86.2 mph
8	Joel Weaver	PA	Lampeter-Strasburg	2027	RHP	84.5 mph
9	Steven Kaminsky	PA	Downingtown West	2027	LHP	84.0 mph
10	Parker VonGunden	PA	Bellefonte Area	2027	3B	84.0 mph

SPIN RATE (AVG.)

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Spin Rate (avg)
1	Markus Jones	PA	Salisbury	2027	3B	2357 rpm
2	Parker VonGunden	PA	Bellefonte Area	2027	3B	2283 rpm
3	Vincent Boland	PA	Hollidaysburg Area	2027	RHP	2265 rpm
4	Steven Kaminsky	PA	Downingtown West	2027	LHP	2229 rpm
5	Brett Pollock	PA	Souderton Area	2027	C	2196 rpm
6	Nicholas Carson	PA	Warwick SHS	2027	3B	2084 rpm
7	Will Mackiewicz	PA	Downingtown West	2028	1B	2058 rpm
8	Colton Busch	PA	Penncrest	2028	RHP	2051 rpm
9	Christopher Harner	PA	Spring Grove Area	2027	LHP	2028 rpm
10	Lee Wright	PA	State College Area	2028	SS	2008 rpm

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.

INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	IVB (avg)
1	Christopher Harner	PA	Spring Grove Area	2027	LHP	21.4 in
2	Ryan St. Julien	PA	Girard	2027	1B	21.4 in
3	ZACH PETERS	PA	Downingtown West	2029	RHP	18.9 in
4	Crosby Williams	PA	State College Area	2028	RHP	18.9 in
5	Jaxon Ream	PA	Central Dauphin	2028	SS	16.8 in
6	Jacobo Jackson	PA	The Episcopal Academy	2028	RHP	16.7 in
7	Wyatt Lanyon	PA	Harbor Creek	2029	3B	16.5 in
8	Steven Kaminsky	PA	Downingtown West	2027	LHP	16.0 in
9	Nicholas Carson	PA	Warwick SHS	2027	3B	15.3 in
10	Chase Binker	PA	Wilkes-Barre Area	2027	RHP	14.7 in

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 and cutters as well. Sliders tend to be closer to zero inches while cutters are generally between 5 and 15 inches. Usually fastballs and curveballs with large IVB have higher spin efficiencies as well. Sliders generally have very little (closer to zero) IVB and very low spin efficiencies. You could also categorize IVB into spin rate as this is part of the “useful movement” you’re looking for. IVB is also a huge part of vertical approach angle.

HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	HM (avg)
1	Joel Weaver	PA	Lampeter-Strasburg	2027	RHP	20.0
2	Lee Wright	PA	State College Area	2028	SS	19.3
3	Ben Gracie-Griffin	PA	State College Area	2028	RHP	16.9
4	Colton Busch	PA	Penncrest	2028	RHP	16.3
5	Matt DiFelice	PA	Unionville	2027	SS	16.1
6	Cam Rakaczewski	PA	Greencastle-Antrim	2028	SS	16.1
7	Ryan Lomas	PA	The Episcopal Academy	2029	RHP	14.8
8	Caleb Hudson	PA	West Branch Area HS	2027	1B	14.5
9	Brian Goetz	PA	West Chester Bayard Rustin	2028	LHP	-14.1
10	Cameron Lorei	PA	Cumberland Valley	2027	SS	13.4

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%

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Zone %
1	Jacobo Jackson	PA	The Episcopal Academy	2028	RHP	85 %
^	Thatcher Brown	PA	Germantown Academy	2027	RHP	85 %
2	Ryan Lomas	PA	The Episcopal Academy	2029	RHP	83 %
3	Nicholas Carson	PA	Warwick SHS	2027	3B	77 %
4	Chris Hajduk	PA	Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast HS	2027	1B	75 %
^	Caleb Hudson	PA	West Branch Area HS	2027	1B	75 %
5	Christopher Harner	PA	Spring Grove Area	2027	LHP	71 %
^	Jackson Wierzbicki	PA	Bishop McDevitt	2028	OF	71 %

Average MLB pitchers throw 62% strikes, and better pitchers throw strikes 65% of the time, or roughly 2:1 strikes to balls.

CURVEBALL

SPIN RATE (AVG.)

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Spin Rate (avg)
1	Vincent Boland	PA	Hollidaysburg Area	2027	RHP	2363 rpm
2	Brian Goetz	PA	West Chester Bayard Rustin	2028	LHP	2315 rpm
3	Steven Kaminsky	PA	Downingtown West	2027	LHP	2295 rpm
4	Lee Wright	PA	State College Area	2028	SS	2270 rpm
5	Brett Pollock	PA	Souderton Area	2027	C	2164 rpm
6	Crosby Williams	PA	State College Area	2028	RHP	2065 rpm
7	Jaxon Ream	PA	Central Dauphin	2028	SS	2065 rpm
8	Ryan St. Julien	PA	Girard	2027	1B	2041 rpm

INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	IVB (avg)
1	Thatcher Brown	PA	Germantown Academy	2027	RHP	-10.4 in
2	Vincent Boland	PA	Hollidaysburg Area	2027	RHP	-8.1 in
3	Ryan St. Julien	PA	Girard	2027	1B	-7.5 in
4	Daxton Kreiger	PA	Bellefonte Area	2027	OF	-7.2 in
5	Caleb Hudson	PA	West Branch Area HS	2027	1B	-7.0 in
6	Brett Pollock	PA	Souderton Area	2027	C	-6.7 in
7	Steven Kaminsky	PA	Downingtown West	2027	LHP	-6.6 in
8	Jaxon Ream	PA	Central Dauphin	2028	SS	-6.4 in

HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	HM (avg)
1	Brian Goetz	PA	West Chester Bayard Rustin	2028	LHP	16.8
2	Vincent Boland	PA	Hollidaysburg Area	2027	RHP	-16.2
3	Steven Kaminsky	PA	Downingtown West	2027	LHP	15.1
4	Thatcher Brown	PA	Germantown Academy	2027	RHP	-13.0
5	Gaston Watkins	PA	Bedford SHS	2027	OF	-11.0
6	Will Mackiewicz	PA	Downingtown West	2028	1B	-10.1
7	Daxton Kreiger	PA	Bellefonte Area	2027	OF	-8.6
8	Colton Busch	PA	Penncrest	2028	RHP	-8.5

STRIKE ZONE RATE%

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Zone %
1	Jaxon Ream	PA	Central Dauphin	2028	SS	100 %
^	Jackson Wierzbicki	PA	Bishop McDevitt	2028	OF	100 %
^	Trey Damschroder	PA	williamsport area high	2027	LHP	100 %
^	Vincent Boland	PA	Hollidaysburg Area	2027	RHP	100 %
2	Chris Hajduk	PA	Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast HS	2027	1B	75 %
^	Brian Goetz	PA	West Chester Bayard Rustin	2028	LHP	75 %
3	Chase Binker	PA	Wilkes-Barre Area	2027	RHP	66 %
^	Brett Pollock	PA	Souderton Area	2027	C	66 %
4	Colton Busch	PA	Penncrest	2028	RHP	50 %
^	Will Mackiewicz	PA	Downingtown West	2028	1B	50 %
^	Crosby Williams	PA	State College Area	2028	RHP	50 %
^	Cameron Lorei	PA	Cumberland Valley	2027	SS	50 %
^	Gaston Watkins	PA	Bedford SHS	2027	OF	50 %

SLIDER

SPIN RATE (AVG.)

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Spin Rate (avg)
1	Vincent Boland	PA	Hollidaysburg Area	2027	RHP	2521
2	Ben Gracie-Griffin	PA	State College Area	2028	RHP	2395
3	Nicholas Carson	PA	Warwick SHS	2027	3B	2314
4	Markus Jones	PA	Salisbury	2027	3B	2252
5	Joel Weaver	PA	Lampeter-Strasburg	2027	RHP	2229

INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	IVB (avg)
1	Ben Gracie-Griffin	PA	State College Area	2028	RHP	-9.0 in
2	Ryan St. Julien	PA	Girard	2027	1B	8.5 in
3	Joel Weaver	PA	Lampeter-Strasburg	2027	RHP	3.9 in
4	Jack Bucci	PA	Germantown Academy	2027	LHP	-3.7 in
5	Brett Pollock	PA	Souderton Area	2027	C	-3.1 in

HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	HM (avg)
1	Jack Bucci	PA	Germantown Academy	2027	LHP	14.5
2	Ben Gracie-Griffin	PA	State College Area	2028	RHP	-14.3
3	Thatcher Brown	PA	Germantown Academy	2027	RHP	-13.7
4	Nicholas Carson	PA	Warwick SHS	2027	3B	-9.5
5	Vincent Boland	PA	Hollidaysburg Area	2027	RHP	-9.2

STRIKE ZONE RATE%

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Zone %
1	Vincent Boland	PA	Hollidaysburg Area	2027	RHP	100 %
^	Parker VonGunden	PA	Bellefonte Area	2027	3B	100 %
2	Matt DiFelice	PA	Unionville	2027	SS	50 %
^	Caleb Hudson	PA	West Branch Area HS	2027	1B	50 %
^	Cam Rakaczewski	PA	Greencastle-Antrim	2028	SS	50 %
^	Brett Pollock	PA	Souderton Area	2027	C	50 %

CHANGEUP

Spin Rate (AVG.)

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Spin Rate (avg)
1	Markus Jones	PA	Salisbury	2027	3B	2082 rpm
2	Ryan St. Julien	PA	Girard	2027	1B	2023 rpm
3	Steven Kaminsky	PA	Downingtown West	2027	LHP	1905 rpm
4	Lee Wright	PA	State College Area	2028	SS	1881 rpm
5	Vincent Boland	PA	Hollidaysburg Area	2027	RHP	1873 rpm
6	Parker VonGunden	PA	Bellefonte Area	2027	3B	1860 rpm
7	Brian Goetz	PA	West Chester Bayard Rustin	2028	LHP	1771 rpm
8	Crosby Williams	PA	State College Area	2028	RHP	1768 rpm

INDUCED VERTICAL BREAK (AVG.)

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	IVB (avg)
1	Ryan St. Julien	PA	Girard	2027	1B	18.2 in
2	Brett Pollock	PA	Souderton Area	2027	C	17.5 in
3	Jaxon Ream	PA	Central Dauphin	2028	SS	15.3 in
4	Gaston Watkins	PA	Bedford SHS	2027	OF	14.5 in
5	Wyatt Lanyon	PA	Harbor Creek	2029	3B	14.3 in
6	Brian Goetz	PA	West Chester Bayard Rustin	2028	LHP	12.9 in
7	Chase Binker	PA	Wilkes-Barre Area	2027	RHP	12.5 in
8	Jacobo Jackson	PA	The Episcopal Academy	2028	RHP	11.4 in

HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT (AVG.)

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	HM (avg)
1	Brian Goetz	PA	West Chester Bayard Rustin	2028	LHP	-18.0
2	Trey Damschroder	PA	williamsport area high	2027	LHP	-15.5
3	Markus Jones	PA	Salisbury	2027	3B	15.1
4	Chase Binker	PA	Wilkes-Barre Area	2027	RHP	14.7
5	Lee Wright	PA	State College Area	2028	SS	14.4
6	Ben Gracie-Griffin	PA	State College Area	2028	RHP	13.8
7	Joel Weaver	PA	Lampeter-Strasburg	2027	RHP	12.9
8	Will Mackiewicz	PA	Downingtown West	2028	1B	12.7

STRIKE ZONE RATE%

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Zone %
1	Jackson Wierzbicki	PA	Bishop McDevitt	2028	OF	100 %
^	Ryan St. Julien	PA	Girard	2027	1B	100 %
^	Chase Binker	PA	Wilkes-Barre Area	2027	RHP	100 %
^	Brett Pollock	PA	Souderton Area	2027	C	100 %
2	Brian Goetz	PA	West Chester Bayard Rustin	2028	LHP	80 %
3	Chris Hajduk	PA	Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast HS	2027	1B	66 %
^	Trey Damschroder	PA	williamsport area high	2027	LHP	66 %
^	Ryan Lomas	PA	The Episcopal Academy	2029	RHP	66 %
^	Lee Wright	PA	State College Area	2028	SS	66 %
^	Cam Rakaczewski	PA	Greencastle-Antrim	2028	SS	66 %
^	Thatcher Brown	PA	Germantown Academy	2027	RHP	66 %

+ CLICK HERE for a look at the complete statistics from the event.