Trackman Baseball Arsenal Analysis: Eli Kokenge
April 7, 2025
At Prep Baseball Dakotas, our goal is to provide an in-depth analysis of pitching arsenals and what makes certain pitchers successful. By utilizing TrackMan Baseball, we aim to go beyond just velocity and spin rate, diving into all the data points that reveal how a pitcher manipulates the baseball to generate outs. These insights can be strong indicators of success—not only at the prep level but also in college and beyond.
Today, we take a closer look at Eli Kokenge, the No. 1 ranked player in the Class of 2025 from Harrisburg High School. The future Minnesota Golden Gopher impressed at the Upper Midwest ProCase, lighting up the radar gun while showcasing plus offerings and the ability to develop elite, outlier pitches.
Eli Kokenge Averages: Upper Midwest Procase 2/19/2025
| Pitch | Velo | Spin | IVB | HB | RH | VAA |
| Fastball | 91.2 | 2,181 | 14.5 | 14.5 | 6'3 | -4.7 |
| Slider | 80.3 | 2,453 | 3.3 | -10.6 | 6'0 | -7.8 |
| Changeup | 82.9 | 1,826 | 8.1 | 11.5 | 6'0 | -7.3 |
*Outlier Metrics Bolded*
The Fastball
The pitch that stands out immediately is Kokenge’s fastball. Averaging 91.2 MPH, it’s already an elite velocity for a high school pitcher. His spin rate of 2,181 RPM isn’t the highest, but it provides insight into how he manipulates the ball based on spin axis rather than just pure rotation speed.
Kokenge’s fastball sits in what is often called the "dead zone"—where induced vertical break (IVB) and horizontal break (HB) are nearly equal—yet he still showcases carry at times. A key metric here is vertical approach angle (VAA), which measures how steeply the ball enters the zone. With an average VAA of -4.7°, and a low of -3.2°, he demonstrates the ability to throw a flatter-entry fastball, creating a rising effect that can generate whiffs up in the zone. With improved consistency, this could develop into a true plus pitch at the next level.
#𝐔𝐌𝐖𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝟐𝟓 | Eli Kokenge (2025)
— Prep Baseball Iowa (@PrepBaseballIA) February 20, 2025
The @GopherBaseball commit ran the FB up to 91.7, flashed hard biting slider.
📊 No. 1 Ranked player in the Dakotas
🇺🇸 Ranked No. 399 Nationally
@EliKokenge | @PBDakotas pic.twitter.com/JsoY9hkGBF
The Slider
Kokenge’s slider is one of the nastiest aspects of his arsenal. It plays as a sweeper, averaging 10+ inches of horizontal break (with a max of 16.2 inches) and a positive IVB of 3.2 inches—meaning it moves purely sideways with little depth, different from traditional breaking balls.
With an 80.3 MPH average velocity, his slider is already close to the MLB average range (81-82 MPH) for similar pitch types. His ability to land it both in the zone for strikes and as a swing-and-miss weapon suggests it will be an effective tool at the Division I level and beyond.
The Changeup
Kokenge’s changeup provides yet another layer of deception. It averages 8.1 inches of IVB, with a low of 4.1 inches, meaning it can occasionally show significant depth. While it has less horizontal break than his fastball, the 6-inch vertical separation from his fastball helps make it effective when located low in the zone, leading to weak contact and swings.
Greater consistency in creating more depth would elevate this pitch into a legitimate swing-and-miss offering at higher levels. Even as is, it plays well off his fastball and provides a key third option in his pitch mix.
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