Titans' Virtual Combine Yields Valuable Advanced Metrics Data

The Titans Baseball Club has invested heavily in advanced metrics during the offseason. Facility equipment such as Rapsodo and Blast Motion has been used over the last six months to provide meaningful performance data for players and coaches. To foreground our offseason player development, here are our Virtual Combine individual awards:

• 15U Max Bai garnered the Most Improved Infield Velocity with a +16mph.

• 17U Matt Brandt,  who signed his letter of intent with Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky, was the top performer in three categories: Best in Back Squat—495 lbs;  Best in Deadlift--  495 lbs;  and Best Catcher Velocity-- 80mph.

• 17U Noah Casault, who recently accepted to attend Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario and play for the Voyageurs of the OUA, also topped three categories:  Best in Exit Velocity-- 99 mph;  Best Bench Press—245 lbs: and  Best Outfield Velocity-- 91mph.

• 16U Bryan Chao posted the Most Improved Catcher Velocity-- +14mph.

• 17U Jaxen Lehr led all Titans infielders with 86 mph of velocity.

• 15U Sam Puttock demonstrated the organization’s Most Improved Outfield Velocity
  by throwing +15mph.

Congratulations to Max, Matt, Noah, Bryan, Jaxen, and Sam for their exceptional off-season diligence and performance. 

An overview of our four teams also shows “the tale of the tape” and captures the effort made by respective Titans squads over the Fall and Winter:

15U Titans

-recorded increases of 10.60% in their team Exit Velocity, 11.99% in Infield Velocity, 11.11% in Outfield Velocity, and 19% in Catcher Velocity

16U Titans

-recorded an Exit Velocity increase of 4.58%, Infield Velocity increase of 9.39%, Outfield Velocity increase of 8.83%,  and Catcher Velocity increase of 16.39%.

17U Titans

-recorded a team Exit Velocity increase of 3.98%, an Infield Velocity increase of 6.38%, an Outfield Velocity increase of 11.96%, and a 10.22% increase in Catcher Velocity.

18U Titans

--the senior squad recorded a 2.34 % improvement in Exit Velocity, an Infield Velocity increase of 3%,
and an Outfield Velocity increase of 3.22%.

15U Head Coach Johnny Bethune was pleased with his young team’s dedication to double-digit improvement over the long off-season and noted some of the eye-popping numbers posted by both individuals and the team alike:  “I'm extremely proud of our team and how much work they have put in during this tough, COVID- themed off-season that has been filled with lockdowns. Each player took the opportunity the Titans gave them through virtual sessions led by a variety of coaches including our strength and conditioning Coach Alex who has done a tremendous job at getting our guys ready. Now that we have been back in the facility, each player has been working hard. There is a buzz in the air with our season looming as these players are hungrier than ever to improve. This is a special group looking to make some noise.”

Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Alex Stewart was also impressed with the work ethic of many of the younger Titans players, echoing the sentiments of Coach Vera:  “Tyler Pridham and Sam Puttock are definite standouts from an outstanding 15U team.  Brennan Hedrick from the 16U squad impressed me as well with his diligent work habits and performance.” Coach Bethune added an individual critique of Sam Puttock’s efforts:  “Sammy is a workhorse who always wants more. His increase of 15mph is off the charts. He shows up to practice, puts his head down, and turns on a switch. He's been impressive to watch this off season and is primed for a big 2021 CPBL season.”
 

As we turn the calendar from March to April and from Winter to Spring, the Titans are rounding into good shape for the start of the CPBL season in May. Fingers crossed that the Third Wave is not a tsunami and we're on the field against teams from the CPBL's East Division after the upcoming period of epidemiological uncertainty.