Baseball America

Bill Mitchell and JJ Cooper are taking and in-depth look at the Kansas City Royals farm system for the latest Baseball America Prospect Podcast Deep Dive.(00:00) The Royals are building something around Bobby Witt Jr.(02:00) What happened to help Carter Jensen break out in 2025. Why he's the No. 1 prospect(07:30) How the farm system has improved since last year. It's not just Carter Jensen.(14:00) Looking at the pair of top picks--Josh Hammond and Sean Gamble(17:20) What is the org good at developing?(22:30) Looking at prospects to know outside the top 10Royals Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-kansas-city-royals-top-mlb-prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

JJ Cooper and Bill Mitchell are talking all about the White Sox farm system on the latest Prospect Podcast Deep Dive. Even after graduating Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Colson Montgomery and Shane Smith last year, this is a very solid top 10. (00:00) How the White Sox are making strides.(02:00) Why Noah Schultz stood out as the No. 1 prospect and why patience may be required.(09:00) Is the system better or worse than a year ago?(09:45) Looking at the 2025 draft picks(11:15) Other arms to watch(14:25) A pair of shortstops who could vie for No. 1 on this list next year(18:20) What this system is good at developing(23:00) Prospects outside of the top 10 to watchWhite Sox Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2027-chicago-white-sox/prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, Jacob Rudner, Ben Badler and Geoff Pontes talk about UCLA's dominant start to the season, college names to know and MLB prospects who are worth monitoring in spring training.The Hot Sheet Show airs live on the BA YouTube channel every week on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Give us a sub, and we'll see you then!Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction (0:45) UCLA impresses (4:00) Dax Whitney domination & draft profile (10:50) Can someone push Roch Cholowsky for the 1-1? (13:15) Jackson Flora's profile (15:45) Other college prospects who had stood out (19:30) What we're watching for early in spring training (21:20) Konnor Griffin & Payton Tolle outlooks (24:20) Will Joey Volchko go in the first round?Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Baseball America college reporter Jacob Rudner and national writer Geoff Pontes look back at the first full week of the season, including the No. 1 UCLA Bruins' sweep of then-No. 8 TCU, Texas and Georgia Tech getting off to hot starts and Oklahoma's fast rise in the Top 25. Rudner and Pontes also dive deeper on five teams with varying levels of concern.(4:09) UCLA dominates TCU(13:33) Texas off to a great start(19:29) Georgia Tech’s historic offensive start(22:34) Oklahoma enters the top 10(30:54) The Fear Index(31:33) TCU’s five-game skid(34:06) Coastal Carolina drops in the poll(38:36) How much should you worry about Florida State?(40:43) Tennessee upset by Kent State(46:17) Oregon State falls from the top 20(54:32) What we’re watching in Week 3Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We're going deep on each of the top prospects in the AL East. The guys explain how each respective player climbed to No. 1 in their system, run through their scouting reports and lay out what you should expect in 2026.Time Stamps(0:00) -- Trey Yesavage, Blue Jays(9:35) -- Payton Tolle, Red Sox(17:55) -- George Lombard Jr., Yankees(26:30) -- Samuel Basallo, Orioles(35:00) -- Brody Hopkins, RaysOur Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on the Baseball America Fantasy podcast we kick off our final offseason series leading up to opening day. Division Prospect Previews! We'll start a division by division look at the top fantasy prospects for each organization. There's a slight tweak we give you two 2026 contributors, two high upside prospects and two prospects we think are underrated. (2:00) Tampa Bay Rays(15:00) Baltimore Orioles(29:00) Boston Red Sox(43:00) New York Yankees(50:00) Toronto Blue JaysOur Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Carlos and Jacob talk about a few notable pieces of injury news for the 2026 class, then discuss some of the standout players they saw from a loaded trip to Texas. The two talk about their Grady Emerson impressions, then highlight some of the college standouts—and head scratchers—from a three-day stay at Globe Life Field.—Time Stamps:(1:00) Tyler Bell injured shoulder(6:00) Cameron Flukey day to day(10:00) Tommy LaPour dealing with arm soreness(15:30) Grady Emerson impressions(21:00) Jackson Flora(28:00) Sawyer Strosnider(32:30) Cam Johnson(39:00) Colin Barczi, Camden Johnson(42:30) Logan Hughes(48:25) Deiten Lachance(50:00) Jared Grindlinger’s 2026 reclassificationOur Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On the latest Prospect Podcast Deep Dive, JJ Cooper and Nick Piecoro dig into the Arizona D-backs farm system. Overall the system has improved from a year ago, largely because of improved depth.(00:00) It's been a fascinating offseason(03:00) Ryan Waldschmidt is the No. 1 prospect, but there were a lot of candidates.(09:00) What is Waldschmidt's realistic timetable?(11:00) Why this system is better now than a year ago(16:00) Who could be next year's No. 1 prospect(22:00) What is Druw Jones' prospect status?(27:30) What are the D-backs good at developing?(31:30) D-backs prospects to know outside the top 10D-backs Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-arizona-diamondbacks-top-mlb-prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this crossover episode from Baseball America's "From Phenom To The Farm" podcast with Kyle Bandujo, actor and Gilmore Girls star Scott Patterson recalls the ups and downs of his original career spent as a minor league baseball player with the Braves, Yankees and Dodgers.Time Stamps(5:00) Being Drafted Three Times(15:00) Introduction to MiLB(19:40) Emphasis on Winning in 80s MiLB(29:25) Contract Negotiations with Hank Aaron(36:30) Trade to the Yankees(48:50) A Big League Call Up That Didn't Happen(59:45) Spring Training as a Rule 5 Pick(1:11:30) Starring in "Little Big League"Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Josh Norris and Geoff Pontes are taking an in-depth look at the Rangers farm system on the latest Baseball America Prospect Podcast Deep Dive.(00:00) Sebastian Walcott is No. 1. How much his injury affects his rankings.(04:00) Why the system is thinner than it was a year ago(08:00) Trades really have taken a toll(09:30) Who will be No. 1 a year from now, and who else has a chance to move up(13:45) What do the Rangers develop well?(18:00) Other prospects outside the Top 10 to knowRangers Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-texas-rangers-top-mlb-prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Geoff Pontes and Josh Norris take an in-depth look at the Yankees farm system on the latest of our Prospect Podcast Deep Dive series.(00:00) Why this system isn't very deep(02:20) George Lombard Jr. ranks No. 1. What stands out about him and who were the other contenders(08:20) How the system compares now to last year at this time(09:30) Looking at Carlos LaGrange and Elmer Rodriguez (13:25) Dax Kilby really stands out(15:20) Ben Hess is a name to know(17:00) What are the Yankees good at developing(19:00) The Spencer Jones conundrum(24:45) Other Yankees sleeper prospectsYankees Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2029-new-york-yankees/prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Carlos Collazo and Jacob Rudner talk about the first in-season Top 25 college rankings, top draft prospects getting started on their spring seasons and more.The Hot Sheet Show airs live on the BA YouTube channel every week on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Give us a sub, and we'll see you then!Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction(1:55) The debate for No. 1 in our Top 25 rankings(5:00) Carlos' trip to Texas & season-opening thoughts(12:20) Scouting Grady Emerson(15:45) Could someone challenge Roch Cholowsky for No. 1?(17:45) Scouting Sawyer Strosnider(21:30) Phillies agree to a deal with an 11-year-old?Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Baseball America national college reporter Jacob Rudner is joined by BA prospect writer Geoff Pontes to break down NCAA Division I college baseball opening weekend. Rudner and Pontes take a closer look at the debate for No. 1, analyze teams that impressed and discuss standout individual performances.(4:55) Please stream your games!(6:29) The No. 1 debate(15:29) TCU shows out in Arlington(20:22) Cam Johnson and Oklahoma impress(28:35) Texas impresses(34:13) NC State enters the rankings(35:45) Managing Texas A&M’s ranking(38:38) Could Jackson Flora be the top prospect in 2026?(44:41) Blaine Brown’s breakout(47:07) Lingering questions from opening weekendOur Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Last year, Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson helped the Athletics make a surprising second half run. Now the farm system has a lot of pitching on the way. Mark Chiarelli and JJ Cooper take an in-depth look at the A's farm system for the latest Prospect Podcast Deep Dive.(00:00) Leo De Vries gives this system a big boost (05:00) De Vries' strengths and weaknesses (10:00) How this system has changed over the past year (13:15) Looking at Jamie Arnold and Gage Jump (18:00) Wei-En Lin is another pitching prospect to remember (20:00) Who could rise up this list over the next year (26:45) What are the A's good at developing? (29:00) Other A's prospects to know outside the top 10 (33:00) Why the Athletics' pitching-heavy Top 30 lines up well with team needsA's Top 30: https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2015-athletics/prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mark Chiarelli and JJ Cooper are here for the latest Baseball America Prospect Podcast Deep Dive to talk all about the Pirates farm system. It's not only led by the No. 1 prospect in baseball, but it has a top four to envy.(00:00) Why Konnor Griffin stands at the top of the Top 100(10:00) How it was hard for the Pirates to put a temp fix at shortstop ahead of Griffin(14:00) Bubba Chandler is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball(16:10) Why Edward Florentino and Seth Hernandez could be the next wave(26:00) More Bubba talk (28:30) Can the Pirates produce hitters now?(31:30) Other prospects who could make an impact quickly(34:30) Other Pirates sleeper prospects to keep an eye onPirates Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-pittsburgh-pirates-top-mlb-prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Baseball America Fantasy Podcast is back as host Geoff Pontes is joined by Ian Cundall. They dive into the Caleb Durbin trade and a laundry list of injuries. Lots of bad news broke for dynasty managers this week and we discuss all of it and search for buying opportunities. (3:00) Caleb Durbin Trade(14:00) Sebastian Walcott Elbow Surgery(18:00) Hamate Injuries To Francisco Lindor, Jackson Holliday and Corbin Carroll.(22:00) Spencer Schwellenbach Elbow Surgery(25:00) Jared Jones Added To The 60 Day IL(28:00) Jordan Westburg Injury(33:00) Zack Wheeler And Other Top Starters Not Ready For Opening DayOur Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In a special Future Projection cross-posted episode, Ben, Carlos and Jacob conduct the fourth annual amateur player draft. The name of the game is simple: select the most talented team you can among 2026 eligible draft prospects. Each drafter has to fill out a roster as follows: one catcher, two corner infielders, two middle infielders, three outfielders, four pitchers and one utility spot. Each player needs to have at least six high school players and at least six college players. Who had the best draft? Let us know what you think. —Time Stamps:(0:00) Intro(0:40) Draft explained(3:40) Draft beings(6:10) First pitcher selected(10:00) Jacob Lombard vs. Justin Lebron(11:50) First catcher off the board(18:00) Ben doubles down on outfielders(23:30) The first positional “debate”(29:35) Carlos continues to stack pitchers(32:40) Ben goes crazy for college players(42:05) Jacob gets an outfield bat he loves(58:00) Team by team draft summaries and takeawaysHELLO FRESH:Get 10 free meals and a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box at HelloFresh.com/FT10FM. Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as a discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan.Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Badler and JJ Cooper are taking an in-depth look at the Milwaukee Brewers farm system on the latest Prospect Podcast Deep Dive. This was already one of the best systems in baseball, and then the team added two more Top 100 Prospects in the Freddy Peralta trade.(00:00) Assessing where the Brewers are after the Peralta week's trade (05:00) Why Jesús Made was the clear and convincing No. 1 (10:00) Luis Peña is an excellent prospect in his own right (14:20) Why the Brewers' farm system stands out (19:30) The biggest wild card prospect in the Brewers' system (22:00) Who could rise up this list in the upcoming year? (25:00) What are the Brewers good at producing? (30:30) Sleeper prospects to know (37:00) The clever approach the Brewers have taken in the draftBrewers Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2030-milwaukee-brewers/prospects/?season=2026&ranking=preseasonBrewers 31-40 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/10-brewers-prospects-to-know-beyond-the-top-30-in-2026/The Brewers Clever Draft Strategy: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/how-the-brewers-exploited-a-draft-inefficiency-to-help-build-one-of-mlbs-top-systems/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper and Geoff Pontes unpack BA's 2026 preseason farm system rankings with teams at the top, middle and bottom of the pack.We also react to the Red Sox acquiring Caleb Durbin from the Brewers in a six-player trade.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction (1:00) BA's 2026 preseason farm system talent rankings—Cardinals at No. 2 (6:00) Mets at No. 7 (10:20) Marlins at No. 8 and A's at No. 9 (12:00) Padres at No. 29 (16:05) Andrew Fischer and the Brewers (17:40) Dodgers fall outside the top 10 (20:15) Rockies in last place (23:00) Brewers trade Caleb Durbin to the Red SoxThe Hot Sheet Show airs live on the BA YouTube channel every week on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Give us a sub, and we'll see you then!Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Baseball America national college reporter Jacob Rudner and prospect writer Geoff Pontes dive into NCAA Division I opening weekend, breaking down matchups they'll be watching closely. Rudner and Pontes also go in depth on what top 2026 draft prospects need to do in the opening weeks of the season to stay on positive trajectories.(2:27) How much early season play matters for tournament consideration(3:13) No. 9 TCU vs. No. 17 Vanderbilt(9:50) No. 10 Arkansas vs. Oklahoma State(13:20) No. 23 Southern Miss vs. UC Santa Barbara(20:04) Arizona vs. Stanford(24:02) No. 6 Georgia vs. Wright State(28:57) Joey Volchko(33:18) Liam Peterson(39:35) Caden Bogenpohl(45:05) Ryan McPherson(48:33) Jackson Flora(51:07) Ricky Ojeda(54:32) Owen Hull(57:59) Gabe GaeckleHELLO FRESH:Get 10 free meals and a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box at HelloFresh.com/FT10FM. Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as a discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan.Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy