Baseball America’s Ben Badler and Carlos Collazo offer scout-level insight into all levels of baseball—everything from the amateur MLB Draft, international scouting, minor league prospects to the bigs. New episodes drop every week.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2024/4/24/21/73aba663-b9fa-47f8-b2e5-9d2169c81e25_episode_86.mp3

Ben and Carlos talk about the new draft rankings at Baseball America and briefly touch on the state of the class and how the group is shaping up. Ben brings up the idea of pick trading once again and how that would impact Carlos’s ability to create mock drafts. Ben also talks about how it would be interesting to see teams able to trade domestic draft picks for international draft picks if that is ever implemented—the more freedom for teams to build rosters the better.Then the two touch on a number of minor league prospects off to hot starts this season including: White Sox lefthander Noah Schultz, Rockies righthander Chase Dollander, Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw, Royals catcher Blake Mitchell and Twins outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez. After that the two switch gears and talk about some prospects whose starts to the season could be more concerning. Those players include: Yankees shortstop Roderick Arias, Rangers shortstop Sebastian Walcott, Mariners catcher Harry Ford, Blue Jays lefthander Ricky Tiedemann, Padres righthander Dylan Lesko and Braves righthander Hurston Waldrep. In that conversation the two also wonder about the merits of prospect demotions and whether or not they could be beneficial for player development. Ben has a sleeper righthander to know in the Brewers system, righthander Bishop Letson, and the two talk about his remarkable jump in stuff within just a year of being drafted in the 11th round. That leads to a conversation about teams investing in raw, projectable prospects who take more time to develop and whether or not that sort of player is less common with a 20-round draft and smaller minor league system.Ben picks Carlos’s brain on the players who could be available for the teams picking outside the top eight range, and how likely or unlikely it is for one of the “big 8” to slip further down the board. What are potential draft scenarios for the Pirates, Nationals, Tigers and Red Sox? The two talk about pitcher attrition and whether or not that makes teams more or less likely to draft pitching prospects in the first place and then get into a listener question about academies in Latin America lying about prospect ages. –Time Stamps(0:00) New draft rankings(13:00) Pick trading(18:00) International draft trading(21:00) Noah Schultz(23:00) Chase Dollander(27:00) Matt Shaw(29:30) Blake Mitchell (34:00) Emmanuel Rodriguez(40:00) Roderick Arias(45:30) Sebastian Walcott(49:00) Thoughts on promotions and demotions(52:00) Harry Ford(57:00) Ricky Tiedemann(1:03:00) Dylan Lesko(1:08:00) Hurston Waldrep (1:13:40) Bishop Letson(1:19:00) Teams investing in “raw” players(1:23:00) Pirates options at No. 9(1:33:00) Can anyone slide out of the top eight?(1:37:00) FSU outfielder James Tibbs(1:39:00) Are the Red Sox in no man’s land at 12?(1:46:00) Pitcher attrition and how that impacts decisions to draft arms(1:52:00) What happens when academies lie about player ages?–Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 86: Prospects Trending Up, Prospects Trending Down

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Ben and Carlos talk through all kinds of early-season performances to start the season, but before getting into minor leaguers they start off with how red hot Michael Busch has been for the Cubs. Does this change our evaluations of the Dodgers-Cubs trade and how have minor leaguers Zyhir Hope and Jackson Ferris been so far in the 2024 season?After that, the two talk about the odd situation in Florida where the Marlins have sent their best performing pitcher—Max Meyer—back to the minors. Is it service time manipulation or just an odd way to manage a young pitcher&#39;s workload? The Marlins slow start to the season also leads to a conversation about the worst teams in the league, the draft lottery and who the favorites are to land a top-three chance for the No. 1 pick in 2025. Sorry, White Sox and A’s fans.Next, Carlos brings up Bobby Witt Jr. and his scorching start to the 2024 season and Ben counters with CJ Abrams taking a step forward with his hitting. The two then talk about James Wood’s sensational start and debate whether he or Dylan Crews is the prospect to have in Washington’s system. Carlos rants about Dylan Crews skepticism on the internet and the two then move on to lower-level prospects moving and shaking so far this season.That includes: Phillies infielder Aidan Miller and his swing change; Rockies lefthander Sean Sullivan and his unique pitch profile; Braves righthander Owen Murphy and his lack of premium velocity but strong results; the Rays finding yet another pitching gem with righthander Santiago Suarez; the Orioles “late” find of righthander Moises Chace; early improvements for Reds third baseman Cam Collier; continued offensive dominance from Guardians first baseman Ralphy Velazquez; Jackson Chourio’s younger brother Jaison Chourio, who is also in the Cleveland system; and Cubs shortstop Jefferson Rojas.The two close the show by talking about split-camp players and why opinions on prospects can vary so widely, how those deltas are handled in scouting departments and the pressures to align opinions with higher ups and/or the “consensus” opinions on a player in the industry.–Time Stamps(0:00) Michael Busch(10:00) Zyhir Hope(14:00) Jackson Ferris(18:00) Max Meyer(26:00) Draft lottery talk(34:00) Bobby Witt Jr. and CJ Abrams(42:00) James Wood(45:00) Dylan Crews vs. James Wood(53:00) Aidan Miller(59:30) Sean Sullivan(1:12:00) Owen Murphy(1:16:00) Santiago Suarez(1:21:00) Moises Chace(1:27:00) Cam Collier (1:33:00) Ralphy Velazquez(1:42:00) Jaison Chourio(1:46:00) Jefferson Rojas(1:49:00) split camp players and why opinions can vary so much— Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 85: MiLB Prospects Off To Strong Starts In 2024

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Carlos and Ben talk about Jackson Holliday’s big league promotion and what to expect of him from the jump with the Orioles. The two debate the validity of jersey retirements but otherwise agree on many of the topics of today’s episode which includes…The much-talked about pitcher injury epidemic. Velocity and max effort throwing certainly seems like a factor, but what about others like the pitch clock? New pitching development and pitch design? Managing workloads too critically or not critically enough? Changes to youth baseball and the velocity you’re seeing at those levels? What about shoulder injuries? After that the two move on to the top pitching prospect in baseball, Paul Skenes who made quick work of Triple-A hitters in his first two starts of the season. They talk about how he’s looked and get into another conversation about fastball shape and why it’s not the end all be all for pitchers and also wonder about when he should be promoted to the majors.Next the two pivot to the 2024 draft class and talk about the barrage of home runs that Wake Forest first baseman Nick Kurtz has hit in the last two weeks. Has he re-entered the 1-1 conversation and how does he stack up against fellow first baseman Jac Caglianone tool-for-tool? That leads into a conversation about the top of the draft class generally, and Ben asks about who the best pitcher in the class is after Chase Burns and Hagen Smith which leads to talk about ECU righthander Trey Yesavage. After that Ben brings up another righthander who might deserve a bit more attention in Vanderbilt righthander Bryce Cunningham.The two close the podcast with thoughts on Boston’s contract extension of center fielder and shortstop Ceddanne Rafaela.—Time Stamps(0:00) Jackson Holliday (14:00) Retiring numbers(18:00) The pitcher injury epidemic(25:00) High school pitchers throwing harder(33:00) Ben’s thoughts on shoulder injuries(35:30) Is the pitch clock a factor?(38:00) Paul Skenes and fastball shape(49:00) When should Skenes be in the majors?(55:00) Nick Kurtz’s home run binge(1:05:00) Nick Kurtz vs. Jac Caglianone(1:15:00) ECU RHP Trey Yesavage(1:25:00) Vanderbilt RHP Bryce Cunningham(1:30:00) The Ceddanne Rafaela contract extension— Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 84: (Jackson) Holliday Season & Paul Skenes Domination

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Ben and Carlos hop on the show to talk about the top of the 2024 draft class and notable minor league prospect assignments. Before getting into the show the two talk about the news that the A’s will be relocating to Sacramento’s Triple-A stadium after the 2024 season. It’s just the latest of a shocking number of relocation gaffes from the franchise. After that the two talk about how dynamic both Charlie Condon and Travis Bazzana have been halfway through the college season. Where do their numbers stack up with recent elite college hitters at the top of the class? And can we truly read directly into those numbers given the offensive environment of college baseball in 2024? How do the two compare and contrast to elite college prospects like Dylan Crews and Wyatt Langford and what holds them back from belonging in the same tier—if they still don’t actually fit there? Where would each rank on the Top 100 Prospects list?Following that conversation the two talk about minor league names—and assignments—to know. Carlos continues his love of Dylan Lesko and gets excited about his slider development, the two both praise the Mariners’ ability to find and develop impact college arms and the two talk through a number of players including: Reds catcher Alfredo Duno, Dodgers outfielder Josue De Paula, Brewers outfielder Yophery Rodriguez, Angels outfielder Nelson Rada, Rangers shortstop Sebastian Walcott, Reds righthander Rhett Lowder, Braves righthander Hurston Waldrep, Guardians infielder Ralphy Velazquez and more. The show closes with a listener email asking about how things would change if MLB adopted an NBA draft system where players had to go to college but could leave for pro ball whenever they wanted after that.—Time Stamps0:20 A’s to Sacramento Talk6:20 Charlie Condon’s insane numbers10:00 College baseball’s offensive environment and how to contextualize for that16:45 Condon and Travis Bazzana compared to Dylan Crews and Wyatt Langford35:15 Condon/Bazzana compared to recent elite college profiles40:00 Where Condon/Bazzana would fit on a Top 100 list54:13 Transition to minor league prospect talk1:02:05 Jackson Jobe’s brilliance1:06:00 The Mariners knack for finding and developing college arms1:13:05 Josue De Paula1:17:40 Alfredo Duno1:24:15 Sebastian Walcott1:29 Hurston Waldrep and Rhett Lowder1:41:25 If MLB’s draft system was changed to the NBA format— Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 83: Are Charlie Condon And Travis Bazzana Still Somehow Underrated?

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Happy (day after) Opening Day!Ben and Carlos hop back on the podcast to talk about Opening Day of the big league season and some of the main storylines of the year. The two talk about their World Series picks and talk through some of the more interesting divisions to keep tabs on then debate the most disappointing offseason in the league. The two also give their thoughts on the Shohei Ohtani-Ippei Mizuhara situation before turning their eyes to the amateur space. Ben breaks down his recent trip to the Dominican Republic and gives an early preview of upcoming international classes, including Andrew Salas who is projected to sign with the Marlins and the younger brother of Padres catching phenom Ethan Salas. The two then talk about a defensive spectrum debate that Carlos stumbled upon between second base and right field and give their thoughts on the skills required for both. After that, the two talk through some 2024 draft buzz, including the continued domination of Chase Burns and Hagen Smith, whether or not Brody Brecht’s walk rate is too high for the first round and how we should think through Jac Caglianone as a two-way player, as a hitter and as a pitcher. The two also discuss pop-up players and how teams scout them. How should a team weigh spring performance and looks vs. extended history and track record of a player?— Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 82: MLB Predictions & Opening Day Thoughts

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Ben and Carlos chat about spring training standouts in big league camp, headlined by two players in the very elite tier of baseball prospects who have a case to start the year in the majors: Jackson Holliday and Wyatt Langford. Ben and Carlos talk about the cases for and against those two being pushed aggressively and then the two talk about a number of other spring training performances including Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill, Pirates righthander Jared Jones, Cardinals shortstop Thomas Saggese, Padres outfielder and infielder Graham Pauley and Brewers first baseman Wes Clarke, among others.After that the two discuss a loaded Wake Forest-Duke series from last weekend that Carlos saw in person. The two revisit Chase Burns and talk through just how much he’s elevated his draft stock, plus get in depth on the divergent hitting approaches of Seaver King and Nick Kurtz. The two touch on Jonathan Santucci, Josh Hartle and Michael Massey as well and talk briefly about the top of the draft board.–Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 81: Should Wyatt Langford & Jackson Holliday Start In The Big Leagues?

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Ben and Carlos talk about the first two weeks of college baseball action including scorching offensive starts from Georgia’s Charlie Condon and Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana. Are they more in the mix to be the No. 1 pick in a still unsettled draft class? And what are the early changes beyond just strong production?The two then move on to pitching and break down early-season outings from Arkansas lefthander Hagen Smith and Wake Forest righthander Chase Burns. The two have solid cases as having the best pure stuff from the left and right side respectively, and now they are looking to reinforce their starting profiles and remove some of the reliever risk they entered the spring with. How do Ben and Carlos view the two? Which would they take? How do they view reliever risk in general and which factors are the most concerning: Command? Diversity of stuff? Delivery? Medical history? Durability? Track record? After that the two talk about a few early spring training performances from players who have impressed including Pirates second baseman Termarr Johnson, Nationals outfielders James Wood and Dylan Crews and Brewers outfielder (or infielder?) Sal Frelick.The show closes with Ben’s early preview of the 2026 high school draft class, which looks to have both impressive depth of talent and a standout headliner at the top in Texas shortstop Grady Emerson.–Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 80: Chase Burns, Hagen Smith & Scouting Reliever Risk

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Ben and Carlos are joined by Peter Flaherty in a special edition of the show, where the three look ahead to the 2024 amateur season by drafting teams of 2024 class prospects. The three writers go back and forth in an attempt to create the best team possible from the 2024 class. Here are the rules:Each drafter must fill the following positions and select at least six high school players and at least six college players:<ul><li>1 catcher</li><li>2 corner infielders</li><li>2 middle infielders</li><li>3 outfielders</li><li>4 pitchers</li><li>1 utility spot (any position type)</li></ul> While the teams will be revisited after the draft to see whose teams had the best draft capital, the ultimate goal is to create the best possible team, so we’ll have to wait a few years to determine the ultimate winners.However, that doesn&#39;t stop you from chiming in now with feedback on the exercise. Are you Team Ben? Team Peter? Or Team Carlos? Let us know. –Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureProPod" rel="nofollow">@FutureProPod</a>Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 79: Drafting 2024 Prospect Teams

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Carlos and Ben banter about the announced Netflix documentary following the Red Sox and think about what their ideal baseball documentary looks like. After that the two talk through the Royals mega-extension of franchise shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and how the deal is a win for all parties involved. Then the two talk through Matt Eddy’s PPI eligible players piece and think about the ramifications of the program and whether or not it’s good for the game—spoiler: it is. The two think about the favorites for winning rookie of the year of this pool of players and talk through some of the draft changes related to the PPI program that remove incentives for teams to bottom out year after year.After that the two talk through BA’s preseason all-America teams, including why the teams are predictive of the year’s first round round draft picks and also talk briefly about the updated 2025 draft rankings on the site. The two answer a listener question about Ethan Holliday’s 1-1 case for the 2025 class, and then end the show with a listener email about how agents, teams and players play the signing bonus game on draft day. –Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureProPod" rel="nofollow">@FutureProPod</a>Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 78: All-Americans, 2024 Draft Prospects & Ethan Holliday’s 1-1 Case

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Ben and Carlos hop on the show and talk through a few major league news items, including the Tigers extension of Colt Keith, the Twins-Mariners Jorge Polanco trade and the news that the Orioles are being sold to (hopefully) new and improved owners.After that, the two get into Carlos’s big draft update ahead of the college baseball season. The list expands from 100 to 200, with a new name up top and plenty of new reports to consume. Ben peppers Carlos with plenty of questions about the state of the class and the two discuss the various strengths and weaknesses of the group at this stage. The show closes with a listener question about the impacts of the 20-round draft and the contracted minor league team and player system. –Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureProPod" rel="nofollow">@FutureProPod</a>Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 77: Breaking Down The New MLB Draft Rankings

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Ben and Carlos talk about the week’s Hall of Fame results and debate the various cases for some of the players who were on this year’s ballot before looking ahead to future candidates and looking at the surprisingly strong track record of No. 1 overall picks making the Hall of Fame. After that the two open up the listener mailbag and get into your prospect questions. Those involve plenty of topics including: are the Padres too trade-happy with their prospects? Is Coby Mayo more valuable for the Orioles as trade bait or as a member of the young hitting core? How would Samuel Basallo look as a prospect if he was being developed by another organization? Who will be the fastest pitcher to the big leagues from the 2024 draft class? Where do we stand on Mets righthander Blade Tidwell? How does Ben evaluate the Giants’ current standing in the international market? How much upside can we expect for Marlins prep pitchers Noble Meyer and Thomas White? –Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureProPod" rel="nofollow">@FutureProPod</a>Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 76: Answering Your Prospect Questions

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Ben and Carlos spend most of the episode getting into the weeds on our recently released 2024 Top 100 Prospects list. Before that conversation starts, Ben breaks down his January 15 experience and how it compared to previous years.Padres prospect Leodalis De Vries serves as the bridge from international signing day to our Top 100, as the lone member of the 2024 class to land on the list. What makes him deserving and why is this a profile to get excited about? Ben tells you all you need to know.After that, the two break down the top of the list, talk about their various tier breaks, agree on philosophies about pitching prospects and injury risk and then talk about how they would line up the top pitching prospects in the game. The two then talk through the players they are higher or lower on than the Top 100 itself, including names like Andrew Painter, Robby Snelling, Ricky Tiedemann, Adael Amador, Dylan Lesko, Noah Schultz, Colt Emerson, Michael Busch, Bryce Eldridge, Jacob Wilson, Nick Frasso, Gavin Stone, Brayden Taylor, Ceddanne Rafaela, Chase Petty and more.The two have a slight disagreement on 2023 arms Rhett Lowder and Chase Dollander, then think about some of the players who might be poised to shoot up this list in the future.The show ends with a listener email about where Braves righthander AJ Smith-Shawver might rank if he was part of the 2024 draft class.–Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureProPod" rel="nofollow">@FutureProPod</a>Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 75: Breaking Down The 2024 Top 100 Prospects List

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Today’s episode is spent entirely on international prospects, as we are just days away from January 15. In this episode, Carlos grills Ben on all things international:Who are the top prospects to know? What’s the current state of the international signing system? What are the pros and cons of signing day coming in January compared to July? Which teams are doing the best on the international market? Which teams have taken significant steps forward on this front in the last five years or so? Ben answers all those questions and more. The two talk about the developmental challenges that international prospects face, both before and after signing with their pro teams. How do the changes to the minor league system post-covid still impact international players? Will any players in the 2024 international class be immediate candidates for the top 100? And who are other, low-level international prospects you should be keeping an eye on?It’s a fairly wide-ranging and thorough discussion on the international market and if you need a primer on this year’s class and all things international prospects—this is the episode for you.–Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureProPod" rel="nofollow">@FutureProPod</a>Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 74: Everything You Need To Know About The 2024 International Class

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Ben and Carlos kick off the new year with the final installment of their division-by-division breakdown of farm systems, saving the worst (?) group of teams for last.Before that the two talk through <a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-mlb-international-prospects-top-50-bonus-board/" rel="nofollow">Ben’s international board for the 2024 class</a>, which is lined up based on the expected bonuses for the top 50 players in the class. Ben breaks down a few of the top names, including Braves shortstop signee Jose Perdomo and Padres shortstop signee Leodalis De Vries before getting into some overall 2024 international class discussion.Where are all the pitchers? Who are some players who are trending up to know about? And how confident can we ever be with international signings at this stage of the calendar? After that the two talk through AL West farm systems, including a top-heavy and exciting Rangers group led by a potential pair of top-five prospects in Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford; a middle-of-the-pack Mariners farm system that one co-host likes more than another; an A’s farm system that has taken a step forward but is not at the level it should be given the state of the major league team; an Angels farm system that continues to lack impact talent despite some quick-to-the-majors movers; and an Astros system that might have a case for one of the worst in baseball.The podcast closes with a listener question about the success of MLB teams after having a top-five farm system.–Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureProPod" rel="nofollow">@FutureProPod</a>Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 73: The State Of AL West Farm Systems

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Ben and Carlos celebrate the fact that the 2024 Prospect Handbook has been shipped by breaking down AL Central prospect talent. Without much happening on the major league front, the two get straight into prospect talk, starting with a strong Tigers system.The two talk about their excitement for No. 1 prospect Max Clark and wonder about his power potential for the future, and then discuss whether or not righthander Jackson Jobe has a case to be made as the top pitching prospect in baseball. It doesn’t fall off after that either with exciting offensive players like Colt Keith, Jace Jung, Justyn-Henry Malloy and Parker Meadows. The farm system caliber does fall off after the Tigers, though Ben and Carlos disagree somewhat about their enthusiasm for the depth of the Twins—though neither disagrees about how excited they are for Walker Jenkins and Brooks Lee. After that, the two debate whether or not the Guardians or the White Sox system is better, with both teams boasting solid prospects up top—Chase DeLauter, Brayan Rocchio, Colson Mongtomery and Noah Schultz—but more questions beyond that. Finally, the two talk about the Royals and the lack of excitement there is to be found throughout the farm—though there are two catching prospects of note to monitor—before getting into the last listener mailbag of the year, which includes questions about Jac Caglianone and college summer camps. Happy Holidays!–Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureProPod" rel="nofollow">@FutureProPod</a>Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 72: The State Of AL Central Farm Systems

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Ben and Carlos discuss their caffeine of choice during the busy December prospect season, then react a bit to Shohei Ohtani’s historic contract with the Dodgers. After that, the two get straight into prospect talk and analyze the farm systems of the AL East, which includes four good to great systems—including the Orioles, who have the easy No. 1 group in the league—and one that’s maybe a bit less exciting. The two discuss how close Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony are in terms of overall prospect status, talk through the impressive depth of the Yankees, try and figure out the best infield alignment for the Orioles and which prospects might be best utilized in a trade and also talk through how expectations could impact us more when looking at the Rays than other orgs. After talking through the farm systems, the two take a few listener questions, including where the top-ranked international prospect for the 2024 signing class would fit into the 2024 draft class, how often teams try and steal international players who already have deals with other clubs, thoughts on college vs. pro development and the top third base prospects in the 2024 prep class.–Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureProPod" rel="nofollow">@FutureProPod</a>Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 71: The State Of AL East Farm Systems

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Ben and Carlos break down the second annual draft lottery and the implications that come from the Guardians and Reds leaping up to secure the top two picks in the 2024 draft. The two discuss how this could impact Cleveland’s draft strategy and whether or not the top players in the class fit their typical MO on prospects, as well as look at some of the draft lottery “losers” including the A’s, White Sox and Nationals.Is the draft lottery system working as intended? Are Ben and Carlos fans of the system? What tweaks would they recommend for the future and how could the viewing experience be improved for die-hard draftniks and casual baseball fans alike. After that, the two turn their eyes towards the Winter Meetings and break down the one big trade that actually happened at the event: the Padres trading hitting savant Juan Soto to the Yankees for a package of big-league ready (or near ready) pitchers, headlined by righthanders Drew Thorpe and Michael King. Finally, the two discuss the developing narrative surrounding Shohei Ohtani as he pursues a more clandestine free agent process than many national baseball writers would like. Does anyone truly care how he goes about the free agent process? Are the Winter Meetings still necessary? And what is Ohtani’s dog’s name???The podcast closes with a few listener questions, including SoCal prep prospects in the 2024 draft class and where Rays infielder Junior Caminero might land on Ben and Carlos’s personal top 100 lists. –Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureProPod" rel="nofollow">@FutureProPod</a>Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 70: Analyzing The Draft Lottery + The Shohei Ohtani Narrative

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Ben and Carlos talk about the rumored Jackson Chourio extension with the Brewers and talk through evaluating risk for prospects vs. risk for veteran players. After that the two talk through Carlos’s updated 2024 draft rankings and discuss the state of a very muddled draft class. Which player would be the No. 1 pick if the draft were today? Is there any separation on the pitching side? Which players made the most notable jumps up the board? The two find themselves liking the depth of pitching on the high school side, but also acknowledge some of the pitfalls of this year’s class.After that the conversation turns pro, and the two talk through each of the farm systems in the NL West. Is the top-heavy impact of the Padres better than a deep Dodgers system? Why is Carlos high on the Giants? And where do the Rockies and D-backs line up among this group?They end the show with a solid listener question about players who have been better than expected as pros.  <a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/all-66-prospects-and-recent-prospect-graduates-the-padres-have-traded-in-33-months/" rel="nofollow">Kyle’s story on Padres prospects traded</a>—Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureProPod" rel="nofollow">@FutureProPod</a>Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 69: The State of NL West Farm Systems

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Ben and Carlos chat about MLB awards season, despite the fact that most of the winners were unanimous and ultimately not too surprising. After that the two talk about the PPI picks that the D-Backs and Orioles will receive thanks to Corbin Carroll and Gunnar Henderson, and the pros and cons of all of the new rule changes in regards to the draft—and it seems like mostly pros outside of additional headaches that Carlos has to deal with. The two briefly talk about the Braves-White Sox trade that put Aaron Bummer in Atlanta and sent a five-player package to Chicago, before touching on the 40-man roster deadline and talking a bit of Rule 5 draft. The two also examine some of the first round misses that the protection deadline highlighted, including Twins shortstop Keoni Cavaco, Twins first baseman Aaron Sabato and Royals lefthander Asa Lacy. What are the lessons to be drawn from those picks?The bulk of the episode is spent analyzing the farm systems for the NL Central clubs. Just how good is the Brewers farm system? Which of these teams has surged forward over the second half of the season given their 2023 draft and prospect finishes? And which clubs or prospects do the two disagree on? All that and more.—Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureProPod" rel="nofollow">@FutureProPod</a>Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 68: The State Of NL Central Farm Systems

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Ben and Carlos talk about a number of the managerial moves in the big leagues in recent weeks, and then Ben talks about the traits and skills that he would want to have in a big league manager. It’s hard to quantify the value of big league managers with precision, but Ben breaks down the various hard and soft skills that he thinks might be important for the modern game.The two talk about whether or not playing backgrounds are important or necessary for big league managers, the value of managerial experience, the value of being on the same page philosophically with your front office and whether or not you need different managers for teams at different competitive stages. After that, the two talk about the Yankees and the various comments made recently by owner Hal Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman. Are the narratives surrounding the Yankees’ “disappointing” 2023 season accurate, and what’s the current state of the organization in a routinely competitive AL East division?Next, the two move on to some free agency talk, think about how historic Shohei Ohtani is on the free agent market and work through some of the top available pitchers and hitters available. The two end by discussing national signing day for the 2024 high school class, talk through a few of the best classes of talent and then take a few listener questions that get into more scouting talk. –Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com  Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureProPod" rel="nofollow">@FutureProPod</a>Ben&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler" rel="nofollow">@BenBadler</a>Carlos&#39;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo" rel="nofollow">@CarlosACollazo</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/" rel="nofollow">Baseball America Website</a> Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations'>https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

Episode 67: What Makes A Good Manager?

A Baseball America Podcast

Baseball America’s Ben Badler and Carlos Collazo offer scout-level insight into all levels of baseball—everything from the amateur MLB Draft, international scouting, minor league prospects to the bigs. New episodes drop every week.