

Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America delivers baseball news you can't get anywhere else. Covering the game from a player-development point of view, the staff of BA will deliver its take on what's going on in the world of baseball every week on its podcast, analyzing the game from the majors and minors--with an emphasis on prospects--through our unparalleled college and high school coverage.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 22, 2025 • 26min
Reacting To MLB Trades & Signings, Plus Genei Sato Picks Penn State | Hot Sheet Show Ep. 87
On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Geoff Pontes, Jacob Rudner and Scott Braun discuss a number of topics, including a pair of key AL East trades, new MLB homes for Munetaka Murakami and Song Sung-mun and Genei Sato's committment to Penn State.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction(0:45) Reacting to the Mets/A's Jeff McNeil trade(3:45) Shane Baz headed to the Orioles(8:15) Rays/Pirates/Astros three-team trade(12:30) Red Sox acquire Willson Contreras for three pitchers(15:30) Scouting Song Sung-mun(17:45) Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami signs with the White Sox(19:00) Genei Sato is headed to... Penn State?(21:00) How could can Sato be?(25:45) Don't forget to order your 2026 Prospect HandbookOur Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 18, 2025 • 30min
Fantasy Podcast: Top 130 Outfielders For Dynasty
With the hot stove seemingly too cool at the moment, hosts Geoff Pontes and Dylan White bring some holiday heat with our latest installment in the dynasty positional ranking series. This week we breakdown a loaded outfield group with some of the top talents in the game. We talk you through the top 25 and some names to targets as sleepers.(2:30) Why Juan Soto over Corbin Carroll?(5:00) Why Julio Rodriguez over Aaron Judge?(7:30) Do you discount Jackson Chourio in OBP leagues?(10:30) Laying out Tatis, Acuna and Kyle Tucker(13:30) Who makes the biggest jump in 2026 between Wyatt Langford, James Wood and Roman Anthony?(17:00) Weighing risks with Yordan Alvarez, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Jackson Merrill(22:00) Ranking the power hitters(26:00) Aggressive ranking of Edward FlorentinoCashAppDownload Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/hap8idx8 #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Direct deposit and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.Our Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 18, 2025 • 41min
Explaining The 2026 Prospect Handbook
On this week's Prospect Podcast Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper go in-depth into explaining tools grades, BA grades and risk, adjusted grades and everything else about the Prospect Handbook.(00:00) Why We're A Day Late(04:30) What Is The Prospect Handbook(06:40) So What Is The 20-to-80 Scouting Scale And How Does It Work?(11:00) Looking At No. 1 Prospect Konnor Griffin's Tools Grades(14:30) Comparing Konnor Griffin's Tools To Bobby Witt Jr.'s Tools(17:15) Explaining BA Grades And Risk(23:00) Why Kevin McGonigle Has An 80 Hit Tool(24:30) What Adjusted Grades Are, And How We Use Them(32:00) Geoff's Prospect Soapbox: Astros OF Lucas Spence(35:20) JJ's Prospect Soapbox: Tigers SS John PeckOrder Your Prospect Handbook Here: https://baseballamerica.myshopify.com/collections/books/products/2026-baseball-america-prospect-handbookCashAppDownload Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/hap8idx8 #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Direct deposit and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.Our Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 15, 2025 • 27min
Could Someone Other Than Roch Cholowsky Go No. 1 In The 2026 MLB Draft? | Hot Sheet Show Ep. 86
On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Jacob Rudner and Scott Braun discuss a number of topics, including candidates for the 1-1 spot in the 2026 MLB Draft, new tech restrictions in MiLB and Genei Sato coming to the U.S. from Japan.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction & A's top 10 (2:00) Post-lottery mock draft (3:15) Could someone other than Roch Cholowsky go 1-1? (7:00) Top college arms in the draft (8:30) Could a transfer surprise? (11:45) Reacting to The Athletic's report on potential tech limits in the minors (22:45) Genei Sato headed to the United StatesOur Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 11, 2025 • 34min
Fantasy Podcast: Top 60 Fantasy Shortstops
There's no position as deep as shortstop in dynasty as the rankings are bubbling over with major league talent and top prosects. This week on the Baseball America Fantasy Podcast we dive into this incredibly talented shortstop group. We open the show talking about some of the big name signings from the 2025 Winter Meetings before diving into Bobby Witt Jr., Elly De La Cruz, Gunnar Henderson, Konnor Griffin and more. (2:00) Pete Alonso signs with the Orioles.(5:00) Kyle Schwarber returns to the Phillies.(7:00) Edwin Diaz signs with the Dodgers(10:00) Bobby Witt Jr. best player in dynasty.(13:00) Elly De La Cruz vs Gunnar Henderson(15:00) How good is Konnor Griffin?(21:00) Neto over Lindor, why?(23:00) The old guard of Mookie Betts, Trea Turner and Corey Seager are aging. Is it time to fade?(26:00) Geraldo Perdomo broke out in 2025, can he repeat it?(28:00) Sleepers!Our Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 10, 2025 • 35min
2025 Rule 5 Draft Recap
Baseball America's J.J. Cooper, Geoff Pontes and Jacob Rudner recap the major league phase of the 2025 Rule 5 Draft. They offer their favorite picks, players most likely to stick with their new organizations, biggest surprises and more.(1:40) General takeaways(6:47) How hard is it to nail hitters in the Rule 5(10:12) Favorite picks(21:46) Surprises(27:02) Picks to stick and candidates to be returned(33:54) Standout MiLB phase picks(35:35) Final thoughtsOur Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 9, 2025 • 1h 15min
College Podcast: 2026 Predictions & Fall Ball Standouts
Baseball America national college reporter Jacob Rudner and national writer Peter Flaherty take one final look back at a busy fall to review training-season breakouts. They also look ahead at the spring and predict the nation's best performers, rotations and lineups.(3:35) What do we mean by fall all-stars?(4:48) How we gather feedback(10:28) Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick(16:19) Kansas first baseman Brady Ballinger(21:59) UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky(35:26) College star vs. Pro prospect(44:16) The Big Five College Arms(53:31) Sleeper rotations(58:58) Best rotations(1:03:48) Sleeper lineups(1:11:23) Best lineupsOur Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 8, 2025 • 26min
Previewing The MLB Draft Lottery | Hot Sheet Show Ep. 85
On this week's Hot Sheet Show, Carlos Collazo, Ben Badler and Jacob Rudner preview the MLB Draft lottery and debate which teams would benefit the most from having the ping pong balls fall their way to be able to draft UCLA’s Roch Cholowsky.We also break down other top players in the 2026 draft class and react to the Mariners trading Harry Ford to the Nationals.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction (0:55) MLB Draft lottery: Odds for drafting Roch Cholowsky (4:30) Who was the last premier 1-1 prospect before Cholowsky? (6:30) Is the draft lottery food for baseball? (7:45) Other top draft names to watch after Cholowsky (10:10) Which teams stand to gain the most in the lottery? (14:15) The rise of need-based drafting (16:25) Standouts from the 2026 prep ranks (18:30) How does the 2026 draft class compare to last year? (21:35) Reacting to the Mariners trading Harry Ford to the NationalsOur Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 5, 2025 • 40min
Analyzing The Top College Arms In The 2026 Draft Class
Carlos and Peter talk about the top four college pitchers in the 2026 draft class. The two dive deep on righthanders Liam Peterson, Cameron Flukey, Jackson Flora and Joey Volchko. They talk through their strengths, weaknesses and their overall development arcs ahead of the spring season. —Time Stamps(0:00) Intro(2:00) Our general thoughts on the college pitching(5:00) Liam Peterson(12:00) Cameron Flukey(19:00) Jackson Flora(28:00) Joey VolchkoOur Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 4, 2025 • 32min
Fantasy Podcast: Top 40 Dynasty Third Baseman
On this week's episode of the Baseball America Fantasy podcast hosts Geoff Pontes and Dylan White once again open the show with yet another Blue Jays free agent signing. We then discuss a few more hot stove topics before diving into the third baseman rankings for dynasty.(2:00) Cody Ponce signs with the Blue Jays(6:00) Devin Williams signs with the Mets.(9:00) Ryan Helsley signs with Orioles(13:00) Junior Caminero No. 1 and there's little conversation.(15:00) Is now the time to sell Jose Ramirez?(17:00) Can Austin Riley bounce back?(24:00) Third Base is very risky after the top 12.Your Holiday wardrobe awaits! Get 20% off @chubbies with the code foul at chubbiesshorts.com/foul #chubbiespodOur Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy


