Baseball America

Thankfully the vast majority of top players in the majors these days were Top 100 Prospects when they were minor leaguers, but not everyone was. Today on the Prospect Podcast, Jacob Rudner and JJ Cooper are taking a look at four prospects who didn't rank in the Top 100, but we wish had. We try to see what we missed and what lessons can be learned from each one.(00:00) Where BA staffers are on the road for the playoffs.(02:30) What we missed and what we can learn from C Cal Raleigh(14:55) What we missed and what we can learn from 3B Maikel Garcia(25:00) What we missed and what we can learn from LHP Cristopher Sanchez(33:40) What we missed and what we can learn from RHP Logan Webb(55:15) JJ's Prospect Soapbox is a Braves outfielder(57:15) Jacob's Prospect Soapbox is a Marlins pitcherGo to https://MeUndies.com/Foul and enter promo code FOUL for up to 50% off!Our Sponsors:* Check out Indeed: https://indeed.com/BASEBALLAMERICASupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Baseball America college writer Jacob Rudner and national reporter Peter Flaherty break down underrated transfer portal classes, particularly at the mid-major level, and take a look ahead at the 2026 season with notable players to keep an eye on.(2:45) Underrated portal classes(11:45) How a portal class can change a mid-major's outlook(18:28) Incoming freshmen to watch(27:01) Sophomores to watch(39:25) Four juniors who excite us(49:10) Two seniors to keep tabs onGet 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to https://ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOULOur Sponsors:* Check out Indeed: https://indeed.com/BASEBALLAMERICASupport 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, Geoff Pontes and Jesús Cano discuss some exciting recent callups in the Blue Jays' Trey Yesavage and the Giants' Bryce Eldridge.We also discuss rookies that have stood out this season. Who are the rookie of the year candidates? Which rookies will succeed long term?We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction (1:05) Breaking down Trey Yesavage's callup to the Blue Jays (5:45) Can Yesavage factor into Toronto's postseason plans? (8:30) Breaking down Bryce Eldridge's callup to the Giants (11:30) Eldridge's mammoth power (15:50) Nick Kurtz's impressive rookie season (18:50) Cade Horton's overshadowed rookie production (22:10) Colson Montgomery's surprising showing in MLB (24:05) Connelly Early's dominant Red Sox debutOur Sponsors:* Check out Indeed: https://indeed.com/BASEBALLAMERICASupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Carlos, Jacob and Peter review our preseason draft teams for the 2025 class. Who did well, who did poorly, which picks do we love and which do we regret with the benefit of hindsight? Perhaps more importantly, what are the lessons we can learn from this exercise and put towards the 2026 class? You can see each of the three teams drafted below, as well as the “best of the rest” of the highest draft bonus players who went unpicked.—Time Stamps(0:00) Intro(4:00) Macro team analysis(6:00) Biggest misses(9:00) The risks of HS pitchers in this exercise(14:00) Players who have leverage in the spring(18:00) Will Stanford continue to recruit like they have?(24:00) Long term view for Ben’s picks(26:00) Jacob’s picks he liked and picks he would take back(31:00) Carlos’s picks he liked and picks he would take back(35:20) How do agents influence this process?(37:00) Closing thoughts—Carlos’s TeamC — Ike Irish, 4418400CIF — Dean Curley, 1733905CIF — Xavier Neyens, 4120000MIF — Eli Willits, 8200000MIF — Marek Houson, 4497500OF — Nick Dumesnil, 214300OF — Slater de Brun, 4000000OF — Kane Kepley, 1400000P — Jamie Arnold, 5985100P — Seth Hernandez, 7250000P — Landon Harmon, 2500000P — Cameron Appenzeller, 0UTL — Aiva Arquette, 7149900Total Bonus Value: $51,469,105Jacob’s TeamC — Luke Stevenson, 2800000CIF — Gavin Fien, 4800000CIF — Boston Kellner, 0MIF — Kayson Cunningham, 4581900MIF — Brady Ebel, 2750000OF — Devin Taylor, 2500000OF — Henry Ford, 0OF — Dean Moss, 1733905P — Tyler Bremner, 7689525P — Kruz Schoolcraft, 3606600P — Kyson Witherspoon, 5000000P — Cam Leiter, 1346600UTL — Brandon Compton, 2000000Total Bonus Value: $38,808,530Ben’s teamC — Caden Bodine, 3110800CIF — Tre Phelps, 0CIF — Ethan Holliday, 9000000MIF — Billy Carlson, 6235900MIF — Lucas Franco, 0OF — Jace LaViolette, 4000000OF — Cam Cannarella, 2277425OF — Brendan Summerhill, 1997500P — Matt Scott, 0P — Justice De Jong, 0P — Josh Hammond, 3197500P — Angel Cervantes, 0UTL — Brock Sell, 0Total Bonus Value: $29,819,125Best of the RestC — Michael Oliveto, 2447500CIF — Andrew Fischer, 3500000CIF — Ethan Petry, 2090000MIF — JoJo Parker, 6197500MIF — Steele Hall, 5747500OF — Sean Gamble, 3997500OF — Ethan Conrad, 3563100OF — Jaden Fauske, 2997500P — Kade Anderson, 8800000P — Liam Doyle, 7250000P — Gage Wood, 3000000P — Patrick Forbes, 3000000UTL — Gavin Kilen, 5247500Total Bonus Value: $57,838,100—Go to https://surfshark.com/foul or use code FOUL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!Our Sponsors:* Check out Indeed: https://indeed.com/BASEBALLAMERICASupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Josh Norris and JJ Cooper analyze the just announced Arizona Fall League rosters. Who are the names to know and who is a surprise addition? We break it down.(00:00) Why we are excited(01:30) Who we are most excited to see(06:15) Which team has the best/most interesting roster(10:00) Why Kevin McGonigle's inclusion is unusual(17:30) Non-Top 100 Prospects in the AFL to watchGo to https://surfshark.com/foul or use code FOUL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!Our Sponsors:* Check out Indeed: https://indeed.com/BASEBALLAMERICASupport 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 returns this week with an in-depth discussion centered around how to target pitching prospects in fantasy. We dig into some of the recent promotions of pitching prospects and how late season promotions can propel you in deeper leagues down the stretch. In the second half of the show we dig into a handful of pitchers who added stuff and a few who saw diminished velocity and results in 2025. (4:00) Connelly Early debuts, impressions and thoughts.(15:00) Dax Kilby(18:00) Braden Montgomery and Noah Schultz done for the season.(21:00) Liam Doyle debuts(24:00) Robby Snelling and Thomas White(28:00) Christian Oppor(30:00) JR Ritchie(33:00) Tink Hence(35:00) Jaden Hamm(38:00) Sam AldegheriFair HarborFor 20% off your first purchase, head to https://FairHarborClothing.com/FOUL and use code FOULOur Sponsors:* Check out Indeed: https://indeed.com/BASEBALLAMERICASupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on the Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper take a look at some pitching myths that have been busted, and what teams know nowadays.(00:00) Geoff is working on a pitching project(06:00) Velocity can be taught and developed(16:00) JJ goes on a rant about how pitchers are throwing harder. It's not just the radar guns.(27:30) With changeups movement matters as much as velocity separation(34:00) Don't focus on individual pitch quality, focus on the quality of the entire arsenal.(41:00) Extension is a thing, but it's only some times a thing.(46:00) Learning to throw harder doesn't mean you will be wilder(55:30) Geoff's Prospect Soapbox: Rays RHP Brody Hopkins(59:45) JJ's Prospect Soapbox: Mets 3B/1B Jacob ReimerGo to https://OmahaSteaks.com to get 50% off sitewide during their Red-Hot Sale Event. And use Promo Code FOUL: at checkout for an extra $35 off. Minimum purchase may apply. See site for details. A big thanks to our advertiser, Omaha Steaks!Our Sponsors:* Check out Indeed: https://indeed.com/BASEBALLAMERICASupport 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, Geoff Pontes, Jacob Rudner and Scott Braun discuss a number of pitching prospects, including the Phillies' Andrew Painter and his struggles and the rise of arms in the Marlins' system.We also break down the transfer portal conundrum faced by today’s college baseball coaches.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:30) What's holding Andrew Painter back this season? (10:00) The rise of the Marlins' system (12:00) Robby Snelling's rebound & Thomas White's progress (15:00) Marlins' depth of pitching in the DSL (18:15) Portal tampering in college baseballOur Sponsors:* Check out Indeed: https://indeed.com/BASEBALLAMERICASupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week's Prospect Podcast, Josh Norris and JJ Cooper discuss Josh's travels to the Arizona, Florida and Dominican Summer Leagues. We try to explain what to look for in the lowest levels of the minors, but more importantly we talk about prospects who stood out at those levels.(00:00) Explaining the differences between the Complex Leagues and the upper levels(03:30) Why fans should care about the Complex Leagues(14:35) How the Florida And Arizona Complex Leagues compared this year(19:45) What you should pay attention to and what you shouldn't give too much weight from the Dominican Summer League.(26:30) Arizona Complex League prospects to know: Giants SS Jhonny Level, Dodgers 3B Chase Harlan. And why the Giants club stood out.(30:00) Florida Complex League prospects to know: Orioles RHP Esteban Mejia, Red Sox C Jorge Rodriguez.(33:40) Dominican Summer League prospects to know: Giants SS Josuar Gonzalez, Blue Jays 3B Juan Sanchez, Marlins RHP Kevin DeFrank and why the Marlins club stood out.(51:00) JJ's Prospect Soapbox: Twins OF Gabriel Gonzalez.(54:15) Josh's Prospect Soapbox: Phillies RHP Ramon MarquezGet 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to https://ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOULOur Sponsors:* Check out Indeed: https://indeed.com/BASEBALLAMERICASupport 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, Jacob Rudner and Scott Braun kick things off by chatting about some recent impact callups, including the Reds' Sal Stewart and the Mariners' Harry Ford.We also discuss young pitchers being thrown into the playoff push, such as Payton Tolle of the Red Sox and and Cam Schlittler of the Yankees.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction (1:50) Sal Stewart's MLB debut (6:00) Harry Ford's impact on the Mariners (7:30) Carter Jensen's offensive profile for the Royals (9:45) Return of Jac Caglianone with KC (12:10) Mets pitching prospects (17:40) Payton Tolle in Boston's rotation (20:15) The road from college baseball (21:40) Cam Schlittler's rise with the Yankees (24:30) Christian Moore sent back downOur Sponsors:* Check out Indeed: https://indeed.com/BASEBALLAMERICASupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy