

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

Sep 29, 2025 • 28min
Ryan Waldschmidt Joins, State Of The Diamondbacks' System & More | Hot Sheet Show Ep. 75
On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Jesús Cano and Scott Braun are joined by Diamondbacks prospect Ryan Waldschmidt, who ranks fourth in the team's Top 30 prospects list and was Arizona's MiLB Player of the Year.We also discuss the D-back's farm system grade and rookie pitchers getting ready for the bright lights of the MLB postseason.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction (0:30) Preorder the 2026 prospect handbook (1:30) D-backs' farm system: reasons to be hopeful (4:45) D-backs' farm system: reasons to be concerned (6:15) Jordan Lawlar & Tommy Troy (9:00) How can the D-backs compete with the high-spending Dodgers? (13:35) Ryan Waldschmidt on his background (18:20) On becoming a first-round draft prospect (22:45) On feeling comfortable in pro ball (26:20) Rookie pitchers in the playoffsOur 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

Sep 26, 2025 • 47min
Digging Deep On No. 1 Draft Prospect Roch Cholowsky
Carlos and Peter spend the entire podcast getting into the weeds on UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky. He’s the No. 1 player in the class and both Peter and college writer Jacob Rudner picked Cholowsky as the “way too early” favorite to be the player of the year next season. How does he stack up with recent college prospects? Is he in a tier of his own for college shortstops? And are there any real holes in his game? —Time Stamps(0:00) Intro(3:30) Roch Cholowsky as the PotY favorite(5:00) Is Cholowsky the best college SS prospect since Dansby Swanson?(10:00) Cholowsky as a defender(15:00) Comparing him to other top-10 4YR SSs(19:00) What are the concerns?(24:00) What tool grades would we put on him?(32:00) His improvements as a sophomore(35:00) Roch Cholowsky vs. Marek Houston as defendersGo to Superpower.com and use code FOUL to get $50 off your annual Superpower subscription. Live up to your 100-Year potential. #superpowerpodOur 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

Sep 25, 2025 • 38min
Fantasy Podcast: Previewing Potential AFL Breakouts
This week on the Baseball America podcast Geoff Pontes is joined by Jacob Rudner to chat about Arizona Fall League rosters. We open the show covering the big names before diving into 10 prospects we think could breakout in AFL play.(4:00) Kevin McGonigle the best hitter in the AFL.(9:00) Josue De Paula(15:00) Karson Milbrandt(18:00) Marco Dinges(20:00) Sean Linan(23:00) Parks Harber(25:00) Jakob Wright(27:00) Esmerlyn Valdez(29:00) Hendry Mendez(31:00) Sam Petersen(33:00) Blake Mitchell(36:00) Nick MorabitoFair HarborFor 20% off your first purchase, head to http://FairHarborClothing.com/FOUL20 and use code FOUL20.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

Sep 24, 2025 • 51min
Just How Good Can Konnor Griffin Be?
Pirates SS Konnor Griffin is Baseball America's 2025 MiLB Player of the Year, as we announced on the Hot Sheet show. In today's Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes, Josh Norris and J.J. Cooper try to explain what stands out about Konnor Griffin, and why he's the best prospect in baseball.Time Stamps(00:00) How fortunate we were to see Konnor Griffin play(02:45) How tough a decision was it?(08:45) What made Konnor Griffin's season special?(16:45) Our impressions of Konnor Griffin from watching him play(26:45) Does Griffin compare to past MiLB POYs like Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr.?(36:30) The way too hot comp we're hesitant to bring up?(43:00) Prospect Soapboxeshttps://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/konnor-griffin-baseball-americas-2025-minor-league-player-of-the-year/https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2025-milb-player-of-the-year-race-presented-plenty-of-options/https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/how-konnor-griffin-compares-to-every-baseball-america-milb-player-of-the-year-since-1981/Go 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.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

Sep 22, 2025 • 29min
Konnor Griffin Joins To Discuss Being Named 2025 MiLB Player Of The Year | Hot Sheet Show Ep. 74
On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Geoff Pontes and and Scott Braun are joined by a very special guest: 2025 Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Konnor Griffin.We talk to the Pirates shortstop about his breakout 2025 campaign, swing changes, the potential for future success in Pittsburgh and a lot more.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction (0:45) Kevin McGonigle didn't win POY... but he was still really good (7:30) The same goes for Jonah Tong (13:00) Answering a viewer question about Caleb Bonemer (15:40) 2025 MiLB Player of the Year Konnor Griffin joins the show (18:00) What adjustments did Griffin make to break out in 2025? (21:20) Spring training benefits and his position (25:20) Griffin's favorite player growing up (26:15) Griffin's relationship with Paul Skenes & the future in PittsburghOur 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

Sep 19, 2025 • 36min
2025 Bowman Chrome Preview With WeTheHobby!
2025 Bowman Chrome drops next Tuesday. To celebrate, J.J. Cooper and Seth Mates joined WeTheHobby's latest podcast to break down this year's card set ranging from our favorite prospects to target, potential future DSL stars and our favorite teams in the checklist. You can check out the full show here.Looking to go even deeper? Here's BA's Bowman Chrome preview, exclusively for BA subscribers. 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

Sep 18, 2025 • 53min
Fantasy Podcast: Evaluating 2025 Rookies For 2026 Fantasy Baseball
This week on the Baseball America Fantasy Podcast Geoff Pontes, Dylan White and Jacob Rudner dive into the 2025 Rookie class with an eye toward next year and beyond. We go through some of the top names and discuss their potential value in 2026 leagues.(3:30) How high should Nick Kurtz go in a 16 team dynasty startup?(9:30) Roman Anthony vs Nick Kurtz the next five years.(13:00) Jacob Misiorowski vs Nolan McLean vs Chase Burns for 2026.(21:00) Marcelo Mayer going into 2026, is his stock up or down?(30:00) Owen Caissie expectations for 2026.(35:00) Moises Ballesteros value for 2026 and beyond.(41:00) Lightning Round: In or Out? Bubba Chandler Drake Baldwin Colson Montgomery, Matt Shaw, Luke Keaschall, Dylan Beavers, Sal Stewart.SurfsharkGo to Surfshark.com/foul or use code FOUL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!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

Sep 17, 2025 • 30min
2026 MLB Draft Standouts At Under Armour All-America Game
Carlos Collazo and JJ Cooper are just back from the 2025 Under Armour Next All-American Game at Camden Yards. They take a look at some of the 2026 draft prospects who stood out at the event.(00:00) The capper on the summer showcase circuit(06:00) Genson Veras(10:00) Landon Thome(12:00) Jaxon Matthews(15:15) Ty Burnham(16:15) Coleton Brady(19:30) Mickey Gilligan(20:15) Sean Dunlap(23:45 Dominic SantarelliGo to https://MeUndies.com/Foul and enter promo code FOUL for up to 50% off!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

Sep 17, 2025 • 1h 1min
Prospect Rankings We'd Like To Do Over
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 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

Sep 16, 2025 • 55min
College Podcast: Underrated Portal Classes, Players To Watch In 2026
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 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


