Future Projection

Ben and Carlos are joined by JJ Cooper for a hybrid Future Projection/draft podcast breaking down everything we know or are hearing about the top of the 2026 draft. We talk through possibilities and players for each team’s first pick, talk about org tendencies, system strengths and weaknesses and try to get a better understanding of how the draft could unfold to get you ready for draft day.  — Tim...

Ben and Carlos talk through MLB’s proposal to shake up the draft and the international talent acquisition system, working through ramifications for the game, player development, scouting and more.  — Time Stamps (0:15) Where have we been? (2:30) MLB’s player acquisition proposal (7:00) MLB’s dishonest messaging (9:00) Why high school players are more expensive to scout (13:00) Development in pro b...

Ben and Carlos talk about Baseball America’s new top 500 high school player ranking, as well the new star rating system we are unveiling to help further contextualize high school recruits. The two talk about what separates a five-star, four-star and three-star high school player and then talk through some of the top recruiting classes in the country. After that the two hit on a few notable Top 100...

In this week’s listener mailbag, Ben and Carlos take questions like: can you make the case for Jacob Lombard over Grady Emerson? Where would UC Santa Barbara righthander Jackson Flora stack up with other Giants pitching prospects? Who are the top DSL pitchers to watch? Why isn’t Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson ranked even higher?  — Time Stamps: (0:50) Give me an argument for taking Jacob Lombard o...

Ben and Carlos talk about the upcoming NCAA tournament and the players, teams and matchups they are looking forward to seeing. The two talk about the state of the college pitching in the 2026 draft class, and wonder who the best candidates are to come off the board after UC Santa Barbara righthander Jackson Flora.  — Time Stamps (0:00) Opening banter (3:50) NCAA regional talk (8:30) College pitchi...

Ben and Carlos answer mailbag questions surrounding Red Sox outfielder Justin Gonzales, Athletics shortstop Johenssy Colome, Royals outfielder Angeibel Gomez and Mets shortstops Wandy Asigen and Elian Peña. — Time Stamps: (0:30) What are your thoughts on Red Sox outfielder Justin Gonzales? (6:00) Where would A’s shortstop Johenssy Colome and Royals outfielder Angeibel Gomez stack up with 2026 high...

Ben and Carlos focus on up-arrow prospects who are not quite on the top 100, but are tracking up the board on individual Top 30s. The group of names includes a pair of Brewers lefthanded hitter, a trio of Guardians contact bats, A Rangers shortstop to know, even more Dodgers outfield prospects to be aware of and a few young arms with big stuff. They close with a chat about what scouting department...

Ben and Carlos open the mailbag to answer questions about the top defensive shortstop prospects in the minors; where 2027 California high school shortstop Dylan Seward would rank in the 2026 class; the center field likelihood of Derek Curiel, Drew Burress and AJ Gracia; and the odds that Justin Lebron slides out of the first round.  — Time Stamps: (1:30) Who are the best defensive shortstops in th...

Ben and Carlos talk about the Mock Draft V 3.0, the most recent projection of the first 40 picks for the 2026 draft. The two talk about the latest rumors up top, whether or not Roch Cholowsky and Grady Emerson are in a tier of their own, and then talk through a number of different teams and picks throughout the first round and beyond.  — Time Stamps (0:30) Jesus Made as the new top prospect (4:15)...

In today’s mailbag episode Ben and Carlos take questions about Braves prospect rankings, how the top of the 2026 draft stacks up with recent classes and which players we are individually higher or lower on in regards to our updated Top 100 prospect list.  — Time Stamps: (1:05) Why are you guys light/late on Braves prospects? (8:30) Where does the 2026 top four compare to the 2025 and 2024 classes?...

Ben and Carlos talk about the first significant in-season update to the 2026 Top 100 list. The two talk about a handful of 2025 draftees who are flipping the switch with strong starts to the season after questionable pro debuts in 2026. They talk about a few notable additions at the back of the list, including a handful of Rays prospects and Royals infielder Josh Hammond. They also talk about how...

Ben and Carlos break open the FP mailbag and talk about hitters outside of the top 10 they have a lot of conviction in, complex league players they are anticipating, the logistics of academies in the Dominican Republic and what would have to happen for UCLA SS Roch Cholowsky to actually slide in the draft.  — Time Stamps: (1:05) Which draft hit tools are you most convicted of deeper in the class?...

Ben and Carlos talk about the recent MLB draft rankings update and talk about the process this year. They then discuss a few potential first rounders they saw in person recently. Carlos talks about his two-inning look at Coastal Carolina RHP Cameron Flukey, while Ben breaks down New York high school shortstop Aiden Ruiz. That leads to a conversation about the challenge of projecting power, especia...

Ben and Carlos take listener questions on a variety of up-arrow pro prospects including Orioles righthander JT Quinn, White Sox outfielder Samuel Zavala, Braves outfielder Eric Hartman and Dodgers outfielder Josue De Paula.  — Time Stamps: (0:30) JT Quinn (6:00) Sammy Zavala  (10:00) Eric Hartman & Tate Southisene (15:50) Josue De Paula (20:00) FCL and DSL streaming Do you have feedback for th...

Ben and Carlos lament Chipotle’s points policy before getting into the real stuff. The two talk about a number of strong performances from a handful of 2025 draftees, including Seth Hernandez, Kade Anderson, Jamie Arnold, Tyler Bremner, JoJo Parker, Kayson Cunningham and others. They then talk about the loud offensive season and power surge from Red Sox shortstop Franklin Arias, wonder about the s...

Ben and Carlos talk about Ben’s recent trip to the Dominican Republic and then break open this week’s listener mailbag. Recommendations for college students who want to work in scouting, how we view the hit risk of Florida shortstop Jacob Lombard and whether we’d rather have the No. 3 or 4 pick with a smaller bonus pool, or the No. 5 pick with a bigger bonus pool.  — Time Stamps: (0:15) Ben’s trip...

Ben and Carlos talk about how they react when scouting opinions differ from their own, then take a few listener emails. How do pitchers add velocity so quickly? How do teams rank their own prospects and other prospects from other clubs? Why couldn’t the Pirates offer a ton of money to get Roch Cholowsky to them at pick No. 5?   — Time Stamps: (0:40) What happens when a scout’s view differs from yo...

Ben and Carlos talk about yet another ridiculously talented high school lefthander in this year’s class, Massachusetts southpaw Brody Bumila. After that the two talk about Konnor Griffin’s nine-year extension with the Pirates, then get into a number of impressive early-season minor league performers so far this season.  — Time Stamps: (4:00) In the weeds on Brody Bumila (20:30) Konnor Griffin’s ex...

In today’s mailbag episode Ben and Carlos talk through Guardians 2B Travis Bazzana’s big league ETA, explain what they look for in prospect beyond physical tools and think through how added weight could impact Brewers SS Jesús Made’s defensive profile. The two answer questions about whether they are buying White Sox INF/OF Sam Antonacci’s breakout, whether there is still hope for Red Sox 2B Kristi...

Ben and Carlos talk about the extensions for Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson and Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt. The two then talk about a few early performing Triple-A hitters, talk through a few of the standouts that Carlos saw in Cary at USA Baseball’s National High School Invitational and then react to the news that Konnor Griffin is being promoted to the majors as the news breaks on the show....

Ben and Carlos talk about their impressions of the ABS system in the majors and then crack open the mailbag. The two take a questions about comparing recent top tier college prospects, Elian Pena skipping the FCL, DSL names we’re excited about, bonus pool logistics in the draft and why the first overall pick and other players take underslot deals as well as questions about A’s outfielder Breyson G...

Ben and Carlos talk about the new trend of teams calling pitches from the dugout in the major leagues and then get into some of the notable action items from spring training. The two gush over what they’ve been seeing from Pirates righty Seth Hernandez and Mariners righty Ryan Sloan, and also talk about what we’ve seen early on from a few other arms and a couple of Brewers bats. After that the two...

On today’s mailbag episode, Ben and Carlos take questions on projection vs. present skill for college recruits, Josuar Gonzalez vs. Luis Hernandez for the Giants, fielding percentage as a tool for evaluating college shortstops, Will Gasparino and Mason Edwards and the stats that matter for high school players.  — Time Stamps: (0:50) Do college coaches look for projection or present ability?  (10:2...

Ben and Carlos give their final thoughts on an epic World Baseball Classic, then turn their eyes towards prospects and spring training. The two talk about some of the top hitters who have played well this spring, plus a couple of notable pitching prospects who might have made key additions to their arsenals for 2026. – Time Stamps: (0:30) Final WBC talk (8:45) Spring training talk (14:20) Jesus Ma...

Ben and Carlos break open the listener mailbag and answer questions on a trio of young Cardinals shortstops, why Brady Harris might be slipping in the draft and how his risk and upside compares to Kevin Roberts Jr., whether or not Elian Pena has a chance to be a top 25 prospect and what changes we would make to the draft broadcast.  — Time Stamps: (1:20) Can you compare and contrast Yairo Padilla,...