Baseball America

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper and Geoff Pontes lead a packed show featuring a breakdown of the fallout for Matt Shaw and the Cubs after the Alex Bregman signing. We also welcome No. 2 Astros prospect Ethan Frey to the show before discussing our latest FYPD fantasy baseball rankings. We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET  on YouTube . Time Stamps (0:00) Introduction...

Baseball America national college reporter Jacob Rudner and national writer Carlos Collazo dive into the NCAA's new umpire selection process for the postseason and discuss other potential rule changes coming out of the American Baseball Coaches Association convention. Rudner and Collazo also go in-depth on where UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky stacks up compared to No. 1 overall draft prospects of t...

Geoff Pontes and Peter Flaherty are taking an in-depth look at the Padres farm system. San Diego is as aggressive as anyone at using the system to trade for big league stars, but how much is left after the Mason Miller trade? (00:00) Why this is Peter's last podcast for BA (04:10) How clearly was Ethan Salas the No. 1 prospect? (11:30) Is the Padres system better or worse than last year? (14:30) W...

After a holiday hiatus the Baseball America Fantasy podcast is back with our final positional ranking podcast of the offseason. We start the show discussing the trio of Japanese players that signed from NPB. We then discuss the Cubs and Marlins trade before diving into the top 200 pitchers. (3:00) Is the market reacting too much to Murakami's swing and miss concerns? (6:30) Tatsuya Imai ready to s...

It’s a bittersweet episode of the draft podcast, as Peter bids farewell to Baseball America and embarks on a new journey as a scout with the Nationals. Carlos and Peter reminisce on their time together covering the draft over the last few years, talk about what they’ve learned and how their processes have changed. As always on the draft pod, there is still player talk. The two express their excite...

On the second of our Prospect Deep Dives, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper take a look at the Chicago Cubs farm system. It's perfect timing, as we get a chance to analyze the Cubs-Marlins Edward Cabrera/Owen Caissie trade. (01:00) Analyzing the Edward Cabrera trade. What did the Cubs give up? (09:00) No. 1 prospect Moises Ballesteros. How tough was the choice and who were the other candidates? (13:00) C...

Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper are back to start our series of 30 MLB Farm System Deep Dives. We are beginning with the Cincinnati Reds, a team that has produced a lot of pitching, plus Elly De La Cruz, in recent years. What does the farm system have in store for 2026 and beyond? (02:00) Who is No. 1 and how easy was that choice? (10:25) How is this system better/worse than last year? (17:00) Who do w...

Baseball America national college reporter Jacob Rudner and national writer Peter Flaherty examine the resumes of the top contenders for preseason No. 1 with the college baseball season nearing. Rudner and Flaherty also break down the rise of the Big 12 and the ACC's race against the SEC. (1:36) Peter Flaherty's personal news (4:41) UCLA's case for No. 1 (18:24) Can LSU repeat as champions in 2026...

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Ben Badler and Scott Braun discuss a number of topics, including the potential for an Edward Cabrera trade in Miami, Ben's latest international bonus board update and BA Hall of Fame ballots. We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET  on YouTube . Time Stamps (0:00) Introduction (1:20) Edward Cabrera on the move from Miami? (8:00) Ben's l...

In last week's Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper talked about some of the best developments in 2025. Now we look into 2026 to predict who will be the No. 1 prospect in the game and which farm system will be the best a year from now. (02:30) Who Will Be The No. 1 Farm System Heading Into 2027 (06:30) Another No. 1 Farm System Candidate (10:00) Two other long shot but interesting candidat...

On this week's Baseball America Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper take a look at which farm systems and which prospects were the most improved in 2025, and we also look at a couple of predictions we'd like to have back. (00:00) The Prospect Handbook Is Complete (02:30) The Most Improved Farm System In 2025 Is ... (08:00) The Most Improved Prospect In 2025 Is ... (16:30) The Predictions...

In the final College Podcast episode of 2025, Baseball America national college reporter Jacob Rudner and national writer Peter Flaherty offer an inside look at Japanese righthander Genei Sato's recruitment and subsequent signing with Penn State. Rudner and Flaherty also assess what kind of player the Nittany Lions are getting and take a look back at their favorite college baseball moments from 20...

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 McNei...

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...

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) Compar...

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) C...

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, Konno...

Baseball America Managing Editor JJ Cooper, Prospect Writer Geoff Pontes and College Reporter 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. Our Sponsors: * Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com * Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.c...

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. Our Sponsors: * Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com * Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/ba2022 Supp...

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 ever...

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) Ca...

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 Hesley signs with Orioles (13...

On the final episode of our "Fix It" Series, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper take on a big task, as we look at the Angels. What's gone wrong for the Angels, and how can it be turned around? (00:00) Why The Angels Have Been The Worst Over The Past Decade (04:00) What Are The Biggest Problems? (14:30) Drafts Need To Go Deeper (23:45) Slow Down Development (30:00) Depth Has Been A Problem (41:30) Farm Sys...

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Geoff Pontes and Josh Norris dissect the new Yankees Top 10 prospects list for 2026 , including a name knocking on the door for the top spot and the status of Spencer Jones . We also take a look at Arizona Fall League standouts and a big problem facing the winter league. We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET  on YouTube . Time Stamps...

Christmas came early for our resident Blue Jays fan Dylan White as the team signed Dylan Cease. Hosts Geoff Pontes and Dylan open the show discussing the Cease signing and the impact on fantasy for 2026. We follow with a discussion of the Sonny Gray trade and al the players moved in that deal. The majority of the show dives into our recently released second baseman rankings for 2026 dynasty baseba...