Baseball America

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Prospect Podcast: Best Catching Prospects Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

This week Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper are taking a deep dive into catching prospects. We have 13 catchers in the Baseball America Top 100. We try to figure out why we're swimming in backstops, the challenges in evaluating catchers and who to keep an eye on.

(00:00) Welcome

(01:30) Why Is It Hard To Evaluate Catchers?

(06:30) Are You Looking For A Hitter Or A Glove First?

(11:00) No Position Sees More Work And Improvement In Pro Ball

(14:30) Who's The Best Defender?

(15:15) Geoff's Catcher Pick To Click

(20:20) Ethan Salas' Receiving Is Excellent

(20:40) JJ's Catcher Pick To Click

(21:10) Why Ethan Salas Is So Hard To Evaluate

(25:20) Which Catching Prospect Has The Best Bat

(28:20) Why Moises Ballesteros Impresses Us

(33:25) JJ's Prospect Soapbox: Rangers RHP David Davalillo

(37:45) Geoff's Prospect Soapbox: White Sox SS/3B Caleb Bonemer

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College Podcast: Previewing No. 1 Texas vs. Texas A&M; Postseason Stock Report Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Baseball America College Writers Jacob Rudner and Peter Flaherty preview the marquee matchup between No. 1 Texas and Texas A&M, which will pit Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle against his former squad. Rudner and Flaherty also do a deep dive on teams with rising or falling postseason stock and take a closer look at conferences positioning themselves to steal at-large bids.

(1:30) Previewing No. 1 Texas vs. Texas A&M

(12:24) Vanderbilt’s meteoric pace

(14:00) Can Clemson be a No. 1 national seed

(16:21) Will Coastal Carolina host

(20:20) West Virginia’s map to a top-16 national seed

(23:20) Ole Miss falling out of host position

(27:26) Is it time to worry about Georgia Tech

(30:04) Where Wake Forest stands

(37:20) The Southland Conference’s historic battle

(41:17) Is there a path to a three-bid Big West

(46:58) If not UTSA, then who from the AAC

(49:45) Northeastern running the CAA

(52:51) How many bids will the Big Ten occupy

(55:22) Picks to Click

(59:45) Final thoughts

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Arkansas OF Charles Davalan Joins, MLB Rookie Slumps & Agustin Ramirez Called Up | Hot Sheet Show Ep. 52 Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Ben Badler, Jacob Rudner welcome Arkansas outfielder Charles Davalan to the show.

We also dive into early-season struggles from a few NL Rookie of the Year candidates, some Brewers names to know and the Marlins calling up their No. 3 prospect Agustin Ramirez.

Time Stamps

(1:00) Is Roki Sasaki the favorite for NL Rookie of the Year?
(3:20) Other NL ROY candidates
(5:15) What team might produce the NL Rookie of the Year?
(6:30) Viewer question: Is Braylon Payne as good as Jesus Made?
(7:45) Craig Yoho coming up to Milwaukee
(11:00) Agustin Ramirez called up to Marlins
(12:30) Projecting minor league catchers
(15:50) Viewer question: Where is Ernesto Martinez Jr.?
(17:10) Arkansas OF Charles Davalan joins

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2025 MLB Mock Draft (mid-April version) Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

A month after our last 2025 MLB Mock Draft, there's been a lot to shuffle the board. So Carlos Collazo and JJ Cooper are back to discuss our newest Mock Draft.

(00:00) How the NHSI and everything else is shaping up the draft board.

(03:00) Strengths and weaknesses of the draft class

(07:30) Why the middle and the back of the first round looks good

(11:30) 1. Washington Nationals

(16:30) 2. Los Angeles Angels

(21:20) 3. Seattle Mariners

(23:00) 4. Colorado Rockies

(24:45) 5. St. Louis Cardinals

(28:30) 6. Pittsburgh Pirates

(30:50) 7. Miami Marlins

(33:35) 8. Toronto Blue Jays

(37:00) 9. Cincinnati Reds

(38:55) 10. Chicago White Sox

(42:20) Where Jack Bauer fits into this first round

(47:30) A rising FSU infielder who we have mocked to the Yankees

Links:

Mock Draft 2.0, picks for all 30 MLB teams: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2025-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-updated-first-round-picks-for-every-team/

Why Liam Doyle believe he has the draft's best fastball: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/why-tennessee-ace-liam-doyle-believes-he-has-the-best-fast-ball-in-the-country/

Is FSU Alex Lodise the draft's biggest riser: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/could-alex-lodises-career-year-make-the-florida-state-shortstop-a-first-round-mlb-draft-pick/

Draft Chat: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-draft-chat-with-carlos-collazo-4-16-25/

High School pitchers in the 100 mph club: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/these-2025-high-school-pitchers-have-joined-the-exclusive-100-mph-club/

Jack Bauer shows rare velocity: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/jack-bauers-102-mph-fastball-adds-to-deep-lefty-mlb-draft-class-draft-podcast/

Seth Hernandez impresses at NHSI: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/seth-hernandez-strengthens-mlb-draft-stock-with-impressive-performance-at-nhsi/

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Most Watchable MiLB Teams; Rookie Worries Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

On this week's Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and J.J. Cooper look at which MiLB teams are the most watchable, led by a Brewers' club.

We also wonder how worried the Cubs and Nationals should be by a pair of rookies slow starts before Geoff highlights a fire-breathing Red Sox lefthander.

Finally, J.J. and Geoff get on their Prospect Soapboxes to praise a trio of prospects who seem to be putting past struggles behind them.

Time Stamps

(00:00) What We're Seeing Watching MiLB Games

(05:00) Who's The Most Interesting Team To Watch In The Minors

(05:15) Carolina Mudcats

(10:00) Hillsboro Hops

(10:45) Everett AquaSox

(11:30) Akron RubberDucks

(14:00) How Worried Should We Be About Matt Shaw And Dylan Crews?

(23:30) A Red Sox Lefty Who Looked Phenomenal This Week

(27:30) JJ's Prospect Soapbox: Druw Jones and Tommy Troy Are Looking Better

(35:00) Geoff's Prospect Soapbox: Phillies RHP Griff McGarry, Geoff just can't quit him.

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College Podcast: Texas Climbs to No. 1, Assessing the Big Ten Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

Baseball America College Writers Jacob Rudner and Peter Flaherty discuss the third in-season change at No. 1 in the Top 25 with Texas claiming the top spot in Week 10. Rudner and Flaherty also take a closer look at Georgia Tech’s excellent season to date, the state of the Big Ten and Top 25 newcomers Coastal Carolina and West Virginia, plus Week 10 Picks to Click.

(3:00) Breaking down Texas’ path to No. 1

(8:17) Why Arkansas was ranked No. 4

(13:10) Georgia Tech’s outstanding season

(18:25) Assessing the Big Ten

(25:50) Unranked mid-majors making noise

(32:00) Breaking down Western Kentucky's historic success

(37:25) Could Coastal Carolina host?

(41:54) Picks to Click

(52:47) Final thoughts

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Fantasy Podcast: Are We Buying Or Selling These Early Season Breakouts Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

The Fantasy Podcast returns this week and hosts Geoff Pontes and Dylan White are playing a game of buy or sell. We cover some of the hottest breakouts in MLB over the first few weeks of the season and dig into whether it's worth buying or selling high.

(1:30) Matt Shaw struggles early
(7:00) Kyren Paris breakout buying or selling?
(13:00) Ben Rice buying or selling?
(21:00) Spencer Torkelson buying or selling?
(28:00) Geraldo Perdomo buying and selling?
(34:00) Will Corbin Carroll be a top three pick in 2026?
(39:00) Nick Kurtz callup date?

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Seth Hernandez Shines, Mock Draft 2.0 & Bubba Chandler Gets Even Better | Hot Sheet Show Ep. 51 Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Carlos Collazo, Jacob Rudner & Kelsey Wingert-Linch dive into Baseball America's latest MLB mock draft, which features high school righthander Seth Hernandez in the 1-1 slot. How does the success of other upper echelon prep pitching picks like Hunter Greene factor and Jackson Jobe into the Nationals' decision-making this summer?

We also discuss the newest No. 1 in college baseball, Texas, while their in-state rivals and former top-ranked team, Texas A&M, have suddenly emerged as the postseason picture takes shape. Meanwhile, Pirates top prospect Bubba Chandler continues to shine.

Time Stamps

(1:35) Will Seth Hernandez be the pick at 1-1?
(9:50) Is it finally time for a prep righty to go at the top of the draft?
(13:10) Will the Tigers dip into the high school ranks again?
(14:50) Player to watch: Bubba Chandler
(20:00) Texas is the new No. 1 in college baseball
(24:00) Can Texas A&M right the ship?
(26:00) How many NCAA Tournament teams for the SEC?

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90th Percentile: Cam Lanzilli of Lanz Baseball - Is Pronation vs Supination dominant a myth? Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

This week on the 90th Percentile hosts Geoff Pontes and Matt Pajak welcome on Cam Lanzilli of Lanz Baseball. Cam has an extensive background as a player and coach at the college and professional level and runs a baseball training company with his brother Chris. We brought Cam on to discuss the process of working with pitchers on their offseason training programs as well as the concept of pronation vs supination dominant profiles. Cam explains why he thinks those rigid buckets are a myth as well as a variety of reasons why. This is a must listen episode for pitching nerds and those looking to learn more about the training methods in the game today.

(1:00) Sandwich Question
(6:00) Take it or leave it Northeast edition.
(11:00) The translation from player to coach
(15:00) Onboarding clients for pitching training.
(24:00) Pronation vs Supination myth.
(31:00) Can you improve extension?
(38:00) Jamie Arnold and his unique fastball, how far can he take it?
(46:00) The impact of ABS on pitching development.
(53:00) Can hitting catch up to pitching?
(59:00) What's up with kick changeup

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Who Are The Best Pitching Prospects Still In The Minors? Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

On this week's Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper take an in-depth look at trying to answer the question of who is the best pitching prospect still in the minors, now that Roki Sasaki, Jackson Jobe and Chase Dollander are all in the majors.

(00:00) Yes, we're crazy...or how to watch four MiLB games at once.

(04:30) Who is the best pitching prospect still in the minors? Looking at the top candidates.

(28:00) Non-Top 100 Prospects who could work into the conversation

(39:00) Answering a listener question about the Red Sox-Brewers trade.

(48:00) Prospect Soapboxes: JJ on Chandler Simpson, Geoff on Caden Scarborough.

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