Baseball America

Latest Episodes:

Reds 2025 MLB Prospects Deep Dive Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

Carlos Collazo and JJ Cooper are talking about the Reds farm system in another MLB Prospects Deep Dive. The Reds have built a solid homegrown rotation, and the top three prospects in the system are all starting pitchers to add to that depth.

(00:00) How hard was it to pick between Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder?

(01:00) Why we ranked Lowder No. 1

(05:00) Making the case for why Burns could be a star

(12:00) How the Reds have gotten to an enviable position as far as producing pitchers

(15:30) Don't forget about Chase Petty

(24:00) Digging into the hitting prospects

(33:00) Two non-Top 10 prospects to watch

Baseball America Top 100 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/2025-top-100-prospects/

Baseball America Reds Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2006-cincinnati-reds/prospects/?season=2025&ranking=preseason

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College Podcast: Our Favorite Opening Day Matchups, Introducing 64Analytics Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

Baseball America College Writers Jacob Rudner and Peter Flaherty are joined by Jason Ratcliff to talk about BA’s new partnership with 64Analytics.com as well take a look ahead at under-the-radar teams and players entering the 2025 season. Rudner and Flaherty then dive into the best opening weekend matchups and offer their picks to click as the season gets started.

(01:36) Introducing 64Analytics

(04:10) Under-the-radar teams to keep an eye on

(09:44) Under-the-radar players to watch

(19:47) One big theme that excites us in 2025

(25:58) Our favorite opening weekend matchups

(45:48) Picks to Click

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Astros 2025 MLB Prospects Deep Dive Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper are taking an in-depth look at the Astros farm system. Over the past decade, a steady stream of stars and solid contributors have kept Houston in playoff contention year after year. But is the system thinning out? We take a look.

(00:00) How Cam Smith boosts the Astros' young talent.

(03:30) What is Smith's most likely long-term position?

(06:00) Lining up the hitting prospects behind Smith

(10:00) What's the state of the organization at this point?

(14:00) Why there's hope that the window isn't closing

(18:00) Analyzing Jacob Melton, Zach Dezenzo and Brice Matthews

(20:00) Where's the pitching?

(27:00) Relying on later-round finds

(31:00) Non top-10 prospects to watch

Astros Top 30 Prospects With Scouting Reports:

https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2010-houston-astros/prospects/?season=2025&ranking=preseason

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2025 MLB Farm System Rankings Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

Baseball America's Geoff Pontes, Carlos Collazo and JJ Cooper are talking about our recently released 2025 Farm System Talent Rankings. The Boston Red Sox rank No. 1 for the first time in the nearly 40 years of our farm system rankings. We talk about them, the other teams in contention for the top spot, how we build out our rankings and the teams at the bottom of the rankings.

(00:00) How tough was the decision of who ranked No. 1?

(02:00) Why the Red Sox rank No. 1

(06:30) This is the best we've ever ranked the Tigers system

(10:30) How much did Roki Sasaki push up the Dodgers' ranking?

(14:00) Why did Roki Sasaki qualify for prospect rankings

(20:00) Why the top of the Top 100 drives our rankings

(22:00) Further explaining how valuations drive our rankings

(28:00) Who are the deepest farm systems?

(33:00) Looking at the back of the list, why the Astros avoided the basement

(34:00) Examining the Angels farm system

(39:00) Why the Braves rank near the bottom

(43:00) Teams positioned to leap up the rankings in 2025

Links:

Driveline's Prospect Valuation model: https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/2019/02/prospect-valuation-much-top-prospects-worth-professional-baseball-teams/

Our 2025 Farm System Rankings: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2025-mlb-farm-system-rankings-for-all-30-teams/

Top 30 Prospects for All 30 Organizations: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2025-mlb-top-prospects-for-every-team/

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Rangers 2025 MLB Prospects Deep Dive Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Josh Norris and JJ Cooper are here to talk about the Rangers' farm system. Even after graduating Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter last year, the team still has a potent 1-2 prospect combo.

(00:00) Why Kumar Rocker and Sebastian Walcott are 1A and 1B

(02:00) Analyzing Sebastian Walcott

(06:00) What Kumar Rocker needs to improve to have MLB success

(13:00) Other Rangers pitchers who could contribute before long

(21:00) Where does Jack Leiter stand now

(24:00) Some Rangers hitters to watch

(31:00) How the Rangers' depth puts them in a pretty good spot.

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Reviewing Our Top 200 Draft Update + Preseason All-Americans Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Carlos and Peter talk through Baseball America’s top 200 draft update, give an overview of how the class is shaping up on the eve of college baseball kicking off and pick a few notable risers to talk about. After that, the two talk about the recently released preseason All-America teams and whether there are takeaways to be had from them.

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Time Stamps

(3:00) General thoughts on the class
(6:00) How directors are viewing the class
(9:30) Up arrow first round names on the update
(14:50) This year’s shortstop capital
(17:00) Other up arrow names to know
(30:00) Preseason All-America team reactions

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Fantasy Podcast: Sleeper Prospects To Buy For 2025 Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

The Baseball America fantasy podcast returns with news of a big star returning to the Mets and a cornucopia of breakout names to target in your dynasty leagues for 2025. Hosts Geoff Pontes and Dylan White talk in depth about some undervalued names you need to add to your watch list heading into the season.

(2:00) Pete Alonso returns to the Mets.

(4:00) Blue Jays always the bridesmaid and never the bride.

(6:00) Welbyn Francisca

(10:00) Nestor German

(13:00) Payton Eeles

(18:00) Break

(18:00) Benny Montgomery

(23:00) Connor Prielipp

(26:00) Eriq Swan

(28:00) Rainiel Rodriguez

(32:00) Joseph Sullivan

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Mets 2025 MLB Prospects Deep Dive Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

Matt Eddy and JJ Cooper are talking all about the Mets farm system in the latest 2025 MLB Prospects Deep Dive. This is an organization that doesn't have a top 25 prospect, but the overall depth of the system has improved significantly in recent years.

(00:00) Have the Mets lived up to Steven Cohen's big plans?

(02:00) The shape of the system

(03:00) Why Jett Williams ranks No. 1

(07:30) Other bats to know

(18:00) Brandon Sproat is the team's best pitching prospect

(22:00) What's up with Jonah Tong?

(27:00) Luisangel Acuna's rough and also great 2024 season

(31:00) Two more non-top 10 prospects to know.

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Pirates 2025 MLB Prospects Deep Dive Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

Mark Chiarelli and JJ Cooper are talking all about the Pirates farm system in a new MLB Prospects Deep Dive.

(00:00) The pitching development is rolling, but this team could use some bats.

(3:00) Analyzing No. 1 prospect Bubba Chandler. How quickly could he reach Pittsburgh? Where does he slot into the rotation? What has led to his prospect breakthrough?

(11:40) Don't forget about Thomas Harrington

(17:00) The Pirates have a lot of former prospects who haven't claimed full-time jobs

(22:00) This team has a lot of second base prospects

(24:30) Analyzing 2B prospect Termarr Johnson

(32:20) Where does Billy Cook fit?

(37:00) A missed opportunity to spend on a hitter?

(42:00) Two non-top 10 prospects to watch.

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Breaking Down the Preseason College Baseball Rankings, Omaha Sleepers Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

Baseball America College Writers Jacob Rudner and Peter Flaherty take an in-depth look at the 2025 Preseason Top-25, discuss the teams that just missed the preseason NCAA rankings and pick Omaha sleepers.

(00:00) General overview of the top-25 process

(06:30) Why Texas A&M landed at preseason No. 1

(12:25) Can Tennessee win back-to-back titles

(19:55) A look at Oregon State as an independent

(21:10) Standout teams from No. 10-25

(39:20) Omaha sleepers and teams that just missed the Top-25

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