Future Projection

Latest Episodes:

Episode 79: Drafting 2024 Prospect Teams Feb 16, 2024

Show notes

Ben and Carlos are joined by Peter Flaherty in a special edition of the show, where the three look ahead to the 2024 amateur season by drafting teams of 2024 class prospects. The three writers go back and forth in an attempt to create the best team possible from the 2024 class.

Here are the rules:

Each drafter must fill the following positions and select at least six high school players and at least six college players:

1 catcher
2 corner infielders
2 middle infielders
3 outfielders
4 pitchers
1 utility spot (any position type)

While the teams will be revisited after the draft to see whose teams had the best draft capital, the ultimate goal is to create the best possible team, so we’ll have to wait a few years to determine the ultimate winners.

However, that doesn't stop you from chiming in now with feedback on the exercise. Are you Team Ben? Team Peter? Or Team Carlos? Let us know.

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Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

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Episode 78: All-Americans, 2024 Draft Prospects & Ethan Holliday’s 1-1 Case Feb 09, 2024

Show notes

Carlos and Ben banter about the announced Netflix documentary following the Red Sox and think about what their ideal baseball documentary looks like. After that the two talk through the Royals mega-extension of franchise shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and how the deal is a win for all parties involved.

Then the two talk through Matt Eddy’s PPI eligible players piece and think about the ramifications of the program and whether or not it’s good for the game—spoiler: it is. The two think about the favorites for winning rookie of the year of this pool of players and talk through some of the draft changes related to the PPI program that remove incentives for teams to bottom out year after year.

After that the two talk through BA’s preseason all-America teams, including why the teams are predictive of the year’s first round round draft picks and also talk briefly about the updated 2025 draft rankings on the site. The two answer a listener question about Ethan Holliday’s 1-1 case for the 2025 class, and then end the show with a listener email about how agents, teams and players play the signing bonus game on draft day.

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Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 77: Breaking Down The New MLB Draft Rankings Feb 02, 2024

Show notes

Ben and Carlos hop on the show and talk through a few major league news items, including the Tigers extension of Colt Keith, the Twins-Mariners Jorge Polanco trade and the news that the Orioles are being sold to (hopefully) new and improved owners.

After that, the two get into Carlos’s big draft update ahead of the college baseball season. The list expands from 100 to 200, with a new name up top and plenty of new reports to consume. Ben peppers Carlos with plenty of questions about the state of the class and the two discuss the various strengths and weaknesses of the group at this stage.

The show closes with a listener question about the impacts of the 20-round draft and the contracted minor league team and player system.

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Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 76: Answering Your Prospect Questions Jan 26, 2024

Show notes

Ben and Carlos talk about the week’s Hall of Fame results and debate the various cases for some of the players who were on this year’s ballot before looking ahead to future candidates and looking at the surprisingly strong track record of No. 1 overall picks making the Hall of Fame.

After that the two open up the listener mailbag and get into your prospect questions.

Those involve plenty of topics including: are the Padres too trade-happy with their prospects? Is Coby Mayo more valuable for the Orioles as trade bait or as a member of the young hitting core? How would Samuel Basallo look as a prospect if he was being developed by another organization? Who will be the fastest pitcher to the big leagues from the 2024 draft class? Where do we stand on Mets righthander Blade Tidwell? How does Ben evaluate the Giants’ current standing in the international market? How much upside can we expect for Marlins prep pitchers Noble Meyer and Thomas White?

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Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 75: Breaking Down The 2024 Top 100 Prospects List Jan 19, 2024

Show notes

Ben and Carlos spend most of the episode getting into the weeds on our recently released 2024 Top 100 Prospects list. Before that conversation starts, Ben breaks down his January 15 experience and how it compared to previous years.

Padres prospect Leodalis De Vries serves as the bridge from international signing day to our Top 100, as the lone member of the 2024 class to land on the list. What makes him deserving and why is this a profile to get excited about? Ben tells you all you need to know.

After that, the two break down the top of the list, talk about their various tier breaks, agree on philosophies about pitching prospects and injury risk and then talk about how they would line up the top pitching prospects in the game. The two then talk through the players they are higher or lower on than the Top 100 itself, including names like Andrew Painter, Robby Snelling, Ricky Tiedemann, Adael Amador, Dylan Lesko, Noah Schultz, Colt Emerson, Michael Busch, Bryce Eldridge, Jacob Wilson, Nick Frasso, Gavin Stone, Brayden Taylor, Ceddanne Rafaela, Chase Petty and more.

The two have a slight disagreement on 2023 arms Rhett Lowder and Chase Dollander, then think about some of the players who might be poised to shoot up this list in the future.

The show ends with a listener email about where Braves righthander AJ Smith-Shawver might rank if he was part of the 2024 draft class.

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Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 74: Everything You Need To Know About The 2024 International Class Jan 12, 2024

Show notes

Today’s episode is spent entirely on international prospects, as we are just days away from January 15. In this episode, Carlos grills Ben on all things international:

Who are the top prospects to know? What’s the current state of the international signing system? What are the pros and cons of signing day coming in January compared to July? Which teams are doing the best on the international market? Which teams have taken significant steps forward on this front in the last five years or so?

Ben answers all those questions and more. The two talk about the developmental challenges that international prospects face, both before and after signing with their pro teams. How do the changes to the minor league system post-covid still impact international players? Will any players in the 2024 international class be immediate candidates for the top 100? And who are other, low-level international prospects you should be keeping an eye on?

It’s a fairly wide-ranging and thorough discussion on the international market and if you need a primer on this year’s class and all things international prospects—this is the episode for you.

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Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 73: The State Of AL West Farm Systems Jan 05, 2024

Show notes

Ben and Carlos kick off the new year with the final installment of their division-by-division breakdown of farm systems, saving the worst (?) group of teams for last.

Before that the two talk throughBen’s international board for the 2024 class, which is lined up based on the expected bonuses for the top 50 players in the class. Ben breaks down a few of the top names, including Braves shortstop signee Jose Perdomo and Padres shortstop signee Leodalis De Vries before getting into some overall 2024 international class discussion.

Where are all the pitchers? Who are some players who are trending up to know about? And how confident can we ever be with international signings at this stage of the calendar?

After that the two talk through AL West farm systems, including a top-heavy and exciting Rangers group led by a potential pair of top-five prospects in Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford; a middle-of-the-pack Mariners farm system that one co-host likes more than another; an A’s farm system that has taken a step forward but is not at the level it should be given the state of the major league team; an Angels farm system that continues to lack impact talent despite some quick-to-the-majors movers; and an Astros system that might have a case for one of the worst in baseball.

The podcast closes with a listener question about the success of MLB teams after having a top-five farm system.

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Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 72: The State Of AL Central Farm Systems Dec 22, 2023

Show notes

Ben and Carlos celebrate the fact that the 2024 Prospect Handbook has been shipped by breaking down AL Central prospect talent. Without much happening on the major league front, the two get straight into prospect talk, starting with a strong Tigers system.

The two talk about their excitement for No. 1 prospect Max Clark and wonder about his power potential for the future, and then discuss whether or not righthander Jackson Jobe has a case to be made as the top pitching prospect in baseball. It doesn’t fall off after that either with exciting offensive players like Colt Keith, Jace Jung, Justyn-Henry Malloy and Parker Meadows.

The farm system caliber does fall off after the Tigers, though Ben and Carlos disagree somewhat about their enthusiasm for the depth of the Twins—though neither disagrees about how excited they are for Walker Jenkins and Brooks Lee. After that, the two debate whether or not the Guardians or the White Sox system is better, with both teams boasting solid prospects up top—Chase DeLauter, Brayan Rocchio, Colson Mongtomery and Noah Schultz—but more questions beyond that.

Finally, the two talk about the Royals and the lack of excitement there is to be found throughout the farm—though there are two catching prospects of note to monitor—before getting into the last listener mailbag of the year, which includes questions about Jac Caglianone and college summer camps.

Happy Holidays!

–

Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 71: The State Of AL East Farm Systems Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

Ben and Carlos discuss their caffeine of choice during the busy December prospect season, then react a bit to Shohei Ohtani’s historic contract with the Dodgers.

After that, the two get straight into prospect talk and analyze the farm systems of the AL East, which includes four good to great systems—including the Orioles, who have the easy No. 1 group in the league—and one that’s maybe a bit less exciting. The two discuss how close Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony are in terms of overall prospect status, talk through the impressive depth of the Yankees, try and figure out the best infield alignment for the Orioles and which prospects might be best utilized in a trade and also talk through how expectations could impact us more when looking at the Rays than other orgs.

After talking through the farm systems, the two take a few listener questions, including where the top-ranked international prospect for the 2024 signing class would fit into the 2024 draft class, how often teams try and steal international players who already have deals with other clubs, thoughts on college vs. pro development and the top third base prospects in the 2024 prep class.

–

Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 70: Analyzing The Draft Lottery + The Shohei Ohtani Narrative Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

Ben and Carlos break down the second annual draft lottery and the implications that come from the Guardians and Reds leaping up to secure the top two picks in the 2024 draft. The two discuss how this could impact Cleveland’s draft strategy and whether or not the top players in the class fit their typical MO on prospects, as well as look at some of the draft lottery “losers” including the A’s, White Sox and Nationals.

Is the draft lottery system working as intended? Are Ben and Carlos fans of the system? What tweaks would they recommend for the future and how could the viewing experience be improved for die-hard draftniks and casual baseball fans alike.

After that, the two turn their eyes towards the Winter Meetings and break down the one big trade that actually happened at the event: the Padres trading hitting savant Juan Soto to the Yankees for a package of big-league ready (or near ready) pitchers, headlined by righthanders Drew Thorpe and Michael King.

Finally, the two discuss the developing narrative surrounding Shohei Ohtani as he pursues a more clandestine free agent process than many national baseball writers would like. Does anyone truly care how he goes about the free agent process? Are the Winter Meetings still necessary? And what is Ohtani’s dog’s name???

The podcast closes with a few listener questions, including SoCal prep prospects in the 2024 draft class and where Rays infielder Junior Caminero might land on Ben and Carlos’s personal top 100 lists.

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Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.