Future Projection

Latest Episodes:

Episode 9: The Pros & Cons Of Video Scouting, What Makes A Pop-Up Player & First Round Sleeper Candidates Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

Ben and Carlos spend a lot of time talking about the value of scouting players through video. Since the Covid season, more and more teams are using video and video tools to amplify their draft coverage, which leads to plenty of benefits, but perhaps some downsides as well. The two talk about how that has changed the job for scouts and then talk about what exactly makes a pop-up player and how some players can go under-the-radar. After that, the two talk about a few players who aren’t ranked in the first round range at the moment, but wouldn’t surprise us if they did end up going in the first round. As always, they wrap things up by answering listener questions, touching on a 6-foot-8 lefthander from the Northeast, how teams are handling international free agency and a few Rangers prospects with helium heading into the minor league season.

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Episode 8: Early-Season Exploits Of Ronald Acuña Jr., Byron Buxton and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Apr 15, 2021

Show notes

Ronald Acuña Jr. makes a fool of the podcast by sitting at the top of the WAR leaderboard just weeks after Ben, Carlos and Josh chose to cut him instead of Juan Soto or Fernando Tatis Jr. After talking about Acuña’s torrid start to the season and improved plate discipline, Ben and Carlos discuss the play of both Byron Buxton and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The two then talk about some of the most toolsy and athletic players in the minor leagues and the 2021 draft class, before having a similar conversation about toolsy pitchers. The two then talk about some of the better pitchers in the league—Corbin Burnes, Tyler Glasnow, Aroldis Chapman—and various pitch-mix changes they have implemented before taking listener questions.

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Episode 7: The Magnificence of Shohei Ohtani, Two-Way Prospects in the Pipeline & Draft Ramifications for Jaden Hill Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

Ben and Carlos marvel at Shohei Ohtani’s early-season exploits on the mound and as a hitter, which leads to a conversation about the difficulties of being a two-way player at the pro level and the prospects who could be next in line to give it a try. The two then spend a lot of time talking about Louisiana State righthander Jaden Hill, who recently tore his UCL and who now faces an uncertain draft outlook given the injury and his limited college resume. The two talk about the decision to make the draft 20 rounds in 2021 and talk about what an ideal number of rounds is—or perhaps more importantly, what an ideal draft format would be. They wrap things up by taking listener questions, including: how the Braves have used their international scouting resources in the wake of sanctions; the differences between scouting high school and college hitters; northeast prospects to keep an eye on; and whether or not Mariners prospect Noelvi Marte can become a top 25 prospect in baseball.

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Episode 6: 102 MPH High School Pitchers, Where To Sit When Scouting & How We Would Pick 1-10 In The 2021 Draft Mar 31, 2021

Show notes

Ben and Carlos are joined by JJ Cooper for the sixth episode of the Future Projection Podcast. The three talk about what they are excited about for Opening Day before talking about New Jersey high school righthander Chase Petty touching 102 mph. Is throwing that hard that young awesome or scary? After that, the three talk about various sightlines for watching games, and how you can better scout players from various vantage points. Ben talks about a physical college hitter he was impressed with recently and the three collectively talk about their desire for teams to hire more scouts. Finally, the three make picks for the top 10 teams in the 2021 draft if they were deciding for clubs today, before tackling some listener questions.

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Episode 5: Updated Draft Rankings, Short vs. Tall Hitters & Pitchers We Could Soon Be Talking About Like MacKenzie Gore Mar 24, 2021

Show notes

On the fifth episode of the Future Projection Podcast, Ben and Carlos talk about the recently updated BA draft rankings and discuss how volatile this year’s draft class is. The two talk about the lack of a consensus No. 1 player in the class at this point and play “Sign One, Trade One, Cut One” with Vanderbilt righthanders Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter, and Dallas Jesuit High shortstop Jordan Lawlar. After talking about Boston College outfielder Sal Frelick, the two talk about the pros and cons of tall hitters vs. shorter hitters and talk through some of the notable recent “undersized” bats in the game. After that the two talk about MLB and USA Baseball’s new pre-draft events and how those and a combine could shake up the evaluation of the class before taking listen questions—including one listener who asks what pitching prospects we could be talking about like MacKenzie Gore in a few years.

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Episode 4: When Scouts Disagree and Deciding Between Ronald Acuna Jr., Juan Soto & Fernando Tatis Jr. Mar 17, 2021

Show notes

Ben and Carlos are joined by their first-ever guest on the podcast—fellow BA staffer Josh Norris. The three talk about how teams handle contrasting evaluations in scouting, whether that’s an area scout vs. a national crosschecker or an amateur scout vs. a pro scout. After talking about a few players who have had split opinions, the three play “Sign one, Trade one, Cut one” with baseball’s top three stars: Ronald Acuna Jr., Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr. After that, breakout candidates like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are discussed and the three guess which prospect between Spencer Torkelson and Austin Martin will reach the bigs first. In closing, Ben and Josh offer career and life advice, while Carlos simply tells listeners to learn Spanish.

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Episode 3: Bobby Witt Jr., 484 Foot Homers & The Top Shortstop Prospects In Baseball Mar 11, 2021

Show notes

Ben and Carlos spend most of the episode talking about shortstops—what scouts look for when evaluating the position, as well as some of the top young shortstop talents in the game. The two discuss an exciting 2021 draft class for the position on the high school side (highlighted by Jordan Lawlar and Marcelo Mayer) and then talk about the top shortstops in the 2020 international class. Ben raves about some of the best defenders he’s ever seen at the position before the two play a game of “Sign one, trade on, cut one” with three of the top pro shortstop prospects in the game. As is becoming customary, they round things out by taking a few listener questions.

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Episode 2: What An International Draft Might Look Like + 2021 Draft Risers Mar 03, 2021

Show notes

Ben and Carlos spend some time talking about Ben's recently released International Big Board for the 2021-22 international class, before diving into why an international draft is likely on the horizon. Ben explains what an international draft could look like and why more sides are open to it now than they might have been previously. The two talk about why pick trading could be a good addition to an international draft and the domestic draft. After that Carlos dives into 2021 draft standouts like Boston College OF Sal Frelick, Miami (Ohio) RHP Sam Bachman and North Carolina OF Justice Thompson. The two then touch on a few 2020 draftees who could already be improving their stock (including Red Sox 2B Nick Yorke and Rangers OF Evan Carter), talk hitting and catching evaluation and then take a few listener questions.

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Episode 1: Elijah Green, Jasson Dominguez & Draft Standouts From College Baseball's Opening Weekend Feb 24, 2021

Show notes

Baseball is back! On their debut episode, Ben Badler and Carlos Collazo talk about the challenges of scouting this spring, scouting philosophy when it comes to balancing new information with past history and the differences between amateur and pro looks in player evaluation. The two then express their excitement for 2022 high school draft prospect Elijah Green and go in-depth on Yankees prospect Jasson Dominguez. Carlos highlights a number of college baseball standouts from college opening weekend, including Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter. The two briefly debate who the best MLB team of the 2010s was, before discussing potential teams of the 2020s (get ready, Blue Jays fans). The Fernando Tatis extension is mentioned, along with general Padres discussion, before Ben rounds things out with his thoughts on what makes Mariners prospect Julio Rodriguez special on and off the field.

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