Future Projection

Latest Episodes:

Episode 189: Prospects Making Big Jumps In 2026 May 22, 2026

Show notes

Ben and Carlos focus on up-arrow prospects who are not quite on the top 100, but are tracking up the board on individual Top 30s. The group of names includes a pair of Brewers lefthanded hitter, a trio of Guardians contact bats, A Rangers shortstop to know, even more Dodgers outfield prospects to be aware of and a few young arms with big stuff. They close with a chat about what scouting departments are doing this time of year as the college season winds down and the draft approaches.

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Time Stamps

(4:00) Prospect talk begins
(4:30) Braylon Payne
(10:00) Blake Burke
(17:30) Cooper Ingle
(23:00) Jasion Chourio & Robert Arias
(29:40) Yolfran Castillo
(32:40) Pedro Ramirez
(36:00) Charles Davalan & Kendall George
(42:00) Sadbiel Delzine
(45:40) Dylan Jordan
(50:00) How scouting departments operate this time of year

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Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a question? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com.

Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Newsletter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 188: Mailbag—Who Is The Best Defensive Shortstop Prospect? May 19, 2026

Show notes

Ben and Carlos open the mailbag to answer questions about the top defensive shortstop prospects in the minors; where 2027 California high school shortstop Dylan Seward would rank in the 2026 class; the center field likelihood of Derek Curiel, Drew Burress and AJ Gracia; and the odds that Justin Lebron slides out of the first round.

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Time Stamps:

(1:30) Who are the best defensive shortstops in the minors?
(10:00) Where would Dylan Seward rank if he was in the 2026 class?
(16:00) CF defense profiles of Derek Curiel, Drew Burress & AJ Gracia
(20:00) Is there a chance Justin Lebron falls out of the first round?

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Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a question? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com.

Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 187: Breaking Down Our Latest Mock Draft May 15, 2026

Show notes

Ben and Carlos talk about the Mock Draft V 3.0, the most recent projection of the first 40 picks for the 2026 draft. The two talk about the latest rumors up top, whether or not Roch Cholowsky and Grady Emerson are in a tier of their own, and then talk through a number of different teams and picks throughout the first round and beyond.

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Time Stamps

(0:30) Jesus Made as the new top prospect
(4:15) Where Roch Cholowsky fits in the Top 100
(7:30) Giants SS Luis Hernandez
(9:50) Mock draft talk
(13:00) Grady Emerson vs. Vahn Lackey
(19:00) Twins
(23:55) Giants
(29:00) Tegan Kuhns
(31:30) Royals
(35:00) Jared Grindlinger
(40:00) Orioles
(45:00) Why Eric Booth is going high
(50:00) Braves
(54:00) Nationals
(56:40) Reds
(1:04:00) Guardians
(1:11:30) Red Sox
(1:15:00) Padres
(1:28:00) Coleman Borthwick

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Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a question? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com.

Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Newsletter: @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 186: Mailbag—How Does The Top Of The 2026 Draft Compare To Recent Years? May 12, 2026

Show notes

In today’s mailbag episode Ben and Carlos take questions about Braves prospect rankings, how the top of the 2026 draft stacks up with recent classes and which players we are individually higher or lower on in regards to our updated Top 100 prospect list.

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Time Stamps:

(1:05) Why are you guys light/late on Braves prospects?
(8:30) Where does the 2026 top four compare to the 2025 and 2024 classes?
(17:10) Are there any players you think are too high or too low on the top 100?

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Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a question? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com.

Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Newsletter: @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 185: Top 100 Prospects Climbing The Rankings May 08, 2026

Show notes

Ben and Carlos talk about the first significant in-season update to the 2026 Top 100 list. The two talk about a handful of 2025 draftees who are flipping the switch with strong starts to the season after questionable pro debuts in 2026. They talk about a few notable additions at the back of the list, including a handful of Rays prospects and Royals infielder Josh Hammond. They also talk about how electric Padres catcher Ethan Salas has been, and the consistent offensive production that Mets outfield AJ Ewing provides.

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Time Stamps

(1:00) Top 100 adjustments
(4:00) Ethan Holliday, Tate Southisene, Kayson Cunningham
(17:30) Ethan Salas
(27:45) Josh Hammond
(32:00) Rays risers
(42:00) Emil Morales
(45:00) AJ Ewing
(47:30) Names close to the 100 who aren’t quite there yet

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Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a question? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com.

Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Newsletter: @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 184: Mailbag—Hit Tools We Believe In May 05, 2026

Show notes

Ben and Carlos break open the FP mailbag and talk about hitters outside of the top 10 they have a lot of conviction in, complex league players they are anticipating, the logistics of academies in the Dominican Republic and what would have to happen for UCLA SS Roch Cholowsky to actually slide in the draft.

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Time Stamps:

(1:05) Which draft hit tools are you most convicted of deeper in the class?
(11:00) Which players are you looking forward to in the complexes?
(23:30) How many academies are there in the D.R. and how many players are at those academies?
(30:15) Is there any world where Roch Cholowsky could slide?

Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a question? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com.

Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Newsletter: @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 183: The Challenge Of Projecting Prospect Power May 01, 2026

Show notes

Ben and Carlos talk about the recent MLB draft rankings update and talk about the process this year. They then discuss a few potential first rounders they saw in person recently. Carlos talks about his two-inning look at Coastal Carolina RHP Cameron Flukey, while Ben breaks down New York high school shortstop Aiden Ruiz. That leads to a conversation about the challenge of projecting power, especially for high school hitters who might have big differences in game and raw power.

After that the two talk about the struggles of Alabama SS Justin Lebron and Mississippi State 3B Ace Reese in conference play, and wonder which profiles are most likely to move up the board down the stretch. They close the show with some talk about White Sox SS Caleb Bonemer and Rays C Caden Bodine.

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Time Stamps

(1:00) Draft rankings process talk
(12:00) Cam Flukey
(20:00) Aiden Ruiz
(26:00) Thoughts on projecting raw power
(31:30) EJ Booth
(41:00) Justin Lebron & Ace Reese
(48:30) Which profiles can move themselves up the board down the stretch?
(55:30) Caleb Bonemer
(1:01:20) Caden Bodine

Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a question? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com.

Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Newsletter: @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 182: Mailbag—Rising 2026 Prospects To Know Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

Ben and Carlos take listener questions on a variety of up-arrow pro prospects including Orioles righthander JT Quinn, White Sox outfielder Samuel Zavala, Braves outfielder Eric Hartman and Dodgers outfielder Josue De Paula.

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Time Stamps:

(0:30) JT Quinn
(6:00) Sammy Zavala
(10:00) Eric Hartman & Tate Southisene
(15:50) Josue De Paula
(20:00) FCL and DSL streaming

Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a question? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com.

Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod

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 181: Early 2025 Draft Standouts Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

Ben and Carlos lament Chipotle’s points policy before getting into the real stuff. The two talk about a number of strong performances from a handful of 2025 draftees, including Seth Hernandez, Kade Anderson, Jamie Arnold, Tyler Bremner, JoJo Parker, Kayson Cunningham and others.

They then talk about the loud offensive season and power surge from Red Sox shortstop Franklin Arias, wonder about the strikeout tendencies of Tigers shortstop Bryce Rainer and talk about the approach overhaul of Nationals shortstop Seaver King.

Time Stamps:

(0:00) Intro
(3:40) Seth Hernandez
(11:00) Kade Anderson
(13:00) Jamie Arnold
(16:30) Tyler Bremner
(22:00) Will teams be more aggressive with high school pitchers this year?
(25:40) JoJo Parker
(27:45) Kayson Cunningham
(30:00) Josh Hammond
(34:30) Ike Irish
(36:15) Franklin Arias
(41:30) Josh Adamczewski
(49:10) Bryce Rainer
(54:40) Nationals prospects to be excited about

Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a question? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com.

Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Newsletter: Fringe Average

Baseball America Website

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 180: Mailbag—How To Get Started In Scouting Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

Ben and Carlos talk about Ben’s recent trip to the Dominican Republic and then break open this week’s listener mailbag. Recommendations for college students who want to work in scouting, how we view the hit risk of Florida shortstop Jacob Lombard and whether we’d rather have the No. 3 or 4 pick with a smaller bonus pool, or the No. 5 pick with a bigger bonus pool.

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Time Stamps:

(0:15) Ben’s trip to the Dominican Republic
(14:10) What suggestions do you have for someone who wants to work in scouting?
(25:30) How do you consider the hit tool risk for Jacob Lombard?
(34:00) Would you rather pick No. 3/4 with a smaller pool or No. 5 with a bigger pool?

Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a question? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com.

Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Newsletter: Fringe Average

Baseball America Website

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.