

Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America delivers baseball news you can't get anywhere else. Covering the game from a player-development point of view, the staff of BA will deliver its take on what's going on in the world of baseball every week on its podcast, analyzing the game from the majors and minors--with an emphasis on prospects--through our unparalleled college and high school coverage.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 31, 2025 • 29min
Predicting The No. 1 Prospect In 2027
In last week's Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper talked about some of the best developments in 2025. Now we look into 2026 to predict who will be the No. 1 prospect in the game and which farm system will be the best a year from now.(02:30) Who Will Be The No. 1 Farm System Heading Into 2027(06:30) Another No. 1 Farm System Candidate(10:00) Two other long shot but interesting candidates(13:00) The No. 1 prospect in baseball heading into 2027 will be ...(21:00) Two bold predictions for 2026Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 24, 2025 • 22min
2025's Most Improved Farm System And Prospect Is ...
On this week's Baseball America Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper take a look at which farm systems and which prospects were the most improved in 2025, and we also look at a couple of predictions we'd like to have back.(00:00) The Prospect Handbook Is Complete(02:30) The Most Improved Farm System In 2025 Is ...(08:00) The Most Improved Prospect In 2025 Is ...(16:30) The Predictions We Would Like To Do Over ...Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 23, 2025 • 40min
College Podcast: Inside Genei Sato's Penn State Commitment
In the final College Podcast episode of 2025, Baseball America national college reporter Jacob Rudner and national writer Peter Flaherty offer an inside look at Japanese righthander Genei Sato's recruitment and subsequent signing with Penn State. Rudner and Flaherty also assess what kind of player the Nittany Lions are getting and take a look back at their favorite college baseball moments from 2025.(1:01) Greetings(5:13) Sato signs with Penn State(7:04) Who is Masanosuke Ono and why does he matter?(12:17) Why is Sato in the 2027 class?(13:13) Scouting Sato(22:12) Could more Japanese players follow Sato?(32:09) Favorite moments from 2025Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 22, 2025 • 26min
Reacting To MLB Trades & Signings, Plus Genei Sato Picks Penn State | Hot Sheet Show Ep. 87
On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Geoff Pontes, Jacob Rudner and Scott Braun discuss a number of topics, including a pair of key AL East trades, new MLB homes for Munetaka Murakami and Song Sung-mun and Genei Sato's committment to Penn State.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction(0:45) Reacting to the Mets/A's Jeff McNeil trade(3:45) Shane Baz headed to the Orioles(8:15) Rays/Pirates/Astros three-team trade(12:30) Red Sox acquire Willson Contreras for three pitchers(15:30) Scouting Song Sung-mun(17:45) Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami signs with the White Sox(19:00) Genei Sato is headed to... Penn State?(21:00) How could can Sato be?(25:45) Don't forget to order your 2026 Prospect HandbookOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 18, 2025 • 30min
Fantasy Podcast: Top 130 Outfielders For Dynasty
With the hot stove seemingly too cool at the moment, hosts Geoff Pontes and Dylan White bring some holiday heat with our latest installment in the dynasty positional ranking series. This week we breakdown a loaded outfield group with some of the top talents in the game. We talk you through the top 25 and some names to targets as sleepers.(2:30) Why Juan Soto over Corbin Carroll?(5:00) Why Julio Rodriguez over Aaron Judge?(7:30) Do you discount Jackson Chourio in OBP leagues?(10:30) Laying out Tatis, Acuna and Kyle Tucker(13:30) Who makes the biggest jump in 2026 between Wyatt Langford, James Wood and Roman Anthony?(17:00) Weighing risks with Yordan Alvarez, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Jackson Merrill(22:00) Ranking the power hitters(26:00) Aggressive ranking of Edward FlorentinoCashAppDownload Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/hap8idx8 #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Direct deposit and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 18, 2025 • 41min
Explaining The 2026 Prospect Handbook
On this week's Prospect Podcast Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper go in-depth into explaining tools grades, BA grades and risk, adjusted grades and everything else about the Prospect Handbook.(00:00) Why We're A Day Late(04:30) What Is The Prospect Handbook(06:40) So What Is The 20-to-80 Scouting Scale And How Does It Work?(11:00) Looking At No. 1 Prospect Konnor Griffin's Tools Grades(14:30) Comparing Konnor Griffin's Tools To Bobby Witt Jr.'s Tools(17:15) Explaining BA Grades And Risk(23:00) Why Kevin McGonigle Has An 80 Hit Tool(24:30) What Adjusted Grades Are, And How We Use Them(32:00) Geoff's Prospect Soapbox: Astros OF Lucas Spence(35:20) JJ's Prospect Soapbox: Tigers SS John PeckOrder Your Prospect Handbook Here: https://baseballamerica.myshopify.com/collections/books/products/2026-baseball-america-prospect-handbookCashAppDownload Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/hap8idx8 #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Direct deposit and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 15, 2025 • 27min
Could Someone Other Than Roch Cholowsky Go No. 1 In The 2026 MLB Draft? | Hot Sheet Show Ep. 86
On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Jacob Rudner and Scott Braun discuss a number of topics, including candidates for the 1-1 spot in the 2026 MLB Draft, new tech restrictions in MiLB and Genei Sato coming to the U.S. from Japan.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction & A's top 10 (2:00) Post-lottery mock draft (3:15) Could someone other than Roch Cholowsky go 1-1? (7:00) Top college arms in the draft (8:30) Could a transfer surprise? (11:45) Reacting to The Athletic's report on potential tech limits in the minors (22:45) Genei Sato headed to the United StatesOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 11, 2025 • 34min
Fantasy Podcast: Top 60 Fantasy Shortstops
There's no position as deep as shortstop in dynasty as the rankings are bubbling over with major league talent and top prosects. This week on the Baseball America Fantasy Podcast we dive into this incredibly talented shortstop group. We open the show talking about some of the big name signings from the 2025 Winter Meetings before diving into Bobby Witt Jr., Elly De La Cruz, Gunnar Henderson, Konnor Griffin and more. (2:00) Pete Alonso signs with the Orioles.(5:00) Kyle Schwarber returns to the Phillies.(7:00) Edwin Diaz signs with the Dodgers(10:00) Bobby Witt Jr. best player in dynasty.(13:00) Elly De La Cruz vs Gunnar Henderson(15:00) How good is Konnor Griffin?(21:00) Neto over Lindor, why?(23:00) The old guard of Mookie Betts, Trea Turner and Corey Seager are aging. Is it time to fade?(26:00) Geraldo Perdomo broke out in 2025, can he repeat it?(28:00) Sleepers!Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 10, 2025 • 35min
2025 Rule 5 Draft Recap
Baseball America's J.J. Cooper, Geoff Pontes and Jacob Rudner recap the major league phase of the 2025 Rule 5 Draft. They offer their favorite picks, players most likely to stick with their new organizations, biggest surprises and more.(1:40) General takeaways(6:47) How hard is it to nail hitters in the Rule 5(10:12) Favorite picks(21:46) Surprises(27:02) Picks to stick and candidates to be returned(33:54) Standout MiLB phase picks(35:35) Final thoughtsOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dec 9, 2025 • 1h 15min
College Podcast: 2026 Predictions & Fall Ball Standouts
Baseball America national college reporter Jacob Rudner and national writer Peter Flaherty take one final look back at a busy fall to review training-season breakouts. They also look ahead at the spring and predict the nation's best performers, rotations and lineups.(3:35) What do we mean by fall all-stars?(4:48) How we gather feedback(10:28) Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick(16:19) Kansas first baseman Brady Ballinger(21:59) UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky(35:26) College star vs. Pro prospect(44:16) The Big Five College Arms(53:31) Sleeper rotations(58:58) Best rotations(1:03:48) Sleeper lineups(1:11:23) Best lineupsOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy


