Baseball America

On this week's Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper talk a whole lot about pitchers' velocity. We discuss why it's the key to MLB success, and we look at which MiLB pitchers throw the hardest and have the nastiest stuff.(00:00) Why we love velocity(05:00) A new study finds MLB SPs who throw harder not only have more success, they also have longer careers(20:00) Looking at which MiLB pitchers threw 100 mph in 2025.(31:10) MiLB Stuff Leaders(44:00) Prospect SoapboxesLinks: MiLB Stuff Leaders: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/top-150-minor-league-stuff-leaders-for-2025/The MiLB Pitchers Who Threw 100 MPH In 2025: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/all-125-mlb-prospects-who-threw-100-mph-in-the-minor-leagues-in-2025/MLB SPs Who Have Long Careers Throw Hard: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/to-have-a-lengthy-mlb-career-pitchers-need-to-throw-hard/Go to Superpower.com to learn more and lock in the special $199 price while it lasts. Live up to your 100-Year potential. #superpowerpodOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Carlos Collazo and Scott Braun take an early look at the 2026 MLB Draft.We discuss Roch Cholowsky's 1-1 exciting profile, lottery odds and where Grady Emerson fits in. Plus, we answer a fan question about the Arizona Fall League.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction(1:00) 2026 draft's high school class(3:30) Roch Cholowsky is the clear-cut No. 1 draft prospect(5:45) Cholowsky's draft profile(8:30) Where Grady Emerson fits in the draft picture(11:45) Draft lottery odds(15:10) The best case lottery scenario for the Pirates(17:00) Fast-moving draftees(20:40) Teams ready to improve through the draft(23:15) Who has the best Arizona Fall League roster?Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on the Baseball America Fantasy Podcast hosts Geoff Pontes and Dylan White dig into a host of underrated prospects. We talk about some hitters and pitchers with traits to target in fantasy baseball. We use their underlying data and our internal models to identify some sleepers for your offseason target lists. (1:00) Recapping our 2025 Fantasy Seasons(5:00) Playoffs under way(12:00) Ethan Frey(14:00) Juneiker Caceres(17:00) Wei-En Lin(22:00) Trey Gibson(25:00) Deniel Ortiz(29:00) Hendry MendezOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on the Prospect Podcast, Jesús Cano and JJ Cooper talk about the Bridge League and the Instructional League, where MLB draft picks and top international prospects get intense instruction in a more relaxed environment. Jesús has been working the back fields for several months, and he highlights some of the prospects who have stood out.(00:00) Explaining Instructs and Bridge League(11:00) Rockies SS Ethan Holliday(16:00) White Sox SS Billy Carlson(18:30) Reds SS Steele Hall(20:45) Rangers Two-Way Player Josh Owens(24:45) Padres LHP Kruz Schoolcraft(27:15) White Sox OF Jaden Fauske(30:15) Giants SS Josuar Gonzalez(33:30) A's SS Edgar Montero(42:00) Angels C Gabriel Davalillo(44:45) Prospect SoapboxesGet 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOULOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Baseball America national college reporter Jacob Rudner and national writer Peter Flaherty went back and forth to draft 2026 college baseball fantasy teams with four hitters, two starting pitchers and a reliever. Rudner and Flaherty also offered their analysis and insight on recent reporting that Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello could be a wild-card candidate to fill the San Francisco Giants' manager vacancy.(2:48) Tony Vitello's San Francisco candidacy(10:56) Explaining our fantasy draft rules(12:32) UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky(15:00)Oregon State righty Dax Whitney(17:52) TCU outfielder Sawyer Strosnider (19:49) Coastal Carolina righty Cameron Flukey(22:59) Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia(24:47) Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress(28:04) UC Santa Barbara righty Jackson Flora(32:00) Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese(33:56) TCU righty Tommy LaPour(37:50) Houston outfielder Tre Broussard(40:58) Texas A&M righty MJ Bollinger (40:58)(44:30) LSU lefty Santiago Garcia (44:30)(47:52) Texas Tech outfielder Logan Hughes(50:35) Kentucky shortstop Tyler BellOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Jesús Cano and Scott Braun are joined by Diamondbacks prospect Ryan Waldschmidt, who ranks fourth in the team's Top 30 prospects list and was Arizona's MiLB Player of the Year.We also discuss the D-back's farm system grade and rookie pitchers getting ready for the bright lights of the MLB postseason.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction (0:30) Preorder the 2026 prospect handbook (1:30) D-backs' farm system: reasons to be hopeful (4:45) D-backs' farm system: reasons to be concerned (6:15) Jordan Lawlar & Tommy Troy (9:00) How can the D-backs compete with the high-spending Dodgers? (13:35) Ryan Waldschmidt on his background (18:20) On becoming a first-round draft prospect (22:45) On feeling comfortable in pro ball (26:20) Rookie pitchers in the playoffsOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Carlos and Peter spend the entire podcast getting into the weeds on UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky. He’s the No. 1 player in the class and both Peter and college writer Jacob Rudner picked Cholowsky as the “way too early” favorite to be the player of the year next season. How does he stack up with recent college prospects? Is he in a tier of his own for college shortstops? And are there any real holes in his game? —Time Stamps(0:00) Intro(3:30) Roch Cholowsky as the PotY favorite(5:00) Is Cholowsky the best college SS prospect since Dansby Swanson?(10:00) Cholowsky as a defender(15:00) Comparing him to other top-10 4YR SSs(19:00) What are the concerns?(24:00) What tool grades would we put on him?(32:00) His improvements as a sophomore(35:00) Roch Cholowsky vs. Marek Houston as defendersGo to Superpower.com and use code FOUL to get $50 off your annual Superpower subscription. Live up to your 100-Year potential. #superpowerpodOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on the Baseball America podcast Geoff Pontes is joined by Jacob Rudner to chat about Arizona Fall League rosters. We open the show covering the big names before diving into 10 prospects we think could breakout in AFL play.(4:00) Kevin McGonigle the best hitter in the AFL.(9:00) Josue De Paula(15:00) Karson Milbrandt(18:00) Marco Dinges(20:00) Sean Linan(23:00) Parks Harber(25:00) Jakob Wright(27:00) Esmerlyn Valdez(29:00) Hendry Mendez(31:00) Sam Petersen(33:00) Blake Mitchell(36:00) Nick MorabitoFair HarborFor 20% off your first purchase, head to http://FairHarborClothing.com/FOUL20 and use code FOUL20.Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Pirates SS Konnor Griffin is Baseball America's 2025 MiLB Player of the Year, as we announced on the Hot Sheet show. In today's Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes, Josh Norris and J.J. Cooper try to explain what stands out about Konnor Griffin, and why he's the best prospect in baseball.Time Stamps(00:00) How fortunate we were to see Konnor Griffin play(02:45) How tough a decision was it?(08:45) What made Konnor Griffin's season special?(16:45) Our impressions of Konnor Griffin from watching him play(26:45) Does Griffin compare to past MiLB POYs like Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr.?(36:30) The way too hot comp we're hesitant to bring up?(43:00) Prospect Soapboxeshttps://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/konnor-griffin-baseball-americas-2025-minor-league-player-of-the-year/https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2025-milb-player-of-the-year-race-presented-plenty-of-options/https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/how-konnor-griffin-compares-to-every-baseball-america-milb-player-of-the-year-since-1981/Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com to get 50% off sitewide during their Red-Hot Sale Event and use Promo Code FOUL at checkout for an extra $35 off.Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Geoff Pontes and and Scott Braun are joined by a very special guest: 2025 Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Konnor Griffin.We talk to the Pirates shortstop about his breakout 2025 campaign, swing changes, the potential for future success in Pittsburgh and a lot more.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction (0:45) Kevin McGonigle didn't win POY... but he was still really good (7:30) The same goes for Jonah Tong (13:00) Answering a viewer question about Caleb Bonemer (15:40) 2025 MiLB Player of the Year Konnor Griffin joins the show (18:00) What adjustments did Griffin make to break out in 2025? (21:20) Spring training benefits and his position (25:20) Griffin's favorite player growing up (26:15) Griffin's relationship with Paul Skenes & the future in PittsburghOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy