Future Projection

Baseball America
  • 4.8 (5)
  • BASEBALL
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Future Projection Podcast

Baseball America’s Ben Badler and Carlos Collazo offer scout-level insight into all levels of baseball—everything from the amateur MLB Draft, international scouting, minor league prospects to the bigs. New episodes drop every week.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Episode 94: Red Sox Risers On Our New Top 100 Update

    Ben and Carlos hop on the show to talk through our most recent top 100 update that dropped this week, including notable up-arrow moves from a number of Red Sox prospects—most prominently Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell. The two work through a number of risers on the list, including Chase Dollander, Kumar Rocker, Alejandro Rosario and Tyler Black, then also talk about a couple of players who have slid or fallen out of the list entirely.  Ben makes a point on potentially overvaluing athleticism in baseball, the two discuss whether or not Rhett Lowder’s pure stuff is underrated, wonder how much margin for error Thomas Harrington has and take a listener email about draft pick trading. — Time Stamps (1:00) Thoughts on the top 100(4:30) Roman Anthony as a complete hitter(7:30) Marcelo Mayer vs. Roman Anthony(12:00) Kristian Campbell’s ascension(19:00) Jackson Jobe and Chase Dollander as the top arms(27:30) Kumar Rocker's return(35:00) Is Rhett Lowder’s stuff underrated?(37:00) Ben’s Rhett Lowder comp(41:00) Alejandro Rosario(45:00) Travis Sykora(51:00) Tyler Black(52:00) Spencer Jones (54:00) Kevin McGonigle(55:00) Athleticism vs. hitting ability(1:00:00) Thomas Harrington (1:06:00) Leodalis De Vries (1:10:00) Bryce Eldridge(1:13:00) Listener email on pick trades 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 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 26m

  2. AUG 29

    Episode 93: MLB Draft Standouts From The Summer Circuit

    Ben and Carlos are back on the mic to talk about their travels and the prospects they’ve seen over the last few weeks and months of the summer showcase circuit.  Ben breaks down a few high-upside pitching prospects from the 2026 class who wowed him this summer and Carlos does the same for two prep righties in the upcoming 2025 high school class. The two wonder if spin rate monsters are becoming increasingly common, try and see where Seth Hernandez stacks up with recent elite pitching prospects, talk through a handful of talented two-way players and more.  The show closes with a listener email about the top international prospects from the most recent class, and how Ben would line those players up in a theoretical international draft. — Time Stamps (1:00) Curmudgeons in baseball(5:00) Style of play vs. talent of players(8:00) Randy Arozerena having friends(10:00) What have we been up to?(11:30) Area Code Games as Ben’s favorite event(15:00) MLB Breakthrough Series at the Area Code Games(18:30) Sean Mack(20:00) Are spin rate monsters becoming more common?(26:00) Standout summer players(27:30) Savion Sims(30:40) Trey Rangel(33:00) Seth Hernandez(36:00) Where does Seth Hernandez rank in terms of elite pitching prospects?(41:00) Landon Harmon(43:00) Kruz Schoolcraft, Billy Carlson and two-way players(50:00) Dean Moss as one of the most disciplined hitters in the class(56:00) Kayson Cunningham, Gavin Fien, Eli Willits as USA standouts(1:03:00) Listener email about international prospects Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 9m

  3. JUL 11

    Episode 92: MLB Draft Mega Preview For All 30 Teams

    It’s almost draft day, and with that Ben and Carlos are joined by Peter Flaherty for a joint draft/Future Projection episode where the team does their best to break down round one for each team in the game.  We go through every team in the first round and talk through their potential options for this year’s draft, talk through draft strategy, debate players, talk through team philosophies and much more.  Buckle up, this is a long one and will hopefully get you ready for draft day. — Time Stamps (2:35) Guardians(11:30) Who would we take at 1?(17:30) Reds(19:00) Why is Jac Caglianone so polarizing for us?(25:00) Rockies(27:20) Which pitcher would you take at 3 for the Rockies?(31:00) A’s(37:00) White Sox(42:00) Royals(46:00) Cardinals(50:00) Angels(52:30) Trey Yesavage as a polished and fast-moving arm(56:00) Pirates(59:00) What’s the knock on Nick Kurtz?(1:04:00) Nationals(1:06:00) Bryce Rainer vs. Konnor Griffin(1:10:30) Tigers(1:13:00) Red Sox(1:18:00) What arms make sense for Boston if the top three are gone?(1:20:00) Giants(1:21:00) Cubs(1:25:00) Mariners(1:27:00) Jurrangelo Cijntje vs. Brody Brecht(1:31:00) Marlins(1:33:00) Brewers(1:38:00) Rays & Mets (1:40:00) Blue Jays &Twins(1:44:00) Orioles(1:45:00) Dodgers(1:48:00) Braves(1:53:00) Padres(1:55:30) Yankees(1:59:00) Phillies(2:01:00) Astros(2:03:00) D-backs(2:05:00) Rangers(2:07:00) Players we are higher and lower on— 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 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    2h 17m

  4. JUL 3

    Episode 91: Up-Arrow Prospects To Know On Our Top 100 Update

    Ben and Carlos talk about what they’ve been up to over the last month. Ben’s been focused on the start of the summer showcase season and provides an early preview of the 2025 and 2026 high school classes, while Carlos breaks down his experience at this year’s MLB Draft combine and talks about some late-process 2024 draft class notes. The two briefly then talk about some of the more prominent up-arrow prospects on our recently released midseason top 100 update including: Tigers pure hitter Kevin McGonigle, A’s shortstop and contact savant Jacob Wilson, Rays first baseman Xavier Isaac, Cardinals lefthander Quinn Mathews and Twins righthander Zebby Matthews. Next Ben breaks down a few standouts from the early parts of the Dominican Summer League season and the two close the show by opening up the listener mailbag. Topics include this year’s Futures Game rosters, the Angels 2024 draft strategy, personal cheeseballs from the 2024 draft class and where the top tier of prospects is in this year’s class.  — Time Stamps (6:00) 2026 preview(9:00) Assessing the talent of a draft class(12:00) How your ideas of players get crystallized(20:00) The 2024 MLB draft combine(25:00) Prep standouts at the combine(30:00) How the combine works(34:00) The combine’s utility for college players(39:00) Top 100 updates(40:00) Kevin McGonigle(47:00) Jacob Wilson(52:00) Xavier Isaac(55:00) Quinn Mathews(60:00) Zebby Matthews(1:05:00) DSL standouts(1:10:00) Futures Game Players To Know(1:13:00) Angels draft strategy(1:15:00) Personal cheeseballs(1:24:00) The tiers of the 2024 draft 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 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 28m

  5. MAY 30

    Episode 90: The BA 500 & International Reviews

    Ben and Carlos talk through two significant pillars of content that hit the site this week: the annual BA 500 for the 2024 class and our international reviews that give you all the information you need as the DSL season gets underway. The two talk briefly about the Field of 64 and the NCAA Tournament that kicks off this weekend. Ben asks how much the tournament games can move the needle for scouting departments and the two also talk about whether or not high-pressure or clutch performances in these games bring additional value for reports or projecting a player. After that, the two get into the BA 500 update and talk through the class, particularly the weaknesses of this year’s prep demographic. Who are the high school players we are actually confident in being selected in the first round? And what profiles are we confident in for that 10-30 range period? There are fewer options than a typical draft class. The two also talk through a switch-pitcher on the rise and a handful of up-arrow high school arms before getting into Ben’s international reviews. He talks about the process of putting them together this year and then mentions a few lower bonus players who are trending in the right direction. Ben praises the Rockies for identifying and signing pitching talent from the international market and then dives into a few tooled up, exciting prospects to know about. The show ends with a few notable prospect promotions and a Phillies-oriented Aidan Miller/Mick Abel debate. — Time Stamps (2:00) Ben’s international review process (9:00) How much do the tournament games matter for draft stock (12:30) Makeup and performance in high-pressure games (15:00) Favorites for the NCAA tournament (21:00) Draft talk/HS risks (28:00) HS players we are confident in first round (30:00) Where do teams pivot this year? (35:00) Christian Moore (39:00) Walker Janek (41:00) Jurrangelo Cijntje (43:00) Up-arrow HS players  (49:00) Kash Mayfield vs. Cam Caminiti (54:00) International Reviews (1:00:00) Lower $$ signs who are trending up (1:05:30) International pitchers to know (1:10:00) Rockies doing a nice job IDing INT pitching (1:16:00) A Blue Jays offensive shortstop to know (1:17:30) A Yankees international slugger to know (1:20:00) A Rockies speed demon to know (1:24:00) A Phillies catcher with a cannon (1:30:00) Spencer Schwellenbach (1:35:00) Noble Meyer & Thomas White (1:45:00) Luke Keaschall (1:50:00) Aidan Miller vs. Mick Abel – 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 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    2h 4m

  6. MAY 23

    Episode 89: Prospect Promotions And Big Arms To Watch

    Ben and Carlos chat about college conference tournaments and briefly get into the dreadful track record of first round first basemen in recent years. Will that impact how teams view players like Nick Kurtz and Jac Caglianone? The two talk about the SEC’s decision to roll out and experiment with a new double first base bag at the SEC tournament and then get into more serious business of prospect promotions.  There are a number of intriguing players moving up the minor league ladder including: Red Sox RHP Luis Perales, D-backs 1B Deyvison De Los Santos, Guardians LHP Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson, Cardinals LHP Quinn Mathews, White Sox LHP Noah Schultz, White Sox SS Jacob Gonzalez and Mets RHP/OF Nolan McLean. After that Ben points out a few prospects who he thinks should be getting more hype than they are currently receiving—one an outfielder with the Orioles and the other a Guardians middle infield prospect.  At the close of the show Carlos asks Ben if he’d rather have Bobby Witt Jr. or Gunnar Henderson moving forward and the two briefly talk about the value of switch hitting and whether or not hitters should simply focus on their best sides. –  Time Stamps (0:00) College conference tournaments (5:00) The scary first round 1B track record (10:00) Two bags at first base? (16:45) Luis Perales (22:00) Deyvison De Los Santos (29:00) Matt Wilkinson (35:00) Quinn Mathews (42:30) Noah Schultz (51:00) Jacob Gonzalez (58:00) Nolan McLean (1:02:00) Reggie Crawford (1:06:20) Dylan Beavers  (1:11:00) Angel Genao (1:15:00) Bobby Witt Jr. vs. Gunnar Henderson (1:23:00) Switch hitting questions – 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 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 30m

  7. MAY 17

    Episode 88: Bring On The Bat Tracking Data

    Ben and Carlos spend a lot of time talking through Baseball Savant’s new bat tracking data and how the new information could inform or change how we evaluate players and prospects. The two talk about the importance of bat speed in general, why length of swing is important, think through bat speed vs. bat acceleration and also wonder about the complications that could arise with how bat length is calculated based on contact points.  The two talk about how this could further inform aging curves and give more precise data about how and when players are aging, think through different types of swing distributions this data sheds light on and Ben mentions how important bat paths are and why we shouldn’t lose sight of that element.  The two think through the various applications of this data for prospects and then move into some prospect-specific talk, starting with a pair of players to know for the upcoming 2025 international signing class: shortstop Elian Peña (linked to the Mets) and shortstop Cristopher Polanco (linked to the Blue Jays). After that, the two talk through a number of recent top 100 additions including Mariners prospects Tyler Locklear and Jonny Farmelo, Phillies shortstop Starlyn Caba, Rockies outfielder Zac Veen and Brewers lefthander Robert Gasser. Hot performers like Red Sox shortstop Marcelo Mayer, Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews, Mariners shortstop Felnin Celesten and Twins righthander Zebby Matthews are also mentioned.  — Time Stamps (0:00) New bat speed data (5:30) Swing length as exciting as bat speed (10:00) Bat speed vs. acceleration (15:00) How swing length is measured (25:00) Bat speed aging curves (27:30) Swing distributions (31:00) The importance of bat paths (37:00) Applications for prospects (41:00) Elian Peña (46:00) Cristopher Polanco (50:00) International pitching development  (55:00) Tyler Locklear (58:00) Starlyn Caba (1:04:00) Zac Veen, Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony (1:11:00) Robert Gasser (1:15:00) Jonny Farmelo (1:19:00) Felnin Celesten  (1:21:00) Dylan Crews (1:23:00) Zebby Matthews – 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 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 27m

  8. MAY 9

    Episode 87: Breaking Down Our First 2024 Top 100 Update

    Ben and Carlos hop on the show to primarily break down the big movers on our first in-season Top 100 MLB Prospects update of the 2024 season. Before jumping into that, the two marvel at Georgia slugger Charlie Condon’s continued home run pace and wonder whether or not teams should start giving him the Barry Bonds treatment—if not, will he get to the 40-homer mark? Carlos asks Ben about this year’s Top 100 update process and the challenges of that so early in the season and the two then get into some of the big movers, including two pitchers trending down: Blue Jays lefthander Ricky Tiedemann and Padres righthander Dylan Lesko.  Next, the two talk about a few up-arrow pitchers who are doing big things at the big league level, including Mets righthander Christian Scott and Pirates righthander Jared Jones. That leads to a discussion about the Pirates farm system depth with arms and pitching strategy in general, as well as a bit more talk about Paul Skenes. Next, they get into a few more hitters who are on the rise or showing productive seasons so far in 2024 including: Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing, Mariners outfielder Lazaro Montes and A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson. That turns into a conversation about the Padres-Marlins Luis Arraez trade and the two disagree over whether or not the package was a compelling return for a player like Arraez. Finally, talk turns to power-hitting top prospects Junior Caminero, James Wood and Dylan Crews and how they’re viewing each of the three and why they aren’t too worried about Woods’ current lack of home run production.  The show closes with a mailbag segment, which includes questions about a Rays international prospect with size and power, a draft signing bonus logistics question, the differences between command and control and a question about lefthanders in the 2025 draft class. – Time Stamps (1:30) Charlie Condon (6:45) New Top 100 update (10:40) Ricky Tiedemann and Dylan Lesko (16:30) Christian Scott (20:30) Jared Jones (25:00) Pirates pitching strategy (34:00) Dalton Rushing (39:00) Lazaro Montes (46:00) Jacob Wilson (52:00) Luis Arraez Trade (1:06:00) Junior Caminero, James Wood & Dylan Crews (1:16:00) Mailbag – 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 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 34m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Baseball America’s Ben Badler and Carlos Collazo offer scout-level insight into all levels of baseball—everything from the amateur MLB Draft, international scouting, minor league prospects to the bigs. New episodes drop every week.

Information

  • Creator
    Baseball America
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2024
  • Episodes
    94
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Future Projection

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