College Podcast: Who Will Be Preseason No. 1?

On the second of our Prospect Deep Dives, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper take a look at the Chicago Cubs farm system. It's perfect timing, as we get a chance to analyze the Cubs-Marlins Edward Cabrera/Owen Caissie trade.(01:00) Analyzing the Edward Cabrera trade. What did the Cubs give up?(09:00) No. 1 prospect Moises Ballesteros. How tough was the choice and who were the other candidates?(13:00) Comparing the Cubs system now to where it was a year ago.(16:00) Who do we think will be the No. 1 prospect a year from now?(25:00) What do the Cubs do well in development?(29:45) Are the Cubs in danger of having prospects go stale?(43:30) This system is thin on pitchersOur Sponsors:* Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper are back to start our series of 30 MLB Farm System Deep Dives. We are beginning with the Cincinnati Reds, a team that has produced a lot of pitching, plus Elly De La Cruz, in recent years. What does the farm system have in store for 2026 and beyond?(02:00) Who is No. 1 and how easy was that choice?(10:25) How is this system better/worse than last year?(17:00) Who do we project to be No. 1 next year?(21:10) What are the Reds good at developing?(25:30) Diving deeper into how the Reds have succeeded at developing pitching prospects.Links: Reds Top Prospects:https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2006-cincinnati-reds/prospects/?season=2026&ranking=preseasonSal Stewart's throwing issues:https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/sal-stewart-can-really-hit-but-throwing-is-a-problem/Our Sponsors:* Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Baseball America national college reporter Jacob Rudner and national writer Peter Flaherty examine the resumes of the top contenders for preseason No. 1 with the college baseball season nearing. Rudner and Flaherty also break down the rise of the Big 12 and the ACC's race against the SEC.(1:36) Peter Flaherty's personal news(4:41) UCLA's case for No. 1(18:24) Can LSU repeat as champions in 2026?(31:02) The state of the Big 12(41:26) How the ACC is working to challenge the SEC(49:07) Two college players who excite us heading into 2026Our Sponsors:* Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Ben Badler and Scott Braun discuss a number of topics, including the potential for an Edward Cabrera trade in Miami, Ben's latest international bonus board update and BA Hall of Fame ballots.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction (1:20) Edward Cabrera on the move from Miami? (8:00) Ben's latest international bonus board grows to 50 players (10:45) How did Wandy Asigen flip from the Yankees to Mets? (12:30) How might the turmoil in Venezuela affect signings? (14:30) Lack of pitching on the bonus board (17:00) Where would Roch Cholowsky rank in the White Sox system? (19:00) J.J. and Ben's Hall of Fame ballots (23:50) Could the White Sox go underslot at 1-1?Our Sponsors:* Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy