College Podcast: Breaking Down The Top 25, Standout Opening Weekend Performances

In this crossover episode from Baseball America's "From Phenom To The Farm" podcast with Kyle Bandujo, actor and Gilmore Girls star Scott Patterson recalls the ups and downs of his original career spent as a minor league baseball player with the Braves, Yankees and Dodgers.Time Stamps(5:00) Being Drafted Three Times(15:00) Introduction to MiLB(19:40) Emphasis on Winning in 80s MiLB(29:25) Contract Negotiations with Hank Aaron(36:30) Trade to the Yankees(48:50) A Big League Call Up That Didn't Happen(59:45) Spring Training as a Rule 5 Pick(1:11:30) Starring in "Little Big League"Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Josh Norris and Geoff Pontes are taking an in-depth look at the Rangers farm system on the latest Baseball America Prospect Podcast Deep Dive.(00:00) Sebastian Walcott is No. 1. How much his injury affects his rankings.(04:00) Why the system is thinner than it was a year ago(08:00) Trades really have taken a toll(09:30) Who will be No. 1 a year from now, and who else has a chance to move up(13:45) What do the Rangers develop well?(18:00) Other prospects outside the Top 10 to knowRangers Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-texas-rangers-top-mlb-prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Geoff Pontes and Josh Norris take an in-depth look at the Yankees farm system on the latest of our Prospect Podcast Deep Dive series.(00:00) Why this system isn't very deep(02:20) George Lombard Jr. ranks No. 1. What stands out about him and who were the other contenders(08:20) How the system compares now to last year at this time(09:30) Looking at Carlos LaGrange and Elmer Rodriguez (13:25) Dax Kilby really stands out(15:20) Ben Hess is a name to know(17:00) What are the Yankees good at developing(19:00) The Spencer Jones conundrum(24:45) Other Yankees sleeper prospectsYankees Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2029-new-york-yankees/prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support 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, Carlos Collazo and Jacob Rudner talk about the first in-season Top 25 college rankings, top draft prospects getting started on their spring seasons and more.The Hot Sheet Show airs live on the BA YouTube channel every week on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Give us a sub, and we'll see you then!Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction(1:55) The debate for No. 1 in our Top 25 rankings(5:00) Carlos' trip to Texas & season-opening thoughts(12:20) Scouting Grady Emerson(15:45) Could someone challenge Roch Cholowsky for No. 1?(17:45) Scouting Sawyer Strosnider(21:30) Phillies agree to a deal with an 11-year-old?Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support 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 is joined by BA prospect writer Geoff Pontes to break down NCAA Division I college baseball opening weekend. Rudner and Pontes take a closer look at the debate for No. 1, analyze teams that impressed and discuss standout individual performances.(4:55) Please stream your games!(6:29) The No. 1 debate(15:29) TCU shows out in Arlington(20:22) Cam Johnson and Oklahoma impress(28:35) Texas impresses(34:13) NC State enters the rankings(35:45) Managing Texas A&M’s ranking(38:38) Could Jackson Flora be the top prospect in 2026?(44:41) Blaine Brown’s breakout(47:07) Lingering questions from opening weekendOur Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Last year, Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson helped the Athletics make a surprising second half run. Now the farm system has a lot of pitching on the way. Mark Chiarelli and JJ Cooper take an in-depth look at the A's farm system for the latest Prospect Podcast Deep Dive.(00:00) Leo De Vries gives this system a big boost (05:00) De Vries' strengths and weaknesses (10:00) How this system has changed over the past year (13:15) Looking at Jamie Arnold and Gage Jump (18:00) Wei-En Lin is another pitching prospect to remember (20:00) Who could rise up this list over the next year (26:45) What are the A's good at developing? (29:00) Other A's prospects to know outside the top 10 (33:00) Why the Athletics' pitching-heavy Top 30 lines up well with team needsA's Top 30: https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2015-athletics/prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mark Chiarelli and JJ Cooper are here for the latest Baseball America Prospect Podcast Deep Dive to talk all about the Pirates farm system. It's not only led by the No. 1 prospect in baseball, but it has a top four to envy.(00:00) Why Konnor Griffin stands at the top of the Top 100(10:00) How it was hard for the Pirates to put a temp fix at shortstop ahead of Griffin(14:00) Bubba Chandler is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball(16:10) Why Edward Florentino and Seth Hernandez could be the next wave(26:00) More Bubba talk (28:30) Can the Pirates produce hitters now?(31:30) Other prospects who could make an impact quickly(34:30) Other Pirates sleeper prospects to keep an eye onPirates Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-pittsburgh-pirates-top-mlb-prospects/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Baseball America Fantasy Podcast is back as host Geoff Pontes is joined by Ian Cundall. They dive into the Caleb Durbin trade and a laundry list of injuries. Lots of bad news broke for dynasty managers this week and we discuss all of it and search for buying opportunities. (3:00) Caleb Durbin Trade(14:00) Sebastian Walcott Elbow Surgery(18:00) Hamate Injuries To Francisco Lindor, Jackson Holliday and Corbin Carroll.(22:00) Spencer Schwellenbach Elbow Surgery(25:00) Jared Jones Added To The 60 Day IL(28:00) Jordan Westburg Injury(33:00) Zack Wheeler And Other Top Starters Not Ready For Opening DayOur Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In a special Future Projection cross-posted episode, Ben, Carlos and Jacob conduct the fourth annual amateur player draft. The name of the game is simple: select the most talented team you can among 2026 eligible draft prospects. Each drafter has to fill out a roster as follows: one catcher, two corner infielders, two middle infielders, three outfielders, four pitchers and one utility spot. Each player needs to have at least six high school players and at least six college players. Who had the best draft? Let us know what you think. —Time Stamps:(0:00) Intro(0:40) Draft explained(3:40) Draft beings(6:10) First pitcher selected(10:00) Jacob Lombard vs. Justin Lebron(11:50) First catcher off the board(18:00) Ben doubles down on outfielders(23:30) The first positional “debate”(29:35) Carlos continues to stack pitchers(32:40) Ben goes crazy for college players(42:05) Jacob gets an outfield bat he loves(58:00) Team by team draft summaries and takeawaysHELLO FRESH:Get 10 free meals and a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box at HelloFresh.com/FT10FM. Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as a discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan.Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Badler and JJ Cooper are taking an in-depth look at the Milwaukee Brewers farm system on the latest Prospect Podcast Deep Dive. This was already one of the best systems in baseball, and then the team added two more Top 100 Prospects in the Freddy Peralta trade.(00:00) Assessing where the Brewers are after the Peralta week's trade (05:00) Why Jesús Made was the clear and convincing No. 1 (10:00) Luis Peña is an excellent prospect in his own right (14:20) Why the Brewers' farm system stands out (19:30) The biggest wild card prospect in the Brewers' system (22:00) Who could rise up this list in the upcoming year? (25:00) What are the Brewers good at producing? (30:30) Sleeper prospects to know (37:00) The clever approach the Brewers have taken in the draftBrewers Top 30 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2030-milwaukee-brewers/prospects/?season=2026&ranking=preseasonBrewers 31-40 Prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/10-brewers-prospects-to-know-beyond-the-top-30-in-2026/The Brewers Clever Draft Strategy: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/how-the-brewers-exploited-a-draft-inefficiency-to-help-build-one-of-mlbs-top-systems/Our Sponsors:* Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy