Ben and Carlos talk about the latest trend in bat technology and whether or not people need to be concerned about “torpedo bats,” then get into a few high-profile prep pitchers in the 2025 class. First, is this the year that we have a high school righthander taken with the first overall pick? California righthander Seth Hernandez might have a chance to make history. Meanwhile Illinois lefthander Jack Bauer already has, by touching 102 mph as a high schooler and joining a miniscule group of prep flamethrowers. 

The two also talk through contract extensions for Kristian Campbell and Garrett Crochet with the Red Sox, and Jackson Merrill with the Padres. They then continue to wonder when Roman Anthony will get his deserved big league callup. 

—

Time Stamps

• (0:00) Torpedo bats
• (18:00) Seth Hernandez’s 1-1 case
• (38:00) Jack Bauer’s unprecedented velocity
• (51:00) Extension talk

Do you have a question or feedback for the show? Email us: [email protected]  

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

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Ben and Carlos talk through MLB opening day and offer their predictions for the 2025 season. After that the two talk about Baseball Savant’s new batting stance data and wonder what teams and players can do with it. They examine PPI eligible players this year and then take a handful of listener questions. 

Time Stamps

• (0:00) MLB opening day talk
• (6:00) AL East
• (10:00) AL Central
• (16:00) AL West
• (20:00) Thoughts on Cam Smith
• (25:00) NL East
• (30:00) NL Central
• (35:30) NL West 
• (43:00) Crystal Ball Questions
• (1:16:20) Baseball Savant batting stance data
• (1:29:00) PPI Eligible players
• (1:35:00) Listener questions

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Ben and Carlos talk about how the top of the composition of the 2025 draft class compares with 2024. The two discuss Coby Mayo’s comments about being reassigned to Triple-A Norfolk for what will be his third year at the level. The bulk of the show is spent on a discussion about “scouting the scouts.” What’s the value? What are the risks associated with it forming or changing your own opinions on players? They then talk about a listener question regarding technology’s impact on scouting. 

—

Time Stamps

• (0:00) Housekeeping on the 2025 draft rankings process
• (5:30) This year’s HS shortstops compared to Konnor Griffin
• (7:30) Jamie Arnold vs. Hagen Smith vs. Chase Burns
• (10:00) The composition of the top of the draft
• (17:00) Coby Mayo
• (28:40) Scouting the scouts
• (47:00) How much has technology changed the game?

Do you have a question or feedback for the show? Email us: [email protected]  

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

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Ben and Carlos chat about their expectations for the Red Sox in 2025 and how quickly the big three trio of Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell will be integrated. After that the two discuss Jackson Jobe’s experiments with two new pitches this spring and talk about narrow and deep pitch arsenals. They talk about first-round draft names moving in opposite directions: Tennessee lefthander Liam Doyle and Texas A&M outfielder Jace Laviolette. After that the two talk about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $500 million contract pursuit and answer a handful of listener questions. 

—

Time Stamps

• (2:00) Red Sox trio going off
• (13:40) AL East competition
• (15:00) Jackson Jobe’s developing pitch mix
• (22:00) Liam Doyle
• (39:30) Jace Laviolette
• (54:00) Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• (1:05:00) Listener mailbag

Do you have a question or feedback for the show? Email us: [email protected]  

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

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Ben and Carlos follow up on last episode’s conversation on the ABS system and how players and coaches are taking it so far. The two then talk about the spring breakout rosters being released before pivoting into Ben’s recent trip to the Dominican Republic to scout 'em up. 

After that, the two talk about a handful of prospects who are making noise in spring training, including the Yankees duo of George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones, plus our first pro look at flamethrowing righthander Chase Burns.

Finally the two talk about the wide open nature of the top of the 2025 draft class, talk through a few of their current favorites for the first overall pick (plus a few dark horse options) and then take listener questions. 

—

Time Stamps

• (0:00) ABS follow up
• (12:00) Spring breakout series
• (15:00) Ben’s trip to the DR
• (37:00) George Lombard Jr.
• (44:00) A Spencer Jones swing change
• (51:30) Chase Burns
• (1:01:00) The 1-1 race in the draft
• (1:25:00) Ben’s dark horse pick
• (1:33:00) Listener questions

Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: [email protected]  

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

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Ben and Carlos talk about the opening weekend of college baseball and get into a discussion of what they are looking for in these early season looks? What’s impactful and valuable in terms of evaluating a player’s overall profile and projecting them for the future? Why is it easier to have quicker takeaway from pitchers? What are the useful leading indicators to be aware of? And why are we so interested in body composition and mechanics? 

All that plus an early preview of a loaded 2026 high school player class and some fun discussing gripes and critiques of baseball broadcasts.

—

Time Stamps:

• (0:00) Hot EV college baseball environment
• (6:10) What do you take away from opening weekend?
• (12:00) Why you can pick up on pitcher changes quicker
• (13:00) Tennessee LHP Liam Doyle’s jump in stuff
• (16:00) What is early season signal vs. noise?
• (21:00) Why do hitters take longer to figure out?
• (26:00) Why we don’t care about early results
• (31:30) What we’re watching for with defense
• (40:00) Seeing players to ask better questions
• (57:30) MLB spring training ABS system thoughts
• (1:02:00) Broadcast gripes & critiques
• (1:18:00) Previewing the loaded 2026 prep class

Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: [email protected]  

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

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Ben and Carlos are joined by Baseball America national college writer Jacob Rudner for our third annual amateur player draft. The game is simple: among 2025 eligible players each writer attempts to put together the best roster of players including one catcher, two corner infielders, two middle infielders, three outfielders, four pitchers and one utility spot. 

The three draft their teams and talk about the players, the strategy, the strengths and weaknesses of the class and more to celebrate the opening day of college baseball. 

—

Time Stamps:

• (0:00) Welcoming Jacob and overview of the draft rules
• (4:30) Draft starts
• (12:40) Ben takes a famous prepster
• (20:00) A well-rounded college outfielder
• (21:00) The best pure hitter in the class?
• (27:30) Catchers starting to fly off the board
• (31:10) Ben finally takes a pitcher
• (36:40) A tweener SEC infielder
• (42:40) Back-to-back college mashers
• (48:20) Ben tackles the prep pitching demographic
• (58:00) Jacob grabs a big power prep bat
• (1:05:20) Questions about the second and third tier arms
• (1:12:30) Full team rundowns & draft thoughts

Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: [email protected]  

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Jacob's Twitter: @JacobRudner

Baseball America Website

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With Baseball America’s 2025 prospect lists updated ahead of the season, Ben and Carlos pick breakout players they're excited about for each of the 15 American League teams.

—

Time Stamps:

• (0:00) Farm system talent rankings
• (11:00) Astros 
• (16:45) Mariners
• (22:25) Rangers
• (27:11) Athletics
• (31:40) Angels 
• (36:45) Guardians
• (41:00) Tigers
• (45:30) Royals
• (50:45) Twins
• (54:45) White Sox
• (1:00:00) Yankees
• (1:06:03) Orioles
• (1:10:10) Red Sox
• (1:15:00) Rays 
• (1:21:30) Blue Jays

Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: [email protected]  

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

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With Baseball America’s 2025 prospect lists updated ahead of the season, Ben and Carlos pick breakout players they're excited about for each of the 15 National League teams.

—

Time Stamps:

• (5:00) Dodgers 
• (9:45) Padres 
• (13:45) Diamondbacks 
• (17:30) Giants 
• (22:12) Rockies 
• (27:15) Brewers 
• (32:15) Cubs 
• (33:15) Cardinals 
• (41:00) Reds 
• (45:20) Pirates 
• (49:50) Phillies 
• (54:07) Braves
• (58:20) Mets 
• (1:03:30) Nationals 
• (1:06:45) Marlins 

Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: [email protected]  

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

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Ben and Carlos work through the updated 2025 Top 100 Prospects List and talk through players in each bucket of the list. Who are they “buying and selling” in each of the tiers of prospects? After working through the list the two talk about a few players who just missed but could easily be on and then take a few listener questions including: the most polarizing players, thoughts on PPI eligibility and the best places in the country to live for baseball watching.

—

Time Stamps

• (1:30) Kristian Campbell
• (10:50) Dylan Crews 
• (13:00) Concerns for Andrew Painter
• (18:00) Thoughts on the talent of the top 20
• (20:00) Buys: Jesus Made, Marcelo Mayer, Leo De Vries
• (23:11) Sells: Carson Williams, Kumar Rocker
• (26:15) Buys: Travis Bazzana, Sebastian Walcott
• (30:30) Sells: Coby Mayo, Chase Burns
• (32:00) Buys: Jaison Chourio, Ethan Salas
• (37:30) Sell: Colson Montgomery
• (40:30) Buys: Chase DeLauter, Charlie Condon
• (43:20) Sells: Cooper Pratt, Jacob Misiorowski
• (49:30) Buys: Zyhir Hope, Drake Baldwin
• (52:40) Sells: Bryce Rainer, Konnor Griffin
• (55:30) Buys: Brayden Taylor, Moises Ballesteros
• (59:20) Sells: Moises Ballesteros, Thayron Liranzo
• (1:03:40) Buys: Franklin Arias, Blake Mitchell
• (1:06:45) Sells: Blake Mitchell, Tre’ Morgan
• (1:12:15) Back of the list conversation
• (1:19:00) Polarizing prospects
• (1:23:30) Thoughts on Top 100s influencing PPI eligibility 
• (1:25:30) Best places to live for baseball

Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us: [email protected]  

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

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