Over my years working in baseball I have been lucky to develop a network of friends in the industry, who I often call on for insights, interviews, guidance, prospect ranking opinions, etc.

Many I consider good friends - like today’s guest, Jim Callis.

Back in the day I got to know Jim and John Manuel when they were an exceptional one-two punch of powerhouse analysts and writing talent for Baseball America. Bat them any way you want and they were the No. 3 and No. 4 hitters in a star-studded lineup.

Both were involved with adding me for several years to write the O’s top 30 prospects list of the Baseball America Prospect Handbook. It was a real honor to be involved with that project. And have my name in a book!

Back in the day Baseball America was mostly alone as a top national outlet covering prospects. Now the market is flooded everywhere you look.

But there is Callis, still going strong since 2013 for MLB.com and MLBPipeline.com. At a time when everybody and their brother has a prospects list, Callis still heads up the pack. Because he is still a No. 4 hitter. Talented, experienced, knowledgable, driven and passionate as ever.

You want to watch a master at work. Watch Jim and his colleagues cover the MLB Draft year after year for MLB Network and MLB.com. Whether it is the cream of the crop of prospects in round one, or some obscure Div. II pitcher taken in round 15, Callis has the scouting report and presents it in a concise, impressive way.

I marvel at how he does it every year.

I’m lucky to call him a friend and he never fails to take my call and help with any story. I mean never. He and I have done so many interviews I’ve lost count at just how many.

But this was our first-ever on a podcast and not just any podcast, but my new one, so this was special.

We discussed the O’s having six top 100 picks, we discussed if they will take a pitcher early on, we spent some time talking about draft models and some time looking at Jackson Holliday’s younger brother Ethan possibly going 1/1.

Enjoy my latest conversation with the great Jim Callis.

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