Ben and Carlos are joined by JJ Cooper for a hybrid Future Projection/draft podcast breaking down everything we know or are hearing about the top of the 2026 draft. We talk through possibilities and players for each team’s first pick, talk about org tendencies, system strengths and weaknesses and try to get a better understanding of how the draft could unfold to get you ready for draft day.

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Time Stamps:

• (2:30) White Sox
• (10:00) Rays
• (15:15) Twins
• (22:30) Giants
• (31:00) Pirates
• (40:20) Royals
• (44:30) Orioles
• (50:20) Athletics
• (54:20) Braves
• (59:30) Rockies
• (1:03:40) Nationals
• (1:08:30) Angels
• (1:12:00) Cardinals
• (1:15:10) Marlins
• (1:18:30) D-backs
• (1:21:30) Rangers
• (1:25:00) Astros
• (1:27:10) Reds
• (1:30:20) Guardians
• (1:33:30) Red Sox
• (1:38:40) Padres
• (1:43:20) Tigers
• (1:46:50) Cubs
• (1:50:20) Mariners
• (1:52:10) Brewers
• (1:54:50) Mets
• (1:57:10) Yankees
• (1:59:30) Phillies
• (2:01:00) Blue Jays
• (2:02:50) Dodgers

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Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a question? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com.

Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

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SEAT GEEK

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Ben and Carlos talk through MLB’s proposal to shake up the draft and the international talent acquisition system, working through ramifications for the game, player development, scouting and more.

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Time Stamps

• (0:15) Where have we been?
• (2:30) MLB’s player acquisition proposal
• (7:00) MLB’s dishonest messaging
• (9:00) Why high school players are more expensive to scout
• (13:00) Development in pro ball vs. college
• (16:40) This is always how MLB negotiates
• (22:30) Why MLB teams don’t want to compete with each other
• (25:00) The value of creating histories with players
• (29:00) Hypocrisy in the international market
• (33:30) Raising the signing age of international players
• (38:00) The shadow development system in Latin America
• (42:00) This felt like a misstep PR wise
• (45:00) Everyone loves the pick trading idea
• (50:50) Steroids and age issues in the international market
• (55:00) The pulse of international agents on the idea of a draft

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Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a question? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com.

Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website

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SEAT GEEK

Use our code for 10% off your next order of MLB tickets on SeatGeek*: seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount

Ben and Carlos talk about Baseball America’s new top 500 high school player ranking, as well the new star rating system we are unveiling to help further contextualize high school recruits. The two talk about what separates a five-star, four-star and three-star high school player and then talk through some of the top recruiting classes in the country. After that the two hit on a few notable Top 100 risers and the different ways that UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey ended their 2026 seasons.

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Time Stamps

• (2:30) Top 500 High School list and new star system ratings
• (7:30) Why the star system ranking is different from BA grades
• (11:40) What is a BA five-star recruit?
• (18:30) Four-star players are the backbone of premier recruiting classes
• (23:40) What does a three-star prospect entail?
• (29:00) How the star scale applies to underclassmen
• (32:55) The schools with the most exciting recruiting classes
• (40:40) Top 100 talk
• (41:00) Travis Bazzana
• (44:00) Ryan Sloan
• (46:30) Ethan Salas
• (49:30) Theo Gillen
• (51:30) Mike Sirota
• (55:10) Luis Hernandez
• (56:50) Alfredo Duno
• (59:00) Roch Cholowsky vs. Vahn Lackey

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Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a question? Email us: futureprojection@baseballamerica.com.

Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod

Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler

Carlos's Twitter: @CarlosACollazo

Baseball America Website