Future Projection

Ben and Carlos give their final thoughts on an epic World Baseball Classic, then turn their eyes towards prospects and spring training. The two talk about some of the top hitters who have played well this spring, plus a couple of notable pitching prospects who might have made key additions to their arsenals for 2026.
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Time Stamps:
(0:30) Final WBC talk
(8:45) Spring training talk
(14:20) Jesus Made
(18:30) Colt Emerson
(27:00) Bryce Eldridge
(30:40) Samuel Basallo
(33:50) Charlie Condon 
(50:00) Joshua Baez
(53:00) Braden Montgomery
(55:00) Sam Antonacci
(57:40) Hagen Smith
(1:00:45) Didier Fuentes

Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a  question? Email us: [email protected].
Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod
Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler
Carlos's Newsletter: Fringe Average
Baseball America Website

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Ben and Carlos break open the listener mailbag and answer questions on a trio of young Cardinals shortstops, why Brady Harris might be slipping in the draft and how his risk and upside compares to Kevin Roberts Jr., whether or not Elian Pena has a chance to be a top 25 prospect and what changes we would make to the draft broadcast. 
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Time Stamps:
(1:20) Can you compare and contrast Yairo Padilla, Miguel Hernandez & Sebastian Dos Santos?
(6:50) Why is Brady Harris slipping and how does his risk compare to Kevin Roberts Jr.?
(13:10) Will Mets SS Elian Pena be a top 25 prospect this time next year?
(16:15) What changes would you guys make to the draft presentation?

Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a  question? Email us: [email protected].
Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod
Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler
Carlos's Newsletter: Fringe Average
Baseball America Website

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben and Carlos talk about the World Baseball Classic and the drama surrounding team USA. After that, they compare and contrast some of the top college outfielders in the 2026 draft class. Why is Ben so high on Virginia’s AJ Gracia? And why can Carlos not quit on LSU’s Derek Curiel? Those two, plus thoughts on Sawyer Strosnider and Drew Burress—plus a few comments on his Georgia Tech teammate Vahn Lackey skyrocketing with more power this spring. 
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Time Stamps:
(2:00) A valid Team USA critique and a non-valid critique
(18:30) College outfield talk begins
(21:00) AJ Gracia
(25:00) Sawyer Strosnider
(30:00) Derek Curiel
(38:30) How would we line up the outfield group?
(45:00) Thoughts on Georgia Tech’s Vahn Lackey

Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a question? Email us: [email protected].
Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod
Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler
Carlos's Newsletter: Fringe Average
Baseball America Website

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben and Carlos answer listener questions about how we know when to re-adjust expectations for prospects and the difference in value between center fielders and shortstops.
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Time Stamps:
(3:00) How do you know if a player is hitting a high percentile outcome vs. adjusting possible expectations?
(8:00) Why it’s hard to deal with specific percentile projections
(16:00) Why approach changes are incremental
(18:00) Being skeptical of surface level results with no process changes
(25:00) How much more do teams value shortstops vs. center fielders?

Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a  question? Email us: [email protected].
Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod
Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler
Carlos's Newsletter: Fringe Average
Baseball America Website

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben and Carlos talk about a double first base bag dilemma that surfaced in college baseball, then get into some spring training prospect talk. Should Kevin McGonigle and JJ Wetherholt make opening day rosters? Is Orioles outfielder Vance Honeycutt starting to figure something out? They talk about other names like Payton Tolle and Connelly Early, Charlie Condon, Sam Antonacci, Justin Crawford, JR Ritchie and then get into some brief week three college baseball and draft talk. 
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Time stamps:
(0:30) A college double first base bag dilemma
(10:00) Spring training talk
(14:15) Does Kevin McGonigle make the opening day roster?
(20:50) JJ Wetherholt and the Cardinals
(25:40) The looming CBA negotiations
(29:00) The merits of a college baseball system
(31:30) Is Vance Honeycutt figuring it out?
(36:15) Red Sox lefties Payton Tolle & Connelly Early
(39:20) Charlie Condon
(46:15) Sam Antonacci
(51:50) Justin Crawford
(55:55) JR Ritchie
(59:00) Week three draft talk

Do you have feedback for the show or want to ask us a  question? Email us: [email protected].
Future Projection Twitter: @FutureProPod
Ben's Twitter: @BenBadler
Carlos's Newsletter: Fringe Average
Baseball America Website

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy