Future Projection

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 draft-eligible 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 team 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 begins
(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 takeaways

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 answer listener questions about how bat tracking technology and athletic testing metrics have changed high school scouting, how multi-sport athletes are valued and where some of the top 2027 draft prospects would slot into the 2026 class. 
—
Time Stamps:
(0:30) How has technology like bat tracking and force plates changed high school scouting?
(14:20) Do multi-sport athletes project better than baseball-only players?
(23:05) Where would high-end 2027 draft prospects fit in the 2026 draft class?

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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations

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

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

Ben and Carlos talk through the new Baseball America farm system rankings. How close are the top teams and what separates them? Which farm systems are our picks to take big steps forward a year from now? After farm system talk, the two discuss the new Top 200 draft rankings for the 2026 class. 
—
Time Stamps:
(0:00) WBC excitement
(6:30) Updated farm system rankings
(9:00) Are the Pirates a clear No. 1 system?
(18:00) Cardinals vs. Brewers
(24:30) The Brewers case as No. 1
(29:00) Top-heavy Tigers
(36:00) Bias towards the orgs you’re familiar with
(44:20) Which teams are primed to step forward
(51:30) Updated draft board 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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations

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

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

Ben and Carlos take some questions from last week’s draft chat and expand on them in the podcast. The two discuss their favorite college pitchers in the class, talk about the questions with Jacob Lombard’s contact ability and also talk about the changes they would make to the MLB draft. 
—
Time Stamps:
(0:45) Our favorite college pitcher in the class
(9:55) Concerns with Jacob Lombard’s contact ability
(18:00) The changes we would make to the draft

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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations

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

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

Ben and Carlos talk briefly about the demographics and depth of the 2026 draft class, before getting into a conversation about high school recruiting and the power dynamics and changes in the space over the last few years. After that they break down some of the top PPI eligible prospects and discuss which players might be best-positioned to help their clubs add extra picks with strong 2026 performances. 
—
Time Stamps
(0:00) Intro
(3:00) The depth of the 2026 draft class
(6:00) Strength of the Southeast
(10:00) West coast colleges losing players
(17:00) Power conference recruiting factors
(21:00) The importance of high school recruiting
(23:00) The number of high school players signing
(31:00) PPI eligible player conversation

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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/future-projection-a-baseball-america-podcast/donations

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

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