MLB Pipeline

Find out about the stars of tomorrow, from the guys who know today. Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) and Jonathan Mayo (@JonathanMayo) are your tour guides for this ride through the unfolding stories & breaking news in Minor League Baseball. From top prospects to scouting executives to farm directors, the MLB Pipeline is jam-packed with exclusive coverage of the minors you can't get anywhere else.

Sports
Baseball
226
Breaking down the return of baseball and the im...
  On this week’s Pipeline Podcast, Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Jason Ratliff discuss the announcement of a return to baseball and how it might impact prospects and player development, they look at the top performers in the PG National Showcase and break down the recent look at the top farm systems based on talent at catcher. The podcast concludes with Jonathan’s interview with Mariners prospect Julio Rodriguez.
55 min
227
2020 MLB Draft Recap: What team got the best ha...
Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Jason Ratliff reconvene for the first post-Draft Pipeline Podcast to break down their favorite picks and the most surprising selections from the Draft. They also discussed which teams had the best Draft hauls, previewed an upcoming story about each team’s first pick from the 2017 Draft, looked ahead at the 2021 Draft class and finished with a discussion about the non-drafted free agent landscape this summer.
51 min
228
Predicting the top of the 2020 Draft, "Tools-Tw...
Just days before the Draft, the Pipeline Podcast crew – Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Jason Ratliff – assembled to talk about the upcoming Draft broadcast, discuss the top of the Draft, particularly Spencer Torkelson, and broke down “tools twins,” looking at current Draft prospects and how they compared grades-wise to draftees in years past. Jason then sprung a pop Draft quiz on Jim and Jonathan before Jim’s interview with top high school prospect Zac Veen.
55 min
229
Latest buzz surrounding the 2020 Draft, the sco...
Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo discuss the best Draft classes of all time, the unsual scouting story of Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon and the latest buzz surrounding the first round of this year’s Draft. Jim then talks to University of Minnesota right-hander Max Meyer, who most project to be a top 10 pick.
54 min
230
Breaking down best draft classes and an intervi...
On this week’s Pipeline Podcast, Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Jason Ratliff dig into Draft history and talk about some of the best Draft classes for teams over the years as well as a look at how the 2010 Draft should’ve have gone with some hindsight. They also look at the top two-way Draft prospects, past and present before discussing the most recent mock draft buzz. Texas A&M lefty Asa Lacy, considered to be the top pitching prospect in the class, chats with Jim to close out the pod.
64 min
231
Top 200 Draft prospects, latest mock, best OF p...
On this week’s Pipeline Podcast, Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Jason Ratliff discuss the new Top 200 Draft Prospects list, some of the most intriguing players from the 150-200 range and some similarly ranked players from recent Drafts who have become early picks. They also look at Jim’s latest mock draft and each team’s best outfield prospect of the past 20 years.
48 min
232
No. 1 pick: Spencer Torkelson vs. Austin Martin...
On this week’s Pipeline Podcast, Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Jason Ratliff discussed what scouting execs had to say about whether Spencer Torkelson or Austin Martin should be the No. 1 Draft pick, identified the best small-school Draft prospects, past and present, and played the tools comp game, looking at current and past Draft prospects.
51 min
233
Breaking down International Prospect List and 2...
Jason Ratliff, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo are joined by Jesse Sanchez to break down his newly released Top 30 International Prospects list, led by Yoelqui Cespedes. Then the trio turned their attention to the Draft, which now looks like it will take place on June 10 and analyzed Jonathan's first mock draft of the first round.  
54 min
234
Breaking down the new Top 150 Draft Prospects a...
Jason Ratliff, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo break down the new Draft Top 150 prospects rankings and also take a look at the best shortstop prospects over the past 20 years.
55 min
235
Callis and Mayo's Top 20 Picks
On this week’s Pipeline Podcast, Jason Ratliff, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo dive into the 2020 Draft as they work on their Draft rankings. Jim and Jonathan did a self-draft, taking turns for the top 20 picks based on who they would want, not what they think teams will do.
50 min
236
Analyzing Pipeline Prospect Quizzes; Vlad Jr. v...
On this week’s Pipeline Podcast, Jason Ratliff, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo talk about the Pipeline Prospect quiz and how they did in naming the top prospect from each organization. Speaking of prospect quizzes, the trio dove into Jim’s story comparing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Wander Franco, and what scouts in the industry had to say about the duo. They also looked at the top second base prospects for each team and teased Jonathan’s story about ranking the No. 1 prospects from over the years of MLB.com rankings (2004-2020).
52 min
237
Breaking down the "expert drafts" and top first...
Jason Ratliff, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo are joined by Pipeline colleague Mike Rosenbaum to discuss the “experts draft” they held. They also talked about the top first base prospects for each organization and the terrific series about scouts by Alexis Brudnicki before closing out with Jonathan’s interview with Twins prospect Royce Lewis.
50 min
238
The '20 Draft, all-time prospect teams, compari...
Jason Ratliff, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo talk about the new deal for the MLB Draft, while also disussing Jim and Jonathan’s all-time all-prospect teams, MLB Pipeline’s picks for best catching prospects for each team this century and how their Top 100 measures up when compared to other Top 100 prospects lists put out by colleagues and competitors.
49 min
239
Prospects who will be creating buzz in 2022
On today’s Pipeline Podcast, Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Jason Ratliff look ahead to 2022 and some prospects who will be generating buzz a couple years down the road. They discuss a big recent international signing (Yhoswar Garcia with the Phillies) and the news that Yoenis Cespedes’ younger brother Yoelqui is now on the market. They also consider how the coronavirus and the suspension of the season could impact the Draft.
39 min
240
Breaking down the Top 30 prospects for each club
Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis break down the new Top 30 farm system rankings, talk about their favorite guys who just missed the top 30 team rankings list and discuss their favorite parts of traveling around the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues.
37 min
241
Prospects in Spring Training to get excited about
MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis (@JimCallisMLB) and Jonathan Mayo (@jonathanmayo), as well as Jordan Shusterman of @CespedesBBQ, discuss which prospects they are most looking forward to seeing in Spring Training, especially ones that they haven’t seen before, including Yankees OF Jasson Dominguez and Giants SS Marco Luciano, among others. Then, they review which prospects in big league camp they are most intrigued to see compete for a job, including Blue Jays RHP Nate Pearson, Astros RHP Forrest Whitley, Twins SS Royce Lewis, Angels OF Jo Adell, and D-backs C Daulton Varsho.
24 min
242
Reviewing the real Mookie Betts trade, the fast...
MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis (@JimCallisMLB) and Jonathan Mayo (@jonathanmayo), as well as Jordan Shusterman of @CespedesBBQ, discuss the finalized deal between the Dodgers and Red Sox that sent Mookie Betts west and netted Boston prospects Jeter Downs and Connor Wong. Then they review the deal that sent Brusdar Graterol to the Dodgers and the Minor Leaguers involved in that trade, Luke Raley and Jair Camargo. Next, they debate which of the 30 prospects listed as the faster players in each organization is actually the definitive fastest. Finally, they review the best fastballs in the Minor Leagues.
31 min
243
Mookie Betts trade reaction and intriguing clos...
MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis (@JimCallisMLB) and Jonathan Mayo (@jonathanmayo), as well as Jordan Shusterman of @CespedesBBQ, discuss the reported trade between the Red Sox, Dodgers and Twins that is sending Mookie Betts to LA. They also touch on the reported trade that is sending Joc Pederson from the Dodgers to the Angels, and the interesting young OF prospect Andy Pages that is expected to be involved. Finally, they review three young pitching prospects who were not quite on the Top 100 list but could be with a strong 2020: White Sox RHP Jonathan Stiever, Twins RHP Jhoan Duran and Rockies LHP Ryan Rolison. 
32 min
244
New Top 100 List Discussion and Starling Marte ...
MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis (@JimCallisMLB) and Jonathan Mayo (@jonathanmayo), as well as Jordan Shusterman of @CespedesBBQ, discuss the 2020 Top 100 prospect list and the process behind how the list gets put together, including: why Wander Franco was the unanimous no. 1 overall prospect; the most likely candidates to be no. 1 on the 2021 list; where the 2019 Draft class slotted into the list; which Brewers prospect was closest to cracking to the Top 100; which team’s group of Top 100 prospects is most intriguing; comparing Yankees RHP prospects Clarke Schmidt and Deivi Garcia; and more! Finally, they touch on this week’s trade between the Pirates and D-backs which netted Pittsburgh two very young high-upside prospects, SS Liover Peguero and RHP Brennan Malone.
42 min
245
Reviewing the Top 10 2B, SS, 3B, and OF Lists
MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis (@JimCallisMLB) and Jonathan Mayo (@jonathanmayo), as well as Jordan Shusterman of @CespedesBBQ, discuss the last four Top 10 positional lists in the lead-up to the reveal of the 2020 Top 100 prospects. First, they discuss the 2B list and the nature of putting together a list of the best prospects at a position that is rarely a player’s first choice, Nick Solak’s strong MLB Debut and the upside of Aaron Bracho. Next, they slide across the diamond and cover the shortstops, including many of the highest-ceiling prospects in the Minors. But which of them is most likely to actually stay at shortstop long-term? Then, they discuss the top third base prospects in baseball, why the top half of the list could go in any order and why Bobby Dalbec might be a bit underrated. Finally, they review the top outfield prospects, the deepest position on the new Top 100, and which players not currently on the Top 10 list could comfortably be included this time next year.
39 min
246
Reviewing the Top 10 RHP, LHP, C and 1B Lists
MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis (@JimCallisMLB) and Jordan Shusterman of @CespedesBBQ review the first four positional Top 10 lists. First, they discuss the Top 10 right-handed pitchers list, including Spencer Howard’s breakout, comparing Casey Mize and Nate Pearson and the right-handers that just barely missed the list, like Logan Gilbert. Then they move to the southpaws, covering Tarik Skubal’s meteoric rise, recently traded Matthew Liberatore and the hard-throwing Brailyn Marquez. Next, they delve into the top catching prospects in baseball, including Francisco Alvarez’s aggressive ranking, Sam Huff’s Futures Game-driven breakout, Daulton Varsho’s ranking and why Tyler Stephenson just missed. Finally, they check in on the top first base prospects in the game, including Andrew Vaughn being in his own tier, Triston Casas’ development and the Rockies having three players on one positional list.
51 min
247
Angels OF prospects Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh...
From the 2020 Rookie Program in Miami, MLB Pipeline's Jonathan Mayo (@jonathanmayo) and Jordan Shusterman of @CespedesBBQ are joined by two pairs of prospect friends. First, they sit down with Angels OF prospects Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh to discuss the first time they played each other in high school, what they like most about each other’s games and the likely possibility of soon joining Mike Trout in the Anaheim outfield. Then, they are joined by Padres OF Taylor Trammell and Reds C Tyler Stephenson to discuss their longtime friendship dating back to their high school days in Atlanta, playing together in the Reds system, the drama surrounding Trammell’s trade to San Diego, how much they still keep in touch despite no longer being in the same organization and reliving Trammell’s unique Futures Game experiences.
34 min
248
Kluber for Clase trade, 2020 Draft fun facts, a...
MLB Pipeline's Jonathan Mayo (@jonathanmayo) and Jordan Shusterman of @CespedesBBQ discuss RHP Sterling Sharp being selected in the Rule 5 Draft, the many sides of the Corey Kluber to Texas trade (especially former Rule 5 pick Delino DeShields Jr.), some of the best fun facts about the top of the 2020 Draft class, and conclude the final Pipeline pod of 2019 with one prospect wish for the 2020 season, both of which involve outfield prospects in the AL West.
33 min
249
The Draft goes to Omaha, prospects on the move ...
MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis (@JimCallisMLB) and Jonathan Mayo (@jonathanmayo), as well as Jordan Shusterman of @CespedesBBQ discuss the news that the MLB Draft will be moving to Omaha, the site of the College World Series, and how that will change the way the Draft looks and feels for the better. Next, they discuss the latest Hot Stove trades involving prospects, including the Padres/Rays trade, the Angels/Orioles trade, the Angels/Giants trade, and the White Sox/Rangers trade. Finally, they discuss the Rule 5 Draft and how the new 26-man roster could affect teams’ motivation to select players.
26 min
250
A fresh 2020 Draft Top 100 and reacting to the ...
MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis (@JimCallisMLB) and Jonathan Mayo (@jonathanmayo), as well as Jordan Shusterman of @CespedesBBQ discuss the latest edition of the Top 100 Draft prospects for the 2020 Draft. They review the clear top tier of RHP Emerson Hancock, 1B Spencer Torkelson, and SS Austin Martin; the strengths (college pitching) and weaknesses (high school position players) of the class, the guys in the 50-100 range who could rise in the spring, the Draft stock of Blaze Jordan, and more. Finally, they touch on last week’s trade between San Diego and Milwaukee which saw two recently graduated prospects, Trent Grisham and Luis Urias, change teams.
40 min