CATEGORIES

SPIN TO WIN

A high-spin fastball paired with a high-spin breaking pitch has become baseball’s favorite combination as the game moves to a north-south polarity

‘We're In Dire Straits'

Minor League Baseball president paints bleak picture of minors’ future

SOMETHING BRUIN

Early struggles, mental toughness catapult UCLA’s Matt McLain to stardom

INTO THE ABYSS

Minor League Baseball grapples with lost 2020 season, perilous future

THE TRUTH

Rising high school senior Brady House draws lofty comparisons thanks to his hitting ability, impact power and single-minded determination

ONE GIANT STEP

San Francisco invited Marco Luciano to its summer camp, even though the 18-year-old shortstop had yet to appear in full-season ball

MAY THE BEST IDEAS WIN

Teams fear MLB decisions are quashing innovation

MANY PREPS SEE PROS OF GOING PRO

A record number of high school players signed as nondrafted free agents following the five-round 2020 draft

CAN PITCHERS THROW EVEN HARDER?

Today’s pitchers push the limits of what elbow ligaments and tendons can withstand

ATHLETE'S ADVANTAGE

Jack Flaherty didn’t so much possess big velocity in high school as he projected it. Today, the 24-year-old Cardinals ace is one of the hardest-throwing starters in baseball.

All In a Day's Work

Cristian Hernandez has to wait an additional six months to sign his first pro contract, but he will be ready

WELCOME TO LATIN AMERICA'S

To get a better sense for which players will star in Latin America’s golden age, we highlight the best 25-and-under talents from each country.

PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS

Teams prepare their best sales pitch during the wildest nondrafted free agent signing period ever

TURF TALK

Artificial surfaces are becoming more popular for defensive, developmental and maintenance reasons

MINOR MATTERS - IMPERFECT SCENARIO

A glimpse of what player development could look like this year in the summer of COVID

GLOBAL GAINS

As players from Latin America account for historically large shares of major league playing time, their impact on the game is clear

FILLING THE VOID

As restrictions ease, minor league teams find creative new ways to attract fans.

CREAM OF THE INTERNATIONAL CROP

The top 50 expected signing bonuses for international amateurs eligible to sign during the 2020-21 period

BANNER CLASS

The Twins’ 2009 international class helped form the core of two playoff teams in the past three seasons

SIGN OF THE TIMES

New draft rules hurt players, limit scouts and are a sign of coming minor league changes

THE NEW NORMAL

When Minor League Baseball resumes play, it will look nothing like it has in our lifetimes

ONE BIG DO-OVER

The NCAA Division I Council granted spring sports athletes an extra year of eligibility

MINOR LEAGUE MILESTONES

The top 12 most significant minor league achievements of the last 40 seasons

MAKING AN IMPACT

70-grade hitters and 70-grade power hitters are as elusive as one would expect in the draft

THIS LEFTY IS ALL RIGHT

Prodigious talent, meticulous work ethic propel Asa Lacy into draft

WILLING AND ABEL

Mick Abel put in the work to improve his physicality and repertoire. Now the Oregon prep righthander is aiming to buck draft history.

HIGH VOLTAGE

Spencer Torkelson sparked an Arizona State revival and showcased the type of power that could make him the first college first baseman ever drafted No. 1 overall

GRAND AMBITION

Allan Simpson’s vision for Baseball America—as the authority on the draft—perseveres after 40 years

FACT OR FICTION?

Early looks don’t always tell the whole story, but in 2020 that’s all scouts have. New information streams, combined with firsthand knowledge of players, now becomes paramount

Top 100 Prospects: A Wander-ful Number One

Wander Franco leads an eight-player contingent of Rays prospects.