Thanks!

Down on the Farm Podcast 4/21/26: A Pair of Twins, Just Don't Swing, Slap-Happy Path to Stardom Listen now | Walker Jenkins' weird start, what Emmanuel Rodriguez can learn from a 2026 breakout star, and why MiLB soft hitters are better than you (and others) think.

Why we aren't concerned about Walker Jenkins, why Emmanuel Rodriguez could be the next Murakami, and why MiLB slap-hitters are underrated... all on deck for this week's podcast! Check it out below:

Player card for Pedro Ramirez, an infielder (2B/3B) in the Chicago Cubs system, ranked #82 overall and #5 in the organization. Left panel shows relative stats vs. league average: strong development speed (1.41), contact (1.44), and strikeout avoidance (1.09); below-average discipline (-0.64) and lift (-0.58); modest gap power (0.44) and home run power (0.30). Right panel displays career outcome probabilities: 56% contributor, 40% regular, 10% star, with most outcomes clustered around 1–2 WAR per season. A confidence meter at the bottom is high. Comparison listed: Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2017).

With his eye-popping EV numbers and solid contact, Ramirez has evolved into a powerhouse in 2026! His "streak odds" now far exceed his current projections, and his Savant data is all dark red! One to watch, and should be claimed in all minor league heavy fantasy formats!

A solid pick for sure! C can have weird dev paths, but his bat is as good as it gets at this level.

Rainiel Rodriguez, catcher for St. Louis, ranked #6 overall and the #1 Cardinals prospect. Headshot centered at top. Right side lists outcome probabilities: 94% chance to become a contributor, 93% regular, and 89% star. Left panel shows relative stats vs. league average (in standard deviations): elite home run power (3.06), strong development speed (1.74) and lift (1.39), around average avoid strikeouts (0.96), with lower marks in discipline (0.78), contact (0.70), and gap power (0.57). Right panel displays a distribution of prime WAR outcomes, with high probabilities clustered between 1–3 WAR and tapering beyond 4–5 WAR. Confidence meter shown near the bottom. Player comparison listed as Christian Vázquez (2011).

He has been forgotten about a bit in favor of closer to the show prospect buzz, but Rodriguez has had a splendid start to 2026! The power is still there, the Ks low, and he continues to pull and lift, making the most of his power. He's our #6 guy for a reason!

Loved being on, and we had a great time!

Rates & Barrels: A show about fantasy baseball: Fernando Tatis Jr. is Playing Second Base?! Eno and DVR look back on an exciting and unexpected weekend with two Padres walk-off home runs, as well as a surprising position switch with Fernando Tatis Jr. moving to second base -- for two game...

If you're looking for deep league prospect sleepers, @downonthefarm.bsky.social joined @enosarris.bsky.social & I on our Monday episode!

Really good stuff if you're in a dynasty league with sickos and need to be far ahead of your league mates!

🎧 pod.fo/e/3fd5be
📺 www.youtube.com/c/RatesBarrels

Fernando Tatis Jr. is Playing Second Base?! (Full Episode) YouTube video by Rates & Barrels

Super pumped to share our appearance on Rates and Barrels! We shared some sleeper prospects with @enosarris.bsky.social and Derek VanRiper, talked about Noah Schultz's call-up and fantasy impact, and correctly spelled Jadher Areinamo's name on air.

Catch the pod!

Another Oriole Backstop Taking Flight? Weekly Pearls MiLB Week 3 Our take on the top hitting performances of the past week

This week's roundup highlights an Orioles catcher (no, not that one, or the other one), a red-hot slap-hitting second baseman, a catching contact maven, and a pair of Oyster skeptical OF prospects. Who impressed you this week?

Power Ranking MLB Starting Lineups with 100 Simulated Seasons What are the most fearsome offenses in an Oyster-simulated MLB?

The Oyster Simulator returns! Today, we break down the current lineups of all 30 MLB teams. Who's elite, who needs some things to go right, and who is far away from competing? Also, which prospects can help each team's cause in the short term?

Had an awesome time talking ABS with @sportsinfosolutions.com and @marksimon.bsky.social! Check out the pod, and the rest of their work!

We are super high on Brito! He's got real gap power (as seen below), which helps compensate for a lack of top-end juice. Injuries kept him down last year, but he has hit at every level! Another impact Guardians' prospect?

Down on the Farm Podcast: Red Hot Tibbs, Oyster Pearls Surface Listen now | An all-time heater, Baseball America's top 100 adds, and why rookies are fantasy wild cards

Check out episode two of our revamped Down on the Farm Podcast! We talk James Tibbs, Luis Lara, Michael Arroyo, and more as we break down MiLB's top performances. Tune in below!

Weekly Pearls, MiLB Week 2 Our take on the top hitting performances of the past week

Five-HR man James Tibbs is our hottest prospect of the week! We talk about his breakout and more in this week's "Daily Pearls" article!

Luis Lara (MIL) prospect card. Ranked #31 overall and #5 in the Brewers system. Relative stats (standard deviations from league average): Dev Speed +1.93, Discipline +0.85, Avoid K +1.11, Contact +0.31, Gap Power +0.60, Home Run Power -1.12, Lift -0.95. Strengths are bat-to-ball skills, approach, and development trajectory; weaknesses are limited power and lift. Career outcome probabilities: 87% contributor, 87% regular, 44% star. Distribution shows high likelihood of low-to-mid WAR outcomes with a smaller but real chance at 3+ WAR peak seasons. Comp listed as Rafael Ortega (2013). Confidence meter is high.

We seemed a bit crazy at the time for putting Lara in our top 40, but he's started off 2026 red hot! He's added a touch of HR power to elevate his strong, all-around game. He's still banging out tons of GB, but we wouldn't be shocked if he climbs into T100S; he's in BA's now!

James Tibbs III (LAD) checks in as the No. 255 overall prospect and No. 15 in the Dodgers system. His profile is driven by standout power, highlighted by a +2.40 HR Power mark, paired with solid plate discipline (+1.43) and above-average contact (+1.02). While his hit tool and bat-to-ball skills are steady, the carrying tool here is clearly the power, giving him a path to impact if it fully translates. Speed and overall lift are more modest, rounding out a bat-first corner profile. The model projects a 10% chance to become a Contributor, 7% chance at Regular, and 2% chance at Star-level production, with a comp to Jesse Winker (2015).

Tibbs is on an elite-level heater! Our model is still hesitant, as he's an older-than-average prospect without dominant success at lower levels (prior to this point). The Dodgers seem to be making the most of his talents, though. Will he be a model beater?

When Hot Streaks Matter and When They Don’t A no nonsense guide to when to board hype trains

Here is part one, in case you missed it:

The 12 Most Important Data-Backed Prospect Heaters Heading Into 2026 We use our streaks model to give you the scoop on which hot ends to 2025 and starts to 2026 actually matter

In part two of our streaks series, we take a look at which prospects ended 2025 hot or cold. Who does our new streaks model believe in? And who are we worried about? With A-AA beginning this week, we've highlighted some guys we think will take a big step!

The most hyped prospect in years will make his debut! Our model puts him at a modest 9th, due in part to only average pitch selection numbers. Don't be surprised if he takes a bit to get going, but remember, he's almost FOUR YEARS younger than JJ Wetherholt! Patience is key!

Jose Fernandez (ARI) prospect profile graphic. He’s ranked #57 overall and the #1 prospect in the Arizona system. Career outcome probabilities: 72% contributor, 58% regular, 13% star, with a strong confidence meter. Relative stats vs. league average (in standard deviations): Development speed: +1.41 (standout strength) Plate discipline: -1.21 (clear weakness) Avoid strikeouts: +0.41 Contact: +0.89 (solid) Gap power: +0.33 Home run power: +0.41 Lift: -0.10 (near average) Overall profile: fast-developing hitter with good contact skills and moderate power, but below-average plate discipline. Comparable listed as Chad Pinder (2015).

Fernandez was one of the hottest takes in our T100; we had him 57th overall, where few were willing to put him even in the D-Backs' top 20! His bump in power was what sold us, and his two bombs highlight his gains here. He's catapulted into the mainstream prospect scene in one night!

We are super high on both prospects! Emerson is preferred here with his 2025 power surge, but Pratt showed great plate discipline and decent power as a young AA SS. We think both are destined for great things, and we love these deals!

Daily Pearls: March 27, 2026 The top MiLB performances from March 27, 2026

Check out our first MiLB Daily Pearls newsletter! Each day, we'll highlight MiLB's top performances and use our streaks modeling to let you know whether recent notable performances are real indications of breakouts or noise!

Six Reasons to Bail on Your MLB Club on MiLB Opening Day The future is always more exciting than the present

Happy Minor League Opening Day! We've got six reasons for you to take a pit stop from the MLB and tune into some MiLB action, from Konnor Griffin's AAA debut to the beginning of the Dylan Crews revenge tour. Who will you be watching today?

Kevin McGonigle is the second player in Tigers history with a four-hit game in his MLB debut, joining Billy Bean (April 25, 1987).

1 AB, 1 hit!!!! Congrats to the young Tiger!

Honestly, the players are the ones who get humiliated the most; they missed big way more frequently than the umps in the games I attended.

Graphic profiling Kevin McGonigle (DET). He is ranked the #2 overall prospect and #1 prospect in the Tigers system. Left panel shows relative hitting metrics (standard deviations above league average): Dev Speed (1.60), Discipline (1.24), Avoid K (1.92), Contact (1.18), Gap Power (1.74), HR Power (1.58), and Lift (1.35). All metrics are well above average, with especially strong bat-to-ball skills and power indicators. Right panel displays career outcome probabilities by prime WAR per season. He has a 99% chance to become a contributor or regular and a 96% chance to reach star-level production (~3+ WAR). The probability tapers gradually at higher WAR levels. A confidence meter at the bottom is mostly filled, indicating high certainty in the projection. Comparison listed: Jurickson Profar (2012).

What prospect debut are you most excited to see on Opening Day? We're partial to our #2 prospect, Kevin McGonigle; how about you?

Sorry: @ewpod.bsky.social

We talked about this on our podcast spot with @EWPod: this is a unique public forum for judging mistakes by both players and umpires. Both parties will need to keep their heads, knowing that humiliation can and will happen. Umps especially have to avoid pressing after a bad call!

When Hot Streaks Matter and When They Don’t A no nonsense guide to when to board hype trains

All too often, we get locked in on small samples with prospects, projecting MLB stardom after a hot month. In today's piece, we interrogate hot and cold streaks: When do they matter? Which traits are sticky, which are luck, and which matter less? We get into that and more: