SCOUT'S HONOR

The precision of data has in some cases edged out the expertise of scouts as teams strive for maximum effectiveness—and maximum cost-efficiency

PERMISSION TO FLY

The number of stolen bases continues to decline, but success rates are the highest they’ve ever been

TWO-WAY WONDER

Bubba Chandler excels on the mound, in the field, on the gridiron and in every other athletic endeavor

TOP 10 POPUPS

The amateurs who have done the most to boost their draft stock this spring

Dodgers scout adds three to his growing total of big leaguers

Marty Lamb has been one of baseball’s top scouts since he joined the Dodgers in 1999. As the organization’s area scout for Ohio, Tennessee and Kentucky, Lamb has signed 12 major leaguers, highlighted by Walker Buehler, Will Smith and Chad Billingsley.

AN INSTRUCTIVE REMINDER

The long layoff has proven that minor league players need repetitions—and lots of them—to stay sharp

MINORS- SURVEY SAYS

Our annual survey of minor league operators highlights the ways in which things will never be the same

ORGANIZATION REPORTS

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

RESOLVE WILL BE TESTED

Teams will face new challenges entertaining fans, but they should emerge stronger for it

HIGH SCHOOL- THE TALE OF TWO TOOL SETS

Jackson Jobe realized his true upside is on the mound

THE RULE OF THREE

Bobby Witt Jr., Riley Greene and CJ Abrams are three of the prospects we’re most excited to see this season—and for good reason

LET THERE BE LIGHT

New ballpark lighting standards will help hitters and fielders see the ball better at the lower levels

The Tide Turns

Changes to MLB draft rules could make the 2020s a second golden age for junior college baseball

The Time Is Now

Ethan Wilson looks to lead a talented South Alabama club back to a regional

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE . . .

College baseball teams continue their search to make their sport a revenue generator

WELCOME BACK

The 2021 college season will be unlike any before it, with more talent across the country than at any other time in the history of the sport.

Southeastern

Jud Fabian and No. 1 Florida sit atop the SEC standings following a 16-1 start to the 2020 season

Super sophomores

Boston College’s trio of preseason All-Americans has the Eagles envisioning a trip to Omaha

Scout Spotlight - SCOUTS IN THEIR OWN WORDS. THE PLAYERS. THE JOURNEY. THE STATE OF THE GAME.

Perseverance pays off for a Tigers area scout

REKINDLING THE PASSION

For top prospect Brandon Wood, failure was the teacher that granted him the perspective to aid others

More competitive than ever

College baseball enters a season of unprecedented depth and talent

Big 12

Texas Tech is the favorite, but there’s plenty of competition in the Big 12 race

Obituaries

DICK ALLEN, a third baseman and first baseman who played in the major leagues for 15 years from 19631977 with the Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers, White Sox, and Athletics and won the National League Rookie of the Year in 1964 and the American League MVP in 1972, died Dec. 7. He was 78.

Scout Spotlight

SCOUTS IN THEIR OWN WORDS. THE PLAYERS. THE JOURNEY. THE STATE OF THE GAME.

HOW A FRANCHISE WAS BUILT

In 1981, Baseball America was launched to fill a void in scouting and player development coverage

THE 120

MLB invited 120 teams to its minor league system. Find out what that means for fans, players and teams.

NO DOWNSIDE

Smart front offices are taking advantage of the minor league Rule 5 draft

CLUBHOUSE CHARACTER

Tim Dillard prides himself on helping his team both on and off the field

OLD MEETS NEW

Brian Snitker expertly navigated the Braves to a third straight division title despite myriad pitching injuries

Focusing on the Northeast pays off for the Indians

Over the past few years, the Indians have mined the Northeast for talent. The 2020 team got big-time contributions from former college righthanders Aaron Civale (Northeastern) and James Karinchak (Bryant). Waiting in the wings are three more prospects from the region, all from high school: third baseman Nolan Jones (Bensalem, Pa.), catcher Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) and righthander Lenny Torres (Beacon, N.Y). All five of those players were signed by area scout Mike Kanen, a former Baseball America intern. BA recently spoke with Kanen about his first impressions of those players. The interview is edited for brevity.