The Call Up | An MLB Prospect Podcast · Just Baseball Media

471 | Upcoming Pitching Prospect Seasons We're Most Intrigued by in 2026

·53 min·4 clips

Quinn Matthews went from 200 strikeouts in 2024 to walking 74 guys in AAA, raising questions about his mechanics.

This episode focuses on pitching prospects whose 2026 seasons the hosts find particularly intriguing. Hosts RM Leighton and Jack McMullen analyze players coming off injuries, volatility, or trades. They emphasize the inherent difficulty in evaluating pitchers compared to hitters due to greater year-to-year volatility. Quinn Matthews is a primary example after his 2024 minor league pitcher of the year performance was followed by a 2025 AAA season with a 7.1 walks-per-nine rate. Andrew Painter is highlighted for his lengthy layoff from Tommy John surgery and the challenge of returning directly to AAA. The hosts discuss Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz as future White Sox rotation cornerstones who both struggled with command in 2025. They examine the pitcher-for-pitcher trade sending Luis Perales to Washington and Jake Bennett to Boston, questioning each team's valuation. Rhett Lowder and Chase Petty are noted as depth pieces for the Reds coming off injury-marred seasons. Draft picks Jamie Arnold of the Athletics and Tyler Bremner of the Angels are identified as players whose development could significantly impact their organizations. Brody Brecht of the Rockies is cited for his dominant strikeout numbers and the potential effect of the organization's new pitching infrastructure. Alex Clemmey represents a high-ceiling arm now in a Nationals system prioritizing development. A surprising claim is that pitcher evaluation is so fluid that a "smallest thing" like a slight arm slot change can completely alter a prospect's trajectory. The hosts suggest the Phillies' limited pursuit of rotation help indicates internal belief in Andrew Painter's readiness. They propose the Rockies could rise in pitching development rankings simply by moving from 30th to 22nd in effectiveness. An interesting parallel is drawn between Noah Schultz's size and early career control issues and those of Hall of Famer Randy Johnson. The idea that Ricky Tiedemann could serve as the Blue Jays' high-leverage lefty reliever, negating the need for a trade, is presented as a strategic possibility. The tone is conversational and deeply analytical, blending statistical review with scouting observations and organizational context. The style is educational, aimed at informed fans who enjoy prospect evaluation and forecasting. Listeners who closely follow minor league baseball and enjoy deep dives on specific pitching prospects would love this episode. Those seeking broader MLB news or narrative storytelling might prefer to skip it.

As heard by us

A pitching-focused look at 2026 prospects, centered on Louder and Petty, with projection, volatility, and development questions front and center.

The episode stays on the pitching side of the 2026 prospect conversation and keeps returning to the same problem: how much projection is fair for Rhett Louder and Chase Petty.

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Why you'd press play

Track which young arms could actually jump in 2026.

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