A very timely guest today on the Steve on Baseball podcast as I interview JJ Cooper, the editor-in-chief of Baseball America.

He was a guest earlier and returns for the podcast being released today.

Earlier this week, in the most recent update to the BA top 100 prospects list, four Orioles were ranked. Samuel Basallo was No. 7, Nate George No. 81, Dylan Beavers No. 83 and pitcher Esteban Mejia at No. 95.

Beavers and George make their first appearances on the BA top 100.

In this episode, JJ talks about what led BA to move Beavers into their top 100. Clearly it has ramifications for the Prospect Promotion Incentive program. A player that wins Rookie of the Year and is ranked in two of three top 100s (between Baseball America, MLBPipeline.com and ESPN) can earn his club an additional draft pick as Gunnar Henderson did when winning ROY.

JJ also talks more in depth about the year both Basallo and Beavers have had at Triple-A Norfolk. He adds some thoughts too on the O’s trade deadline prospect acquisitions.

Here is the updated BA O’s top 10 prospects list:

1 - Samuel Basallo2 - Nate George3 - Dylan Beavers4 - Esteban Mejia5 - Ike Irish6 - Enrique Bradfield Jr.7 - Wehiwa Aloy8 - Trey Gibson9 - Juaron Watts-Brown10 - Boston Bateman

Click here for the new BA top 100 and click here for the new O’s top 30 (subscription may be required for both).

Enjoy episode No. 18 of the Steve on Baseball podcast!

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