2021 Best Of Baseball America
It may have looked different – a restructuring of the minor leagues, travel restrictions and questions swirling around an impending lockout – however, one thing was for sure: baseball was back.
Minor League Baseball returned and a 162-game season took place at the major league level, both small wins that baseball fans can celebrate. 2021 was another year full of challenges for all, baseball included. We’ve done our best to cover the game the only way we know how — as thoroughly as possible.
Below are an array of stories we’re most proud of from 2021. You can navigate to specific sections using the links below.
You can find all of our rankings, including the Top 100, farm system rankings & more, here.
Prospects/Features | MLB Draft | Rankings | Awards | College | Podcasts
PROSPECTS/FEATURES
Introducing ‘Banana Ball,’ The Savannah Bananas’ Attempt To Change Baseball
Two-hour time limits. Innings as points. Fans making outs. The Savannah Bananas think they have an idea that will keep fans engaged and have a lot of fun. Read more …
No, MLB Teams Aren’t Stupid By Shifting
Congratulations anti-shifters, the second inning of Game 2 of the World Series was your moment. Read more …
Which Countries Produce The Most MLB Players?
If you want to know which countries have the most MLB players, we have the answers for you. You may be surprised by just how productive Puerto Rico and Curacao are. Read more …
Bobby Witt Jr., Riley Greene And CJ Abrams Are Baseball’s Next Great Power Trio
Three is a magic number in baseball. See why these three elite prospects highlight our 2021 Minor League Baseball season preview. Read more …
How The ‘3D Sweets’ Salvaged Their 2020 Travel Ball Season In A Unique Way
The 3D Sweets tested out an unusual experiment during the coronavirus pandemic, spending weeks in Arizona getting games in against local teams. Read more …
What Does Endeavor, Silver Lake’s Push Into Baseball Mean For the Minors?
Another seismic event is set to shake up Minor League Baseball this December. Read more …
‘Crazy. Unbelievable. Different:’ Shohei Ohtani’s Immense Tools Stand Alone
Shohei Ohtani has broken the limits of what was thought possible in the major leagues. Read more …
How The Astros’ Unconventional Approach To International Pitching Led Them To The World Series
Once overlooked, these four pitchers are as responsible as anyone for extending the Astros run of dominance. Read more …
Braves Complete Climb To The Top, Win World Series
Six years after beginning a rebuild, the Braves completed their rise to the top with a long-awaited World Series championship. Read more …
MLB DRAFT
2021 MLB Draft Instant Analysis, Full Scouting Reports For Every First-Round Pick
Baseball America provides instant feedback, full scouting reports for every player taken in the first round of the MLB Draft. Read more …
Top Four High School Shortstops Could Make MLB Draft History In 2021
Jordan Lawlar, Marcelo Mayer, Kahlil Watson and Brady House could do something that has never been done in draft history. Read more …
2022 MLB Draft Prospects With The Loudest Scouting Tools at Perfect Game National
Notable standouts that should give a good overview of the top high school players to watch for next year’s draft. Read more …
College Baseball’s Winners And Losers Of The 2021 MLB Draft
Here are some of the winners and losers around college baseball from the draft. Read more …
One Underrated Draft Pick We Like From All 30 Teams
Combing through days two and three of the 2021 draft to find under-the-radar names you should know. Read more …
RANKINGS
Wander Franco Joins Illustrious Company As Two-Time No. 1 Prospect
Wander Franco is just the fourth player to rank as the game’s top prospect in consecutive years. Read more …
10 MLB Hitting Prospects With Intriguing Analytical Characteristics
Ten hitting prospects, each with characteristics that should get your attention. Read more …
10 MLB Pitching Prospects With Intriguing Analytical Profiles
Ten pitching prospects, each with characteristics that should get your attention. Read more …
30 MLB Prospects Who Improved Their Stock In 2021
Here are 30 players—one from each organization—who really improved their stock in 2021. Read more …
AWARDS
Shohei Ohtani Is Baseball America’s 2021 MLB Player Of The Year
The Angels’ two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani redefined what is possible in MLB with an unprecedented season. Read more …
Bobby Witt Jr.: 2021 Minor League Player Of The Year
Minor League Player of the Year Bobby Witt Jr. combines pedigree, performance and upside like few other prospects. Read more …
Durham Bulls Named 2021 Minor League Team Of The Year
Durham is the Minor League Team of the Year—the first Triple-A team to land that honor since Tucson in 2006. Read more …
Chris Widger Named 2021 Minor League Baseball Manager Of The Year
In his second season of managing in the affiliated minor leagues, Widger led Quad Cities River Bandits to the High-A Central championship. Read more …
COLLEGE
Colleges With The Most Players On 2021 MLB Opening Day Rosters
When it comes to which school has the most MLB players, Vanderbilt stands heads and shoulders above other schools with 11 players on MLB Opening Day rosters. The Southeastern Conference as a whole also stands out. Read more …
Ranking The Top 100 Transfers In College Baseball Entering 2022
Baseball America’s list of the 100 best transfers for the 2022 season. Read more …
Notable Under-The-Radar 2021 College Baseball Recruiting Classes
Analysis of 10 notable 2021 college baseball recruiting classes that have gone under the radar. Read more …
50 Names To Watch On The Coaching Market
Look back at some of the top names who were eventually hired, plus other rising coaching prospects who could soon emerge in the coaching carousel. Read more…
PODCASTS
We introduced a brand new podcast ‘Future Projection’ in 2021. Each episode offers scout-level insight into all levels of baseball—everything from the amateur MLB Draft, international scouting, minor league prospects to the bigs. You can subscribe to the show here.
Our podcast ‘From Phenom To The Farm’ turned one year old this year! Each episode is a conversation with a former high school star who jumped right to professional baseball, often struggling with such a difficult transition.
On our most recent episode, Dontrelle Willis opens up about his rise to the forefront of baseball as an all-star, Rookie of the Year and MLB world champion, as well as how he fought to regain his love for baseball at the end of his career. You can find the episode here.
From farm system breakdowns to college comebacks, the Baseball America podcast released over 140 new episodes over the course of 2021. You can subscribe to the show here.
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