Episode Details

Ben Lindbergh and FanGraphs’ Michael Baumann play a game of “College Baseball Player or Vuelta a España Stage Winner?”, discuss Kumar Rocker’s potential and path to the majors, and (17:38) meet major leaguers Tyler Jay and Richard Fitts, before talking (39:33) to *checks notes* Marlins reliever Big Mike Baumann about becoming the second major leaguer ever to play for five teams in one season. After that (1:05:10), Ben chats with Baumann’s teammate Declan Cronin about how he’s held hitters homerless all season, the high-BABIP blues, the latest trends in pitching development, player paperwork, and more. Then (1:39:52) Ben brings on writer Lakshmi Gandhi to discuss Rocker’s significance as the first MLB player of Indian descent, before finishing (1:55:39) with several follow-ups.

Audio intro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 2: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 3: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Vuelta a España wiki
Link to Wheelysports
Link to Baumann on Rocker
Link to MLBTR on Rocker
Link to MLB on Rocker
Link to BP on Rocker
Link to Rocker/Leiter Vandy doc