Which MLB rookies should we be buying heading into 2027? DVR, Eno and Jed Lowrie set expectations for Colt Emerson, Braden Montgomery and Spencer Jones after three fascinating rookie seasons — and dig into the strengths, flaws and adjustments that could determine what comes next.
Colt Emerson battled through a wrist injury while making the jump to Triple-A and the Seattle Mariners, finishing with 15 home runs and 13 stolen bases between the two levels. Jed shares his own experience playing through a similar wrist injury and explains why Emerson’s 34.4% strikeout rate in Seattle may not tell the entire story.
Braden Montgomery’s rookie season presents a different challenge. The Chicago White Sox outfielder already shows an advanced approach at the plate, but Eno examines whether below-average bat speed and athletic tools could limit his ceiling — and what Montgomery might need to unlock to become a bigger offensive threat.
Then there’s Spencer Jones. The New York Yankees rookie has elite bat speed and has crushed fastballs, but a 36.6% strikeout rate and significant swing-and-miss against breaking and offspeed pitches raise questions about his long-term ceiling.
Before looking ahead, Rates & Barrels begins its 2026 MLB Autopsy series with the Athletics. Injuries devastated a young lineup, but the problems go beyond health.
Plus, Baseball News You Should Know: Aaron Judge isn’t thrilled about playing only six innings in his return to the Yankees, Shohei Ohtani’s health remains something to monitor, Corbin Burnes returns from Tommy John surgery, Jacob Misiorowski makes history with his 1,000th pitch at 100 mph or faster, and Seattle Mariners rookie Lázaro Montes crushes a 474-foot home run.
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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Contributor: Jed Lowrie
Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis
Editor: McEnroe Francis
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0:00 Welcome to Rates & Barrels
3:44 Baseball News You Should Know
6:20 Shohei Ohtani’s Health
7:30 Corbin Burnes Returns
10:49 Jacob Misiorowski Makes History
15:59 Brewers Rally & Jackson Chourio
17:16 Lázaro Montes’ 474-Foot Homer
20:41 Athletics Autopsy: What Went Wrong?
24:35 The A’s Defensive Problem
26:41 Should the A’s Trade a Young Hitter?
28:31 The A’s Pitching Development Problem
42:23 Building the A’s for 2027
47:32 Expectations for the A’s in 2027
51:27 Intriguing MLB Rookies for 2027
51:27 Colt Emerson
57:48 Braden Montgomery
1:06:50 Spencer Jones
1:12:13 Thanks for Watching
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