Prospect Podcast: What’s Fueling The Minor League HR Boom?

On this week's Prospect Podcast Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper discuss the record-breaking run scoring and home run rates across the minor leagues. What's going on, why is it happening and who benefits/suffers because of it?

(00:00) Just how significant are the 2026 MiLB Runs Scored/Home Run Numbers?

(05:45) We're seeing some really weird home runs and extra-base hits when watching MiLB games this year

(13:30) Why we are pretty sure that it's the baseball that's driving this

(20:00) Home runs are way up, but not every home run hitter benefits the same way

(23:30) Opposite field home runs are way up this year

(30:00) Triple-A numbers are flat, but all other levels, including rookie ball, are being affected

(33:45) How 2021-2022 gave us a sneak peek

(36:30) Who is taking advantage of this change?

(40:30) There's so much we still don't know/understand

(50:30) Could hitters with less power benefit the most?

(54:00) It's worth reiterating, this is the highest MiLB run environment we can find ever--and we studied back to 1963