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Saturday, March 4, 2017

Andrew Benintendi Scouting Report - Boston Red Sox LF

Andrew Benintendi

Profile:

Position: Left Field
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Height: 5' 10", Weight: 170lb.
Draft: Drafted in the 1st round of the 2015 MLB draft by the Boston Red Sox
School: Arkansas
Born: 7/6/1994

Scouting Report:

Grades: Hit: 70. Power: 60. Speed: 55. Defense: 60. Arm: 50.
2016 Stats (AA and A Adv): .312/.378/.910 OPS, 9 HR, 76 RBI, 70 Runs, 31 Doubles
2016 Stats (MLB): .295/.359/.835 OPS, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 16 Runs, 11 Doubles

Andrew Benintendi is the best hitter in the minor leagues by a mile. He is my pick to be AL Rookie of the Year. Andrew has an above average bat and above average power. Combine the offensive talent with his above average defensive potential, you have a true asset on the diamond. The Red Sox are all in this season and Andrew will be a big part of the push to win the World Series. This kid is polished and I expect him to have a great strikeout to walk ratio in the bigs. The Red Sox front office has done it again.


Buy Andrew Benintendi Auto's Here

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Yoan Moncada Scouting Report - Chicago White Sox 3B

Yoan Moncada

Profile:

Position: Third Baseman
Bats: Switch, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 2", Weight: 205lb.
Draft: Signed by the Boston Red Sox March 12, 2015
Born: 5/27/1995

Scouting Report:

Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 60. Speed: 70. Defense: 50. Arm: 70.
2016 Stats (AA and A Adv): .294/.407/.918 OPS, 15 HR, 62 RBI, 94 Runs, 31 Doubles

Yoan Moncada is the most exciting prospect in MLB and has the elite combination of power and speed scouts travel miles for. The talent is obvious and the $31.5 million dollar bonus handed out by the Boston Red Sox was worth every penny to sign him. His full season debut in the Majors is imminent after being traded to the Chicago White Sox this offseason.

Moncada is an athlete with the physical tools of a NBA/NFL player. Expect to see a show on the basepaths when the ball is in play. He is a switch hitter with opposite field power from the left side of the plate and on the right side he still has the raw power you want from a top prospect. The swing and miss issues are obvious but I strongly believe that he will improve his K% rate.

People ask me all the time who the next Mike Trout is. Yoan Moncada is the only prospect that has the best shot to be that guy. He has all the tools to be the type of player you pay to see. A true generational talent.

Prospects for Cash Breakdown of The 2017 Top 100 Prospects

Recently Baseball America released it's top 100 prospect list. BA has a proven record of providing the best scouting reports and tool grades in the industry. Using their Top 100 2017 Prospects List, here are the toolsiest prospects, with ratings from 80 (Elite) down to 20 (Poor) based on the scouting scale. The big takeaway this year is that a ton of pitchers have highly rated tools but there are not too many hitters with 70/80 grade hit tools. I expect prices for highly graded hitters to be at a premium this year.

80 Ratings

Alex Reyes - Fastball
Riley Pint - Fastball
Franciasco Mejia - Arm
Michael Kopech - Fastball
Jorge Mateo - Speed
Matt Chapman -Arm

70 Ratings


Andrew Benintendi - Hit
Yoan Moncada - Speed, Arm
Alex Reyes - Curveball
Cody Bellinger - Power, Fielding
Amed Rosario - Fielding
Ozzie Albies - Hit, Speed
Victor Robles - Speed
Eloy Jimenez -Power
Francis Martes - Fastball, Curveball
Anderson Espinoza - Fastball, Changeup
Mitch Keller - Fastball
Tyler Glasnow - Fastball
Vladimir Guerrero Jr - Power
Manuel Margot - Fielding
Yadier Alvarez - Fastball
Reynaldo Lopez - Fastball
Josh Hader - Fastball
Jorge Alfaro - Arm
Jason Groome - Fastball
Hunter Renfroe - Power, Arm
Matt Manning - Fastball
Albert Almora - Fielding
Carson Kelly - Fielding
Sixto Sanchez - Fastball
A.J. Puk - Fastball
Jharel Cotton - Changeup
Delvin Perez - Speed
James Kaprielian - Fastball
Aaron Judge - Power
Cal Quantrill - Changeup
Dylan Cease - Fastball
Justin Dunn - Fastball

Pitchers with a 60 or better control grade 
Mitch Keller
Mike Soroka

Pitchers Whose 3 Best Pitches Total 185+


3 Best Tools185+
Martes195
Reyes210
Kopech195
Espinoza200
Pint200
Cotton180


Hitters Whose Hit + Power Tools Total 120+
 
Hit+Power120+
Moncada120
Meadows120
Bellinger130
Jimenez130
Rodgers120
Devers120
Tucker120
Guerrero 130
Rutherford120
Collins120


Tuesday, December 27, 2016

2016 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects You Should Buy

Here are a few draft prospects you should consider investing in. It was tough to find pitchers this year because of the small sample sizes but stay tuned for more investment recommendations from PFC.

Minnesota Twins - Alex Kirlloff - Alex hit 7 Hr in rookie ball and the K rate was reasonable. He is a very promising prospect. Autos are close to 30. I would wait and see before purchasing.

Toronto Blue Jays - Bo Bichette - Another prospect with auto's trending towards $30. I love the K rate. Keep an eye on him. I think this kid will be good.

Toronto Blue Jays - Cavan Biggio -This kid can hit just like his old man. He does not have a lot of power but I still love him as a prospect.

New York Mets - Justin Dunn - Small sample size but the K/9 rate is good and we all know that the Mets can devlop pitchers better than any other MLB team.

New York Mets - Pete Alonso - Love this prospect. The K rate could be better but Pete has decent power and the auto price is $10-15.

Cincinnati Reds - Taylor Trammell - STRONG BUY - Taylor comes from a football background but decided to play baseball. His approach is still developing but that is no surprise when dealing with a two sport athlete. His K rate was 22% in rookie ball with a 9.1% BB rate. He hit 2HR, 9 doubles and 6 triples. Taylor is my favorite prospect in this product. Adjusting to breaking balls will be key but I love the upside.

Cleveland Indians - Will Benson - Keep a STRONG eye on Will Benson. He has a ton of talent but the strikeouts were high. For $20 an auto I will wait to see if he can adjust. Cleveland has a reputation for developing hitters so watch closely.

Keep an eye on the following prospects.

Oakland Athletics - AJ Puk - College arm that posted a nice K/9 rate in rookie ball. Small sample size so I suggest investors wait and see.

Milwaukee Brewers - Corey Ray - Another prospect I like but the Milwaukee market is not as strong as others and he just had knee surgery. Auto's are $20-30. I would wait and see to see how he comes back from injury.

Boston Red Sox - Bobby Dalbec - Bobby is an older prospect and a college bat that posted decent power numbers. The K rate is a little high for my taste but I will keep an eye on him.

St Louis Cardinals - Delvin Perez - I'm not a fan of someone who gets popped for PED's before the draft but the kid has talent. Auto's are selling for around $30. I would only buy if there was a significant price drop.

Los Angeles Dodgers - Gavin Lux - Gavin hit no home runs but showed a little pop in rookie ball (10 doubles, 5 triples). The K rate needs to come down but his walk rate is acceptable.

2016 Bowman Chrome Prospects You Should Buy

Sorry I'm late everyone. Here are a couple of 2016 Bowman Chrome prospects you should consider investing in.

Arizona Diamondbacks - Domingo Leyba - STRONG BUY - Impressive K rate and BB rate and has a little pop. His autos are going for less than 5 bucks.

New York Yankees - Dustin Fowler - This kid had a nice season in AA ball. 30 doubles, 12 triples and 12 home runs with a 15% K rate. I would like to see more walks but that won't keep me from investing in a potential 20-20 player.

Washington Nationals - Juan Soto - Impressive showing in rookie ball. Seems to have a good eye at the plate. Autos are above 30 so I will wait and see.

Los Angeles Dodgers - Oneil Cruz - Upside investment. No home runs but showed a little pop. I feel that for some it might be a little premature to purchase but autos are going for less than 10.

Toronto Blue Jays - Vladimir Guerrero Jr - Prices are trending towards $100 for a base auto. I would wait to see what he does beyond rookie ball before diving in.

Los Angeles Dodgers - Yadier Alvarez - One of the few pitchers I like. K/9 is over 10 so far in his career.

Keep an eye on the prospects below.

Philadelphia Phillies - Cornelius Randolph - Cornelius was one of the better high school bats coming out of the 2015 draft. I really like his bat and I expect the power numbers to come. He has battled injuries which has slowed down his development. Keep an eye on him this upcoming season and look for an increase in extra base hits before investing.

LA Angels - Jahmai Jones - Keep a close eye on Jones. He has some tools but might take time to develop. If he shows more power this season he will have my complete attention.

Chicago Cubs - Eddy Martinez - Nice player. Posted some good numbers in A ball. I would like to see the K rate go down.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Gleyber Torres Named Youngest MVP in AFL History


At the age of 19, Gleyber Torres was named the youngest MVP in AFL history. Torres hit .403 in the fall league and posted a very impressive strikeout to walk ratio. Things are looking good for the Yankee farm system. Remember, the success of a player in the fall league is a strong indicator of future success. Gary Sanchez had an impressive showing in the fall league last year and we all know what happened after.

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Yankees Gary Sanchez On Fire

New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez is on fire almost batting .400 and hitting 11 Home Runs. I rated him as a STRONG BUY back in 2015. If you invested early, you are feeling pretty good right now. Check out my scouting report on Gary for my initial thoughts on this new Yankee superstar.

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Colorado Rockies Prospects - Prospect Investing Tips

David Dahl recently got the call to the Majors and has stayed hot. He currently has a 10 game hit streak with 3 HR's and a .370 batting average. Prices have gone up but not as much as I expected. Why is this the case? I think it is two factors. The media and location. The Rockies are 3rd place in the NL West and 8 games out of first place. They may get covered regionally but not nationally. Highlights of their games are no where to be found on ESPN or FS1. Also, it seems that the altitude of Coors Field plays a role in demand for Rockies prospects. If record breaking numbers are not being put up or if the player is not a top ten superstar prospect, prices don't move as much as they should. Could you imagine if David Dahl or Brendan Rodgers were Dodger prospects? Prices would be much higher on the market. Please consider these factors in the future when investing in Rockies prospects.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Prospects For Cash 2016 Trade Deadline Thread

Hello Prospectors. As we approach the MLB trade deadline, I will be posting all my thoughts on any trades of significance on this post. As I have stated before, when a prospect is traded you hope that he goes to a big market. Expect a huge spike in prices for Gleyber Torres auto's now that he is a Yankee. Check out my comments on some of these players that were traded.

Phil Bickford - My favorite pitching prospect has been traded. I'm not sure that prices will rise in Milwaukee.

Lewis Brinson - One of my favorite hitting prospects. Will prices drop now that he is a Brewer?

Dillon Tate, Clint Frazier- Prices are trending up.


Monday, July 25, 2016

Indians OF's Bradley Zimmer & Clint Frazier Promoted to AAA

I recently read the exciting news that Clint Frazier and Bradley Zimmer were both promoted to Triple A. I was surprised that Zimmer was promoted but with Cleveland making a playoff push I understand why the decision was made. On a previous post I recommended that prospectors HOLD Bradley Zimmer's auto's due to him not showing an advanced hitting approach. Zimmer hit .324 the last 10 games and raised his overall average to .253 before being promoted. His auto's can be purchased for $20-$30 on Ebay. I expect his prices to spike immediately if he gets off to a hot start. With these promotions Zimmer and Frazier are now a STRONG BUY. Frazier is on the high end so that is why I am focusing more on Zimmer.There is a strong chance you will see both in the Majors soon.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

A Few Injured Prospects You Should Consider

We all are aware that injuries are apart of the game. Depending on the severity of the injury, a good looking investment could turn into a loss of profit in the short term. In most cases I recommend holding your investment until the player returns to full form on the field. Injuries can also present buying opportunities. Here are a few prospects that you should consider.

St Louis Cardinals, OF - Nick Plummer - Plummer suffered a wrist injury late June and there is no indication he will play this year. His base autos can be purchased for under $10. Looking at his stats I was impressed that he drew 39 walks in 180 AB in his first taste of pro ball. Plummer looks to have a good feel for hitting and the Cardinals have a track record of developing hitters.

Houston Astros, OF - Daz Cameron - Cameron broke his finger a few weeks ago and is out for the season. His base auto can be purchased for no more than $20. I expect these prices to possibly drop even more in the winter. Scouts have some criticism regarding his bat but before the injury he was playing well in short season ball after making some adjustments in extended spring training. He may have his ups and downs but if you can get auto's for $10-$15 I would consider investing.


Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Who is the Next Mike Trout or Bryce Harper ?

While visiting the local card shows the past few weeks, many individuals ask me who the next Mike Trout or Bryce Harper is. I hate to disappoint you but there is no prospect currently in the minors that will be at the level of Trout or Harper. I think this question comes up frequently because prospectors are looking for the next $1000 card. The only prospect that may come close is Yoan Moncada. Do you agree?

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Prospects For Cash - Live From the 2016 MLB Futures Game

Prospects for Cash will be live at the MLB Futures Game in San Diego. Follow me on Twitter @prospects4cash for live updates.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

A Few Recomendations From Prospects For Cash

Lately I have been looking at some stats and here are a few players I recommend prospectors take a look at. I could talk about the obvious guys like Moncada, Bregman and Robles but that is not necessary. My job is to discuss the players that you might not be aware of. I will be doing more posts like this in the future so feel free to contact me if you have questions.

Alex Verdugo - LA Dodgers OF  - One of the youngest players in AA and he continues to swing a great bat. His strikeout percentage is pretty impressive at 13%. I would like to see his extra base hits increase but I expect the power to come as he matures. Verdugo is a STRONG BUY.

Bradley Zimmer - Cleveland Indians OF - Bradley is a good prospect but I have not seen the numbers I expected. Don't get me wrong he is putting up some great power numbers but I expected a more advanced hitting approach. The Indians know how to develop hitters but at age 23 I would have to recommend prospectors HOLD.

Lewis Brinson - Texas Rangers OF - Another prospect that caught fire last year but has not put together the season prospectors hoped for. His strikeout rate is not bad and scouts are not worried according to the articles I read. I recommend prospectors HOLD.

Phil Bickford - SF Giants P - I mention Phil Bickford all the time but he is so impressive I can't resist. I just read in Baseball America that he has the potential to be a No 2 starter. STRONG BUY

Travis Demeritte -Rangers OF - 20 home runs may look good at first glance but take a deeper look at the stats. His strikeout rate is over 30%. A rate that high will not pass at the higher levels. If you can make a profit SELL.

Colorado Rockies OF's David Dahl & Raimel Tapia - Prospect Alert

David Dahl recently was promoted to Triple A and is off to a fast start going 3-5 with a HR in his first game. If we don't see him in the majors this year he should be ready to compete for an opening day spot in 2017. Raimel Tapia is currently having a really good season in AA. He currently is batting .333 with 16 doubles, 4 triples and 6 home runs. All he does is hit. I still consider both players a strong buy. I expect both to make an impact at the major league level sooner than later.

Sunday, June 26, 2016

NY Mets OF Michael Conforto Demoted - Lesson In Timing

This weekend Michael Conforto of the New York Mets was sent down to the minors. He's been struggling at the plate all season and the Mets finally decided to send him down to work on his swing. New York is a big market so his cards prices still remain high, but values have fallen since his breakout performance in the World Series. I still stand by selling when I can collect a profit I am comfortable with. Timing a breakout season or Mike Trout type run is very risky. If you can make 20% or more on your investment after fees, take it. No need to be greedy. Are there exceptions to this? Yes. You should not be risk averse all the time but when you do take a risk be calculated. Use the stats and trust your gut.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Phil Bickford Strikes Out 13 in Cal League Debut

Phil Bickford recently got promoted to Class A Advanced San Jose and he did not disappoint in his debut. Phil struck out 13 batters in six innings. Twelve of those strikeouts were swinging. History has shown that the Giants know pitching. Phil looks to be up next. Load up before its too late.


Phil Bickford's Auto's on Ebay

Clint Frazier Scouting Report (New York Yankees, OF)

Clint Frazier 

Profile:

Position: Outfield
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 1", Weight: 190 lb.
Draft: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 1st round (5th) of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft from Loganville HS.
Born: 9/6/1994

Scouting Report:

Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 65. Speed: 55. Defense: 50. Arm: 55.
2016 Stats (AA): .295/.387/.485, 7 HR, 33 RBI, 43 Runs, 227 AB

Clint Frazier is a former Baseball America High School player of the year and is putting together a nice season at AA Akron. He is currently one of the youngest players at the level and some say there is a chance you might see him in the big leagues this season. Clint has impressive power and bat speed that you can't teach and will play in games. He also possesses an above average arm fit for center field or right field.

What I like about Clint is that he has made adjustments to his swing and approach and has cut down on his strikeouts. There is still work to be done but the Cleveland Indians have a good track record of developing professional hitters in their system. Clint has the tools to become a dynamic outfielder in the MLB and I expect him to be a big asset to the club. Frazier and Bradley Zimmer in the same outfield could be something special in the years to come in Cleveland.


Clint Frazier Stats

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Austin Meadows On Fire (Pittsburgh Pirates, OF)

Austin Meadows has been on fire since coming back from injury. He currently has a 17 game hitting streak and his extra base hits have increased. It seems that he is finally starting to reach his power potential. Just another reason why it pays to be patient.

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Pay Attention To Ronald Guzman & Tim Anderson

As the season continues on I am always looking at various stats to see if there is a prospect that I may have overlooked. Check out the names below.

Ronald Guzman -Texas Rangers 1B - Guzman is currently in AA and he having an impressive season so far. His development through the minors is very similar to his Rangers teammate Nomar Mazara. He has 13XBH to go along with 7 HR this season with an impressive .329 Avg. At only 21 years of age I am excited to see how he develops going forward. Autos can be purchased for $10-20. I rate Guzman as a BUY.

Tim Anderson -Chicago White Sox SS- Tim Anderson is an interesting prospect. Is he a speedster or does he have enough pop to hit 20Hr in a season? After a rough start in AAA this year, he has broken out of his slump and is on fire right now. He rarely walks but seems like a dynamic athlete. What people don't know is that Tim did not play baseball until his junior year in high school. He is still developing his game even at the higher levels. Base autographs are going for as low as $10 and as high as $20. I think if you can be patient with the ups and downs he is a BUY.

A Prospectors Thoughts on the 2016 MLB Draft

The MLB Draft is right around the corner and between June 9-11, the next wave of baseball talent will arrive to the professional ranks. As a fan, I enjoy watching the first few rounds to familiarize myself with the future players who will help my team win the World Series. Should a prospector care about the Draft? Is there any advantage that can be obtained? In my opinion, there is a small advantage that can be gained. Over the years baseball has become a regional sport so the market a player goes to is very important. For example, imagine if Brendan Rodgers was drafted by the Dodgers vs the Rockies. I think his prices would be even higher. The market matters when it comes to a prospect and its value. Overall I think a prospector can get an idea of future demand depending on what player goes where. Ultimately a players performance is the biggest factor in determining price but the market the player is in does impact value.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

2016 Bowman Baseball Autographs - Prospects To Buy (Part 2)

Here are a few more prospects I like out of the recent 2016 Bowman Baseball release.

Atlanta Braves 3b - Juan Yepez -Yepez had a nice rookie campaign showing a little power and hit for a decent average. I will be watching closely to see if is BB:K rate improves and if his extra base hits increase. He is only 18 so there is a lot of room for growth. This recommendation is more of a watch and see than a buy.

Boston Red Sox P - Anderson Espinoza - Anderson is putting up an impressive 12 SO9 this season. He is a hard thrower with impressive stuff. The prices do reflect the success. Base autos are selling for $30-40 dollars.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Christin Stewart - #1 On Baseball America's Hot List

Christin Stewart of the Detroit Tigers is #1 on Baseball America's hot list this week. Stewart is showing some impressive power with a total of 12 HR's so far this season. The strikeouts are up there but he does have 19 walks on the year so he does have some plate discipline. It's just a matter of time before he makes another adjustment and moves up to AA. I rate him as a BUY. Get his auto's while you can. They are selling like hotcakes on eBay.


Buy Christin Stewart Auto's Here

How a Prospector Deals With PED Suspensions

This week Raul Mondesi Jr was suspended 50 games for testing positive for clenbuterol, an anabolic substance. If you had stock in Raul I would suspect that you are upset right now. A major league debut or promotion to AAA was right around the corner. So what should holders of Raul's auto's do next? In this case the best option would be to HOLD. Selling at this point would result in a loss in my opinion. According to the reports, MILB was going to issue a 80 game ban but Raul was able to negotiate a lighter punishment since he provided the source of the banned substance (cold medicine). It seems that it was an honest mistake but we can never be sure with these suspensions. Youth is on his side so if he comes back and puts this behind him profits can still be made. For prospectors who currently do not hold, this might be an opportunity to purchase some auto's at a discount price. Overall, this is just another reason why I try to avoid high end prospects. The impact on profits could be devastating depending on the situation.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

2016 Bowman Baseball Autographs - Prospects To Buy

2016 Bowman Baseball has been released and here are some names that prospectors should consider. If you want to know my philosophy on how I choose these prospects, please read my previous posts analyzing 2015 Bowman Draft and 2014 Bowman Draft. Overall there were not too many choices that got my attention outside of the obvious high end guys (Moncada, Bregman, Robles). Please make sure to watch Ebay and other secondary markets closely for prices. I expect cases are still being ripped open so prices should normalize out over the next few weeks.


Seattle Mariners - Tyler O'Neill - I have to admit I never heard of this kid before this season started but he is putting up some good numbers in Double A as a 20 year old. 6HR/.324 Avg/ .945 OPS. I will be watching closely to see if he improves on his BB/K. Autos can be purchased for $10-$15.


Philadelphia Phillies - Jhailyn Ortiz - Ortiz has not played a game of pro ball yet but his auto's are still selling for $10-$15. Why? Well according to the scouting reports this kid has some impressive power. At full maturity most scouts expect him to hit 25 homers annually while playing 1st base. I would suggest carefully monitoring prices as well as his progress before purchasing.


Stay tuned for Part 2 in the next few days.

2016 Bowman Baseball Autograph Checklist With Links to Ebay



Colorado Rockies David Dahl - Power Surge?

One of my favorite prospects is putting up some impressive power numbers in Double A (8 HR). After dealing with injuries the last few seasons it looks like David Dahl is finally healthy. I understand that Dahl is choosing power over strikeouts but I still love him as a prospect. Check out this article where Dahl discusses his new approach at the plate to ease your worries. I still rate him as a strong buy.


Link to MILB Stats


Link to Auto's on Ebay

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Prospect Case Study - Trevor Story (SS, Colorado Rockies)

If you have been following the first few weeks of the MLB season the biggest story (no pun intended) is Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story. Story has been discussed on this blog as far back as 2013 when he was a bargain bin selection. Now his cards are going through the roof as he puts up record breaking numbers. I had a nice stash of Trevor Story that I sold for a profit a while back but those numbers seem small compared to the prices I have seen on EBay lately. So what is the lesson that can be learned? Patience. Being patient is key to being a good prospector. Prospects have ups and downs on their road to the majors so holding a prospect may seem painful at times but can be rewarding if you can hold out. This is always on a case by case basis. If you have a chance to take a profit by all means take it but when anomalies occur having a short memory helps too.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Tyler Stephenson Scouting Report - Cincinatti Reds

Basic Info: Birthdate: 08/16/1996
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6-4/225
Position: C
Team: Cincinnati Reds
Card: 2015 Bowman Chrome Draft
Recent Pricing:
Base Auto: $7 - $10 Refractor: $10-$20 

2015 Stats (Rookie Ball): .268/.352/.712, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 28 Runs, 194 AB

Scouting Report:
When you analyze the talent in the major and minor leagues, the catching position is not as deep as other positions on the diamond. Tyler Stephenson is one of the few catching prospects I like in baseball today.

Stephenson was taken by the Reds 11th overall in the 2015 draft. There was even rumors that he could go #1 overall. Why do I like him? Well one reason is that for a kid being drafted out of high school his hit tool is above average. Scouts speculate that Stephenson shows enough raw power to hit 20 home runs in a season to go along with an advanced hitting approach. Baseball America graded his hit tool very high (120 total) which is a great sign for a young player out of high school.   

Verdict: Strong Buy 



Monday, March 7, 2016

A Prospector's Breakdown of The 2016 Top 100 Prospects

Recently Baseball America released it's top 100 prospect list. Using their Top 100 2016 Prospects List, here are the toolsiest prospects, with ratings from 80 (Elite) down to 20 (Poor) based on the scouting scale.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Corey Seager Named Baseball's Top Prospect By MLB.com

MLB.com recently named Corey Seager the top prospect in baseball. Immediately after the announcement was made his card prices rose at an exponential rate. A price rise of this nature is common when the top prospect is announced before the season starts. I expect the rise in prices to continue as other publications announce Seager as their top prospect (Baseball America). For prospectors who have the budget, this might be a good time to invest in other top 10 prospects that prices are still reasonable (Crawford, Buxton,Giolito). Who do you guys think will be No.1 in 2017?

Sunday, December 27, 2015

2015 Bowman Chrome Draft Baseball Prospects To Buy

2015 Bowman Draft has been released and here are some names that prospectors should consider. If you want to know my philosophy on how I choose these prospects, please read my previous post analyzing 2014 Bowman Draft. This draft was not a strong as previous drafts but I expect some additional names to emerge as the season starts in April.


White Sox Prospect Carson Fulmer
His auto's range from $20-25 dollars but are worth the buy. He struck out 26 batters in only 23 IP in his first pro season. The White Sox plan to take it slow with Carson which is surprising compared to previous history (Sale, Rodon) but I would not be concerned.


Rangers Prospect Dillon Tate
Autos range from $10-15. Dillon does not have a huge sample size to analyze but I love everything that I see and read about him. Keep an eye on him but don't hesitate to buy some autos once he starts the season in April.

Giants Phil Bickford
Phil struck out 32 batters in only 22 IP in his first taste of pro ball. His autos can be obtained for under $10.


Braves Austin Riley
Loved the power numbers that Austin put up in his first pro season out of high school. The only question I have is if he can cut down on the strikeouts. Autos are slowly creeping up to $30 so a wait and see approach may be necessary before investing.


Tigers Christin Stewart
Stewart put up great power numbers in his first season of pro ball but his strikeout to walk ratio is a concern. Base autos can be purchased for under $15. Even with the strikeouts the cost may be worth buying a few. The scouts love his bat.


Keep an eye on the power numbers for the prospects below.


Brewers Trent Clark - Loved the strikeout to walk ratio in Trent's first season out of high school. The power numbers are not there for me to purchase just yet but I will monitor his progress. His advanced feel for hitting gets my attention immediately. The Brewers do not have a solid history of developing hitters or pitchers so lets wait to see how he develops.

Pirates Ke'Bryan Hayes - Another prospect that I like but the power numbers were not there in his first season. Keep an eye on him.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Gary Sanchez Scouting Report (New York Yankees, C)

Basic Info: Birthdate: 12/2/1992
Bats/Throws: R/R Height/Weight: 6-2/230 
Position: C Signed: Dominican Republic, 2009
Team: New York Yankees Card: 2010 Bowman Chrome Prospects
Recent Pricing: Base Auto: $20 - $30 Refractor: $40  Blue Refractor /150:  $100  Gold Refractor /50:  $200   

Scouting Report:
Gary Sanchez signed with the Yankees in 2009 and has developed to be one of the best overall prospects in the game. We are talking about a catcher with the potential for a .280 AVG & 25HR if everything clicks.

Gary had a strong showing in the 2015 Arizona Fall League and now has the attention of the baseball community. His strong performance is an indicator that he can play against top level talent. Gary is still developing as a catcher, but that is not a big issue. It is common that catchers take more time to learn their position. Some scouts will bring up his disciplinary issues but that also is not a major concern. The bat is legit.

Principal owner of the Yankees Hal Steinbrenner recently was interviewed prior to the upcoming hot stove season and he expressed his desire to develop youth and curtail spending. I strongly believe that the Yankees are starting to change their approach and will focus on developing talent vs. buying it. In my opinion this means that a talent like Gary has a strong chance to remain a Yankee and prices will remain strong if he continues to stay hot.

Verdict: STRONG BUY based on the $20-25 base auto price. Even though 2010 Bowman Chrome has quality issues (scratches), I would still take a shot at buying a few.    

Link to MILB Stats