A Few Notes on MLB Prospect Miguel Amaya (Chicago Cubs, C)

The Cubs don't have much on the farm talent wise but one player to note is Miguel Amaya. He's a pretty good player and prices are affordable at the moment. Another positive is that the Cubs may need his help sooner than later. I am expecting a breakout season from Miguel. He has good power and can get on base at a decent clip. The walk and strikeout rates are very impressive despite the batting average.

Link to Stats via Fangraphs

A Few Notes on MLB Prospect Jordyn Adams (LA Angels, CF)

Hello readers. I know we are all bummed about the baseball season being delayed but I wanted to take some time to write about Jordyn Adams. Jordyn is another high risk, high reward prospect but has just started to really go all in on baseball. In his first full season he performed pretty well considering football was his primary sport in high school. It may take time and there may be some highs and lows as he develops in the system, but he is a gifted athlete and I expect him to improve. I would not be surprised if he shoots up prospect lists this year. Once again thanks for reading.

Link to Stats via Fangraphs

Bobby Witt Jr. Scouting Report (Kansas City Royals, SS)

Age: 19 (June 14, 2000)
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6'1/190
Position:SS
Team: Kansas City Royals
Drafted: Round 1, Pick 2 Overall, 2019 MLB Draft

Recent Pricing: Pending 2020 Bowman Release
Card: 2020 Bowman Baseball
Base Auto: Base Auto Raw TBD/9.5 Base Auto TBD

2019 Stats: .262. Avg/.317 OBP/.670 OPS

The son of a former MLB player, Witt shows maturity and professionalism that cannot be ignored. His 6'1 frame generates raw power, the glove is exceptional and his running ability is plus. Witt has too many tools to ignore and I expect him to stick at shortstop. 

Conclusion: I expect this card to be on the high end but I may consider investing depending on where prices fall. What I love the most is his leadership ability and work ethic. I understand the concern with his swing and miss tendencies at the moment but I expect improvements as he matures and plays his way through the minors. A few scouts have noted concerns of his older age when being drafted but that is not a concern for me. 

Links to Bowman Autos on Ebay

How to Use the Baseball America Prospect Handbook

One of my favorite books to read to help me make better buying choices is the Baseball America Prospect Handbook. It is one of the best books you can buy if you want to learn about prospects. I have listed a few ways you can use the book to your advantage below.

First Time Buyer of the Prospect Handbook

If you are a first time purchaser of the book I would get familiar with how Baseball America rates players and defines each tool. The book always gives a breakdown of what the 20-80 scale is and rates 30 players from each team. It has everything you need. 

Owners of Previous Prospect Handbooks

If you own books from the previous years use them to compare the scouting reports and tool grades to the new book. Is the player improving? Have any tool grades dropped or increased? What has the player worked on and is currently working on? Where is he ranked in the organization versus previous years? 
 
Buy the 2020 Baseball America Handbook via Ebay

Jasson Dominguez Scouting Report (New York Yankees, OF)

Age: 17 (February 7, 2003)
Bats/Throws: Switch/R
Height/Weight: 5'10/190
Position: OF
Team: New York Yankees
Drafted: Signed July 2, 2020 (Dominican Republic)

Recent Pricing: Pending 2020 Bowman Release
Card: 2020 Bowman Baseball
Base Auto: Base Auto Raw TBD/9.5 Base Auto TBD

2019 Stats: Did Not Play

Jaason Dominguez has not made his pro debut yet but the industry is already buzzing about his makeup and tools. Scouts have already compared him to Mike Trout, Bo Jackson and other physically gifted players. The scouting grades are off the charts and the tools are loud. He has power from both sides and the speed to steal 30 bags a year. His debut will be one of the most anticipated events in the minors this year. I have never seen a prospect this young with these tools and hype since Bryce Harper.

Conclusion: If you think Wander Franco's prices are insane just wait until the release of Bowman 2020 Baseball. The hype is there but for me I need to see him actually play. I expect him to have the most expensive card in baseball and crush rookie ball pitching. In my opinion retail boxes of 2020 Bowman Baseball are the play here. Hunt down as many boxes as you can and hope you hit the lottery. I cannot recommend purchasing an auto for a player that will be most likely over $500 bucks who is 17 years old. My recommendation does not mean he will not work out as a prospect but more of a commentary on the craziness of hobby. 

Buy Jaason Dominguez Cards via Ebay

Review Jaason Dominguez's Stats via MILB

2019 Bowman Draft Baseball - Feburary Pricing Trends Update

Listed below is an update on some of the pricing trends for 2019 Bowman Draft. Overall there has not been a ton of price movement. Its a good time to buy before the season starts. Please note I only reviewed base auto prices via Ebay. Thanks for reading.
 
Andre Lipcius - Detroit Tigers 2B/3B - Around $5-$10 bucks. No big changes.

Adley Rutschman - Baltimore Orioles C - Prices are up to $275.

Andrew Vaughn - Chicago White Sox 1B - Prices are high. Around $160 for base. I have seen as low as $125. 

Brett Baty - New York Mets 3B - No changes. Still around $75.

Brennan Malone - Arizona Diamondbacks P - Selling for around $10 bucks. Now a Pirate.

Corbin Carroll - Arizona Diamondbacks OF - Price is up to around $50.

Gunnar Henderson - Baltimore Orioles SS - Selling for around $15 bucks still but climbing slowly to $20. 

Keoni Cavaco - Minnesota Twins SS - Still selling for around $40.

Rece Hinds - Cincinnati Reds 3B - Selling for around $20. No bump in price yet.

Tyler Callihan - Cincinnati Reds OF - Selling for around $10-$20. No changes.

Jo Adell Scouting Report (Los Angeles Angels, OF)

Birthdate: 04/08/1999
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6-3/215
Position: OF
Team: Los Angeles Angels
Drafted: 2017 June Amateur Draft - Round: 1, Pick: 10 

Recent Pricing:
Card: 2017 Bowman Chrome Draft
Base Auto: $700-$900 Base Auto 9.5: $800-$1000

2019 Stats: .289 AVG/.359 OBP/.834 OPS, 10 HR, 27 Doubles

The LA Angels have a history of not producing much talent from their farm system but over the past few years there have been improvements in this area. The Angels have focused on high upside prospects who are athletic. Jo Adell is a world class athlete with the tools and makeup to be the next big thing. His power is 70 grade and he has speed to easily steal double digit bases annually. There are some concerns about his contact skills as the strikeout rates are high but overall Adell is improving in this area. I expect to see Adell in the majors this year and benefit from the media coverage around Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon.

Conclusion: Mike Trout's help is on the way. I would focus on base non-autos and paper non-autos. His auto is short printed so the price may be too high for most. I think Adell is going to be a star. You can live with the strikeouts as the five tool ability is insane.

Review Jo Adell's Stats via Fangraphs

2016 Bowman Draft Baseball - An Overall Dissapointment

I took a moment over the past week to review some of my old recommendations. After reviewing 2016 Bowman Draft, I can honestly say this draft class was not good at all and could be impacting the market. With so many nonperforming prospects in this draft, the overall supply of the talent in the minors is now weaker and could be causing higher prices. Don't get me wrong there are some good players in this draft class (Lux, Alonso) but there is not much to look at overall. Most of the players drafted should be close to the majors and have not developed as expected.

2019 Bowman Draft Baseball - Early Pricing Trends

Hello all. Bowman Draft has been out for ten days and I have taken a look at the prices. No big surprises but there is some value out there. Please note I am only looking at the prices for base autographs. Lastly, I only took a look at the prospects I think you should keep an eye on. Thanks again for all the support and reach out to me with questions. Spend wisely.

Andre Lipcius - Detroit Tigers 2B/3B - Around $5-$10 bucks. Not bad and not a surprise.

Adley Rutschman - Baltimore Orioles C - High as expected. Around $200 or above for base.

Andrew Vaughn - Chicago White Sox 1B - High as expected. Around $160 for base.

Brett Baty - New York Mets 3B - Hmm around $75 bucks right now. Nope.

Brennan Malone - Arizona Diamondbacks P - Around $10 bucks. Not bad. See if you can get lower than that. 

CJ Abrams - San Diego Padres SS - High priced as expected.

Corbin Carroll - Arizona Diamondbacks OF - Base auto is around $40. I would go no higher than $50.

Dasan Brown - Toronto Blue Jays OF - Affordable. Prices between $10-$20.

Daniel Espino - Cleveland Indians P - Around $10. I would go no higher than that.

Gunnar Henderson - Baltimore Orioles SS - Around $15 bucks. Not bad.

Grant McCray - San Francisco Giants - Affordable (Around $10) but a ton of refractors are on the market vs base.

Hunter Bishop - San Francisco Giants OF- High priced. Over $60.

Jamari Baylor - Philadelphia Phillies SS - Around $10-$15. Not bad but the power potential is a major concern.

Joshua Mears - San Diego Padres OF - Can be yours for under $20. Not bad.

Josh Smith - New York Yankees SS - Under $20 but I would lay off the Yankees right now. The team is going for it and all prospects are available. (Except Jasson Dominguez!)

Jared Triolo - Pittsburgh Pirates 3B/SS - Under $10 and will be 22 when the season starts. Power potential is there.

Keoni Cavaco - Minnesota Twins SS -Hmm. Selling for around $40. I'm surprised. Help me out on this one readers.

Matthew Lugo - Boston Red Sox SS - A ton of redemption cards and is it possible he only signed refractors? Help me out on this one. 

Nick Lodolo - Cincinnati Reds P - Around $40. The price has to be related to being a top ten pick.

Quinn Priester - Pittsburgh Pirates P - Around $10. A good price for a pitcher. See if you can get under that.

Riley Greene - Detroit Tigers OF - High priced. Over $100.

Rece Hinds - Cincinnati Reds 3B - Around $20. Good price for him but it comes with risk.

Sammy Siani - Pittsburgh Pirates OF - Around $10. Not bad. The power is not there right now.

Tyler Callihan - Cincinnati Reds OF - Around $10-$20. I like the price.

2019 Bowman Draft Baseball - Complete Prospect Analysis

Hello all. I know its has been a while since my last post but thanks for hanging in there with me. My review of the 2019 Bowman Draft Baseball checklist is complete and overall I think its a strong product. Overall high school arms were very weak in this class. In addition, teams selected a ton of college talent. The one thing that concerns me about a college prospect is will they be able to move quickly and their age. How much upside is still there? Remember these are my opinions so if you disagree that is OK. Go with your instincts. Please see the review below and spread the word. Links to EBay have also been provided. Thank you for your patience and I promise more posts are coming soon.

Antoine Kelly - Milwaukee Brewers P - Pass

Andre Lipcius - Detroit Tigers 2B/3B - A little older but someone I will keep and eye on.

Alek Manoah - Toronto Blue Jays P - Pass

Alec Marsh - Kansas City Royals P - Pass

Adley Rutschman - Baltimore Orioles C - He's the No 1 pick. Prices will be high. Too high for me to recommend.

Aaron Schunk - Colorado Rockies 3B - Pass

Andrew Vaughn - Chicago White Sox 1B - Love him. Has power and can make contact. We should see him in the majors this season. Prices will be insane but could be worth it.

Brett Baty - New York Mets 3B - I like the overall numbers even though the strikeouts are high.

He is someone to keep an eye on. Watch.

Brennan Malone - Arizona Diamondbacks P - Watch. Small sample size.

Brady McConnell - Kansas City Royals SS - Pass. Too old.

Beau Philip - Atlanta Braves SS - Pass. Too old.

Bryson Stott - Philadelphia Phillies SS - Pass. Too old.

Braden Shewmake - Atlanta Braves SS - Pass. Too old.

Blake Walston - Arizona Diamondbacks P  - Pass

Brandon Williamson - Seattle Mariners P - Pass

CJ Abrams - San Diego Padres SS - A top pick who is good but will be high priced.

Corbin Carroll - Arizona Diamondbacks OF - Numbers are not bad. Watch.

Cameron Cannon - Boston Red Sox 2B/SS - Pass. Too old.

Chase Strumpf - Chicago Cubs 2B - Too old.

Dasan Brown - Toronto Blue Jays OF - Watch. Small sample size and is only 18.

Daniel Espino - Cleveland Indians P - Watch. Young arm.

Dominic Fletcher - Arizona Diamondbacks OF - Pass. Too old.

Drey Jameson - Arizona Diamondbacks P - Pass

Davis Wendzel - Texas Rangers 3B - Pass. Too old.

Ethan Small - Milwaukee Brewers P - Pass.

Gunnar Henderson - Baltimore Orioles SS - Watch. Young with small sample size.

Greg Jones - Tampa Bay Rays SS - Pass.

George Kirby - Seattle Mariners P - Pass.

Grant McCray - San Francisco Giants - Watch. Can he develop power?

Hunter Bishop - San Francisco Giants OF- Love him. Another top pick that will be high priced. Its the new normal now with cards.

Isaiah Campbell - Seattle Mariners P - Pass.

Jamari Baylor - Philadelphia Phillies SS - High upside with no stats but I am interested.

John Doxakis - Tampa Bay Rays P - Pass.

Josh Jung - Texas Rangers 3B - Pass for me. Older and I am not sure he will move quickly.

J.J. Bleday - Miami Marlins OF - Great addition to an improved system but I will pass. Older and will be high priced. 

JJ Goss - Tampa Bay Rays P - Pass.

Jack Kochanowicz - Los Angeles Angels P - Pass.

Jimmy Lewis - Los Angeles Dodgers - Pass.

Joshua Mears - San Diego Padres OF - Watch. I want to see how he plays in a full season.

Josh Smith - New York Yankees SS - If you think he can move fast by all means go for it. 

Jake Sanford - New York Yankees OF - Pass. Too old and too many strikeouts.

Jared Triolo - Pittsburgh Pirates 3B/SS - Almost a pass but I have decided to watch. I wonder what the price will be.

Josh Wolf - New York Mets P - Pass.

Keoni Cavaco - Minnesota Twins SS - Watch. Very small sample size.

Kody Hoese - Los Angeles Dodgers SS - Pass. Too old.

Kameron Misner - Miami Marlins OF - Pass.

Kyren Paris - Los Angeles Angels SS - Pass.

Kyle Stowers - Baltimore Orioles OF - Pass.

Kendall Williams - Toronto Blue Jays P - Pass.

Logan Davidson - Oakland Athletics SS - Pass.

Logan Driscoll - San Diego Padres OF - Pass.

Logan Wyatt - San Francisco Giants 1B - Pass.

Michael Busch - Los Angeles Dodgers 2B - Pass.

Matt Canterino - Minnesota Twins P - Pass.

Matt Gorski - Pittsburgh Pirates OF - Pass.

Matthew Lugo - Boston Red Sox SS - Looks to have no power but is young. Still a pass for me.

Michael Toglia - Colorado Rockies P - Pass.

Matthew Thompson Chicago White Sox P - Pass.

Matt Wallner - Minnesota Twins OF - Pass.

Nick Lodolo - Cincinnati Reds P - Wow a pitcher that I will not pass on. I only say that because Derek Johnson works for the Reds now. Hopefully prices are reasonable.

Nasim Nunez - Miami Marlins SS - Pass. Seems to have no power.

Nick Quintana - Detroit Tigers - Pass.

Noah Song - Boston Red Sox P - Pass.

Peyton Burdick - Miami Marlins OF - Monster numbers for an older prospect. Not sure anyone will care. Pass.

Quinn Priester - Pittsburgh Pirates P - Hmmm. Watch. Seems to have good stuff.

Riley Greene - Detroit Tigers OF - Watch. Cost will be high due to being selected 5th overall but is being pushed aggressively by management.

Ryan Garcia - Texas Rangers P - Pass.

Rece Hinds - Cincinnati Reds 3B - No sample size but has insane power. I am interested.

Ryan Jensen - Chicago Cubs P - Pass.

Ryne Nelson - Arizona Diamondbacks P - Pass.

Ryan Zeferjahn - Boston Red Sox P - Pass.

Seth Johnson - Tampa Bay Rays P - Pass.

Shea Langeliers - Atlanta Braves C - Not a bad prospect but I will pass.

Sammy Siani - Pittsburgh Pirates OF - I will keep an eye on him. Watch.

Spencer Steer - Minnesota Twins Utility - Pass.

Tyler Baum - Oakland Athletics P - Pass.

Tyler Callihan - Cincinnati Reds OF - I am interested. Reds seem to be a strong team break candidate.

Tommy Henry - Arizona Diamondbacks P - Pass.

T.J. Sikkema - New York Yankees P - Pass.

Will Wilson - Los Angeles Angels OF - Pass.

Zack Thompson - St. Louis Cardinals P - Pass.