2020 Bowman Baseball - Full Prospect Analysis

Hello all. I hope everyone is staying safe out there. Bowman 2020 is set to release and my initial thoughts are below. The checklist is pretty good this year and this release was worth the wait. Links to Ebay have been provided. Please note older prospects were treated a little more harsh this time around due to baseball being postponed.

Aaron Ashby - Milwaukee Brewers P – The overall stats are not bad but I will pass.

Adam Hall - Baltimore Orioles SS – Not showing HR pop at the moment but his extra base hits are great. A buy for me if cheap.

Adam Hill - Milwaukee Brewers P – Pass. Older prospect.

Andy Pages - Los Angeles Dodgers CF – Buy. Only played in rookie ball but the power is serious. The strikeout rate needs to come down, but the Dodgers are great at player development.

Adley Rutschman - Baltimore Orioles – Second autograph. Pass.

Alvaro Seijas - St. Louis Cardinals P – Pass. Older prospect.

Aaron Shortridge - Pittsburgh Pirates P – Pass. Older prospect.     

Anthony Volpe - New York Yankees SS – Decent rookie ball numbers but I will wait to see how he develops. Seems like a defensive prospect with limited power.

Andrew Vaughn - Chicago White Sox 1B - Second autograph. Pass.

Ben Braymer - Washington Nationals P – Pass. Older prospect.

Bryce Ball - Atlanta Braves 1B – A little older but has some good power. I’m in. I wish he was younger but he can really mash.

Brennen Davis - Chicago Cubs OF – One of the stronger buys on the list. He will eventually be a top 100 prospect.

Brandon Howlett - Boston Red Sox 3B – 31% strikeout rate in A ball. He’s 20 so I am watching.

Bobby Witt Jr. - Kansas City Royals SS – Love him. Let’s see where the prices settle at.

Connor Cannon - San Francisco Giants 1B – Pass. Older prospect. Power is legit though.

Cooper Johnson - Detroit Tigers C – Pass. Older prospect.

Canaan Smith - New York Yankees OF – I have been a fan of Smith for a while. Good power and contact. Buy.

Chris Vallimont - Minnesota Twins P – Pass. Older prospect.

Diosbel Arias - Texas Rangers Utility – Pass. Older prospect.

Damon Jones - Philadelphia Phillies P – Pass. Older prospect.

Ezequiel Duran - New York Yankees 2B – A nice prospect that just needs to improve his contact. Great power numbers. A buy for me.

Everson Pereira - New York Yankees CF – Young prospect but is still developing. I like him.

Erik Rivera - Los Angeles Angels OF – Small sample size. Not much here. Will keep an eye on him.

Ford Proctor - Tampa Bay Rays Utility -Pass. Older prospect.

Glenallen Hill Jr. - Arizona Diamondbacks 2B – Only played in rookie ball. Young player that I will be watching.

Grant Little - San Diego Padres OF – Older prospect with not a ton of pop. Pass for me.

Gus Varland - Oakland Athletics P – Pass. Older prospect.

Hogan Harris - Oakland Athletics P – See above.

Jacob Amaya - Los Angeles Dodgers SS – I love the walk and strikeout rates. Buy if under $20.

James Beard - Chicago White Sox OF – Another younger prospect that has only played rookie ball. Need to see more.

Joey Cantillo - San Diego Padres P – A pitcher with some good K/9 rates! Buy if under $10.

Jarren Duran - Boston Red Sox OF – Pass. Older prospect.

Jasseel De La Cruz - Atlanta Braves P – Pass.

Jhon Diaz - Tampa Bay Rays CF – Could not find much on this kid. A July 2 signing that has not played. Need to come back to this one.

Jasson Dominguez - New York Yankees OF – I am going to write a separate post about Dominguez. Too much to say here. A buy based off the scouting report. 

Jerar Encarnacion - Miami Marlins OF – Not a bad player but just a little too old for me.

Joe Genord - New York Mets 1B – Pass. Older prospect.

J.J. Bleday - Miami Marlins – Second autograph. Pass.

Jeremy Pena - Houston Astros SS – I love the numbers. A little older so its tricky. I’m leaning towards pass.

Jackson Rutledge - Washington Nationals P – Not bad but does not move the needle for me. Pass.

Joe Ryan - Tampa Bay Rays P – Nice player but 23 years of age. Pass.

Lency Delgado - Chicago White Sox SS – Has a little upside but I will be watching. I need to see more.

Luis Patino - San Diego Padres P – One of the better arms in the minors. I am curious to see his card price. A buy based off the tools.

Leonel Valera - Los Angeles Dodgers SS – 100% watch for me. Can the Dodgers help him improve contact?

Micah Bello - Milwaukee Brewers OF – Hmm. Not ready to buy yet but I am watching.

Mario Feliciano - Milwaukee Brewers C – Pass for me.

Miguel Vargas - Los Angeles Dodgers 3B – Love the profile here and the power and plate discipline is there. Buy.

Omar Estevez - Los Angeles Dodgers 2B – Another talent that I like. I would be even higher on him if he was younger. Buy.

Oscar Gonzalez - Cleveland Indians OF – Love the talent. Great power potential. A buy for me but please note he is 22 years old.

Philip Clarke - Toronto Blue Jays C - Pass. 

Quin Cotton - Cincinnati Reds OF - Pass. I like the prospect but is 22 and only played in rookie ball. 

Ruben Cardenas - Tampa Bay Rays OF - Pass. 

Robert Puason - Oakland Athletics SS - Has not played yet. Watch. 

Sherten Apostel - Texas Rangers 3B – Not a bad player. Worth a buy if under $15.

Sam Huff - Texas Rangers C – He’s a little older but people love the power. It’s a pass for me though.

 

Stephen Paolini - Atlanta Braves OF – A lot of potential here. But I need to see more. I will be watching.

Tony Dibrell - New York Mets P – Pass. Older prospect.

Thomas Dillard - Milwaukee Brewers 1B – Pass.

Tarik Skubal - Detroit Tigers – Pass. Older prospect.

Vidal Brujan - Tampa Bay Rays 2B – His stats do not show a ton of power, but I love his contact and walk rates. Buy.

Xavier Edwards – Tampa Bay Rays SS – Great contact skills but not a ton of power but I expect his card to be hot. A pass for me but I get why people would be interested.

Zack Hess - Detroit Tigers P – Pass. Older prospect.

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.