Carding Baseball America's MLB Prospects Hot Sheet (Aug. 20)

Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Luis Urias, 2B, Padres — Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas
Season so far: Hitting .290 with 28 doubles, 8 homers, 44 RBI and 2 SBs in 114 games
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Urias reeled off five consecutive multi-hit games, including four three-hit games, and raised his season batting average from .270 to .290 in a span of six games. He finished the week off in grand style, belting the game-tying RBI triple in the ninth and then scoring the winning run on Sunday."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 200
First Chrome auto: Still to come
One auto to consider: 2016 Elite Extra Edition
Buzz’s card take: He's barely cracked 20 certified autos so there's just two places to find him right now -- 2016 Elite Extra Edition and 2018 Onyx Platinum Elite where his easiest auto is limited to only 200 copies. After his un-numbered Elite auto, none of the parallels there is more than 100 copies. All of this should help values right now.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

2. Bryse Wilson, RHP, Braves
Season so far: Five scoreless innings with three hits, three walks and five strikeouts for a W in MLB debut Monday
Baseball America’s highlight line: "The Braves push their pitchers up the minor league ladder aggressively. It seems to be working out, as Kolby Allard and Mike Soroka got to the big leagues as a 20-year-old this year while Luiz Gohara pitched for the Braves as a 21-year-old. There have been six pitchers who have reached the big leagues this year before they turned 22, three of them are Braves. Wilson is on pace to make it to Atlanta next year as a 21-year-old."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): Less than 150
First Chrome auto: 2016 Bowman Draft
One auto to consider: 2015 Leaf Perfect Game
Buzz’s card take: He doesn't have more than 40 different certified autos so that's a relatively low number considering his debut and where he plays -- pitchers are always watched with the Braves. He's not had any autos since the Bowman set above and those two sets are his only places to find his ink right now. 

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3. Austin Hays, OF, Orioles — Double-A Bowie Baysox
Season so far: Hitting .235 with 10 doubles, 8 homers, 32 RBI and 6 SBs in 62 games
Baseball America’s highlight line: "After a breakout 2017 season that ended with his major-league debut, Hays has had a rough follow-up. He’s played just 62 games all season, including nine rehabbing at short-season Aberdeen. Now healthy, Hays finally seems to be getting on track and has performed well in a small sample this month. He’s made a ton of contact this season but hasn’t produced quite the same impact as he did in 2017."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 600
First Chrome auto: 2017 Bowman Chrome
One auto to consider: 2018 Topps Museum Collection
Buzz’s card take: He's got plenty of cards and plenty of ink with nearly 250 different certified autos. There might be bargains to find now on his rarer stuff if you're a believer. His first Chrome autos from last year were his only autos last year and his RC autos from this year can be inexpensive. 

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4. Alex Kirilloff, OF, Twins — Class A Fort Myers Miracle
Season so far: Hitting .352 with 42 doubles, 17 homers, 93 RBI and 3 SBs in 117 games
Baseball America’s highlight line: "The 20-year-old outfielder leads the minor leagues in extra-base hits, with 66, and doubles, with 42. After missing a season with Tommy John surgery, how Kirilloff would return was anyone’s guess. He’s more than re-established himself, he’s made himself into one of the game’s finest prospects."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 325
First Chrome auto: 2016 Bowman Draft
One auto to consider: 2015 Leaf Metal Draft
Buzz’s card take:He's been seen on this list in recent weeks and his numbers just keep looking better -- and that highlight line doesn't include how BA says Vladdy 2.0 has been stealing some of this guy's thunder this season.

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5. Connor Seabold, RHP, Phillies — Double-A Reading Fightin Phils
Season so far: 5-7 with 4.20 ERA, 129 strikeouts and 31 walks in 124.1 innings (22 starts)
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Seabold has moved quickly in his first full year as a pro and he’s had some impressive stretches with Double-A Reading. Now the question is whether he has enough stuff to make the massive jump from Double-A success to the big leagues. ... Seabold’s low-90s fastball, curveball and changeup are more fringe-average than exceptional."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 65
First Chrome auto: Still to come
One auto to consider: 2017 Panini Contenders
Buzz’s card take: He's got just 25 certified autos so there's not a lot to go around here with appearances in just 2017 Panini Elite Extra Edition and Panini Contenders -- that's a recipe for hot cardboard if he continues to impress. The 1/1 you see above? It's on eBay for $99.

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