Carding Baseball America's MLB Prospects Hot Sheet (July 1)

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. Wander Franco, SS, Rays — Class A MiLB Charlotte Stone Crabs
Baseball America’s highlight line: “After scorching the Midwest League for half a season, the Rays promoted Franco to high Class A on June 25. In five games, he has walked as many times (four) as he’s swung and missed. He’s also scored as many times as he’s swung and missed. He’s got six more hits than he has swings and misses. He’s younger than every player on this year’s USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team, and he’s already in the Florida State League. If the start to his tenure with Charlotte is any indication, he’s going to have no trouble reaching Double-A just after turning 19 years old."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 360
First Chrome auto: 2019 Bowman 
One auto to consider: 2018 Elite Extra Edition
Buzz’s card take: Nearly half of his cards are autographs yet there's still plenty of demand -- and if you somehow don't know his name the ship has sailed on sleeper/bargain cards. He's easily among the top prospects in baseball and Baseball America had him fourth heading into this season. He's hitting .335 with 17 doubles, five triples, eight homers and 35 RBI in 67 games this season -- not quite as strong as last season in rookie ball at 17. The age is the thing here and if he improves quickly as he advances at a young age he's worth the big bucks being paid for his cards. The good news is that there's a lot to choose from if you're hunting them. I didn't find that highlight line to be all that overwhelming -- I get it, he doesn't swing and miss -- but his stats also weren't as crazy as I had expected when I checked them.

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

2. MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Padres — High Class A Lake Elsinore Storm
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Gore was one of three Padres prospects named to the upcoming Futures Game, and he pitched like it this week. His outing on June 26 was his second consecutive with nine strikeouts, and his fifth start with at least that many. He’s one of the best pitching prospects in the minors, and he appears ready to shine on All-Star Sunday."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 650
First Chrome auto: 2017 Bowman Draft 
One auto to consider: 2016 Leaf Metal Perfect Game All-American
Buzz’s card take: He's been a big name on cardboard since he arrived as the third-overall pick two years ago. His stats since that time haven't been impressive -- he has a 9-7 record with a 2.45 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 154-plus innings. The key? This season -- 7-1 with a 1.12 ERA and 101 Ks in 72 innings -- makes up for the two that came before it. If you prospect pitchers, he's likely gotten a little more attention this season but bargains should still be out there vs. back when he arrived and then when he didn't dominate last year. He's still pretty low in the minors but it's the next step that might be the crucial one. About half of his cards are autos, too. 

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3. Yonathan Daza, OF, Rockies — Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
Baseball America’s highlight line: “In his first stint in the major leagues, Daza was 1-for-18. But after being sent back to Albuquerque, Daza has been everything a team could look for in a table-setting leadoff hitter. He's hitting .380, good for second-best in the Pacific Coast League (yes, .380 is only good for second-best in the PCL this year because Corban Joseph is hitting .391) while playing his typical excellent defense in center field. His first taste of the majors was rough, but he should get several more chances."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): Just MiLB team sets
First Chrome auto: Still to come
One auto to consider: Still to come
Buzz’s card take: He's had minor league cards since 2014 and has been deep in the Rockies' system since he was 17 back in 2011. With his debut there's a chance we'll see MLB RCs before prospect cards in packs -- that's super-rare these days -- but you never know ... we might not see anything. In nine MiLB seasons he's hit .318 with 28 homers and 355 RBI in 658 games. He's also got 93 steals. I could see some interest in his cards once they arrive with that career average but the rough debut might derail that, too. 

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4. Deivi Garcia, RHP, Yankees — Double-A Trenton Thunder
Baseball America’s highlight line: “It’s not often that someone listed at 5-foot-9 and 163 pounds can get cast as the bully, but since reaching Double-A on May 1, Garcia has done nothing but grab his opponents by the throat and demand their lunch money. He’s whiffed 76 hitters in 47 innings with Trenton, and this week pitched the first five innings of his team’s combined no-hitter over Reading."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): Just MiLB team sets 
First Chrome auto: Still to come
One auto to consider: Still to come
Buzz’s card take: He was here last week -- and nothing has changed. His strikeouts this season alone should spark some serious demand once that first ink hits. His few MiLB team sets should be watched right now, too.

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5. Tarik Skubal, LHP, Tigers — High-A Lakeland Tigers
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Skubal is continuing his dominance of the Florida State League this season, allowing just one earned run in the month of June. The right-hander sits in the low-90s but touches 97 mph with his fastball and he is throwing his secondary offerings more consistently for strikes. His feel for a changeup and ability to mix pitches has kept batters off-balance all season."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): Just MiLB team sets
First Chrome auto: Still to come
One auto to consider: Still to come
Buzz’s card take: He was a ninth-round pick back last year but he went seven innings with eight Ks and just one walk this past week, enough to get him a place here. In two MiLB seasons he's 7-4 with a 2.16 ERA and 91 Ks in 73-plus innings. There should be some interest in his cards when they arrive -- but nothing like No. 4. He's clearly off the radar as this in-person auto and an unsigned copy are his only cards over on eBay.

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