Carding Baseball America's MLB Prospects Hot Sheet (July 29)

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. Brailyn Marquez, LHP, Cubs — Low-A South Bend Cubs
Baseball America’s highlight line: “The unquestioned best pitching prospect in the Cubs’ system, Marquez put together his best start as a pro on July 25. The lefthander set a career-high with 14 strikeouts, doing so in part with a fastball that touched as high as 101 mph. The start continued a stellar July in which Marquez has whiffed 33 batters in 21.1 innings. He’s also allowed just one home run since May 1."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): Only MiLB team set cards
First Chrome auto: None yet
One auto to consider: None yet
Buzz’s card take: This 20-year-old is in his fourth season of MiLB ball and his total numbers aren't overwhelming -- 11-11 with a 3.45 ERA and 253 strikeouts in 224 innings. It's this season that has that Ks ratio up so that's a good sign but he's got nothing but MiLB team set cards to chase right now. He should be one to watch once he gets some prospect cardboard in packs but this feels like a long-term watch since he's still in A-ball.

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

2. Sean Murphy, C, Athletics — Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators
Baseball America’s highlight line: “After missing a big chunk of the year with a torn meniscus ... Murphy returned to Las Vegas just in time to rediscover his power stroke. After hitting eight home runs in Double-A in 2018, Murphy swatted more than half of that total in two days with the Aviators, including three in one game on July 26."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 260
First Chrome auto: 2018 Bowman 
One auto to consider: 2019 Panini Immaculate Collection
Buzz’s card take: He has only 50 autographed cards (so far) so there's not a lot to consider here, but that's OK as he's a catcher -- so that might have fewer people looking. He was a third-round draft pick in 2016 and his career stats include a .269 average in 223 games with 30 homers and 117 RBI. I'm not all that sold here unless it's in on the cheap.

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3. Nate Pearson, RHP, Blue Jays — Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Pearson’s start on July 24 was the first time in his professional career that he’d pitched into the sixth inning. It was the ninth time this season, however, that he’d allowed one or fewer hits in an appearance. Blessed with one of the best arsenals in the minors, Pearson has let up an absurd 35 hits against 80 strikeouts in 61.1 innings in his first test at the upper levels."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 300
First Chrome auto: 2017 Bowman Draft 
One auto to consider: 2017 Elite Extra Edition
Buzz’s card take: More than a third of the cards for this 2017 first-rounder are certified autos so there's a lot to look for for a guy who has a 3-4 career record with a 2.07 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 82 innings. His career strikeouts-per-nine is an 11.6 but the blurb above says it all ... he's only pitched into the sixth once? He's having a good year, I'll give him that.

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4. Jorge Mateo, SS, Athletics — Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Mateo has popped 16 homers through 94 games with a .301/.339/.530 slash line for Oakland's new PCL affiliate in more hitter-friendly Las Vegas with more hitter-friendly baseballs. There has been some true improvement for Mateo this year, though much of the underlying skill set (and risk that comes with it) remains the same."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 720
First Chrome auto: 2015 Bowman
One auto to consider: 2015 Panini Contenders
Buzz’s card take: He's pushing 250 autos and nearly 100 of them are from way back in 2015 when he was a New York Yankees prospect. I'd bet some big money that those who were looking then aren't looking in 2019 now that he's a grizzled 24-year-old with eight MiLB seasons behind him. The career stats? A .268 average with 50 homers and 296 RBI in 678 games. His 2019 numbers are solid and that might get him a look -- that seems like he could be worth a flip or two if he gets a shot and plays well. Long-term? You never know with Oakland.

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5. Devin Sweet, RHP, Mariners — Low-A West Virginia Power
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Sweet is not an elite prospect -- he was signed out of North Carolina Central last year as a non-drafted free agent. But he is an example of how a pitcher with a plus changeup can dominate in low Class A. Pitch after pitch, Rome batters couldn’t help themselves. Even when Sweet doubled up on the changeup, it was deceptive enough to generate swings and misses. Fittingly, he finished the game with a changeup for his career-high 12th strikeout of the game. It was also the first ... shutout in West Virginia team history."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): Only MiLB team set cards
First Chrome auto: None yet
One auto to consider: None yet
Buzz’s card take: There's nothing but MiLB stuff right now and there's not much here that calls for it other than his 112 strikeouts in 91 innings this season. His two-year MiLB totals are 7-5 with a 3.32 ERA and 136 Ks in 111 innings.

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