Carding Baseball America's MLB Prospects Hot Sheet (July 30)

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. Trevor Rogers, SP, Marlins — Low-A Greensboro Grasshoppers
Season so far: 1-4 with 5.13 ERA, 65 strikeouts and 20 walks in 54.1 innings (12 starts)
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Rogers has worked six or more innings in his last three starts, culminating with Sunday’s gem, where he struck out a career-best 12 batters and carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 300
First Chrome auto: 2017 Bowman Draft
One auto to consider: 2016 Leaf Metal Perfect Game
Buzz’s card take: His season numbers look a little LaLooshian but he was the 13th overall pick in last year's draft and he's on the Marlins so they'll take it -- and the potential. The recent games look relatively solid, so if you're sold on the potential of a Marlins pitcher then you might want to bite.

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

2. Dylan Cease, SP, White Sox — Double-A Birmingham Barons
Season so far: 11-2 with 2.87 ERA, 124 strikeouts and 39 walks in 100.1 innings (18 starts)
Baseball America’s highlight line: “His most recent start was easily the best at his new level. He carried a perfect game deep into the outing and finished with a dozen punchouts over seven, one-hit innings. The 12 strikeouts ties a season high."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 375
First Chrome auto: 2014 Bowman Draft
One auto to consider: 2013 Leaf Perfect Game
Buzz’s card take: He has a lot of cardboard but only about 80 autographs -- that seems pretty low -- and he's not had any since 2014 when he was in Bowman Draft, Leaf Trinity, Leaf Metal Draft, Leaf Valiant and Elite Extra Edition. That lack of ink makes him a compelling one to consider in general, but especially with those numbers. 

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3. Alex Kirilloff, OF, Twins — Low-A Cedar Rapids Kernels
Season so far: Hitting .353 with 34 doubles, 16 homers, 84 RBI and 2 SB in 98 games
Baseball America’s highlight line: “He’s destroyed at both levels of Class A ball this year and has been brilliant from day one. He leads the minor leagues in total bases, is one extra-base hit off the lead in that category and is seventh in the minors in OPS. Add a Futures Game appearance to the mix and you’ve got one of the very best years in the minor leagues.”
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. That's a sign to look at those cards, too, because they should be looking better as well.

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4. Deivi Garcia, SP, Yankees — Class A Charleston RiverDogs
Season so far: 2-3 with 2.97 ERA, 63 strikeouts and 11 walks in 38.2 innings (eight starts)
Baseball America’s highlight line: “He’s taken some of the biggest steps forward in the Yankees' system this year. The righthander pairs a low-90s fastball with a power, downer curveball and this week used the mix to set a career-high with 12 strikeouts. Through seven turns at Charleston, Garcia has punched out 56 and walked just eight in 34.2 innings. That’s good for 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): Fewer than 10 (just MiLB team issues)
First Chrome auto: Still to come
One auto to consider: Still to come (only card Buzz found was his 2018 Charleston team set base card)
Buzz’s card take: Yankees prospects don't often get overlooked when it comes to cardboard, so if he continues to pick up steam we'll see him on cards soon.

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5. Brent Rooker, 1B, Twins — Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
Season so far: Hitting .277 with 28 doubles, 20 homers, 67 RBI and 5 SBs in 100 games
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Rooker has heated up under the summer sun. Since June 1, Rooker has hit an eye-popping .310/.394/.629 and has swatted 13 of the 20 home runs he’s hit this season. It only seemed to be a matter of time for Rooker, who finished second in the Twins' system with 18 home runs last year despite not joining the organization until after the draft."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 200
First Chrome auto: 2017 Bowman Draft
One auto to consider: 2013 Leaf Power Showcase 
Buzz’s card take: Nearly 60 percent of his cards are certified autos so that means you should have a decent amount to choose from if this guy gets his Hrbek on. His earliest autos come from five years ago, while his first MLB-approved ink dropped just last year.

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