Carding Baseball America's MLB Prospects Hot Sheet (June 10)

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. Mario Feliciano, C, Brewers — High-A Carolina Mudcats
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Feliciano entered the year with a ton of upside, and it’s beginning to show up loudly and often. He’s loose and athletic both at the plate and behind it, and he has built on a strong May with a blistering June. In nine games this month, Feliciano has swatted five home runs (as many as he did all of last month) and is 14-for-32 overall."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 100
First Chrome auto: None yet
Autos to consider: Leaf's 2015 Perfect Game All-American releases
Buzz’s card take: His ink is basically limited to Perfect Game All-American releases from 2015 and a limited number of autos in 2016 Elite Extra Edition and that's it -- nothing since. Despite this, more than half of his cards are autographs, though he does have unsigned MLB cardboard. He can be found in 2016 Bowman Draft -- his only cards from Topps. In four MiLB seasons, the 20-year-old has hit .253 with 21 homers and 113 RBI in 237 games. Nothing super-flashy on the card front but he's a catcher so the number aren't necessarily a given necessity there for him to arrive. The lack of cardboard  may help drive up auction prices for those who opt to chase here.

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

2. Mitch Keller, RHP, Pirates — Triple-A Indianapolis Indians
Baseball America’s highlight line: “With 12 outs recorded [against Toledo], Keller had 12 strikeouts. He picked up one more in the fifth to reach a career-high 13 whiffs. The complete dominance was impressive — Keller faced 19 batters and only three of them put the ball in play."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 850
First Chrome auto: 2017 Bowman Chrome 
One auto to consider: 2014 Panini Prizm Perennial Draft Picks
Buzz’s card take: He's pushing 250 different autographed cards with his earliest coming a whopping five years ago (when he was a second-round pick) in 2014 Elite Extra Edition and Prizm Draft. He's 5-1 this season and got a one-game shot in Pittsburgh, too, so now may be the time to look -- or sell -- depending on what you do. In six MiLB seasons, he's 34-18 with a 3.03 ERA and 517 strikeouts in 493 innings -- numbers that don't look that bad. He was a top-30 prospect entering this season and was as high as 12th-best on Baseball America's annual list last year. 

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3. Kyle Tucker, OF, Astros — Triple-A Round Rock Express
Baseball America’s highlight line: “After a brutal start, Tucker has been hitting well since May rolled around. His 21 home runs are second most in the Pacific Coast League (trailing only Yordan Alvarez) as he’s already topped 20 home runs for a third straight season. He’ll likely catch his career high (25) by the midway point of the season."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 1,250
First Chrome auto: 2015 Bowman Chrome Draft 
One auto to consider: 2012 Elite Extra Edition (USA Baseball)
Buzz’s card take: His card total has nearly doubled since you saw him here last summer and his autograph total is pushing 500 now thanks to his having a Rookie Card presence in this year's releases. You should know his name -- and Yordan Alvarez who just got the call this weekend -- though the fact that he's still down on the farm shouldn't hurt as much wth you see his power numbers this year. He might be a good bargain buy right now if you can land him on the cheap side. 

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4. Blake Rivera, RHP, Giants — Low-A Augusta GreenJackets
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Wallace State (Ala.) JC has produced a number of major leaguers recently, including Derek Holland and Craig Kimbrel. Rivera is on a promising track to join them. ... [He] has limited opponents to a .197/.289/.253 slash line over his last 10 starts. Rivera has impressed with a heavy fastball that sits at 94 mph and touches 98 mph, and it’s playing well against South Atlantic League competition."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 30
First Chrome auto: None yet
One auto to consider: None yet
Buzz’s card take: Now here's a rarity in prospecting land ... a guy with zero ink and cards in just a single product, 2018 Bowman Draft. The fact that he has MLB cardboard could mean the ink could come any time in a Bowman brand In 20 MiLB games the last two years, he's got a 3-4 record, a 4.33 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 68-plus innings. Nothing there wows me, but if he makes big moves with so few cards like this ... watch out.

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5. Peter Lambert, RHP, Rockies — Promoted to Rockies 
Baseball America’s highlight line: “The Rockies’ top pitching prospect was brilliant in his major-league debut, shutting down a powerful Cubs offense in Wrigley Field. Lambert has progressively added strength and velocity over the years and sat 93-94 mph against the Cubs, a promising development to go with his advanced breaking ball and changeup."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 300
First Chrome auto: 2019 Bowman Chrome (Scouts Top 100 insert only)
One auto to consider: 2014 USA Baseball boxed set (several)
Buzz’s card take: Rockies pitchers aren't the safest buy, but he could be one worth a look as he's only got ink from way back in 2014 and 2015 thanks to USA Baseball and a few 2015 prospect releases and then just two insert autos in 2019 Bowman. In five MiLB seasons, he went 26-29 with a 3.92 ERA and 422 strikeouts in 508 innings. As you can see on his Topps Now Rookie Card above, though, his debut was a strong one -- nine strikeouts in seven innings for the win.

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