Show #46 Top 2010 Major League Baseball MLB Prospects Show

2009 Double AA: .352 Avg – 7 HR – 30 RBI – 47 Games

Prospect Information
-2010 Should mark Jason Heyward’s debut in the MLB. His ability to hit for power will have collectors hopeful for his long term future in the hobby. Heyward has been on the Hobby Radar for some time now and his cards sell for at premium prices on the open market.

Top RC Cards on eBay

• 2006 Topps AFLAC #JH
• 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft #54
• 2007 Donruss EEE Autograph #/750

Complete Jason Heyward RC Checklist

2009 Arizona Fall League: 4-1 – 4.26 ERA – 23 K – 7 BB

Prospect Information
-Strasburg is likely to develop in the Washington Nationals minor league system in 2010. It is possible that he could make his MLB debut, but many feel that the National will not rush Strasburg to the majors. His Rookie Cards sell at premium prices.

Top RC Cards on eBay

• 2008 SP Authentic USA Auto Letter #105
• 2008 Sweet Spot USA Signatures #/260
• 2008 UD Team USA Timeline Auto #SS

Complete Stephen Strasburg RC Checklist

Prospect Information
– Mike Stanton is the #1 Prospect in the Florida Marlins System. He is an excellent tallent that can hit for power.  Look for him in the possibly as early as late 2010.

Top RC Cards on eBay

• 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects #BDPP115 Autograph
• 2008 Playoff Contenders #109 Autograph #/149

2009 Triple AAA: 32 Games — .325 Avg. – 3 HR – 17 RBI

Prospect Information
-Desmond Jennings would be the starting Center Fielder in Tampa if it wasn’t for the log jam in the Tampa system. Jennings would start on many other teams around the league and is a prospect that Tampa Bay will make room for in the majors if needed.

Top RC Cards on eBay

• 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BC106
• 2007 Bowman Sterling Prospects #DJ
• 2007 Just Rookies Autograph #29
• 2008 Donruss Threads Signatures Gold #96 #/749

2009 MAJORS: 1-0 – 20 Games — 31 Innings – 1.74 ERA – 39 K – 2 Saves

Prospect Information
-Neftali has already proven in 20 games at the major league level that he can have explosive stuff and get batters out. There is still talk about him being a starter, however…based on last season performance, it appears Feliz has the bullpen figured out. Look for him to be on the Texas Rangers roster at the start of 2010.

Top RC Cards on eBay

• 2008 Donruss Threads Autograph #/465
• 2008 Playoff Contenders Autograph #/246
• 2008 Prime Cuts Autograph #/249

Complete Neftali Feliz RC Checklist

Prospect Information
-Justin Smoak has the power with the bat to get the attention of fans and baseball card collectors. He should be starting the 2010 season off in Triple AAA. If his number are worthy, look for Texas to make room for Smoak on the roster later in 2010 or as injuries/players performance dictates.

Top RC Cards on eBay

• 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/699
• 2008 Razor Letterman Patch

Complete Justin Smoak RC Checklist

2009

Prospect Information
– The Cleveland Indians aquired Carlos Santana via a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers….Boy are they sure glad they got this talented young catcher. Expected to make his way to the bigs shortly as he was a Double AA MVP last season. Cleveland Indians faithful are very excited about this young kid. He kind of reminds me of Pablo Sandoval of the Giants.

Top RC Cards on eBay

• 2008 Bowman Sterling Prospects #CSA Autograph
• 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP134

2009 Triple AAA: 106 Games — .297 Avg – 15 HR – 47 RBI

Prospect Information
– Brett could certainly see time in the majors in 2010 making him a solid prospect to take a look at. He is a pure hitter that can play both 3B and 1st. Many feel that he will end up at third base because his glove might not be MLB worthy. He might get a chance to prove it this season.

Top RC Cards on eBay

• 2008 Razor Letterman Brett Wallace
• 2008 USA Baseball #25 Brett Wallace

2009

Prospect Information
– Jeremy Hellickson would be a starter in most teams rotations in the MLB. Tampa Bay has no room in the major leagues for Hellickson as a starter and he may spend more time in the minors in 2010. He has excellent control over his pitches and is an outstanding prospect that should continue to develop. Look for Tampa to possibly use Hellickson as ‘trade bait’ if they can’t use him.

Top RC Cards on eBay

• 2006 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BC176
• 2006 Justifiable Autograph #12 #/775

2009 Minors A/AA: 127 Games — .299 Avg – 140 Hits – 28 SB – 49 RBI

Prospect Information
– This young prospect made it to Double AA in 2009 being a teenager. Remember what you were doing at 19? Many feel that Starlin Castro already has a Gold-Glove potential defense, being young and small – his hitting should develop. Look for the Cubs to develop this soon to be 20 year old in the minors in 2010. If Starlin Castro can hit for average and steal bases he will have a spot on the Cubs MLB roster for many years to come.

Top RC Cards on eBay

• 2009 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP183

2009 Minors A: 3-1 – 2.18 ERA – 45 IP – 66 K
2009 Minors A Advanced: 3-2 – 2.54 ERA – 74 IP – 93 K

Prospect Information
– Explosive is the word used most when talking about Christian Friedrich’s stuff. As you can see by his 2009 A-Ball numbers above, this guy was a strike-out machine. We’ll see how he does as he moves up the Rockies system. With those kind of numbers and a team that is always looking for pitching help makes this a good prospect to go after.

Top RC Cards on eBay

• 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Edition #112 Auto #/402
• 2008 Playoff Contenders #68 Autograph
• 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects #BDPP31

2009 Minors Single A: 125 Games — .275 Avg – 5 HR – 63 RBI – 58 Runs

Prospect Information
– Many people may call Tim Beckham’s 1st year in the minors a failure, however this is still a young man (21) who is still fresh out of High School. The good news is that Tampa has many prospects (including many top players in the MLB) so they can let Beckham develop in the minors for a few seasons. Keep an eye on his performance over 2010 and monitor if he is a buy or sell. I anticipate more downward selling if he continues to struggle…leading to better buys. However if he comes out blazing, many will jump back on the Tim Beckham band-wagon.

Top RC Cards on eBay

• 2007 Topps AFLAC #TB Tim Beckham
• 2008 Razor Letterman Autograph Tim Beckham
• 2008 Razor Signature Series #101 Autograph #/499

2009 Minors Triple AAA: 132 Games — .300 Avg – 4 HR – 24 Steals

Prospect Information
– John Hart who is a Sr. advisor to the Texas Rangers GM said that Austin Jackson will be the Detroit Tigers opening day starter in Center Field. Austin Jackson actually has been on our radar for some time now … as we called him out in 2009 on Show #33 of The Sports Card Show Podcast. Now that he plays for the Tigers, he should still get some hobby love (not as much as the Yankees could have brought him) but he will have a chance to play sooner with the Tigers.

Top RC Cards on eBay

• 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Edition #141 AU #/794
• 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP246 Autograph

Complete Austin Jackson RC Checklist

2009 Minors: 21 Starts — 6-4 – 2.21 ERA

Prospect Information
– Mike Montgomery is a young left hander that the Kansas City Royals are keeping a close eye on. He has the talent and tools to become a top major league starter. Good thing for collectors is that Mike Montgomery has 3 very nice Autograph Rookie Cards to collect as seen below.

Top RC Cards on eBay

• 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects #BDPP122 Autograph
• 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Edition #150 Autograph #/922
• 2008 Playoff Contenders #108 Autograph

Prospect Information
– Jose Iglesias defected from Cuba and signed with the Boston Red Sox in September 2009. He received a $6 Million Dollar Signing bonus so the Red Sox are expecting big things from this young kid. He has a Potential Gold-Glove already, and now his small build needs to develop so he can start to swing the bat. He did bat .275 in the Arizona Fall League proving that he can hit.

Top RC Cards on eBay

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