2020 Bowman Chrome Preview

September 14, 2020 Jacob Swain Baseball Cards, General, MiLB 0

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Another iteration of the Bowman line, 2020 Bowman Chrome, is scheduled to be released this week on September 18th. While the checklist has gotten mixed reviews, there are always some overlooked prospects that are worth taking a flyer on. I wanted to go through the prospect autos on the checklist and give you all some information on the players so you can decide on who to target for your collections. There are also 18 Bowman Chrome rookie autographs including Luis Robert, Kyle Lewis and Nico Hoerner, but for the purposes of this article we’re focusing on the prospects.


The following lists are the ten players that I think are worth looking at for your collection and will be in high demand for this release. I’ve chosen five hitters and five pitchers, in no particular order. Happy prospecting!

Hitters

  1. Luisangel Acuña, 2B/SS, Texas Rangers
  2. Bayron Lora, OF, Rangers
  3. Erick Pena, OF, Royals
  4. Gilberto Jimenez, OF, Boston Red Sox
  5. Luis Matos, OF, San Francisco Giants

Sleepers

  1. Wilderd Patino, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
  2. Brenton Doyle, RF, Colorado Rockies

Pitchers:

  1. Erik Miller, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies
  2. Jonathan Stiever, RHP, Chicago White Sox
  3. Levi Kelly, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
  4. Tahnaj Thomas, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
  5. Thad Ward, RHP, Boston Red Sox

Sleepers

  1. Tyler Ivey, RHP, Houston Astros
  2. Ethan Lindow, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies

 

2020 Bowman Chrome Baseball sell sheet

This is a complete list of all the prospect autographs available in the new 2020 Bowman Chrome release:

Andrew Dalquist, RHP, Chicago White Sox

  • CPA-AD
  • Ranked #13 on White Sox Top 50 Prospects
  • Still growing and maturing into his body, I wouldn’t be surprised if he increased his velocity a bit more on it and continued to impress with it. (William Shea)

 Anthony Garcia, OF, New York Yankees 

  • CPA-AG
  • Ranked #14 on Yankees Top 50 Prospects
  • A switch-hitter, Garcia is more effective left-handed but his gargantuan raw power is obvious from either side of the plate. (Paul Woodin)

Antonio Cabello, OF, New York Yankees

  • CPA-AC (Not 1st Bowman)
  • Ranked #8 on Yankees Top 50 Prospects
  • Cabello stood out in the Gulf Coast League in 2018, where he showed plus potential as a hitter with great bat speed. In addition, he possesses plus running and throwing ability. (Paul Woodin)

Austin Hansen, RHP, Houston Astros

  • CPA-AH
  • Not ranked
  • 8th Round draft pick in 2018

Alex Speas, RHP, Texas Rangers

Austin Shenton, 3B, Seattle Mariners

  • CPA-ASH
  • Ranked #22 on Mariners Top 50 Prospects
  • He is a local kid hailing from Bellingham, WA and had a strong start with Everett last year and was then promoted to Low-A West Virginia. Between the two stops he produced a .298/.376/.510 slash line with seven home runs in 53 games. (Joe Rush)

Alex Vesia, LHP, Miami Marlins

  • CPA-AV
  • Ranked #18 on Marlins Top 50 Prospects
  • The former round 17th round pick (2018) from Miami rose fast in 2019. In 38 games (only 1 start, total of 66.2 IP) he had a 1.76 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP and 100 strikeouts. (Stoffer Cochran)

Bayron Lora, OF, Texas Rangers

  • CPA-BL (Not 1st Bowman)
  • Ranked #9 on Rangers Top 50 Prospects
  • The potential for power is there, but with any power hitter, the downgrade is usually a hefty amount of swings and misses, and coupled with his youth, there might be a lot of frustration before we start to see results. (Casey Krish)

 Brady Whalen, 1B/3B, St. Louis Cardinals

  • CPA-BW
  • Ranked #39 on Cardinals Top 50 Prospects
  • Whalen had a solid 2019 season in A-ball. In 508 plate appearances he hit 7 HR, 81 RBI. Although his .248 average is mediocre at best, he gets a lot of hits with runners on base. (Chris Eros)

Brenton Doyle, RF, Colorado Rockies

  • CPA-BD
  • Ranked #27 on Rockies Top 50 Prospects
  • Doyle, drafted in the fourth round from Shepherd University, WV, was a pleasant surprise for the Rockies in 2018. He had 8 homers, 33 RBI, 17 stolen bases, .383 batting average and .477 OBP over 51 games at Grand Junction. (Michael Parnell)

Brandon Lewis, 1B/3B, Los Angeles Dodgers

  • CPA-BL (Not 1st Bowman)
  • Ranked #39 on Dodgers Top 50 Prospects
  • Lewis played in 56 pro games and hit 13 home runs with a .297/.365/.534 slash line. (Daniel Preciado)

Bryant Packard, OF, Detroit Tigers

  • CPA-BP (Not 1st Bowman)
  • Ranked #19 on Tigers Top 50 Prospects
  • I think Packard has the upside of a .280 hitter with 20 bombs. He isn’t going to steal any bases but he should provide average defense. In 39 games, over 3 levels he slashed .296/.392/.422. (Dave Eddy)

Cody Bolton, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

  • CPA-CB
  • Ranked #6 on Pirates Top 50 Prospects
  • Bolton outclassed his opponents in the FSL despite being 1.9 years below the average age for the league. His fastball can get up to 97 mph and he is developing multiple versions of his slider by playing around with the velocity of the pitch. (Kyle Brown)

Colin Barber, OF, Houston Astros

  • CPA-CBA
  • Ranked #16 on Astros Top 50 Prospects
  • Very few wasted movements in his swing allowed for a .263/.387/.394 triple slash in the Gulf Coast League.  (Brandon Lute)

Chris Gittens, 1B, New York Yankees

  • CPA-CG
  • Ranked #43 on Yankees Top 50 Prospects
  • In 2019 Gittens went on to be named the Trenton Thunder Player of the Year AND the 2019 Eastern League Most Valuable Player. (Paul Woodin)

Christian Koss, SS, Colorado Rockies

  • CPA-CK
  • Ranked #40 on Rockies Top 50 Prospects
  • Koss flourished for Grand Junction after graduating from UC-Irvine and being drafted in the 12th round by the Rockies in 2019. He hit .332 (.447 OBP) with 11 homers, 51 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 190 at-bats. (Michael Parnell)

Chandler Redmond, INF/OF, St. Louis Cardinals

  • CPA-CR
  • Not Ranked
  • 32nd Round draft pick in 2019

Curtis Terry, 1B, Texas Rangers

Drew Avans, OF/LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

  • CPA-DA
  • Not Ranked
  • 33rd Round draft pick in 2018

Dylan File, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

  • CPA-DF
  • Ranked #50 on Brewers Top 50 Prospects
  • After having his best season in 2019, 15-6 and 3.24 ERA between High-A and Double-A, it is possible that Dylan File gets his first chance to pitch to Triple-A lineups in 2020. (Philip Case)

Drew Millas, C,  Oakland Athletics

Devin Mann, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers

  • CPA-DMA
  • Ranked #16 on Dodgers Top 50 Prospects
  • Across 98 games, he crushed 19 home runs with a .278/.358/.496 slash line. (Daniel Preciado)

Ethan Lindow, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies

  • CPA-EL
  • Ranked #16 on Phillies Top 50 Prospects
  • Lindow was the organization’s Pitcher of the Year after another good season. He has a mid 90’s fastball and also throws a change-up, curveball and cutter, all of which he commands very well. (Tony Bps)

Erick Pena, OF, Kansas City Royals

  • CPA-EPE
  • Ranked #3 on Royals Top 50 Prospects
  • Ranked #93 on Overall Top 199 Prospects
  • Erick Pena finds himself here based on some ridiculously high reputation and potential. Perhaps no one outside of Bobby Witt Jr. in the Royals org has a higher ceiling than Erick Pena. (Alex Duvall)

Erik Miller, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies

  • CPA-EM
  • Ranked #9 on Phillies Top 50 Prospects
  • He looked great during his time in the organization showing a high 90’s fastball striking out 52 in only 36 innings. (Tony Bps)

Francisco Alvarez, C, New York Mets

Gilberto Jimenez, OF, Boston Red Sox

  • CPA-GJ
  • Ranked #4 on Red Sox Top 50 Prospects
  • Ranked #162 on Overall Top 199 Prospects
  • Let’s see what he does at Class-A Greenville this Spring before anointing him my next big prospect crush, but slashing .359/.393/.470/.863 with 14 SB as an 18 year old in the New York-Penn League is exciting. (Scott Greene)

Gabriel Moreno, C, Toronto Blue Jays

  • CPA-GM
  • Ranked #9 on Blue Jays Top 50 Prospects 
  • Moreno had a breakout season outperforming expectations with a .280/.337/.485 slashline and 12 HR, 52 RBI in 80 games at Low-A Lansing. (Greg Bracken)

Gunner Mayer, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies

Graeme Stinson, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays

  • CPA-GS
  • Ranked #48 on Rays Top 50 Prospects
  • After a sensational sophomore season at Duke that had him ranked as the fourth-best college prospect in 2019 by Baseball America, Stinson struggled in his Junior season. (Jake Wiener)

Hector Yan, LHP, Los Angeles Angels

Isaac Paredes, 3B/SS, Detroit Tigers

Ivan Herrera, C, St. Louis Cardinals

  • CPA-IH
  • Ranked #8 on Cardinals Top 50 Prospects
  • Ranked #167 on Overall Top 199 Prospects
  • Over the 2019 season he hit 9 HR, 47 RBI, and slashed .284/.374/.405. Herrera has the makings to be the best catcher in the Cardinals organization and it’s only a matter of time until he is. (Chris Eros)

Jhon Torres, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

  • CPA-JT
  • Ranked #13 on Cardinals Top 50 Prospects
  • Torres has the tools to hit for both power and average. The 6’4″ giant can hit with power to all fields and make solid contact. Torres has average speed but a cannon for an arm, so he’s looking like a fit to be an everyday right fielder. (Chris Eros)

Joan Martinez, RHP, Boston Red Sox

  • CPA-JM
  • Ranked #47 on Red Sox Top 50 Prospects
  • Martinez is somewhat of a wild stallion type relief pitcher with a huge fastball but some rawness in the command and secondaries. (Ben Wilson)

Jordan Brewer, OF, Houston Astros

  • CPA-JB
  • Ranked #14 on Astros Top 50 Prospects
  • Carries a high K rate from the college ranks, but has enough raw power and speed to be a potential 20-20 threat. (Brandon Lute)

Jonathan Stiever, RHP, Chicago White Sox

  • CPA-JS
  • Ranked #5 on White Sox Top 50 Prospects
  • This righty from Indiana was absolutely phenomenal last year for the Dash. There’s no doubt that he was the best pitching prospect of 2019 for the White Sox. (William Shea)

Junior Santos, RHP, New York Mets

  • CPA-JSA
  • Ranked #11 on Mets Top 50 Prospects
  • With his youth, athleticism, and elevated pitching plane, Santos has ace upside, although at 18 is understandably years away from it. (Christian Kainer)

Karl Kauffmann, RHP, Colorado Rockies

  • CPA-KK
  • Ranked #23 on Rockies Top 50 Prospects
  • He’s 6-2, 200 pounds with a mid-90s fastball, plus slider and plus changeup that could lead eventually to a rotation spot in Denver. (Michael Parnell)

Kevin Smith, LHP, New York Mets (Baltimore Orioles)

  • CPA-KS
  • Ranked #13 on Mets Top 50 Prospects
  • Smith throws with above-average spin rates, causing his low-90s fastball to range around average. His slider and changeup range around the same, giving him a decent three-pitch mix. (Christian Kainer)

Kendall Simmons, SS, Philadelphia Phillies

Luisangel Acuña, 2B/SS, Texas Rangers

  • CPA-LA
  • Ranked #21 on Rangers Top 50 Prospects
  • Ranked #164 on Overall Top 199 Prospects
  • I should only have to say one thing that should put him on the map. 34 walks to 26 strikeouts. Find me another guy in the Rangers system that walks in 15% of their at bats, especially as a 17 year old. (Casey Krish)

Lewin Diaz, 1B, Miami Marlins

Levi Kelly, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

  • CPA-LK
  • Ranked #15 on Diamondbacks Top 50 Prospect
  • He’s got a double plus slider/plus fastball combo that would work as a reliever for his floor. But the ceiling is high if he can add a change and/or a splitter and stay a starting pitcher. (Matthew Hammerling)

Luis Matos, OF, San Francisco Giants

Logan O’Hoppe, C, Philadelphia Phillies

  • CPA-LOH
  • Ranked #47 on Phillies Top 50 Prospects
  • O’Hoppe is good defensively and is eager to learn. His offensive numbers took a big step backwards in his 2nd year but he has a great work ethic and can move up the rankings with a stronger showing this year. (Tony Bps)

Michael Harris, OF, Atlanta Braves

  • CPA-MH
  • Ranked #15 on Braves Top 50 Prospects
  • A two-way player out of his Georgia high school, the Braves preferred Harris as a hitter thanks to his plus raw power and average speed combination. (Jake Berry)

Max Lazar, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

  • CPA-ML
  • Ranked #30 on Brewers Top 50 Prospects
  • 2019 was somewhat of a breakout year for Lazar. He spent most of the year in Class A putting up a 7-4-2.33 record overall. He has elite command of his fastball, curve, and change. (Philip Case)

Michael Massey, 2B, Kansas City Royals

  • CPA-MM (Not 1st Bowman)
  • Ranked #36 on Royals Top 50 Prospects
  • He moves well at 2B, projects to hit for more power as he continues to fill out, doesn’t strike out much, and his swing is so pretty. (Alex Duvall)

Nick Kahle, C, Milwaukee Brewers

  • CPA-NK
  • Ranked #22 on Brewers Top 50 Prospects
  • The 5’10, 210 pound receiver hit 339-8-50 as a junior with 59 walks and only 28 strikeouts. After being drafted in the 4th round in 2019, he hit 255-6-25 with 20 walks, good for a .350 OBP in the Pioneer League. (Philip Case)

Niko Hulsizer, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

  • CPA-NH (Not 1st Bowman)
  • Ranked #21 on Rays Top 50 Prospects
  • “The Hulksizer” hit 20 HR between two minor-league levels with the Dodgers before being traded to the Rays for LHP Adam Kolarek. (Jake Wiener)

Osiel Rodriguez, RHP, New York Yankees

  • CPA-OR
  • Ranked #13 on Yankees Top 50 Prospects
  • He has an electric arm that produces 92-95 mph fastballs that top out at 97, with high spin rates that give them extra life up in the strike zone. His hard curveball is a bit more effective than his harder slider, with both displaying the potential to become plus pitches. (Paul Woodin)

Oswald Peraza, SS, New York Yankees

  • CPA-OP
  • Ranked #31 on Yankees Top 50 Prospects
  • He also showed good speed by stealing 23 bases. He does have some pull power and could produce double-digit home runs once he gets stronger. (Paul Woodin)

Packy Naughton, LHP, Cincinnati Reds

  • CPA-PN
  • Ranked #8 on Reds Top 50 Prospects
  • Strikeout rates have varied over the past few seasons but he generally doesn’t walk guys much, and to this point has done a good job of limiting runs. (Rudie Verougstraete)

Paul Richan, RHP, Detroit Tigers

  • CPA-PR
  • Ranked #31 on Tigers Top 50 Prospects
  • His FB sits 89-93 that is more command than velocity or life, above average low 80’s slider that is very effective, could end up developing an average change and curveball. (Dave Eddy)

Pedro Pages, C, St. Louis Cardinals

  • CPA-PP
  • Ranked #38 on Cardinals Top 50 Prospects
  • Pages, like Rodriguez is a solid defensive catcher. He’s got solid doubles power, but will be looking to expand his horizons in 2020 and tap into some power. (Chris Eros)

Randy Florentino, C/1B, Texas Rangers

  • CPA-RF
  • Ranked #28 on Rangers Top 50 Prospects
  • In just over 400 professional plate appearances, Florentino has drawn 78 walks. Mix that with an above average batting average of .281 for a catcher and that leaves an OBP north of .400. (Casey Krish)

 Raimfer Salinas, OF, New York Yankees

  • CPA-RS
  • Ranked #21 on Yankees Top 50 Prospects
  • At the plate, Salinas has shown an advanced approach and good bat speed. He sprays the ball to all fields while also showing some home run power. (Paul Woodin)

Ricky Vanasco, RHP, Texas Rangers

Riley Greene, OF, Detroit Tigers

  • CPA-RG (Not 1st Bowman)
  • Ranked #3 on Tigers Top 50 Prospects
  • Ranked #42 on Overall Top 199 Prospects
  • Greene boasts a potential 70 hit tool. He won’t be winning any HR titles but he has the tools to be a big time hitter when his time comes. Greene blew through the lowest levels of the minor leagues last year and finished up in West Michigan. (Dave Eddy)

Ryan Pepiot, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

  • CPA-RP
  • Ranked #23 on Dodgers Top 50 Prospects
  • His potential is sky-high and he has demonstrated as such in a short minor league cameo. Pepiot amassed 31 strikeouts across 23 1/3 innings of work in 2019. (Daniel Preciado)

Seth Gray, 3B, Minnesota Twins

  • CPA-SG
  • Ranked #26 on Twins Top 50 Prospects
  • Someone to monitor from a distance, he is an athletic, powerful bat who needs to strike out less and make more contact. (Dave Funnell)

Tyler Dyson, RHP, Washington Nationals

Trey Harris, OF, Atlanta Braves

  • CPA-TH
  • Ranked #11 on Braves Top 50 Prospects
  •  He gets the bat to the ball at an unbelievable rate, can draw a walk, can run, and has even shown home run power. (Jake Berry)

Tyler Ivey, RHP, Houston Astros

  • CPA-TI
  • Ranked #12 on Astros Top 50 Prospects
  •  The 3rd round pick in 2017 only threw 52 innings, but he made them worthwhile. With a 1.38 ERA, 11.76 K/9, and 0.92 WHIP, Ivey showed what he can do when even moderately healthy. (Brandon Lute)

Taylor Jones, 1B, Houston Astros

  • CPA-TJ
  • Ranked #24 on Astros Top 50 Prospects
  • Jones is nearing the age that most players are no longer considered prospects, but deserves to remain in the conversation due to his .889 OPS, 22 HR and 84 RBI in 2019. (Brandon Lute)

Tucupita Marcano, 2B, San Diego Padres

  • CPA-TM
  • Ranked #15 on Padres Top 50 Prospects
  • A pure contact hitter, Marcano is slowly climbing his way up the organization and (stop me if you have heard this before) offers a high floor. (Alex Sanchez)

Tahnaj Thomas, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

  • CPA-TT
  • Ranked #5 on Pirates Top 50 Prospects
  • Ranked #182 on Overall Top 199 Prospects
  • Thomas earned the organization’s Breakout Prospect Of The Year award in 2019 by dominating the Appy league with his 95-101 heater, wipeout slider, and a changeup that is threatening to become and above average pitch with lots of late life. (Kyle Brown)

Thad Ward, RHP, Boston Red Sox

  • CPA-TW
  • Ranked #8 on Red Sox Top 50 Prospects
  • Ward is really flying under the radar on a lot of industry prospect lists, primarily because he didn’t have a big wow pro debut in 2018 Lowell. But this past season in A/A+ ball he showed exactly why he was Boston’s 5th round pick back in June 2018. 157 K in 126.1 IP (11.2 K/9) will do that, and to sport a 2.78 ERA across those two levels is very impressive. (Scott Greene)

Ulrich Bojarski, OF, Detroit Tigers

Vaughn Grissom, SS, Atlanta Braves

 Will Holland, SS, Minnesota Twins

  • CPA-WH
  • Ranked #32 on Twins Top 50 Prospects
  • If he could improve on his contact skills and his infield defense, there’s a potential for 20/15 from the middle infield that could help you late in drafts, but for now, he remains a lottery ticket. (Dave Funnell)

Wilderd Patino, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

  • CPA-WP
  • Ranked #19 on Diamondbacks Top 50 Prospects
  • Patino is a physical specimen with a plus body, plus projectability and plus plus speed. He has the strength for power, but needs to work on his swing because it’s not game power yet. (Matthew Hammerling)

Yoendrys Gomez, RHP, New York Yankees

  • CPA-YG
  • Ranked #10 on Yankees Top 50 Prospects
  • He throws a fastball between 92-97, with a high spin rate and downhill plane. He also throws a high spin curveball in the upper 70s and is working on a changeup that has shown at times it could develop into a plus pitch. (Paul Woodin)

Zach Watson, OF, Baltimore Orioles

  • CPA-ZW
  • Ranked #23 on Orioles Top 50 Prospects
  • Watson can fly, 70-grade speed on the 20-80 scale, you can’t teach that. He showed fairly solid ability with the bat, never slashing less than the .308/.366/.479 he slashed as a Sophomore at LSU. (Ryan James)

Jacob Swain
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