2022 Bowman is here, and we finally have our official checklist for the main release. Topps loaded the 2022 Bowman release with so many 1st Bowman’s (134 in total) that I’ve broken this into three articles: AL base set subjects and NL base set subjects as previously discussed, and this Autograph-only subjects here in Part 3. If you want to dip into 2022 Bowman yourself, you may be able to find some retail product in Walmart, Meijer, and Target (coming soon). The hobby product, with more expensive boxes that have guaranteed autos, is due out this week
Below is an alphabetical (by team) list of every Chrome Autograph-Only subject with a 1st Bowman, with a little bit of information on each and my personal risk/ceiling assessment. How I judge ceiling is based on the hobby — power first, everything else following. How I judge risk is mostly dependent on how far the player has advanced in level, but also factors in how well the player has done and projects to do.
Level listed is the player’s 2022 starting level, unless otherwise noted.
Note that I’ve noted included a few players who don’t have Chrome autographs, but do have paper Retail-Only autographs. I also chose to eschew some of those other Retail-Only subjects because their hobby interest figures to be minimal.
Because the list is 35+ names, for the TLDR (too long didn’t read) crowd, I’ll throw a few superlatives out, High School yearbook-style:
Most Likely to Succeed: Matt McLain
Best Performer: Taj Bradley & James Triantos
Most Changed: Adam Macko
Most Athletic: Oscar Colas & James Triantos
Most Likely to Make your Head Turn: Oscar Colas
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Gavin Conticello, Arizona Diamondbacks, 18, 3B, Rookie (ACL)
An overslot 8th Round pick in the 2021 Draft, Conticello has some nice ingredients to be a hobby sleeper. He’s very raw, so it’s an easy choice for him to head back to the ACL, but power will be his carrying tool. Like his HS teammate Coby Mayo, he also has a great frame to eventually get to that power.
Risk 10
Ceiling 5-7
Creed Willems, Baltimore Orioles, 18, C, Rookie (FCL)
Signing for $1MM as a surprise 8th Round pick, Willems has a classic catcher’s build with an arm to match. He also has great raw power from the left side. We’ll see how the rest of his game develops as he gets his feet wet in the Complex league this year.
Risk 10
Ceiling 4-6
Eduardo Vaughan, Boston Red Sox, 20, OF, Single-A
Panamanian ballplayers tend to take a little longer to get going professionally after signing, and Vaughan fits that mold. There is definite upside to his overall offensive profile, but there’s not much consistency at present. He received an aggressive assignment to Single-A where he’s posting a good OBP so far.
Risk 9
Ceiling 3
James Triantos, Chicago Cubs, 19, 3B, Single-A
Out of the 2021 MLB Draft, Triantos figured to be ‘just’ a 2nd Round hit-tool prep. His performance in the Complex did not disappoint in that regard. But he was so much more than that. It now looks like at least above-average power as well, and that rightfully has Cubs fans excited.
Risk 8
Ceiling 9
Jordan Wicks, Chicago Cubs, 22, LHP, High-A
A very safe player with a lot of polish, Wicks is a surefire starter with a great changeup. His ceiling is limited to mid-rotation, but he’s as likely to reach it as any 2021 pitching Draftee. He’s getting hit a bit in High-A to start 2022, but there’s not much doubt he’ll move quickly through the system.
Risk 5
Ceiling 6
Pablo Aliendo, Chicago Cubs, 20, C, High-A
Aliendo’s defensive acumen and versatility have moved him quickly through the system. For that reason, he’s now handling the High-A staff even though his offensive game is not ready for it. Give it time. His plate skills are there and results will eventually follow as his body continues to mature. Even so, for the hobby, he’ll be a tough pill to swallow until we see some results.
Risk 8
Ceiling 4
Yeison Santana, Chicago Cubs, 21, SS, Single-A
After a demotion to the ACL in 2021, Santana picked himself up offensively and continues to look much better in Single-A as 2022 begins. Defense is Santana’s strong suit, with above-average speed being his second best tool.
Risk 10
Ceiling 2
Oscar Colas, Chicago White Sox, 23, OF, High-A
The Cuban Ohtani supposedly has plus tools across the board, but there’s reason for doubt in such superlative reports. He might not be a great hitter or fielder, though his arm is not in doubt. The power is also not in question, and that’ll play just fine in the hobby. With how the White Sox collectors treat their top prospects, I would expect his autos to be quite pricey.
Risk 7
Ceiling 6-8
Enoy Jimenez, Chicago White Sox, 21, 2B, DSL (2021) (RETAIL ONLY)
Cesar’s physique is nothing like his brother Eloy’s. At 5’10” his power projection is limited but his hit tool showed glimpses of promise. He’ll look to make a solid stateside debut this year.
Risk 10
Ceiling 4
Matt McLain, Cincinnati Reds, 22, SS, AA
I think McLain is the safest bet to be an MLB regular from the entire 2021 Draft. He had a great debut that had him reaching High-A and performing well there and now finds himself in AA to start 2022. But he does not have a great power ceiling, probably 20-25 HR. The hobby loves their power, so I think he’s held into the mid-tier.
Risk 4
Ceiling 7
Yan Contreras, Cincinnati Reds, 21, SS, Rookie (ACL) (2019)
It’s tough to know where Contreras is developmentally right now. He hasn’t played since 2019 and is not currently assigned to a team. Out of the 2019 Draft he was seen as an above-average fielder with the potential to get to above-average power as a utility player.
Risk 10
Ceiling 3-5
Jose Fermin, Cleveland Guardians, 23, 3B/2B, AAA
Fermin has posted one of the best SwStr% in the minors throughout his career. That shows that there is a plus hit tool in there. For him it’s a matter of making the best of his limited physical tools to be impactful with that great plate skill. He’s showing that he can do that in AAA right now, and we should see him in Cleveland late this year if it continues.
Risk 3
Ceiling 4
Franco Aleman, Cleveland Guardians, 21, RHP, Single-A (RETAIL ONLY)
A 10th-round pick out of Florida in the 2021 Draft, it’s tough to pin down what Aleman could be. He’s tinkered with his pitch mix repeatedly in attempts to get more consistent command, and it’s all still a work in progress. Regardless, he has a 6’6″ frame and has a fastball that has reached 98. Some definite positives.
Risk 9
Ceiling 3
Tyler Whitaker, Houston Astros, 19, OF, Single-A
The Astros’ 2021 4th round pick, Whitaker is a corner OF with good power projection. He’s very raw and expected to be a project but he was aggressively assigned to Low-A. The early-2022 improvements on his feel-to-hit look to be pretty good. He’s a nice bet as a hobby sleeper.
Risk 10
Ceiling 6
Cristian Gonzalez, Houston Astros, 20, SS, High-A
Gonzalez spent most of his time in 2021 at Single-A, and held his own there with a .300 wOBA. Challenged with an assignment to High-A to begin 2022, we’ll see if his projectable 6’3” frame starts to realize some power.
Risk 9
Ceiling 5
Dayton Dooney, Kansas City Royals, 22, 2B, ACL (2021)
Dooney’s carrying tool is his hit, which is always a nice building block. He’ll look to prove other facets of his game are better than expected when he gets going in the Complex league.
Risk 9
Ceiling 3-5
Wilmin Candelario, Kansas City Royals, 20, SS, Low-A
There are a lot of tools to like in Candelario. It’s just a matter of putting them all together. He hasn’t shown much power yet but has good bat speed. He’s already shown much better plate discipline to begin 2022, improving massively on a 51% K last year. He’s solidly a SS, and that’ll buoy his value in the organization.
Risk 10
Ceiling 6
Alejandro Hidalgo, Los Angeles Angels, 18, RHP, Single-A
For now, Hidalgo is a starter, and as a best case scenario, he does have the 3-pitch repertoire to stay there as a mid-rotation arm. However, he lacks a fluid delivery so there’s a lot of relief concern. He has an excellent curve and a mid-90’s fastball at present with some projection remaining.
Risk 9
Ceiling 4
Mason Albright, Los Angeles Angels, 19, LHP, Single-A
When you look up pitchability lefty in the dictionary, you might see a picture of Albright. Deception isn’t a tool but it’s definitely his best quality. If he can sharpen up his secondaries there’s a good chance he eventually makes it to the majors as a swingman or reliever.
Risk 9
Ceiling 4
Chase Silseth, Los Angeles Angels, 21, RHP, AA (RETAIL ONLY)
As one of the more seasoned 2021 Angels pitcher draftees, Silseth was pushed to AA to start 2022. Surprisingly, the early returns have been excellent. At Arizona he showed flashes of some great stuff but lacked consistency — it’s possible he’s now finding it at AA. He lacks an ideal frame so durability is a question, but he’s definitely trending upwards.
Risk 7
Ceiling 5
Orlando Martinez, Los Angeles Angels, 24, OF, AA (RETAIL ONLY)
Martinez is likely to make the majors, but other than fielding, he doesn’t have any average or better tools — and that’s only to say that everything else is just a hair below. We should see him in Anaheim as a bench/platoon bat at some point in the next few years.
Risk 6
Ceiling 3
Federico Polanco, Miami Marlins, 21, 2B/1B, High-A
Polanco held his own with a .301 wOBA at Single-A last year. And now having been promoted and moved off of 3B/SS to the right side of the infield, there’s more pressure on him to perform. We’ll see if he’s up to the task in Beloit this year.
Risk 8
Ceiling 2
Larry Ernesto, Milwaukee Brewers, 21, OF, ACL (2021)
Ernesto is a very free swinger at present and has a long way to go, even though he’s already 21. He does have above average raw power and definitely has a frame to grow into to get to it. He’ll repeat the complex this year.
Risk 10
Ceiling 2
Bryan Acuna, Minnesota Twins, 17, SS (hasn’t debuted yet)
The third Acuna brother, Bryan’s all-around skills project to be a light version of Luisangel’s at present. Since he’s got a bigger frame to work with, it’s possible he eclipses Luisangel’s power eventually, but as a 2022 J15, he’s 100% projection. The hobby loves their Acuna, so this will surely be big name in this product.
Risk 10
Ceiling 5-7
Louie Varland, Minnesota Twins, 24, RHP, AA (RETAIL ONLY)
The Twins’ organization pitcher of the year, Varland simply outmatched hitters in Single-A in 2021 and continued his excellence after moving to High-A . Altogether it was 2.10 ERA and a K/9 of 12.41. He has a 94-96 MPH fastball and secondaries that play to being more than the sum of their parts. Most importantly, he seems to improve with every stop. It’s a shame he’s retail-only auto in this.
Risk 5
Ceiling 5
Tyler Hardman, New York Yankees, 23, 3B/1B, High-A
The Big 12 Batting Champion at Oklahoma, Hardman was a 2021 5th-Round Senior sign. He works counts deep and that results in a lot of strikeouts (and walks), but also has good bat speed that should lead to average or better power. He’s also worked on continually improving his body so he doesn’t pigeonhole himself to being a 1B-only prospect.
Risk 8
Ceiling 4
Randy Vasquez, New York Yankees, 23, RHP, AA
Age aside, there are a lot of parallels to Deivi Garcia with Vasquez – lack of an ideal frame, a great breaking pitch, iffy fastball effectiveness, lack of a reliable third pitch. That’s a mixed bag overall, but his arrows are up – improved command spurred his breakout year in 2021, blasting through three levels. Like Deivi, he’ll continue to develop as a starter for now, but it’s easy to see a bright future for him in the bullpen.
Risk 6
Ceiling 5
Adam Macko, Seattle Mariners, 21, LHP, High-A
Macko’s stuff is very impressive. He has three easily above-average pitches, with a curve that flashes double-plus. The Mariners development magic is in full force with the former 7th-rounder. He is a smaller framed pitcher and was given a light workload last year, so it’s definitely fair to question his durability. At worst, it’s easy to see a future closer in Macko.
Risk 7
Ceiling 6
Juan Querecuto, Seattle Mariners, 21, RHP, Single-A (2021)
Querecuto is now being converted to pitcher after reaching Single-A as a 3B last year. He certainly has the arm for it but he’s obviously extremely raw.
Risk 10
Ceiling 1
Elijah Cabell, St. Louis Cardinals, 22, OF, Single-A
Cabell was a Draft Combine standout, posting many 110 MPH+ exit velocities at the event. With power not in question, all the 17th-round pick has to do is improve on the ~60% contact rate he posted consistently at Florida State.
Risk 10
Ceiling 5
Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals, 25, 3B/OF, MLB (RETAIL ONLY)
Donovan has a do-everything profile and has been called up to the majors. His hit tool looks especially promising — it could be average or better. He’ll have to prove he can handle the versatile defensive assignments he’s being given, but he’s already gained favor over Lars Nootbaar.
Risk 1
Ceiling 4
Taj Bradley, Tampa Bay Rays, 21, RHP, AA
Simply put, Bradley is easily the highest ceiling pitcher on this checklist. He has a 95-97 MPH with great shape that’s easily a plus pitch, and a developing slider that could end up as a second plus pitch. If he develops a consistent third pitch, he may be an ace. And his performance has matched this projection, including his first few innings now at AA as a 21 YO. He’s a great add for this product. Go get him.
Risk 6
Ceiling 8
Ronny Henriquez, Texas Rangers (now Twins), 21, RHP, AAA
The Rangers leveraged an excellent season from Henriquez in trading him to the Twins as part of the Mitch Garver trade. Ignore the ERA. BB%, K%, and BAA are all positive points and improving, so from a development standpoint, he looks squarely like a future SP. He is a bit undersized so there’s something to prove yet with durability, but the Twins could have use for him as early as this year.
Risk 5
Ceiling 5
Zion Bannister, Texas Rangers, 20, OF, ACL (2021)
Still more of a raw athlete than baseball player, but Bannister made a bit of progress at the Complex last year with a .309 wOBA. He’ll look to continue to develop his plate skills at the complex again this year.
Risk 10
Ceiling 5
Damiano Palmegiani, Toronto Blue Jays, 22, 3B, Low-A
Palmegiani led all 2021 D1 JuCo players with 26 HR last year and has continued to hit well even into 2022 after being drafted in the 14th round. Power will be his calling card, and he’s playing below the level of a player of his age would normally dictate, but the feel to hit that he’s showing is a positive sign that the Jays may have found a steal.
Risk 8
Ceiling 6
Zach Logue, Toronto Blue Jays (now Athletics), 26, RHP, MLB (RETAIL ONLY)
Logue uses plus command and array of average breakers to play off of his low-90’s fastball. He should eventually fill in as a back end starter but for now is in a relief role for Oakland, after coming over in the Matt Chapman trade.
Risk 1
Ceiling 3
Max Arterburn lives in the Milwaukee suburbs. He loves coaching baseball, karaoke, film, and spending time with his wife & 3 boys. He loves the Hobby & uses it as an avenue to obsessively follow prospects. He also loves critiquing card design & fancies 1998 UD3 as his favorite childhood set. He is not an Instagram model.
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Max Arterburnhttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/marterburn1500/
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Max Arterburnhttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/marterburn1500/
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Max Arterburnhttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/marterburn1500/
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Max Arterburnhttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/marterburn1500/
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