Baseball Rookie Card Report: Baseball’s Hottest Prospects
Here's a look at some of the hottest minor league prospects in baseball as well as a list of the top cards currently available.
Jonathan Singleton, LF Philadelphia Phillies (D.O.B. 9/18/91)
Despite entering the season as one of the game's top prospects, Jonathan Singleton started 2011 off ice-cold. Part of it may have been that he had to make the adjustment of moving from first base to left field, which could have affected his at bats. Singleton has now found a groove. In his last 10 games he is hitting .457 with three home runs and an OPS of 1.368. He is definitely heating up and finding the form that made him a top prospect in the off-season.
Key Cards:
- 2010 Bowman Baseball Aflac Autographs Jonathan Singleton (/127)
- 2010 Bowman Platinum Baseball Autographs Jonathan Singleton
- 2010 Bowman Sterling Baseball Autographs Jonathan Singleton
- 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Baseball Autographs Jonathan Singleton (/699)
Nolan Arenado, 3B Colorado Rockies (D.O.B. 4/16/91)
Nolan Arenado completely mashed the ball in 2010, hitting 41 doubles in just 92 games. This was good enough to have him named by Baseball America as the second best prospect in Colorado's system. He started the year cold but as this season has progressed he has heated up. Over his last 10 he is hitting .395 with an OPS over 1.000. Arenado was recently named to the Futures Game on July 10th.
Key Cards:
- 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Baseball Autographs Nolan Arenado (/844)
- 2010 Bowman Baseball Chrome Prospects Autographs Nolan Arenado
Kyle Seager, 2B Seattle Mariners (D.O.B. 11/3/87)
One of the best kept secrets in all of Minor League Baseball, Kyle Seager has quietly hit his way to Triple-A. Following in his former college teammate's footsteps, Seager is staying one level below the recently promoted Dustin Ackley. Seager has hit all season, racking up an average of .312 with 25 doubles in Double-A before getting called up. Since his promotion to Triple-A, he has hit .539. He almost hit for the cycle on June 28th. Seager is about as hot as it gets in the minors right now.
Key Cards:
- 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Baseball Autographs Kyle Seager (/744)
- 2010 Bowman Chrome Baseball Autographs Kyle Seager
David Holmberg, P Arizona Diamondbacks (D.O.B. 7/19/91)
A throw-in in the Dan Hudson trade last season between the Diamondbacks and White Sox, David Holmberg has given great returns in 2011. In his last five starts he has not allowed an earned run, while giving up 20 hits in 34 innings. Holmberg has been dominating as of late and is due to get a promotion any time soon.
Key Cards:
- 2009 Bowman Draft Baseball Chrome Prospects David Holmberg
- 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Baseball Autographs David Holmberg (/710)
Aaron Hicks, OF Minnesota Twins (D.O.B. 10/2/89)
Probably the hottest hitter in all the minors, Aaron Hicks has been on a tear this June following a horrible start. He finished April hitting .211 and got up to .286 in May. In June however, Hicks is hitting .351 and over his last ten, he is hitting .389 with seven doubles, a triple and 11 walks. Hicks looks to be on his way to having a great 2011 so it might be a good idea to keep an eye on him for the rest of the year.
Key Card:
Scooter Gennett, 2B Milwaukee Brewers (D.O.B. 5/1/90)
Scooter Gennett was a doubles machine in 2010 and looks to be building off his first full year of professional ball and working his way through the minors. Overall for the month of June he is hitting .333, but over his last 10 games he is batting .381 with three doubles and a homer. Right now Gennett is one of the hottest hitters in all the minors, so watch him as he progresses in the Florida State League.
Key Cards:
- 2010 Bowman Chrome Baseball Prospects Autographs Scooter Gennett
- 2010 Bowman Draft Baseball Aflac Buyback Autographs Scooter Gennett /230
Dayan Viciedo, OF/3B Chicago Cubs (D.O.B. 3/10/89)
As the season has progressed, Dayan Viciedo has only gotten hotter. In April he hit .250, followed by .349 in May and now .377 in June. Over his last ten games he is hitting .341 for Triple-A Charlotte. Because Viciendo had a solid 2010 and has continued to hit this season, look for him to be added to the Cubs' roster later this season.
Key Card:
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David T | Jul 1, 2011 | Reply
Glad to see Singleton is heating up. I’m sittin on a Gold Sterling auto /50 that I’ll probably wait to sell when he gets called up in a few years. Any idea what something like that might top out at?