Carding Baseball America's MLB Prospects Hot Sheet (June 3)

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. Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays — Low-A Bowling Green Hot Rods
Baseball America’s highlight line: “In 108 minor league games, only one pitcher has managed to strike him out more than once. ... He has not struck out swinging since May 20, and has not struck out at all since May 24. ... Through June 2, Franco is hitting .326 in the Midwest League as an 18-year-old. Two years ago, when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was in the Midwest League as an 18-year-old, he hit … .326."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 300
First Chrome auto: 2019 Bowman 
One auto to consider: 2018 Elite Extra Edition
Buzz’s card take: The bad news here? If you don't know his name, you're late to the party and that will cost you way more buying his autos. The good news here? First, he's being compared to Vladdy Jr., and second he's got plenty of ink -- about half of his cards come with autos -- and there are inevitably more on the way. Simple as that. Pulling his autos are the best way to go as buy-in prices for his first Chrome ink can be on the stupid side ... well, only if he doesn't deliver. (So far, he has.)

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

2. Adbert Alzolay, RHP, Chicago Cubs — Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Chicago’s No. 6 prospect allowed just one earned run across two starts, completing six innings back-to-back for the first time so far this season. The right-hander was in a groove against Triple-A Round Rock, retiring 16 in a row at one point."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 300
First Chrome auto: 2018 Bowman 
One auto to consider: 2018 Panini National Treasures
Buzz’s card take: About a third of his cards are autos and a third of those are on Chrome stock, meanwhile his easiest National Treasures ink is limited to only 49 copies. In seven MiLB seasons, he's 32-24 with a 3.49 ERA and 386 strikeouts in 446 innings, so those are fine numbers but nothing scorching like many elite pitching prospects. That doesn't matter if you can ride a hot streak into a bullpen spot. (There's chatter about that.)

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3. Dylan Carlson, OF, St. Louis Cardinals — Double-A Springfield Cardinals
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Carlson’s breakout year shows no sign of slowing down. The 20-year-old outfielder put together three multi-hit games last week and is showing a tantalizing mix of tools and savvy. He’s showing above-average hitting ability, plus power, above-average defense and enough speed and instincts to be a base-stealing threat. With his well-rounded game blossoming at such a young age, some evaluators are beginning to write up Carlson as the No. 1 prospect in the Cardinals system."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 150
First Chrome auto: 2016 Bowman Draft
One auto to consider: 2016 Elite Extra Edition
Buzz’s card take: You've seen him here this season and not much has changed with his cardboard since then other than perhaps prices. As said last time, just half of his paltry card total includes ink so there could be some competition here now with some attention from Baseball America. Another interesting nugget about his ink? He only signed back in 2016 and hasn't since. He's in Leaf Trinity, Elite Extra Edition, Leaf Metal and Bowman Chrome Draft -- and that's it. There seems like some very good potential here, too, as long as you get in on the cheaper side.

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4. Trevor Larnach, OF, Minnesota Twins — High-A Fort Myers Miracle
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Larnach struggled in April, but since then he has looked like the offensive force the Twins expected him to be when they drafted him No. 20 overall last year. The pitcher-friendly Florida State League has suppressed his home run totals, but Larnach leads the league with 17 doubles, while his .856 OPS ranks fourth."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 150
First Chrome auto: 2018 Bowman Draft 
One auto to consider: 2018 Panini Contenders Draft Picks
Buzz’s card take: Another guy where half of his card appearances are signed, Larnach made his ink debut in last year's Bowman Draft after playing at Oregon State. His debut MiLB season included a .303 average with five homers and 26 RBI in 42 games last year, while he's at the same clip (.304) this year with five homers and 31 RBI in 51 games this year. He's set for a career campaign based on that, right? With a modest amount of cardboard, he's worth taking a cheap look at his ink.

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5. Luis Urias, 2B, San Diego Padres — Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Urias had 17 home runs in five minor league seasons entering this year. He has nearly matched that career total with 14 homers in 40 games for Triple-A El Paso, though much of that boost is probably the new Triple-A baseballs. While there's likely a fair bit of inflation that will revert in Urias' power numbers, he remains one of the best pure hitters in the minors."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 700
First Chrome auto: 2018 Bowman Chrome 
One auto to consider: 2016 Elite Extra Edition 
Buzz’s card take: His April on the Padres was uglier than any of those uniforms in team history as he hit just .083 with 11 strikeouts in 29 plate appearances and just two hits before he was sent back down. He's proving to be a big dog on the Chihuahuas, though, hitting .364 with all that power and 32 RBI in 41 games. He's among this year's Rookie Card crop in MLB releases, so you can already find a few cards if that's how you collect.

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