As usual, the progression of information is a bit “off” at the Topps offices. We brought you the extremely vague information about the 2011 Topps USA Boxed Set release, but it had no checklist or card images. The product is set to release very soon and we still haven’t seen a legit sell sheet with any more info.
Thanks to Gilmore at Freedom Card Board, we have actual scans of the cards. Very interesting stuff. We’re still debating on the design, but it seems to be all on-card autographs, which is nice. Check them out for yourself and let us know what you think.
Two of the more attractive and interesting superfractors showed up on the market this week. The first one features a former USA collegiate player who is flying a bit under the radar. Not only is Ryan Wright a solid middle infielder defensively (although a move to 2B is likely), but he also has been a producer offensively in his first MILB season. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him as a 2012 late season call-up.
The second superfractor is of arguably the most followed international free agent not named Yu Darvish. Cuban defector Yoennis Cespedes went from best player in his country to internet phenomenon overnight. We wrote about him and the video last week, but now comes the market hype for his cards. This card was listed at the right time for the first wave of hyped pricing, but the true money would be when he signs. He’s likely to be scooped up by a big market team, so if he gets to the Rangers Red Sox, or Yankees….who knows what it could sell for. Cha-ching!
It’s no secret that Trevor Bauer of UCLA is our favorite USA player. We not only love to watch him mow down hitters, but he also is extremely intriguing with his preparation and routine. People always point out pitchers and their quirky ways, and Bauer is no exception. In fact, he might lead the pack in the “WTF” department, but it clearly leads to success. How it translates to a Major League organization is soon to be seen, and he’s quickly climbing the draft boards (potentially top 3 overall).
After his career-high start last night vs. Stanford, Trevor Bauer is on pace to completely demolish his Strikeout title from 2009. His line so far, a little over halfway through the regular season….(Click the stat picture to enlarge)
If you were interested in hearing from the man himself about getting to UCLA, leaving High School early, and his outlook on baseball, we were able to find archived video from the LA Times. Take note of the unorthodox training methods and his insane focus on honing his craft.
Check out some of the great Trevor Bauer cards on the eBay market. They are still relatively affordable, especially looking at his UCLA counterpart’s prices, Gerrit Cole. Buy them now before they skyrocket at College World Series and draft time.
We’re a little late posting the week #8 USA Collegiate Update from Prospect Nation, but it’s still something you should read. There is quite a bit of draft player information, about some of the best names through the first half of the season.
Get ready for another 9-innings of collegiate action…
1st: UCLA junior RHP Trevor Bauer is starting to run away with the 2011 Strikeout Crown and now sits just 3 K’s away from hitting the century mark for the second consecutive year; this past weekend, Bauer pitched a complete game (2nd over the past 3 starts), fanning 15 of 33 batters, while allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks; with the season at the halfway point, Bauer figures to pass the 165 K’s he posted last year; just a couple more starts like this and he will be very close…
2nd: UCLA junior RHP Gerrit Cole took part in the one-up-manship with teammate Trevor Bauer over the weekend as he also tossed a complete game; Cole, however, allowed just 1 unearned run on 5 hits and 1 walk while fanning 7 of the 32 batters he faced; this marked Cole’s second straight complete game (he has 3 on the season) as compared to Bauer’s 2…
3rd: Clemson junior SS Brad Miller was named both the ACC Player of the Week and Collegiate Baseball’s National Player of the Week award; these accolades were the result of a 14-for-21, 2 2B’s, 2 3B’s, 7 RBI’s, 4 stolen bases and 8 run effort; his defense wasn’t too shabby as he flawlessly fielded 28 hits with no errors…
4th: Bethune-Cookman junior C Peter O’Brien is widely regarded as the best hitting catcher in the NCAA and looks to be a 1st-round draftee come June (see article below); on the week, O’Brien was 8-for-20 with 2 2B’s, 1 HR (10), 7 RBI’s, and scored 4 times; his 10th HR ties him with LSU’s Mikie Mahtook for the group lead…
5th: Arizona sophomore OF Robert Refsnyder raised his cumulative batting average a total of 16 points (0.347 to 0.363) after a terrific week at the plate; Refsnyder was 8-for-17 with a 2B, HR (4), 7 RBI’s and a SB…
6th: We knew that Miami freshman LHP Bryan Radziewski was special when the Hurricanes gave him the season opening start; Rad has been their Friday ace ever since and has rarely disappointed; this past Friday, he tossed 5.2 IP and allowed just 1 unearned run on 3 hits; he didn’t walk a single batter and fanned 8 of the 21 he faced; investors, get on-board the Bryan Radziewski train now…
7th: LSU freshman RHP Kevin Gausman has had his ups-and-downs this year, but his “ups” are what has everyone in Baton Rouge excited; this past weekend was definitely an “up” as Gausman delivered 8-innings of shutout baseball; he gave up just 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 5 of the 28 batters he faced en-route to his 2nd win on the year; BTW, there’s a Kevin Gausman train with a lot of potential ; )
8th: Vanderbilt junior RHP Sonny Gray has flat-out gotten it done this year; many nay-sayers knocked his size and mediocre curveball before the season began; but Gray has consistently silenced the critics throughout the year (see total weekly stats below); his most recent victory, a 6-inning technical shutout (no earned runs, but 2 unearned runs) where he allowed 4 hits and walks and struck out 4, demonstrates a WHIP of 1.33; not bad, but it’s well over his cumulative season WHIP of 1.03; Gray looks to be a Top 5 pick in June’s MLB Draft; Baseball America’s Jim Callis states, “Gray’s fastball-curveball combination is as good as any in this draft, and don’t bet against him as a starter despite his small frame.”…
9th: Florida sophomore LHP Brian Johnson combined-on-shutout over the weekend; Johnson tossed 6-scoreless-innings, allowing just 6 hits while fanning 3 and walking none; Johnson’s 2.54 ERA and 5-1 record is a big reason why the Gators have done so well this year…
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