2014 Panini Prizm Perennial Draft Picks (Again!)

With yesterday's pack it was fun to look up the status of a bunch of no-names. Here's more of the same.


Let's tear in.
Top to Bottom:
31 Michael Kopech
Is up with the AA White Sox affiliate Birmingham Barons and apparently throws some heat.

26 Foster Griffin
High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals) with a 1-0 record and 0.82 ERA so far. Not too shabby.

21 Michael Chavis Minors Gold Prizm
High-A Salem Red Sox. Likes to keep injuries from his club.

22 Chris Ellis
AAA Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis) - Being part of this parent club, of course, ensures that Chris will eventually strike out every Brewer he faces for all eternity.


So the insert was pretty cool, and I gained a newfound appreciation for the logo of the Blue Rocks.

Pretty cool, but from my digging I found that Wilmington has a secondary mascot, Mr. Celery.

I want to go on a road trip with Mr. Celery. I wonder if he shares an affinity for any of my favorite car treats (Gummy Life Savers and beef jerky)? Either way, he won't even have to chip in that much for tolls. We will get all the babes.

2014 Panini Prizm Perennial Draft Picks

I have a particular disdain for minor league cards. Just not my cup of tea. However, they are a bit more fun to open when they are a few years old. The possibility exists that you hit a guy you've actually heard of. Let's check in and see where the guys we pull are at in their careers.


Let's tear in.
Top to Bottom:
36 Isan Diaz
Diaz was part of the trade that sent Jean Segura (featured in yesterday's pack, coincidentally) to the Diamondbacks. Just last week, Diaz was promoted from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to the High-A Carolina Mudcats.

64 Trace Loehr Prizm
Currently on the Class A Beloit Snappers, batting .083 in 12 plate appearances this season.

37 Jordan Montgomery
Today was the biggest day of Jordan's life so far. Not long ago, he was named the Yankees' fifth starter in a surprise announcement. Today he started his first major league game, pitching 4 2/3 innings and giving up two earned runs in an 8-4 Yankees victory over the Rays. He was not the pitcher of record, but he struck out seven batters. Pretty cool to get his card today.

37 Austin Cousino
Released by the Mariners while in single-A last year, Austin is not listed on any team's roster for the 2017 season.


Fun, interesting pack with guys at a variety of success levels.

1989 Star Minor League

To keep you all waiting with bated breath for the second pack of the Cali vs World contest, here's a pack that should be really awful. This is the first pack from a $9.99 repack box from Championship Collection Trading Cards. I have very low expectations here. This pack will have ten cards. If I recognize a single player, I will be surprised. Keep in mind I played Roto starting in 1993. A lot of those players would have been in the minors in 1989.

Willie Mota - Never made it past AA. The stats on the back support my expectation of the quality of this set.
Bert Heffernan - Made it to the majors. For 11 AB. Got 1 hit, which was a double. I'm guessing that ball is on display in his house.

Matt Current - Never made it past A ball.

Dan Segui - I assume he's related to David Segui, who had a 14-yr big league carreer. Dan, though, retired after 4 seasons of Rookie and A ball.

Julian Yan - More like Who?lian Yan. This guy I respect. He played minor league ball from 1986 to 1996, the last 4 seasons in AAA. Then, at age 30, no major league organization needed his services as a AAA benchwarmer any more. So he played in the Independent Leagues, and in the Mexican league, for the NEXT. ELEVEN. YEARS. For the love of the game, this guy. I believe I am going to hold on to this card. This guy is a baseball lifer, even though he never made it to The Show.
Bruce Schreiber - Made it to AAA in the Pirates organization, but never cracked a big league roster.

Pete Rose, Jr - Okay, this so doesn't count as a player I recognize. But guess what? This guy once hit on my sister at a dance club in Birmingham. She says he was a jerk. True story. I think I'll give this card to her for her b'day.
Doug Piatt - Made the bigs in 1991, and pitched well for the Expos. six more years in the minors, and he hung up the spikes.

Beau Allred - Got 200 PA for the Indians from 89 to 91.

Tim Nedin - Never made it past A ball.

I've shown you the only halfway-interesting photos. Here's the uniform lot of the rest of them:
So, yeah, that was about what I expected. Keep an eye out for the second pack of the contest tomorrow.

The 20 for $40 re-wrap: 1999 Team Best Baseball America's Top Prospects

Oh Christ. It's a pack of Minor League cards.

Does anybody know what ever happened to Team Best? The website listed on the wrapper now goes to some sort of medical services company.

The gimmick behind this 100-card set, is all the top 100 prospects for 1999 as selected by Baseball America. To refresh your memory, here was BA's list of the top 10 prospects:

1. J.D. Drew, of, Cardinals
2. Rick Ankiel, lhp, Cardinals
3. Eric Chavez, 3b, Athletics
4. Bruce Chen, lhp, Braves
5. Brad Penny, rhp, Diamondbacks
6. Michael Barrett, 3b/c, Expos
7. Ryan Anderson, lhp, Mariners
8. Pablo Ozuna, ss, Marlins
9. Ruben Mateo, of, Rangers
10. Matt Clement, rhp, Padres

There are six cards in this pack. Let's see how many of these guys are still in the Majors (HIT), and which ones aren't (MISS).

Base:
Jin Ho Cho (#24)
22-year old Korean Jin Ho made his Major League debut with the Red Sox on the Fourth of July, 1998. In two seasons with the Red Sox, Jin Ho compiled a 2-6 record with an ERA of 6.52. Out of Baseball by 2000. BUST

Jayson Werth (#94)
Werth was the 22nd player selected in the 1997 draft by the Orioles. It would be another five years until he made his debut with the Blue Jays. He's currently platooning with Geoff Jenkins in right field for the Phightin' Phils. HIT

Tim Drew (#35)
Was selected six picks after Werth -- and 26 after brother J.D -- by Cleveland. Last pitched in the Majors with Atlanta in '04, compiling a career record of 2-4 with 2 saves and an ERA of 7.02 in 35 appearances. Now pitching for Bridgeport of the Atlantic League. BUST

Ron Belliard (#12)
A 2004 All-Star, Belliard is now the everyday second baseman for Washington. HIT

Cody McKay (#65)
Journeyman catcher who bounced around the minors before finally making The Show in '02 with Oakland. Last played in The Bigs for the Cardinals in '04. Named in the Mitchell report. BUST

Ben Davis (#30)
Was called by USA Today the best high school catcher since Dale Murphy, before being picked second overall in the '95 draft by the Padres, but failed to live up to expectations. Has played for San Diego, Seattle, and the White Sox. Currently in the Orioles minor league system. BUST

Two HITS and four BUSTS, which is about what I expected from a nine-year old pack of minor league cards.