Prospects to speculate on

helionaut

I didn't get very deep into scouting minor leaguers this year, but I did find a couple to keep my eye on. First was Ian Kinsler who hit .400 in A and then .300 in double-A. In 130 games, he hit .345 with 20 HRs and 51 2Bs, only 83 Ks with 57 BBs. The problem is defense, a SS with 34 errors. Ow. He's 22, so if he can fix the hole in his glove, he's on schedule to be in Arlington in a couple years. Unless everyone else has their eye on him, he could be a sleeper.

The other guy is a somewhat hidden prospect, Hernan Iribarren. He only played 15 games during the year for some reason, and hit .373 with a 1.068 OPS, but he destroyed the AFL. He hit .439 with a 1.120 OPS and almost a 1:1 K/BB ratio. I know it's only Arizona, but he was the King of Arizona this year.

Neither of these guys has cards yet, but they should be out soon, especially Kinsler.

joestalin

With the changes implemented this should be a very exciting end of the 2004 season for the major card
manufactorers. All four have key RC products due out soon with many first time cards. Fleer has a product
I can't remember and then there is Donruss Elite and Donruss Update. Bowman draft of course which looks
amazing! Bowman Sterling a new brand. UD has prospect premieres with a huge 400?? player auto
checklist. The days of a guy having just one rookie card is over.

November seems really early to start speculating but the early bird gets the worm. Thanks for the post, I
look forward to other prospect posts from you!

Kevin

helionaut

Actually, I see that Kinsler is in 2005 Topps. Great. Now the question is whether or not to buy them. With 2004 products still coming out for another month or two, 2005 cards coming out now could get scooped by 2004 cards that actually come out later. Fleer has Hot Prospects Draft, Donruss has Elite Extra Edition, and UD has SP Prospects. I don't think Topps will put him in Bowman Sterling or Update because he's labeled a FYP in 2005 Topps. This could get messy.