TOPPS Releases 2013 Set With Hot Prospect Line
By Philip Baudhawpe, American Baseball Prospectus
March 2, 2013: New York, NY – TOPPS, Inc. presented their 2013 line of Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance trading cards today with an introductory “Hot Prospect” set of cards representing young, up-and-coming ballplayers.
The 2013 set is based on their classic 1959 MLB pattern, with a colored background and the highlighted player in a circular frame. Uniquely, the player’s name is presented in lowercase text and at a slight upward angle. The set is based on PEBA GMs’ “To Watch” list, created during the recent owners meetings in Asheville, NC.
One of the hottest pitching prospects expected to make an impact this coming season is Florida Featherheads reliever Chris “Moondog” York. Selected in the first round of the 2011 draft out of Oregon State, the hard-throwing pitcher features a nasty splitter and has moved rapidly through Florida’s minor league system. Moondog split time last year between AA Beaufort and AAA Chesapeake Bay, chalking up 43 saves and an ERA 0.72. York should make an immediate impact on the Florida staff, and GM Kevin Lewis has hinted at giving the youngster a shot at starting. Dixie foes, be afraid. Be very afraid.
Taiwanese outfielder En-guo Guao was signed as a free agent by the Aurora Borealis in September of 2009. The fleet-footed CF got a brief shot with the big league club in 2010 before being relegated to AA Gatineau and then AAA Thornton in 2011 by the new Aurora regime. Guao hit .320 at AAA during the 2012 season, earning All-Star recognition. En-guo was called up in September as Aurora suffered numerous OF injuries and hit .400 in a brief 12-game stint before suffering a season-ending concussion. Aurora GM Will Topham saw enough to have confidence that Guao could be the everyday CF and, at this point, leadoff hitter. In En-guo Guao, Aurora hopes they have a young outfielder who blossoms much as John Knight did in 2011 and Cory Pierce did in 2012, giving them a young, formidable outfield.
Florida took 2B Nick Rose with the 12th pick of the 2009 draft out of Lakewood HS, but after a year and a half at short season-A ball and performing unspectacularly, the Featherheads traded their former #1 pick to New Jersey for pitcher Cedric Mosley. The change of scenery did Rose a world of good. In 2012 he moved quickly through AA Bergen and AAA Jersey City, hitting a combined .302 with 32 2B. The Hitmen are hopeful that Rose will challenge Carlos Rodríguez for the 2B spot and join Mario Tessier in creating a slick-hitting young infield. A 21-year-old 2012 AAA All-Star, Rose stands an excellent chance of sticking with the big league club. Although he may not have great speed, he does run well and has always shown good patience at the plate. Expect GM Holleb Kasprowicz to fit Rose in at the leadoff or #2 slot in the lineup.
There’s a theme developing here: Drafted by Florida. Left-handed SP Danny Williams of New Orleans was a 2009 5th round pick out of UAB, recently traded this past November to the Trendsetters. Florida had long been high on Williams. During his minor league career, teams have struggled to hit .200 off him. Not an overpowering pitcher, Williams features an array of pitches and he is more likely to induce the batter to hit the ball on the ground, giving up only 16 HR in 582 IP in his professional career. Williams is likely to begin the season in the Trendsetter rotation along with youngsters Chet King and Jesús Costa. GM Paul Tanner has the makings of a young rotation, and with his over 2:1 K:BB ratio, Williams may be the leader.
Perhaps the most active team during the off-season – and an early favorite for most improved team – is the Omaha Cyclones. Sporting one of the top catchers in the PEBA in Manuel González, prospect Jason Corbett may find himself once more at AAA Lincoln, but with a dynamic spring, he may force GM Jason Warnke to keep him at the backup position – or deal González. Drafted with the 7th pick in 2010 out of Michigan, Corbett has shown a tendency to improve at each level after sustained exposure. An excellent defensive catcher who many scouts believe will develop great power is likely to begin 2013 at AAA, but don’t be surprised to see him at Omaha before the September call-ups.
The Connecticut Nutmeggers are a team that seem to be in perpetual rebuild mode, but they may be in position to solidify one of the key spots on the field: catcher. Samuel Kettley was chosen by Crystal Lake in the second round of the 2008 draft out of West Lauderdale HS and was traded to New England in August of 2010. Kettley rewarded the Nutmeggers with a solid 2011 season split between AA New Haven and AAA Providence, hitting .297 with 30 2B. An excellent catcher with a cannon of an arm, Kettley began 2012 at the big league level, only to break his ankle and, for all intents and purposes, end his season (he did get into a few games in September). With a .274 average, 10 2B, four 3B, a pair of HR and 16 RBI in 37 games in 2012, Connecticut has a lot to hope for here. GM Frank Esselink is hopeful that his bat will catch up to his defense.