The 2020 Bowman Baseball was one of the best prospecting products ever released. There were a few reasons for this, but the main reason was Mr. Jason Dominguez. His coveted "1st Bowman" card is in Bowman Baseball 2020 and he has had a buzz like no other prospect in recent memory. The question a year later is will that level of hype carry over to Bowman Baseball 2021?
The drawing
When I first saw the cards my immediate thought was that it looks a lot like the 2016 Bowman with the 2016 Bowman and team logos switching sides. I like the full border and I like the readability of everything, which I never really considered until he saw this year's main design. There are several entries, all varying degrees of good to bad designs. I like the retro design, as always, using the 1991 Bowman design. The scalloped gold nugget design is fun and supposedly short, so they'll likely sell for a lot. The other subsets we've seen are the Futurist and Positional Promise inserts, and I'm not really a fan. Bowman's inserts tend not to be my favorite, and it looks like that will be the case again this year.
the settings
There are two hobby configurations: a "Hobby" box and a "Jumbo" box. Hobby crates will have one guaranteed car while Jumbo crates will have three guaranteed cars. Hobby boxes are in the $300-$350 range and Jumbo boxes are around $600 and up. While Topps rarely advertises retail formats, it likely has all the configurations you'd expect. Loose Packs, Cellos, Blasters and maybe a Mega Box. Topps also directly sold a sealed retail box last year, with 24 retail packs with no guaranteed hits.
the main attraction
The most desired prospectus cards will be those with the "1st Bowman" logo on them. These denote a prospective customer's first Bowman card, which must be his first officially licensed card in his Major League uniform. Only one of three products each year will have the first Bowman logo cards: Bowman Baseball (sometimes just called "Bowman"), Bowman Chrome, and Bowman Draft and all their associated "issues" (1st edition). , Sapphire, etc. 🇧🇷
What I'm going to focus on on my preview checklist is any player that has a 1st Archer base card and/or 1st Archer autograph on this product. There are several other veterans, rookies, and prospects who had 1st Bowman cards in earlier versions. I think most of us already have good ideas and opinions about these players. So my focus will be on players getting their first Bowman card* on this product. The exception here is for players who only have a Paper 1st Auto on Bowman, which can only be found in retail settings, with no core cards; none of them count as potential everyday MLB regulars and all of them would fall under my level none. If I had to pick the one that interests me the most, it would probably be Jaylen Palmer, whatever that is.
Lead Layer Detail
I've divided these "firsts" perspectives into four tiers based on a combination of my perceived interest in the hobby and my own personal long-term perspective. As I always say, prospects are the most volatile and highest risk/reward part of the hobby. Finally, the value of real-life baseball, the value of fantasy baseball, and the value of hobby baseball are not always the same. Keep all these things in mind as you read my breakdown, formulate your own levels and ratings, and buy 2021 Bowman Baseball boxes, singles, and breaks.
Level 1- Cream of the crop. Combo of cutting-edge Hit and Power tools that won't end up as full-time DHs. Combined power/speed players. Elite SP 1 Launchers (Very Rare). Potential to be perennial All-Stars and award winners.
Level 2- Bats that may be lacking in a certain area, such as maximum power, three players with true results, may be real/fantasy big names, but not amateur elite or tempting raw talent. State-of-the-art SP 2 launchers with additional positive factors such as equipment, arsenal, pedigree, etc.
Level 3- You may have some interest in the hobby due to just one factor, such as the prospect's pedigree, interest in the team, general hype for the hobby, an interesting carrying tool, etc.
Level None- The probability of generalized interest in the short term, and most likely also in the long term, is almost nil. Many pitchers, catchers, role players, tool hitters, first defense players, etc. can be found here. Hobby lottery tickets where the odds are against you.
* Catchers and pitchers are usually demoted one level just because of their position.
Player (Team, First Cards, Houdini Box 20 Choose Your Player Auction Price (for market-leading metric purposes))
level one
Aaron Sabato (Twins, 1st Base and Car, $2,175)- If there wasn't a stigma of DH in the hobby, certainly Sabato would be a top player for me. We could easily be looking at a . 300 hitter with 30+ home runs, assuming full game time. Unfortunately, his only option on the field seems to be 1B, and he's currently underperforming, raising DH's fears.
Austin Martin (Blue Jays, 1st Base and Car, $4,000)- The product headliner has such strong fan motivation behind them that they fall under Tier One for the short-term sales opportunity. The batting tool is plus plus and he could probably roll out of bed and hit .300. He will also contribute double-digit steals, but may struggle to hit 20+ home runs. Additionally, the lack of a defensive home also floats as a minor concern. In the long run, I see Martin as having more value as a fantasy and real-life player and less as a hobby target, especially given the cost of it. That high price, if it holds up, is a selling opportunity in my opinion.
I came very close to leaving this tier empty because I don't think this list has elite amateur players. Sabato's DH risk and Austin Martin's lack of pop are concerning, but not enough to completely destroy this level.
level two
Hedbert Pérez (Brewers, 1st car only, $1,310)- There is a lot, and I say a lot, that I like about Pérez. Athletic and equipped prospect whose father was a major league player. He has positive reviews across the board that should be able to easily get his power in the game with his elite bat speed. Due to lack of experience with the ball and affiliated videos, it is difficult to have a complete view of what it could be and where its deficiencies are; in other words, there's too much risk of the unknown here. From a hitter's perspective, he is very close to Aaron Sabato as the prospect I most want to acquire this product for long-term prospecting purposes.
Mick Abel - (Phillies, 1st Base and Car, $1,200)- My favorite pitcher of the 2020 MLB draft, he would be in Tier 1 if he didn't have the inherent risk associated with all the setup arms. Everything is in place for him to hit that rare SP1 ceiling with more than four shots already in his arsenal. The hobbyist seems to agree with me, as he is the clear favorite of pitchers of this product over Kelley. The price point, the volatility/risk with the brew arms, and just the limit of pitcher cards in general, it pains me to say I'd sell Abel soon if the price is right. But I also want to keep some for the long term if I can afford it.
Maximo Acosta (Rangers, 1ra Base e Auto, $ 3.100)- A shortstop that gets a lot of people in the baseball and hobby world excited, he's probably the second or third most sought-after player on the product, depending on who you ask. He possesses an advanced hitting tool for his young age and it remains to be seen whether he will grow to 20+ home runs. If Acosta's price was a lot lower, and I mean A LOT lower, I would definitely be interested in taking some pictures to see if he ends up being the next Gleyber that's been compensated. Looking at its current high price range, I'm a short-term seller.
Jordan Blaze (Red Sox, 1st Base and Car, $3,200)- Power bat is your go-to tool with over 30 easily attainable home runs. All of his other tools are average and he will likely have to go from 3B to 1B/DH as he develops. There are legitimate concerns surrounding his ability to hit enough at the major league level to utilize his power abilities to the fullest. He entered the global baseball consciousness at a young age, taking the ball out of Major League stadiums, including winning the 2019 All-Star Game home run derby with two 500-foot home runs. Adding a highly collectible team like the Red Sox just adds more fuel to the fire. Long term, it could be Bobby Dalbec or Jabari Blash. Given the high prices of their cards, I'd sell them as soon as I got my hands on them, or sooner if I could. Without the love of the hobby, he could be a candidate for Level Three.
Coby Mayo (2010)Oropendolas, 1 car only, $362)- Much of what I just said about Blaze Jordan applies here with Mayo. Differences are that Mayo is more likely to land third base or possibly move out to left field, has a better arm, and can grow even more in power as he matures. The even bigger difference is the price - I prefer to get Mayo cards at a fraction of the cost of the long-term set prospector.
Kevin Alcantara (Yankees, 1ra Base e Auto, $ 1.750)-- A 6-6 outfielder with a lean, athletic build who at the moment still looks like he could handle midfield. He can hit with good power, but can struggle to get the spin right and will likely have to figure out how to hit with his height and long sticks. Without the momentum of the Yankees I would probably push him to a tier three, but his cap and team affiliation put him in a tier two for me. I would rather sell due to risk and high price.
John Rojas (Phillies, solo 1.er auto, $ 625)- Prior to this checklist, I had not researched much about Rojas. Watching the video and reading the various reports made me quite enamored. A power/speed prospect who can probably play in any field position, he's still pretty raw. I initially had him at Tier Three, but I pushed him all the way to the end of Tier Two. There is necessary growth in your iron and power tools discipline as you mature and develop. If you heed this, expect to hear your name A LOT.
Jared Kelley (White Sox, 1st Base and Car, $420)- Boot physique throwing gas and showing strong change with developing slider. Pre-draft issues surrounding his ability to spin the ball led to him being dropped in the second innings when it looked like it could easily have been a first innings. The built-in risk of being a setup arm and spin concerns made me consider moving it to tier three, but there's enough raw material to work with for it to sneak to the bottom of tier two for me.
level three
Christopher Morel (Dogs, solo 1st base, $323)- If Morel had a first car in this product, he would probably have placed it at the end of level two. He oozes athleticism, especially on the defensive side of the equation. There's potential there with the bat, but in the moment his swing doesn't seem geared towards unlocking the power you'd expect from an athlete of his nature. Add in natural speed and collectible gear and that puts Morel in the top tier three for me.
Alexandre Ramires (Angels, 1st Base and Car, $685)- Outfielder with an arm strong enough to play right field. Power stick that can put the ball over the fence in any direction. The assumption is that your attack tool must be good enough, but we haven't seen it in almost two years, so the risk of the unknown is too high. That wildcard keeps him at a tier three, but I wouldn't be surprised if he starts jumping up and down the prospect boards after making a career in the States. A gamble I would be willing to take if the price was right.
Heriberto Hernandez (Rangers*, first car only, $750)- Easily the best receiving prospect with a first goaltender on the product (although there aren't many to begin with), he was shipped to the Rays as part of Nate Lowe's offseason deal and was considered the top returner. for much. His business cards are his tools of success and power, although there are some hits and misses due to his aggressiveness. Without the catcher tax, he would likely be a Tier 2 due to the potential with his bat. However, it's a little surprising to see how high Houdini's PYP auction was due to receiver tax, and if that's any indicator of his selling price in the near term, I'd take advantage of it.
Gabriel Arias (Indians, 1st Base and Car, $700)- Traded to Cleveland as part of Mike Clevinger's deal with San Diego, Arias is an excellent defensive shortstop who should stick around. While he has a lot of raw power in his bat, his hitting tool is lacking and could prevent him from achieving much of that hobby-coveted deep ball potential. This is the level three player prototype. A big "YES" to your profile that with a few improvements could lead you to level up. In the context of its price, it's more than you'd be willing to pay, and it kills any interest you have for the time being.
Jeremy De La Rosa (National, 1st Base and Car, $575)- An average collection of tools with some hope around improvements to successful tools that can allow your above-average raw power to be turned into game power. The positive reports of 2020 Alternative Sites have raised the rankings for potential customers and generated a higher price than I am willing to pay. Towards the bottom half of Tier Three in my opinion, but it seems like there are many others out there that are above me.
Brayan Buelvas (Athletics, 1 car only, $645)- The center fielder's entire toolkit, with his best tool being the hitting tool. He will likely never reach the 20 home run mark, but he can come close with how often he hits the ball. I think it will end up being a better fantasy and real life gamer than a long term hobby. Looking at his price I think it's an opportunity to sell, but I also think there will be continued opportunities with the momentum I expect to see as he has success at most of his minor league stops and builds rosters of prospects.
Liover Peguero (Pirates, 1st Base Only, $422)- The main thing that the Peguero lacks is power, and the probability of him changing is small. The top-ranked shortstop that should stay there can also steal a decent number of bases and take the extra base on 50/50 balls. While this is his first official Bowman product and he should have received the first Bowman logo, he did not on the 2021 Bowman Baseball 1st Edition, which is essentially a preview edition of the full release. There's probably less than a 0.1 percent chance of this being fixed in the full version, so that cuts your cards a bit. Also, he only gets one base card. All of these combine to be near the bottom of Tier Three rather than closer to the top.
jake vogel (Dodgers, 1ra Base e Auto, $ 440)- Super fast outfielder has good hitting tool projection, but doesn't have much power present. I'm probably a little bullish about Vogel, but part of that is my belief that the Dodgers can take these types of profiles and find power you wouldn't expect. In almost any other organization, I would demote Vogel one level to Level None.
Jeferson Espinal (Diamondbacks, auto solo 1er, $ 450)- Near the end of level three because your power and impact tools are not present at the moment. It has everything else though with speed for days. Still only 18 years old, there is still hope that powerful and successful tools will develop to the point where he will move up the lists of potential clients. He's not someone I would turn to, but I wouldn't mind getting a card or two from him.
Jose Salas (Marlins, 1ra Base e Auto, $ 540)- A super high variance player who probably won't be sticking around anytime soon and just turned 18. There's not a lot of video out there, but check out the left side of the board. He didn't do well at the Yule Ball, but he's young and raw, so I don't make much of that. You are unlikely to run short, which will put more strain on your punches and power tools. At the moment it has good speed. He's borderline Level Three/Level None for me. I wouldn't mind holding a few of his cards on the small chance that the odds tip in my favor, but given Houdini's winning PYP bid, I'd be selling into that kind of demand.
adnso reis (Tigers, 1st Base and Car, $435)- Good all-rounder with the hit tool probably on the upside and the best it has to offer. Nothing special, however, and he will likely never end up as an average player in the league or little better. Outside Level Three/Level None.
freddy valdez (Mets, 1 car only, $310)– Powerful corner fielder who needs a lot of hitting tool development to reach a future full-time MLB job. With power as New York's calling card and punch, he just takes it to Level Three.
Luís Frias (Diamondbacks, auto solo 1er, $ 135)- Only pitcher I have in Tier Three, has an intriguing profile. A fire pitcher with a potential four-pitch stash that currently shapes up as a mid-rotation starting pitcher, but I suspect there may be a little more to it than meets the eye. If I'm shooting any of the cheap product launchers, it's going to be the Frias.
Yoelqui Cespedes (White Sox, 1st car only, $1,500)- Based on price alone, it must be Tier Two. Younger brother of Yoenis Céspedes, he has all the same physical gifts topped by an arm that ranks among the best in the sport. But there are big question marks surrounding his impact tool. Combine that with little to no real baseball action over the past four years and the concerns mount. Without his last name and the $2 million bonus he received, I think his fan love would be much less. With its price and the demand for its hobbies, I feel a little compelled to put it at Tier Three, but I'm sure I'm tempted to leave it at Tier None. I'm selling right away here because I don't want to end up in a Víctor Víctor Mesa situation.
MacWinwright (Reds, 1st car only, $175)- I was a little surprised at how cheap Wainwright was at Houdini's PYP auction, but then I saw the news about the recent criminal charges and it made a lot more sense. With regards to baseball material, there are definitely concerns about your hitting tool and rawness. On the other hand, he looks good and has potential and more power that could take him past the 30 home run mark in the future. If cleared of any wrongdoing, this would be a player I wouldn't mind getting a few letters from. Until then, I would look elsewhere.
Level None
Leave Amateur (Rocky Mountains, 1st car only, $297)- Amador is on the verge of Level Three, but at the moment he doesn't have enough power projection to get there. For one thing, his Major League park will be Coors Field, which will help his offensive profile. On the other hand, the Rockies organization slowly consumes most of their prospects and is not known as the best player development organization (that might be an understatement). Young and raw, without much information to go on, I've put him at the top of level none, but I wouldn't argue with anyone who thinks he should level up.
Angel Martinez (Indians, 1st car only, $310)- The son of a former major leaguer who looks destined to stay at shortstop with an athletic, hitting profile. Not a lot of current power, but it can turn into 15 to 20 home runs. He sits somewhere between a utility player and an average regular, but nothing too exciting yet. This can change as he matures. I'm not sure why he ended up spending so much money at the Houdini PYP auction given the profile, but that could just be real-life baseball criticism clouding the judgment of hobby critics.
Alexandre Vargas (Yankees, first car only, $525)- I have seen very varied evaluations of Vargas. I think everyone is in line with his ability to be a great fielder at shortstop and maintain enough speed to steal a decent number of bases. Variation comes in projections for impact and power tools, and the video I saw wasn't all that encouraging, so I tend to side with your impact tool and especially your power tool will be disappointing. He was pushing a lot of things to the opposite field without much authority and he didn't seem as comfortable on base. He will likely need a lot of work on the hitting and power aspects of his game to take him to major league level. the yankee tax and some of the more positive reviews are probably driving the price up - not interested and would sell whatever i bought.
Brainer Bonácio (Red Sox, first car only, $321)- A strong-armed midfielder who should be able to play in multiple positions with a feel for the hitting tool on both sides of the plate. That should be enough to put him in a daily regular utility or spot role at times, but I doubt there's enough power in the profile to attract long-term hobby interest. The Red Sox tax is probably the main factor in its higher than I expected Houdini PYP auction price.
Nick Maton (Phillies, 1st Base and Car, $270)- A top-notch super-utility defender, he recently made his Major League debut. He's hit more than he bargained for in his small sampling of MLB games so far, so there might be something here, but with little home run power at bat, there's not much here to make it to a tier three in the long run. 🇧🇷 Take advantage of your successful MLB debut to sell as much as you can.
Anthony Gomez (Yankees, 1ra Base e Auto, $ 355)- The receiver's tax is offset by the Yankees raise. A young, raw, powerful bat behind the plate that will require significant batting tools development to be more than a backup. At the moment, I'm not interested.
D'Shawn Knowles (Angeles, 1st car only, $279)- The athletic center fielder who can cover all three field positions with good wheels and an arm strong enough for right field. Decent hitting skills that can take a walk, but marginal power at best. If the success tool continues to progress, you'll end up as a regular every day, but not much more than is currently projected. The hobby may have some love for Knowles, but not much interest to me.
Andy Rodriguez (Mets*, 1st car only, $180)- 20 years listed as catcher, first baseman and outfielder. He was a Mets prospect who landed in the Pirates organization as part of a three-way trade with the Padres headed by Joe Musgrove. He has double the power now with a decent bludgeoning tool, but can convert to extra power. Old for its level which is almost never positive. With the possible recipient tax, I don't see much reason to be interested.
Ivan Johnson (Reds, 1st Base and Car, $200)- Midfielder who does most things well but doesn't stand out anywhere. He should be able to make it to the big leagues, but he probably won't do enough to add much value as a hobby.
Jose Tena (Indians, 1st Base and Car, $400)- One of a handful of midfield prospects in the Cleveland organization, he doesn't do much to differentiate himself or currently achieve significant power. He might be short, but he's probably better at second base. Another regular everyday utility/player without much to write home about. I don't know why he got so high at Houdini's PEP auction, but that doesn't change my opinion of him.
Ismael Mena (Padres*, 1st Base and Car, $410)- Acquired from the Padres by the Cubs as part of the Yu Darvish deal. Speed demon that steals a lot of bases and covers a lot of ground in center field. Based on the instructional videos I watched, he seemed to be at a disadvantage, he was agitated on many shots and he hit the ground ball more than I expected. He put a meatball over the fence, but I'm now questioning whether he can hit it hard enough to be relevant as a hobby. While the development of impact tools could be a good possibility, I don't see it from the power side. I'm out at this price point.
Jairo Pomares (Giants, 1 car only, $385)- As a Giants fan, I really wanted to take the Orchards to Tier Three, but right now it's just an average collection of tools with a little more impact tools. My fandom thinks he can be more than that, but my mind moderates this expectation in relation to a guy who can make it to the big leagues, but even if he does, he won't be a guy with great impact.
Yolbert Sanchez (White Sox, 1st baseman and car, $330)- Speed and defensive skills strong enough to stay at shortstop, but not too much at bat. I'm scratching my head as to why it made it to auction price in Houdini's PYP auction. I'm just passing through and if there's decent demand, I'll sell all day.
Ji Hwan Bae (Pirates, 1st car only, $165)- A similar profile to teammate Liover Peguero, he's a little faster but lacks the arm strength to play shortstop and will likely end up at second base or center field. Due to this powerless strike/defense/speed that he can't present with short and apparent disinterest in the hobby, he lands at Level None.
Marcus Smith (Ranger, first car only, $200)- The speed outfielder and hitting tool that was acquired as part of Mike Minor's trade during the 2020 season. There really isn't any pop to speak of and he hits the ball a bit too much. Not much more than a daily regular at best and more likely a bat/squad deep in the organization.
Darryl Collins (Royals, 1st car only, $160)- A left-handed profile that will have to hit and reach the power you think he has when you look at his frame, but it hasn't shown yet. Until further development, there is little reason to be interested.
Junior Severino (Twins, 1st Base and Car, $150)- Second baseman who struggled with some health issues and lacks outstanding tools. Decent power, but he needs to get more out of his attack tool to be relevant, which he isn't at the moment.
Trent Deveaux (Angels, 1st base only, $111)- Speed \u200b\u200bfor days, but she is super raw and young. I hope it all gets sorted out, but there's a lot of work to be done in all other facets of your game. Add to that the fact that he doesn't have a first car and only a basic card and it absolutely eliminates any hobby interest for me or anyone outside of Angels fans.
jackson cluff (National, 1st car only, $175)- First defense single hitter who is likely to make the majors simply because of his solid defensive talents, but will likely be a platoon/utility player. There is no real hobbyist interest here.
José Rodrigues (White Sox, 1st car only, $200)- Average midfielder with a toolkit who has the best chance of seeing a hit tool buff. I don't expect we'll see much power, if any, and it's probably nothing more than an RPG profile. You must not have much interest in the hobby.
Luís Santana (Astros, first car only, $225)- Hitting the tool bench stick infield that probably doesn't have much else in its projection. It's not a very exciting prospect and there's no viability for the hobby.
Eddy Diaz (Rocky Mountains, 1st Base and Car, $210)- A likely utility player with skill in midfield who has speed as his business card. He probably hits enough to make it to the big leagues, but I don't see any reason to be interested from a hobby perspective.
Daniel Montano (Rocky Mountains, first car only, $135)- Not much here unless his powerful hitting tools take the next step, and even then he might just be the MLB's average outfielder. Nothing to see here.
Maria Batista (Reds, 1st car only, $125)- The 23-year-old outfielder has already been overlooked by his own organization (instructions, alternate website) as well as everyone else (Rule V) and the window is starting to close on the relevance of his hobby. It's hard to get much interest here, even if there has been some in the past.
Sandy Gaston (Damn, just the first car, $150)- Zero control and flamethrower. He's still very young, so the profile could improve for a potential starting pitcher, but right now he's an intermediate reliever at best. I'll pass.
Eddy Yean (Nationals*, only 1st car, US$ 115)- Has starting pitch potential and a decent arsenal, but nothing special. He was part of the Josh Bell trade and is now with the Pirates. There's not much here to be interested from a hobbyist perspective.
Beck's Road (Yankees, 1st car only, $225)- He should be able to find his way into the big leagues, either as a back end or starter or maybe somewhere in the bullpen. But at the moment there are not many advantages. There should be zero interest in hobbies, but the Yankee tax should encourage anyone who ends up with it to sell when the iron is hot.
austin cox (Royals, 1st car only, $135)- Likely to end up as a backend starter or a late-inning reliever. There is no reason for any hobby speculation.
Riley Thompson (Puppies, 1st car only, $130)- Possible mid-spin starter with a strong curveball and decent fastball speed. Health concerns further reduce any interest here.
Dylan MacLean (Rangers, 1st car only, $120)- The 2020 Round 4 prep southpaw looks to be a starting right back without any great shooting at the moment, but a sense of command and control that helps raise the profile. Nothing really to get too excited about.
Michael McAvene (Dogs, only 1.er auto, $118)- The Cubs seem to want to push him down the starting path, but he's more likely to fit in as a replacement arm in the end of the inning with a high-velocity fastball and a decent slider, but that's about it. Nothing to see here.
Hyun Il Choi (Dodgers, 1ra Base e Auto, $ 200)- An early position or multi-inning relief role, unless he can find some additional speed for his fastball. Even so, it won't be more than an SP4/5 type. Add in the Dodgers tax and it still reduces my interest in buying and increases my interest in selling whatever I randomly end up with.
Breidy Incarnation (Marlins, 1er Auto only, $225)- Backend starter for some, not much for others. I almost think some people thought they were bidding on Jerar Encarnacion from the same Miami Marlins for Houdini's PYP auction.
Jeremy Wu-Yelland (Red Sox, first car only, $130)- Chance of a backend spin point or he could easily end up in the bullpen with a tricky left slot and a strong fastball, but not much else. Nothing to see here.
jake eder (Marlins, 1.er Auto Only, $ 125)- Lefty with starting potential but needs a lot of work to get there. There aren't many advantages, and at this point there's no reason to be interested in a hobby.
Kohl Franklin (Dogs, only 1.er auto, $171)- Backend starter or long man in the bullpen. Nothing in his arsenal is positive and his fastball is often in the 90s. Nothing to see here.
Guillermo Holmes (Angeles, 1st car only, $120)- Two-way player who doesn't have a big advantage on the batsman's side of the coin. He'll likely switch to the coin flips side in the long run, even if he's just a beginner or bullpen arm. The Angels need a lot more pitches than prospects. From a hobby point of view, I don't see anything that interests me.
Steve Emmanuel (Athletics, 1er auto only, $125)- He doesn't really appear on any prospect lists anywhere for the A's. A taller pitcher who didn't really start much until the abbreviated 2020 season, he didn't seem to have more than 93 MPH in his warmer, although he racked up strikeouts in 2020. There's not much here that interests me.
NOT THE MAIN ATTRACTION
There are many potential customers who have already visited previous editions of Bowman products, as well as newcomers who will have some interest in this product. Prospects the hobby will primarily focus on are Spencer Torkelson, Heston Kjerstad, Nick Gonzales, Garrett Mitchell, Robert Hassell, and Zac Veen for entry-level cars. Bobby Witt, Jr, Jasson Dominguez and Wander Franco will also be around with the staple cards, as they have been on every Bowman release since his first Bowman cards. Newcomers to cars (which are historically much harder to get right than potential cars) that fans will likely focus on are Alec Bohm, Cristian Pache, Dylan Carlson, Jo Adell, Joey Bart, Jake Cronenworth, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Ryan Mountcastle, Casey Mize, Nate Pearson and Sixto Sanchez.
final thoughts
To answer my question I asked at the beginning of the preview, Was the Bowman Baseball 2020 hype primarily generated by Jasson Dominguez and carried over to Bowman Baseball 2021? In general, apart from the initial rush and the first dizzying weeks with the product, I don't see it. I'm disappointed with the checklist as a whole. I've selected a few prospects I'd be interested in acquiring, but overall the percentage of players I think will be relevant to the hobby when they make an impact in the big leagues is much lower than usual. Add in the fact that over half of players with their first Bowman cards will be of the autograph-only variety and my interest plummets even further. Hopefully I'm wrong and the lesson of Bowman Chrome 2016 holds true: a widely criticized product has two of the hottest young superstars in the game right now (Soto/Tatis). Only time will tell.