Recent Pickups: Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, Luis Merejo, Alec Grosser, Jason Hursh, Justin Upton

  

  

  

2010 Topps Chrome Wrapper Redemption Refractors #174 Jason Heyward
2011 Topps Black #145 Freddie Freeman
2013 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs Gold Refractors #LME Luis Merejo
2013 Bowman Chrome Mini Black Refractors #183 Alec Grosser
2014 Bowman Chrome Bowman Scout Top 5 Mini Gold Refractors #BMAB3 Jason Hursh
2014 Topps Heritage Chrome Black Refractors #170 Justin Upton

Picked these up in recent trades and a few eBay purchases. Already talked about Luis Merejo and Jason Hursh in previous posts so here's a little something about Alec Grosser from draft day here.

I'm really excited about the Freddie Freeman. I've been looking for it for a while now, but was always more than I was willing to pay. Ended up getting it in a trade for a few refractors and non-Braves rookies. It will stay in my collection for a while.

I will probably end up selling or trading the Justin Upton because I don't really collect that sort of stuff, but it's nice to have in the meantime.

Recent Pickups: Freddie Freeman, Lucas Sims, Justin Black, FY Refractors

Picked these up at the East Cobb show in Marietta, GA on Sunday:

2007 Bowman Chrome Draft Draft Picks X-Fractors #BDPP12 Freddie Freeman #/299

2012 Bowman Chrome Draft Draft Picks Refractors #BDPP1 Lucas Sims

2012 Bowman Chrome Draft Draft Picks Blue Refractors #BDPP1 Lucas Sims #/250

2012 Bowman Chrome Draft Draft Picks Gold Refractors #BDPP56 Justin Black #/50

2012 Bowman Chrome Draft Draft Picks Orange Refractors #BDPP56 Justin Black #/25

I already had one of the Freddie Freeman X-Fractors but grabbed three more at this show.

Lucas Sims is the Braves top prospect according to both Baseball America, John Sickels and Mike Rosenbaum of Bleacher Report, drafted by the Braves in the 1st round (21st overall) in 2012 out of Brookwood High School in Northeast Atlanta.  John Sickels has this opinion on him:

Grade B+: Borderline A-. All the attributes of a future number two starter. I want to see how he handles a larger workload going forward, but that’s nitpicking at this point. Clearly the class of the system. Went 12-4, 2.62 with 134/46 K/BB in 117 innings in Low-A, just 83 hits. Low-to-mid-90s, good curve and change, throws strikes, athletic. Complete package.

and Mike Rosenbaum this:

6’2” right-hander is athletic with a live arm and little mileage; consistent arm slot and release point; made huge strides in overall development this past season after moving into starting rotation for second half; showcases impressive and underrated blend of stuff and polish; already knows how to pitch at a young age; flashes potential for a four-pitch mix of at least average offerings; pounds the strike zone. 

Lucas Sims’ fastball registers in the low- to mid-90s range; velocity increased a few ticks along with the weather; good arm-side life to the pitch; curveball is a hammer and swing-and-miss pitch; features big shape and heavy downer action in the upper 70s; showcased a quality slider during professional debut in 2012 but relied on it less this past year; changeup improved significantly this past season; flashes average potential in the low to mid-80s with late sink and fade to the arm side.

For more information about Lucas, check out here, here and follow him on his twitter.

Like the Freddie, I already had one of the blue refractors and picked up three more at the show and grabbed five of the regular refractors.

Justin Black was taken in the same draft as Lucas by the Braves in the 4th round out of a high school in Montana. From what I can gather, he has HIGH upside but since he never played in high school (Montana doesn't have high school baseball), he is very raw. Some more links about him here, here and also his twitter.

Recent Pickups: Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, Chris Johnson, Mike Minor, Rookie Autos, Refractor

Well here rounds out my pickups from December with the Atlanta Braves stuff I grabbed:

2010 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs #174 Jason Heyward
2010 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs Refractors #174 Jason Heyward #/499
2010 Bowman Sterling Rookie Autographs #20 Jason Heyward
2011 Bowman Chrome Rookie Autographs #205 Freddie Freeman
2011 Topps Tier One On The Rise Autographs #CJ Chris Johnson #/699
2011 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs #217 Mike Minor
2012 Topps Golden Moments Autographs #MMI Mike Minor S2

These are the first autographs of these two guys I've had, but they're the ones I have now. Picked them up for about $10 each off eBay and a trader off Beckett.

Unfortunately, after the 2009 Bowman Chromes, Freddie Freeman got really lazy with his autographs and has got even lazier lately by basically drawing two 7's with a line through them.

Thankfully, Jason Heyward started signing a full signature starting again in 2012. Pretty much all his 2010 and 2011 autographs look like these or lazier though.

Mike Minor has always been pretty consistent with his signature since his USA and DEEE stuff.

I find it pretty funny that the Chris Johnson is only two years old and he is wearing a uniform from two teams ago.