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: Jose Peraza, Luis Merejo FY Autos

Why these 2 together you ask? Well, because I have a dual auto card of them and thought it'd be silly to make separate posts with the same card.

Here's what's up there:

2013 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs #JP Jose Peraza
2013 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs Blue Wave Refractors #LME Luis Merejo #/50
2013 Topps Pro Debut Autographs #JP Jose Peraza
2013 Topps Pro Debut Autographs #LM Luis Merejo
2013 Topps Pro Debut Side By Side Dual Autographs Gold #PM Jose Peraza/Luis Merejo #/50
2013 Bowman Black Collection Autographs #JPP Jose Peraza BC #/25

They're both international signings, Jose Peraza from Venezuela and Luis Merejo from the Dominican.

John Sickels has this to say about Peraza:

Grade B-: Borderline B. Stole 64 bases in Low-A and has a slick glove at shortstop, but lack of power is problematic and I want to see how he handles High-A and Double-A pitching. Like Bethancourt, he will reach the majors on the strength of his defense and will probably have a long career, but will he be a strong regular or just a useful reserve?

The Braves see him as a potential leadoff hitter with great speed, playing well above average defense up the middle. I am a very big fan of Andrelton Simmons and hope he's a Brave for a long time, so I'm going to hope to see Peraza at 2B. You can read more about Peraza here and here if you're interested.

Merejo had injury problems at the end of July that shut him down for the rest of the year but before that was striking people out at a rate of 9.9 K/9 in Danville. Hopefully he comes back strong next year and the Braves have another hard throwing lefty. Some more about him here.

There's 1 or 2 more posts of prospects, then I'll get to the stuff I got of the big boys.