2016 Topps Heritage Minor League

It's difficult for me, as a card collector, to walk into a card shop and out empty-handed.  It does happen, but not too often.  Such was the case a few days ago, when I saw these packs in my local shop at 3/$10.  Despite not being into baseball anymore, I have always loved Heritage.  Looking through the simplistic design and pictures on these cards reminds me why.

LINK: 2016 TOPPS HERITAGE MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CHECKLIST INCLUDES ON-CARD AUTOGRAPHS (Beckett.com)

2016 Topps Heritage Minor League #64 Mark Appel

2016 Topps Heritage Minor League #64 Mark Appel (back)

Mark Appel was the number one overall pick by the Houston Astros in the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft.  He was selected eighth overall the year prior by the Pittsburgh Pirates but elected to return for his senior season at Stanford.

In 2016 he suffered injuries to both his elbow and shoulder.  After the season, the Phillies added him to their 40-man roster.

LINK:  Phillies Land Three Prospects on MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospect Rankings
LINK:  Mark Appel Pitches Filthy Stuff in Spring Training
LINK:  Mark Appel 'hungry' to show Phillies he belongs in pitching plans

2016 Topps Heritage Minor League #4 Jacob Faria

Despite the 5-10 record and 3.99 ERA in 2016, Jacob Faria is the #8 Tampa Bay Rays prospect for 2017, per Baseball America.

LINK:  Tampa Bay Rays Notes: Team's Rotation Has Bright Future
LINK:  Ten things we'll be talking about during Rays spring training

2016 Topps Heritage Minor League #78 Max Fried

 The Atlanta Braves acquired Max Fried from San Diego in the Justin Upton trade.  He is Baseball America's 2017 Atlanta Braves 2017 #10 Prospect.  Despite not yet pitching above Single-A, he is attending Braves' camp this spring.

LINK:  Braves prospect Fried is back to being 'a dude' among pitchers
LINK:  Braves' Max Fried: Could begin season at Double-A
LINK:  Time for optimism in Braves Country

2016 Topps Heritage Minor League Real One Autographs #ROAOAL Ozzie Albies

As I said earlier, I don't follow baseball much anymore.  However, I am in the hobby enough that I knew immediately that Ozzie Albies is a top prospect.  For 2017, he is the Braves' #2 Prospect, per Baseball America.  He is also #11 in on Baseball America's Top 100.

LINK:  Ozzie Albies is huge part of Braves' future
LINK:  With Brandon Phillips, Braves can delay Ozzie Albies’ arrival, but for how long?
LINK:  Tragedy and competition fuel Ozzie Albies' pursuit to the majors

2016 Topps Heritage Minor League #159 Mac Marshall

Mac Marshall was a fourth-round selection by the Giants in the 2015 draft.  Since turning pro, Marshall has experienced difficulty keeping the ball in the strike zone.

LINK:  CONTROL STILL ELUDES MAC MARSHALL
LINK:  San Francisco Giants preliminary prospect list
LINK:  Marshall excited to get pro career underway

2016 Topps Heritage Minor League #179 Victor Robles

Victor Robles wasn't invited to the Washing Nationals' 2017 Spring Training camp, but he is one of the top prospects in baseball.  Through 218 minor league games, his career batting average is .306 and he has stolen 83 bases.  Baseball America placed Robles at #13 on their 2017 Top 100 Prospects list.

LINK:  Nationals' Victor Robles: Flashes speed in intrasquad game Thursday
LINK:  Victor Robles, 19, the Nats’ remaining top prospect, speeds into big league camp
LINK:  THE RAPID RISE OF VICTOR ROBLES

2016 Topps Heritage Minor League #24 Samuel Coonrod

Sam Coonrod didn't make the 2017 Baseball America list of top 10 Giants prospects, but he WAS #6 on the 2016 list.  He had a 9-6 record and 2.55 ERA in a 2016 season split between Single and Double-A.

LINK:  Interview With San Francisco Giants' Prospect Sam Coonrod
LINK:  San Francisco Giants:Prospect Watch-Samuel Coonrod

2016 Topps Heritage Minor League #32 Andrew Benintendi

The final card in the pack pictures the only player in it to already receive "the call."  If you're reading this, you already know who he is and there's no need for me to go into detail.

LINK:  Andrew Benintendi all lined up to hit second
LINK:  Still a rookie, Benintendi not seen as one by Sox
LINK:  2017 TOP 100 PROSPECTS

Please take a look at my personal blog, I Feel Like A Collector Again, and follow if you're interested.  I tend to focus mostly on hockey, wrestling and auto racing.  You can follow me on twitter at @beansbcardblog.

I hope that you enjoyed the read.  You can follow APTBNL on twitter at @namedlater.