2019 Leaf Valiant Baseball -- All the Dodger Prospects

I don't know why Leaf does this. Once again they release a new card set (just last week), but claim it is a 2019 product. Why? I dunno. Nevertheless, here's a gander at the Dodgers' included in this prospect set. Check them all out below. Go here for a complete checklist.

Base Autographs

#BA-GL1 Gavin Lux        #BA-JL1 Jimmy Lewis

2019 Leaf Flash Baseball -- All the Dodger Prospects

I too wish it was still 2019.

As you may know, Leaf Trading Cards has this penchant for turning back the clock on their products. For instance, check out this new card set that just arrived on collector doorsteps. It is their Leaf Flash brand and it focuses on top-end MLB prospects on super-sparkly designed cards. Also, Leaf has designated this set as a 2019 product -- even though we are well into the fourth month of 2020. Why! I do not know.

The Dodgers cast of prospects available in this set are Gavin Lux, Jimmy Lewis, Kody Hoese and Michael Busch. Lux is currently with the Dodgers and is slated to be their Opening day second baseman. Lewis, Hoese and Busch were all drafted by the club in 2019 and are several years away from stepping on a Major League field. A complete checklist of the set can be found here.

Check out the cards below.

Base Autographs

#BA-GL1 Gavin Lux         #BA-JL1 Jimmy Lewis

2019 Leaf Ultimate Baseball -- All the Dodgers Cards

Leaf has recently issued a new Baseball set, but for whatever reason they continue to pretend it's a brand from 2019. Featured here are their 2019 Leaf Ultimate Baseball cards and it includes several Dodger prospects found within packs. They include Gavin Lux, Jimmy Lewis, Kody Hoese and Michael Busch. Go here for a complete checklist. Check out all the Dodger players below.

Rookie Signatures

#RS-GL1 Gavin Lux        #RS-JL1 Jimmy Lewis

2019 Leaf Metal Draft -- All the Dodger Cards

To Leaf 2019 is not over. In fact, there are at least two products they are releasing during the first quarter of 2020 that will carry the "2019" moniker -- the first of which came out last week. It is their Leaf Metal Draft brand and like always it's filled with some of the games top prospect. Go here for a complete checklist.

Featured Dodger farmhands include the #2 prospect in the land, Gavin Lux, Jimmy Lewis, Kody Hoese and Michael Busch. See all of their cards below.

Base

#BA-GL1 Gavin Lux

2019 Panini Elite Extra Edition -- All the Dodger Cards

Panini's Elite Extra Edition Baseball set is out and it's filled with a bunch of Dodger prospects -- including one ballplayer who's getting his very first card, Ryan Pepiot. Go here to see a complete checklist.

Overall, there are nine Dodger youngsters in the 200 card base set, and all of them have autographed base parallels available to chase after. There are also insert cards of Gavin Lux and Keivert Ruiz.

BTW, Ryan Pepiot is an interesting ballplayer who I'll be keeping keeping an eye on. He was drafted in the third round this past June and recently completed his first year of professional play. Via Brian Crawford at Baseball Essential:

His ability to strikeout batters transitioned nicely to the pro game, as Pepiot racked up 31 strikeouts in 23.1 pro innings split between the AZL Dodgers and the low-A Great Lakes Loons. 

Pepiot records strikeouts regularly thanks to the feel that he has of his four-pitch mix. 

“I throw four pitches. I throw a fastball, a slider, a curveball, and a changeup,” explained Pepiot. “When I’m on the mound, I try to get ahead of hitters early with my fastball. When I’m able to do that, I can mix in my off-speed pitches to keep hitters off-balance.”

He also says that he's comfortable enough in his changeup to throw it in any count, and that's something you love hearing from a prospect.

Base

#25 Kody Hoese

2019 Bowman Draft -- All the Dodger Cards

2019 Bowman Draft Baseball cards are now in stores and it's filled with some of the top up-'n-comin' Dodger prospects in the minors. Go here for a complete set checklist.

Overall, there are seven Dodgers' in the 200 card base set; including the very first Topps-produced cards of Brandon Lewis, Jack Little and Michael Busch. Notably, five of the seven Dodgers here are listed (according to MLB Prospect Watch) in their top-30 rankings. Check that listing out below:

#5 Jeter Downs
#7 Kody Hoese
#8 Michael Bucsh
#19 Jimmy Lewis
#23 Christian Santana

Base

Base                                Base Chrome

#BD-40 Brandon Lewis     #BDC40 Brandon Lewis

2019 Panini Prizm Draft Picks - The Dodger cards

Panini's Prizm Draft Picks brand hit the collectors market last week, and I've got pics of most of the Dodger prospects to share. Go here for a complete checklist.

There are three recent Dodger draftees in this set, and each one has at least one base card and an autographed card to chase after. In 2019 the Dodgers had two first round draft picks and both of them are represented here. Kody Hoese, the 25th overall pick, has two base cards and an autograph card in the set.  Michael Busch, our other 1st round pick (31st overall), has a base an auto'd card available. The third Dodger is right-handed high school hurler Jimmy Lewis -- who had apparently signed with the club as their second round pick from the 2019 Draft, but has not yet pitched in a minor league game. He has both a base and autographed card available.

On a side note, Jimmy Lewis is currently in the early stages of a throwing program. An MRI by the Dodgers showed there to be a slight labrum tear. Fortunately, surgery was deemed not necessary at this time. Lewis should hopefully be on the mound next season.

Base

#22 Kody Hoese              #32 Michael Busch

Blog Kiosk: 7/11/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a fun pic of Don Drysdale with Greg Brady.

Learning the Curves -- Famous Baseball hurler Don Drysdale instructs Barry Williams in the art of throwing the curve ball between scenes of "The Dropout" segment of "The Brady Bunch,"in which Drysdale guest stars. Episode airs Friday, Sept. 25, 7:30 pm ET over ABC-TV. Barry Williams becomes a conceited Little Leaguer after Drysdale compliments him on his pitching.

Photo above found on eBay (link here). Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodges History: In 1958 the Los Angeles City Council declared this day to be 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game Day' -- celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the iconic baseball song. In a pregame ceremony at the LA Memorial Coliseum, the Dodgers honor lyricist Jack Norworth by presenting him with a lifetime pass to any American or National League game. In 1978 Steve Garvey becomes the first two-time All-Star Game MVP in Baseball history. Garv recorded a game-tying, two-run single in the 3rd inning, a triple and run scored in the 8th inning to help the NL to beat the AL, 7-3. In 1980 the Dodgers sold knuckleballer Charlie Hough to the Rangers.
• Happy Birthday, Pop Schriver, Milt Stock, Clarence Blethen, Binky Jones, Vito Tamulis, Hal Gregg, Dick Gray, Andy Ashby, Billy Ashley & Jon Meleon!

Dodgers Third Pick of 2019 Draft - 78th Overall - Jimmy Lewis

With the Dodgers third pick of Day 1 (and the final pick of the day) they chose prep righty Jimmy Lewis from Lake Travis High School (Austin, Texas). He was the 78th overall pick -- a second round compensation pick for losing Yasmani Grandal to free agency. Lewis a 6'6", 18-years old and has a lively arm. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“He developed into one of our favorite right-hand high school pitchers,” Gasparino said. “He’s 6–6, 200 pounds. It’s lean, it’s lanky. We feel like he took a huge jump in coordination and his ability to repeat his delivery. He has two plus pitches, 91–95. He locates down in the zone. The curveball is plus. We think he can really spin it, command it and execute it well. We love the kid’s makeup, work ethic. His dad (Jim) played in the minor leagues up to Triple-A. We love the family. It’s a nice, tight-knit group who has really raised a good kid who we think really mirrors the culture we have here.”

Blog Kiosk: 6/4/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Walker Buehler was brilliant last night during the Dodgers 3-1 victory over the Diamondbacks, but I wanted to take a moment to highlight Kenley Jansen. With his 18th save of the season, he is just 14 saves away from reaching 300 in his career.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2019. Go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1964 Sandy Koufax threw his third no-hitter of his career. He blanked the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium, 3-0. Overall, he recorded 12 strike outs and allowed just one walk. In 1968 Don Drysdale threw his sixth consecutive shutout of the season, extending his scoreless streak to 54 innings, when he defeated the Pirates, 5-0. This is also the day Robert Kennedy made note of Drysdale's efforts in a speech at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the CA primary. You can watch that portion of the speech here. Soon thereafter, he would be assassinated. In 1972 the Dodgers retired Roy Campanella's number - #39. In 1998 the Dodgers traded Hideo Nomo to the Mets for Dave Mlicki and Greg McMichael. In 1990 Dodgers ace Ramón Martínez struck out 18 Atlanta batters to defeat the Braves, 2-0. His effort tied a club record for strike outs in a game with Sandy Koufax, and was one short of the Major League record.
• Happy Birthday, Lee Magee, George Watkins & Rick Wilkins!