Ultimate 2014 Bowman Chrome Draft Autographs Guide

If you're looking for signatures from the top picks in the 2014 MLB Draft, 2014 Bowman Draft Baseball is a good place to start. Not only is the list of signers big, but it focuses largely on early picks. The 2014 Bowman Chrome Draft Autographs checklist has 35 of the 41 first round picks if you include the Competitive Balance portion.

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Leading the way is second pick Tyler Kolek of the Miami Marlins and Kyle Schwarber, the number four overall selection for the Chicago Cubs.

Depending of the type of box you get determines how many autographs you land. Basic 2014 Bowman Draft Baseball hobby boxes have the traditional one. Jumbo boxes have three autographs while new Super Jumbos top out at five signed cards per box. All Bowman Chrome Autographs come with on-card signatures.

Like always, 2014 Bowman Chrome Draft Autographs have lots of colorful Refractor parallels, many of which are tough to pull.

Of the 74 picks from the first two rounds in the 2014 draft, 2014 Bowman Draft Baseball has autographs from almost 60 of them. Picks from later rounds are limited. Two are intriguing though. First is Johnny Manziel. It's more likely that he'll lead the Browns to ten straight Super Bowls than it is he'll play as a major leaguer even though he was picked by the Padres. But it's a novelty autograph that's drawing lots of interest, probably just not from big-time baseball prospectors.

One of the only other picks from beyond the fourth round is Ryan Ripken, who is one of the few redemptions in the lineup as well. Taken way back in the 15th round by the Washington Nationals, Ripken might have gotten into the set more because of his bloodline than his realistic prospects. He's the son of Cal Ripken Jr.

And what about the first and third picks? Brady Aiken went unsigned so it'd be tough to get him in an MLB product. Collectors will have to wait for the first cards of Carlos Rodon, picked third overall, in a White Sox uniform. But even without these, the gap isn't as glaring as last year when Kris Bryant didn't make the main Bowman Draft autograph lineup, presumably to hold him back for 2014. 2013's first pick, Mark Appel, was also held back.

The only other first round picks missing from 2014 Bowman Draft are Michael Conforto (10), Touki Toussaint (16), Brandon Finnegan (17) and Casey Gillaspie (20). There's a good chance collectors will see Finnegan in 2015 products, and not just Bowman. That's because he was a September call-up for the Royals towards the end of the season.

By the Round

Here's a round-by-round look at how the 2014 Bowman Chrome Draft Autographs shakedown as far as 2014 draft rounds go. The first and second rounds include compensatory picks.

Round 1 - 35
Round 2 - 23
Round 3 - 6
Round 4 - 3
Round 5 and Up - 3

2013 Round 2 - 1

Prospecting Pointers

At this point, it's tough to pick any sure things. Prospecting in this set is going to take some time, patience and research. Unlike the Chrome Autographs from Bowman and Bowman Chrome, age isn't an easy factor to rule out a player's likelihood of success. For example, if you land a pitcher stuck in Single-A and pushing 30, there's not much potential. However, all but one of the 2014 Bowman Chrome Draft autographs comes from this year's draft. The lone exception was taken in the second round in 2013.

It could take several years from players getting picked out of high school to make the majors. A lot can happen between now and then. Pitchers, especially, are prone to injury. College players have a little less youth on their side, but their overall potential can often be spotted much sooner.

2014 Bowman Chrome Draft Autographs Team Breakdown

Most teams have at least two players on the 71-card checklist. The Cubs, San Diego, Toronto and Cleveland tie for the most with four each. The New York Mets are the only team without any. Here's a full team-by-team list if you collect a certain one or you're looking to buy into any group breaks.