Monday, May 6, 2013

Random Topps Pro Debut Card of the Week: 2011 Topps Pro Debut #144 Josh Vitters

It's Minor League Monday!!! Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Pro Debut Card of the Week:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2011 Topps Pro Debut #144.
  • Player Name, position, team: Josh Vitters, third baseman, Tennessee Smokies.
  • Level-League, Team Affiliation: AA-Southern League, Chicago Cubs.
  • Minor League Stats (stats with team depicted only): 63 G, 206 AB, 28 R, 46 H, 12 2B, 0 3B, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 2 SB, 13 BB, 41 SO, .383 SLG, .676 OPS, .223 AVG.
  • Any special information about player: Drafted by the Cubs #1st, June 2007. Bats: right. Throws: right.
  • Major League Debut: August 5, 2012.
  • Baseball America Organizational Ranking After Season with Team: Chicago Cubs #5 prospect after the 2010 season.
  • Blurb on the back: "Vitters, a ballyhooed prospect since he debuted in 2007, began '10 in the Florida State League before earning a 63-game crack at Double-A. Slowed by a broken hand, he made up for lost time in fall ball, where he hit safely in eight of his last nine games."
  • Official Topps Rookie Card: 2012 Topps Update #US258.
  • Commentary: Joshua Warren Vitters was the much heralded prospect that was destined to become the third baseman of the future for the Cubs. In my years of following the Cubs, he wasn't the first to be given this title (does the name Gary Scott send shivers down your spine folks??!). Injuries in his first two years in the majors delayed his run to the majors. But beginning with the 2009 season, he has hit very well in the minors. In 2012 with the Iowa Cubs, Vitters hit for a .304 average with 17 homers, 68 rbi's, and an OPS of .869. He was called up to the Cubs in 2012, where it took a bit of time to adjust to big league pitching. He did hit 2 homers and drive in 5 in his 36 appearances in 2012, but the Cubs planned on allowing him to continue his development in Iowa in 2013. He was recently activated from the DL and is just starting his season for the I-Cubs now. As of this writing, he is only 23-years old, so the Cubs still have time to be patient while he gets it together.
Next week's featured card will be: 2011 Topps Pro Debut #156. Post will arrive at 9:00 AM CST. Hope you enjoyed this week's installment of Minor League Monday.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

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