Random Topps Card of the Day: 2009 Topps Updates and Highlights #UH3 Michael Saunders

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Thursday, March 28, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2009 Topps Updates and Highlights #UH3.
• Player Name, position, team: Michael Saunders, outfielder, Seattle Mariners.
• Major League Debut: July 25, 2009.
• Last Line of Statistics: 2008 stats (West Tenn, AA-Southern - Tacoma, AAA-Pacific Coast): 91 G, 343 AB, 58 R, 95 H, 22 2B, 4 3B, 11 HR, 46 RBI, 12 SB, 39 BB, 96 SO, .461 SLG, .817 OPS, .277 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Mariners #11th, June 2004. Bats: left. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 5. This is his first Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Michael registered four bunt singles in his first 10 games with teh Mariners in 2009 - not bad for a potential slugger who had 13 home runs at Triple-A Tacoma before his July call-up. He honed his small-ball skills at High Desert in '07, heeding an organizational rule that required all speedy players to lay one down at least once every 10 at-bats."
• Commentary: If there is one thing Topps had to have learned since the 2009 design, it's that silver foil on a black background does not mix. They haven't used this combination as a design element since. Going into the 2013 season, Michael Edward Brett Saunders now finds himself third in line for the title of "Dean of the Mariners," just behind Jason Vargas (Mariners debut May 3, 2009) and Felix Hernandez (August 4, 2005). After hitting a fantastic .310 with 13 home runs and 32 rbi's with Tacoma in 2009, Saunders was called up to the Mariners' roster. He appeared in 46 games, hit for a .221 average and drove in 4 rbi's. In 2010, Saunders displayed a bit of power, hitting 10 home runs and driving in 33, but his average was a low .211. His hitting struggles continued in 2011 as by June 1, he was hitting .168 with two home runs and 7 rbi's. So he was sent to Tacoma to find his swing. After hitting .288, 7 home runs, driving in 38 rbi's and stealing 10 bases in 64 games with the Rainiers, he was back in a Mariners jersey in September. He finally stayed in the majors for a full year in 2012, showing both power and speed on the bases. Just one home run shy of a 20-20 season, Saunders hit .247 with 19 home runs, 57 rbi's, and stole 21 bases while playing all three outfield positions. He is expected to hold down the center field position in 2013.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.50-$1.25.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 8.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1984 Topps Traded #21T. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Until tomorrow everybody.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama