In 2010, we had Strasburg Mania.
In 2012, it was Harper Mania.
Today, in 2015, it is time for Bryant Mania!!!
Since Theo and company took over the baseball operations of the Cubs, they have been able to stockpile a number of very prospects. And these last two seasons (well, really since the second half of the 2014 season), we have seen the arrival of heralded players such as Javier Baez (okay, so he's in the minors...for now), Jorge Soler, Arismendy Alcantara, and before the end of this year (or in the near future), we'll probably see the likes of Addison Russell, and Kyle Schwarber.
But today, on Friday, April 17, 2015, the most heralded of all of the Cubs' prospects will make his major league debut.
If you haven't heard his name by now, meet Kris Bryant!
That's right, the guy who's Bowman card has been in the news lately for being sold for a mere $90,000 plus dollars, stepped onto a major league ballfield for the very first time today.
How did he do?
0-4 with three strikeouts (all swinging, all against James Shields) in a 5-4 loss.
Eh, can't win them all. Even Mike Trout went 0-3 in his MLB debut.
He did have a few dazzling defensive plays, which is amazing considering that it was his defense that they were concerned about.
Okay, so what about cards??!
While certain collectors, okay, many collectors, went insane over Topps' treatment over the Washington Nationals' duo (super short-printed cards, variations up the wazoo in Series 2 and other places, mega-short-printed autograph cards), it looks like Topps has been preparing for this moment, and it looks like Bryant's first Topps cards will be appearing in earnest.
According to the Number One Source in the Hobby, and confirmed by Topps' Facebook page, Bryant's cards will:
- show up on a prospect base (meaning INSERT!!!) card in 2015 Bowman Baseball (as scheduled). There will be inserts and autographed insert cards to chase,
- (hopefully) have autographed cards as part of 2015 Tier One Baseball (hopefully, because they won't be packed out, but redemption cards will),
- be rushed into 2015 Topps Finest Baseball as card No. 111, one of the short-printed base cards, and there will be autograph cards here as well,
- be getting the Harper treatment for his Rookie Cards in Topps Archives (limited base cards and autographs),
- appear in Topps Series 2 Baseball which releases in June. No indication has been made as to if it will be another SSP card, but based on how early it is in the season, there should be no reason as to why he won't be included in the base set and not card #702,
- be added to this year's edition of Stadium Club, Allen & Ginter's and Topps Chrome.
Sincerely,
JayBee Anama