eTopps Offers Only Alexi Ogando Rookie Card So Far
Through 12 games this season, second-year Texas Rangers pitcher Alexi Ogando has quietly amassed an impressive 7-0 record. Because of his hot start, there is talk of the Rangers' fifth starter might even making the All-Star team next month.
He has an impressive ERA of 2.10, second only to Josh Beckett in the American League. Ogando is the league leader in WHIP at .90. If he keeps up this pace could very well be in contention for the Cy Young Award come season's end. Even more impressive is that Ogando is compiling these great stats despite suffering from a long-term blister issue on his throwing hand. He's probably heard the rumors too of the Rangers putting him back in the bullpen once other starters get healthy.
To date, Ogando has zero pack-issued cards. His only card thus far is a 2010 Minor League issue from his time with the Frisco RoughRiders. Topps smartly created an eTopps card, on sale until Monday June 13th, capitalizing on the pitcher's recent success. Look for this card to provide an early secondary market profit for those who jumped on the bandwagon. However, even those won't be readily available right away because it normally takes Topps several weeks to print the cards and make them available to take in-hand. Because Ogando isn't in his rookie year, the card also doesn't have the rookie card logo. Still, future cards of Ogando released this year should still be considered rookie cards. Topps does have tentative plans to include Ogando autographs in 2011 Topps Finest, which is slated for release in late September.
Ogando isn't the only notable youngster to not have a pack-inserted Major League card. Justin Smoak and Eric Hosmer have both appeared in Major League uniforms on eTopps cards but nothing in packs to-date. Like Ogando, Hosmer is on the checklist for 2011 Topps Finest, though.
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