Beisbol!
In our trade I asked Kimowota-san to get me three packs of 2017 BBM (the Japanese version of Topps flagship) as the Dragons-only product hadn't been out yet at the time of our trade.
These three packs made me more excited than Topps flagship and I was really hoping I could pull something nice like a an autograph of a Dragons player. Maybe even last year's first rounder Yuya Yanagi. Let's find out.
Pack 1.
OOOOHHHHHH!!!!!!
It's not an autograph but I'm very happy with this Yuya Yanagi rookie card. Yanagi was the Dragons' first round pick last year, and for them he's a guy they desperately need to pan out. Yanagi is armed with a fastball that can reach 150 kilometers and hour (aprox. 93 mph), as well as a nasty curveball. Both helped him be a standout during his college days at Meiji University. Yanagi signed with the Dragons well underslot and fans boo'd the team for being cheap. This season Yanagi was seen as being potentially able to start the season with the Dragons as a starter but injuries to a part of his upper body delayed his 2017 debut. He's since returned to action but spent his time rehabbing with the Dragons' farm team before really rejoining the ichigun club.
This is what the back looks like BTW. Usually the part that has the "The Rookie Story" is supposed to lay out career stats, but for rookies they have blurbs about the player's amateur career.
Eeeeeeeyyyyyyy, two Dragons in a row in the very first pack! This also features blog favorite, Yudai Ohno. He really needs to come stateside. If people think Aaron Judge puns are easy and insufferable, well...
BLAST, my Dragons streak over at two cards :P.
In all fairness though, getting a superstar like Tsutsugoh is a very nice compensation for it though. Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh has been with the Yokohama/DeNA BayStars for a few years now and he's emerged as one of the team's most well recognized player. And possibly their best, although that's up for debate. Or maybe not since he led the league in home runs last year. BayStars fans are happy the team is good again after a decade of being a cellar dweller, Tsutsugoh and the rest of the Stars hope to keep it going.
Hey an insert, a Cross Squall insert. First off, points for creativity in using a word like Squall. Second, this insert features Takashi Toritani, the Tigers' equivalent of Cal Ripken Jr. in that he's appeared in 1,800 consecutive games (possibly more by the time this post goes up) and he's looking to beat the all time NPB record. He even wore a protective face mask to preserve his streak.
Toritani was diagnosed with a broken nose— Daniel Brim (@DanielBrim) May 25, 2017
...
And played today, making a pinch hit appearance to extend his streak. pic.twitter.com/JRJ2f23byG
That's some serious dedication right there.
W00t!!!! I got a shiny silver facsimile auto of Toshiya Okada!
Okada mostly spent his time recovering from injuries.
Best of all it's numbered 42 of 50!
Pack 2.
AWESOME! Another Dragons rookie!
Here's a familiar name if you kept in touch with Mariners prospects in the last five years. Former M Stefen Romero has a new home with the Orix Buffaloes this season. Romero started the season off very well but after crashing into a wall he injured his left knee he was out for a few weeks recovering. He's since returned in the DH role.
Another Cross Squall insert, this time of Takahiro Norimoto.
I didn't show the back of the Toritani from earlier so here's the back of the Norimoto to make up for it. It's basically just the same picture used in the front except it's not edited and there's some minimal information near the bottom (name, team, position, date of birth, blood type, etc...).
Hark, another gaijin!
We end this pack on a strong note with Shintaro Fujinami. I remember Fujinami getting a lot of buzz when he was getting drafted by the NPB as another high profile pitcher who could end up in the big leagues. Although so far he's been derailed by injuries.
Pack 3.
The man whose redemption card netted me a certified Reggie Jackson autograph.
While all eyes are on Ohtani, some people may have Kikuchi in the back of their minds. The 26 year old lefty has a mid-90's fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. That said don't expect him to be coming stateside yet. The Seibu Lions have stated that they'll post him if he posts double digit win totals in 2017 and 2018. He managed to achieve 16 wins in 2017 so he's halfway there. If no, he'll eligible to be a free agent in 2019.
I scanned Makoto Aduwa here due to how I think it's neat how a half-Nigerian and half-Japanese has a chance to play at the highest level in Japan in 2017. He's armed with a high-80's fastball, a changeup and a slider.
And lastly a checklist for the Nippon-Ham Fighters with a very nice shot going on.
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