2022 Topps Series 2

2022 Topps Series 2 was released in June and for me, it’s one of the must-collect sets. Shortly after this set was released, I went to a sports card shop and quickly grabbed a jumbo pack, trying to see if I could get something interesting.

 

After opening a jumbo pack, I found 3 future stars cards. Looking at those cards, I’m just wondering whether the future has come.

 

Firstly, Jo Adell was selected by the Angels in the first round of the 2017 draft. On August 4, 2020, Jo Adell made his MLB debut and collected his first career hit. In the shortened 2020 season, he played 38 games and batted .161/.212/.266 with 3 home runs and 7 RBI. Last season, Adell spent most of his time in the minors. In 2021, he only played 35 games for the Angels, slashing .246/.295/.408 with 4 home runs and 26 RBI. By far this season, Adell hits .233/.276/.353 with 3 home runs and 13 RBI in 35 games.

 

In 2018, the San Francisco Giants used the second overall pick to select catcher Joey Bart. That decision drew a lot of attention because everyone remembers that Buster Posey was selected by the Giants in the first round of the 2008 draft. Since the 2018 draft, Joey Bart has been viewed as Posey’s heir apparent. Bart didn’t let the Giants wait too long. He made his MLB debut on August 20, 2020 and his first career hit was a double. In 2020, Bart slashed .233/.288/.320 with 7 RBI. Last season, he only played 2 games in the majors and collected 2 hits in 6 at-bats. Bart didn’t crush any home runs in his first two seasons in the majors. But this season, he blasted a solo home run on April 8 and it was his first career home run. He now hits .180/.288/.331 with 6 home runs and 13 RBI in 54 games.

 

In addition, Sixto Sanchez signed with the Phillies in 2015. In 2019, the Marlins sent J.T. Realmuto to the Phillies and acquired Jorge Alfaro, Sixto Sanchez, Will Stewart and international bonus slot money. The next year, Sixto Sanchez made it into the big leagues. He made 7 starts for the Marlins and posted a 3.46 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP in 39 innings. Moreover, he made 2 starts in the 2020 postseason. However, injury has been a huge problem. He didn’t pitch last season and this season, he hasn’t pitched any games yet.

 

Each player has his own journey to the big leagues. However, it’s not that easy to perform well in the majors. Jo Adell, Joey Bart and Sixto Sanchez each made it into the big leagues in 2020. But, their journeys have been quite different. Injury issues have been bothering Sixto Sanchez and he’s still on the way to return from IL. Meanwhile, Jo Adell and Joey Bart did have some opportunities in these three seasons, but they still have something to prove. Well, these three players haven’t turned 26 and they shall still have some time to gradually become future stars.