BACKPANINI AMERICA AND MLB PLAYERS, INC. ANNOUNCE MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT FOR TRADING CARDS FEATURING MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS
Panini America to Produce Minor League Trading Cards, Beginning with Three and Two Baseball in November 2026
Irving, TX – September 28, 2026 – Panini America, a subsidiary of the Panini Group, the world’s largest sports and entertainment collectibles company, and MLB Players, Inc., the business arm of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), today announced a non-exclusive, multi-year agreement covering every active Minor League Baseball (MiLB) player for baseball trading card products.
Future stars and prospects have long been central to baseball card collecting, with prospect-focused releases giving fans an early opportunity to collect players as they begin their professional careers. Through the agreement, Panini America will feature MiLB players across its baseball portfolio, including products such as Donruss Elite Extra Edition and Prizm Baseball.
Panini America expects to produce up to 12 products per year featuring MiLB players alongside collegiate and retired players. The first product scheduled for release under the agreement is Panini’s Three and Two Baseball, which is slated to launch in November 2026.
“Having Minor League players within the scope of this agreement creates significant depth across Panini’s baseball portfolio,” said Mark Warsop, CEO of Panini America. “We look forward to distinguishing each release within our annual product lineup and giving collectors and fans the opportunity to connect the future stars of the sport.”
The agreement provides Panini America with the flexibility to build prospect-focused checklists across multiple brands and product formats throughout the year. Additional details about product configurations and availability will be announced closer to each release.
“We’re proud to partner with Panini on this new initiative,’’ said Evan Kaplan, President of MLB Players, Inc. “Baseball fans have long connected with their favorite players through trading cards, and this new agreement strengthens and enhances that link by featuring their favorite Minor Leaguers, top prospects and baseball’s stars of tomorrow.’’
About Panini America
Panini America is a subsidiary of The Panini Group, established over 60 years ago in Modena, Italy with subsidiaries throughout Europe, Latin America and the United States. Panini is the world leader in officially licensed collectibles and is the most significant publisher of collectibles in the U.S., with official licenses for WNBA, WNBAPA, NASCAR, FIFA, the NWSL and NWSLPA, Unrivaled, LIV Golf, the Professional Fighters League, College, Disney, and other key properties from many other licensors. Panini is also the exclusive trading card and sticker partner of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Elite 11 and Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.
Panini has distribution channels in more than 150 countries and employs a staff of over 1,200. For more information visit us at www.paniniamerica.net, www.paninigroup.com or
http://blog.paniniamerica.net/. You can also follow Panini America on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
About MLB Players, Inc.
MLB Players, Inc. is the business arm of the Major League Baseball Players Association. The Major League Baseball Players Association is the collective bargaining representative for all professional baseball players of the 30 Major League Baseball teams. MLB Players Inc. serves as the exclusive group licensing agent for all commercial business interests and licensing activities involving active Major League and Minor League Baseball players. Follow @MLBPA on Instagram and X.
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CONTACTS:
Taylor Strategy
MLB Players, Inc.
Silvia Alvarez
