Panini America’s Exclusive Partnership with USA Baseball Pays Early Draft Dividends
Half of the players selected during yesterday’s first round of the MLB Draft were already well represented in the trading card arena long before their names were called. In fact, thanks to Panini America’s unique exclusive partnership with USA Baseball, the company’s 2017 Stars & Stripes USA Baseball and 2016 Elite Extra Edition Baseball products are brimming with exclusive content of this year’s top picks.
In fact, eight of the first 18 players drafted during the opening round yesterday have exclusive autograph, memorabilia and autographed memorabilia cards in the two aforementioned products. With a little help from Panini America’s own Ben Ecklar, we provide a complete breakdown after the jump.
1st Overall (Twins) Royce Lewis, SS, JSerra Catholic High School, CA
2nd Overall (Reds) Hunter Greene, RHP/SS, Notre Dame High School, CA
*4th Overall (Rays) Brendan McKay, 1B/LHP, Louisville Cardinals
*5th Overall (Braves) Kyle Wright, RHP, Vanderbilt Commodores
*9th Overall (Brewers) Keston Hiura, 2B/DH, UC Irvine Anteaters
*11th Overall (White Sox) Jake Burger, 3B, Missouri State Bears
12th Overall (Pirates) Shane Baz, RHP, Concordia Lutheran High School, TX
*14th Overall (Royals) Nick Pratto, 1B/RHP, Huntington Beach High School, CA
*15th Overall (Astros) J.B. Bukauskas, RHP, North Carolina Tar Heels
*17th Overall (Mariners) Evan White, 1B, Kentucky Wildcats
*18th Overall (Tigers) Alex Faedo, RHP, Florida Gators
20th Overall (Mets) David Peterson, LHP, Oregon Ducks
23rd Overall (Dodgers) Jeren Kendall, OF, Vanderbilt Commodores
24th Overall (Red Sox) Tanner Houck, RHP, Missouri Tigers
30th Overall (Cubs) Alex Lange, RHP, LSU Tigers
*Exclusive autographs and memorabilia cards as of today
In addition, there were five additional players selected in the second round of the MLB Draft with whose autograph and memorabilia cards can be found exclusively in Panini America products. That list . . .
48th Overall (Rockies) Ryan Vilade, 3B, Stillwater HS, OK
52nd Overall (Royals) M.J. Melendez, C, Westminster Christian School, FL
*61st Overall (Blue Jays) Hagen Danner, C, Huntington Beach HS, CA
64th Overall Quentin Holmes, OF, McClancy Memorial HS, NY
66th Overall Hans Crouse, RHP, Dana Hills HS, CA
*Exclusive autographs & memorabilia as of today
Finally, nine players featured in 2017 Stars & Stripes USA Baseball and 2016 Elite Extra Edition are still playing as their collegiate teams have advanced to the 2017 College World Series, bringing the overall total to 26 players with autographs and memorabilia in these two programs. Three players were drafted last night while the others wait on their name to be called over the next two days:
*Alex Faedo, RHP, Florida Gators drafted 18th Overall
Taylor Walls, 2B, Florida State Seminoles
*Mike Rivera, C, Florida Gators
*Evan Skoug, C, TCU Horned Frogs
*KJ Harrison, C, Oregon State Beavers
*Devin Hairston, SS, Louisville Cardinals
*Brendan McKay, 1B/LHP, Louisville Cardinals drafted 4th Overall
Alex Lange, RHP, LSU Tigers drafted 30th Overall
Daulton Guthrie, SS, Florida Gators
*Exclusive autographs & memorabilia as of today