2017 SPIRIT BOX BREAK - PACK 2

79. Clayton Kershaw

240. Ryan Schimpf

204. Tony Watson

190. Miguel Gonzalez

193. Adam Conley

264. Jhonny Peralta

40. Taylor Jungmann

261. Cheslor Cuthbert

50. Edwin Diaz (RC)

212. Jason Kipnis (Gold Parallel)

OTR12. Aaron Sanchez - On the Rise

Another pack, another new insert. On the Rise features 25 players that made big strides in 2016. I wanted the background to look kind of stock market-y without being too hacky. The big subtle brackets pointing forward and up adds some depth without being too on-the-nose. As you’ll see in other OTR cards, the colors fade from one to the other in tandem with the team colors. A little gold foil for the “ON THE RISE” text sets it off a bit.

A few notes on these particular base cards: when the Padres regressed away from last year’s navy and gold color scheme, I had to switch out yellow for a dull gray. The Padres, man. And with so many pitcher cards, the action shots can only vary so much. The checklist is actually half pitcher/half position players so other packs should be less pitcher-centric.

2014 Spirit Base: 511-520

#511 - Gerardo Parra
I'm glad to see Parra out of the NL West. He always seemed to do well against the Giants and nobody else.

#512 - David Carpenter
Looking at Carpenter's numbers, he didn't pitch that much worse in 2014 than he did in 2013. That is unless you look at his ERA which nearly doubled (1.78 to 3.45). Basically it looks like for as good as his luck was last year it was conversely bad this year. Baseball gods and whatnot.

#513 - Miguel Gonzalez
Not that Miguel Gonzalez. No, not that one either. The one that's been a solid rotation piece for the AL East champs, just like everyone predicted.

#514 - Will Middlebrooks
Middlebrooks has been a bust since his rookie season and it looks like the Red Sox might be looking for his replacement this offseason.

#515 - Wesley Wright
Maybe the Cubs can get him a hat that fits next season.

#516 - Jake Petricka
Show of hands: who can pronounce his last name correctly?*

#517 - Jay Bruce
Bruce looks like a Ken doll or something here.

#518 - C.C. Lee
C.C.'s back in Cleveland!

#519 - Matt Belisle
I'm kind of on the fence about the Rockies' pinstripes. I guess they work if they're not going to start embracing purple more.

#520 - J.D. Martinez
What a break for J.D. Released by the Astros just before the season starts, then signs with AL favorite Tigers and proceeds to have a career year.

*puh-TRICH-kuh