A case of life imitating art?
When the World Series rosters were announced today, there was only one small change on the Mets side – Juan Uribe is back! After missing the NLDS and NLCS due to injury, clubhouse sensation Uribe was back on the roster, not quite 100 percent but good enough to get a spot. And why not? It’s not like the Mets have been relying on their bench for much in the postseason. Uribe’s presence alone is a big add.
But it came at a price. Matt Reynolds, who seemed due for a 2015 debut at the start of the season, only made it onto an active roster in October because of Ruben Tejada’s injury in the NLDS. He did not appear in the remaining three games of the NLDS. And he did not appear in the four-game NLCS sweep. And then he was bumped off the World Series roster for Uribe. An improbable postseason MLB debut now looked impossible (barring another shortstop injury). But for Matt Reynolds, this is nothing new. Story of his life, in cardboard at least.
Matt Reynolds began his professional career as token compensation for the loss of a fan favorite. With Jose Reyes signing with the Marlins after the 2011 season, the Mets were left with two draft picks as compensation, a comp round pick at the end of the first round and the Marlins’ second round pick. The Mets used their first round picks in 2012 on shortstop Gavin Cecchini and catcher Kevin Plawecki and then selected Reynolds with their acquired second round pick.
Cecchini and Reynolds already had certified autographs from 2011 Topps USA Baseball. But there woud be no autographs from Reynolds in 2012. Mostly. Cecchini and Plawecki both had autographs in 2012 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects; Reynolds must have just missed the cut. This repeated itself in the final Topps product of the year, 2012 Bowman Sterling. But wait, what’s this on Sterling’s Bowman Black Autographs checklist? None other than Matthew Reynolds of the New York Mets.
As a redemption. Matt Reynolds got his first professional card issued as a redemption. Does that even count? I sure don’t know.
Matt Reynolds started off 2013 with autographs in 2012 Panini Elite Extra Edition alongside Cecchini and Plawecki. Finally, he had real professional cards with photos and everything. But no team names or logos because Panini can’t get a license for those. Still, it’s a good way to start the new year. And hey, maybe those Bowman Black cards will get sent out soon…
Or not. Eight months later, Topps would put out Matt Reynolds autographs. In 2013 Bowman Chrome. And those Bowman Black Autographs? Um…
No, that’s not the fulfilled redemption from 2012 Bowman Sterling. Matt Reynolds finally got his Bowman Black Autograph card, but it was inserted into packs of 2013 Bowman Chrome. It’s dated 2013 on the back and everything.
Matt Reynolds had a last-minute professional cardboard debut vanish inexplicably. And now it looks like his MLB debut will take a similar course. Presumably, he’ll debut at some point at 2016 and we’ll get to go through this all over again waiting for his first Rookie Cards.
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