Remember last year when J.R. Fickle tipped you off about future Yankees ace Cam Schlittler, even before he had any cards? Now, a similar opportunity arises with a Dodgers minor league pitcher.
Bowman Draft isn't known as the most attractive set for card investment, but it features a pitcher with his first card who is largely overlooked despite impressive stats and a compelling story. Patrick Copen, a 6'6", 220 lb, 22-year-old starter for the Tulsa Drillers (Dodgers' Double-A affiliate), has a 3.31 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 46 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings this season. He was named Texas League Pitcher of the Month in April and struck out 152 batters in 117 2/3 innings last year.
Remarkably, Copen was permanently blinded in one eye two years ago after being hit by a line drive. Despite losing vision in his right eye, he returned to the mound a year later without missing a step statistically, though he struggles with checking runners on second. His card prices remain low as collectors haven't caught on yet.
Some caveats exist: Keith Law projects Copen as a reliever, and the Dodgers' crowded rotation may limit his path. However, his near-elite minor league numbers, affiliation with a top organization, and inspiring backstory make his first card a worthy investment.
The article also digresses into a rant about a recent PSA grading experience with GameStop, where two cards graded as 6s, leading to frustration with the process.