UD Announces Fifth SPx Baseball Mystery Redemption

Ysponder

Jul 18 2008 3:32PM


At just 22 years of age, Collin Balester is making a name for himself with the Washington Nationals, proving his value as a big part of the future of the franchise. Balester has made his way to the starting rotation for the Nationals and is poised to grow with this team loaded with potential. Collectors can now gun for him as a part of the 2008 SPx mystery rookie redemption program. Balester will be card #149 in the set or "RR4" for the redemption. Every SPx Baseball mystery rookie redemption card will be autographed.

"They say good pitching wins championships," said Steven Judd, Upper Deck's baseball product manager. "While no one would disagree the Nationals are not going to make the playoffs this year, a lot of people look at them like the Tampa Bay Rays from a few years ago. They are emerging in a new market with good young talent like Balester."

Upper Deck will announce a new rookie redemption player until all seven players have been revealed. Balester joins Carlos Gonzalez, Evan Longoria, Clayton Kershaw and Jay Bruce as the first five rookies to be announced in this program.