Featured autograph - Francisco Arcia

Arcia, who spent 12 professional seasons before reaching the big leagues, has had quite the week - hitting a pair of home runs and collecting 10 RBI in his first two MLB games for the Angels.

When Arcia was signed by the Angels as minor league depth, I picked up this 2012 Bowman Chrome refractor to pair up with a lone card I had - I was hoping to get his cards signed in-person during a spring training trip in 2017, but that didn't happen.

Digging through my notes about miscellaneous card pick-ups, I actually picked this up as part of a group of 120 cards I picked up for $8 and loose change at a card shop last fall - I typed out Arcia was a minor league journeyman 'who was in the Angels system this past season [2017], likely somewhere else next year.

In 2018, Arcia ended up back in the Angels system as minor league depth and I was able to get my cards signed - when Arcia was playing with the Salt Lake Bees.

Featured autograph - Rafael Ortega

Ortega made his Angels debut on April 16, going 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run and a walk - if Ortega gets an opportunity to stick around, he could be like fellow Venezuelans Gregor Blanco or Ender Inciarte, a couple of outfielders who've maxed out their ability and became dependable parts of a MLB roster.

Featured autograph - Carlos Martinez

I picked up this autograph of the Cardinals pitcher who has had a breakout season as a starter - unfortunately Martinez was pulled after throwing only seven pitches in his last start and his status maybe up in the air.

Oscar Taveras find

In his long awaited MLB debut, the top prospect's first MLB hit was a home run - I think I got his autograph in-person on a dummy card in the Arizona Fall League in 2011, but was too busy trying to chase after Bryce Harper and Mike Trout to care about the then 'little known' prospect from the Dominican Republic.

He broke out in 2010, but had even a bigger season in 2011 - maybe it was the a lack of 'mainstream cards' that kept me from focusing on Taveras as someone to be serious about getting when I had the chance to do so.

In 2012, I was digging through an assorted dollar box and found a 2012 blue Bowman Chrome parallel to get autographed in-person - if I have the chance, I'm probably going to hold off on that now, since he's had his share of assorted prospect cards.

2012 Bowman Chrome blaster recaps

2012 Bowman Chrome blaster [$19.99 each at a random Target] - went on a Target / Walmart run for 2012 Bowman Chrome the week it came out, I blew $60 on two blasters and two value packs; my friend's lone blaster purchase had a Trevor Bauer autograph redemption while his boss must have bought 10-15 boxes and at least three hobby boxes.

Xfractor bonus pack
#124 J.P. Arencibia
#BCP 122 Felipe Rivero
#65 Jimmy Rollins

Pack one
#102 Ike Davis
#FG-JSE Jean Segura - Futures Game insert

#BCP 165 Carlos Valenzuela

Pack two
#94 Brandon Phillips
#BCP 176 Aaron Brooks
#99 Jarrod Parker

Pack three
#BCP 111 Rob Rasmussen - refractor parallel

#BCP 182 Gregory Polanco
#93 Hunter Pence

Pack four
#66 Alex Rodriguez
#BCP 191 Danny Winkler
#75 Jemile Weeks

Pack five
#48 B.J. Upton
#LIM-TB Trevor Bauer - Legends in the Making insert

#BCP 199 Gabriel Lino

Pack six
#32 Jayson Werth
#BCP 205 Kenny Faulk
#47 Andrelton Simmons - Bryce Harper cameo

Pack seven
#83 Justin Masterson - refractor parallel

#BCP 2011 Domingo Tapia
#24 Kirk Nieuwenhuis

2012 Bowman Chrome blaster [$19.99 each at another random Target] 

Xfractor bonus pack
#174 Ryan Braun
#BCP 144 Blair Walters
#4 Jeremy Hellickson

Pack one
#BCP 147 Joel Caminero - refractor parallel

#FAS-PJ Buster Posey / Tommy Joseph - Franchise All-Stars insert
#147 Michael Young

Pack two
#206 Justin Morneau
#BCP 139 Lane Adams
#155 Ichiro

Pack three
#21 Brad Peacock
#LIM-TB Trevor Bauer - Legends in the Making insert

#BCP 152 Roberto De La Cruz

Pack four
#34 Chipper Jones
#BCP 168 Willy Garcia
#187 Jeremy Hefner

Pack five
#29 Jose Bautista - refractor parallel

#BCP 179 Narciso Mesa
#199 Wily Peralta

Pack six
#62 Shin-Soo Choo
#BCP 190 Daniel Paolini
#217 Dustin Pedroia

Pack seven
#124 J.P. Arencibia
#BCP Donald Lutz
#BCP 200 Eduardo Rodriguez