2026 Bowman Mega Box Whatever
Okay… You got me…
As down as I am on baseball cards these days, my Bowman history runs deep and strong enough that I am still interested in a box like this. Just to see it. Gone are the days where I’m dropping hundreds of dollars on unopened Bowman products. Either hobby or retail. Chances are good that this is the only unopened 2026 Bowman product I buy this year. But I’m almost obligated to my collection, to add a small sample every year. Both for old time’s sake and the sudden need to buy a story. Which is more a case of buying my way out of writers block.
Since I went to Burger Time a month ago, I’ve struggled to focus on writing. I started a pretty large vintage card story that stalled out after the half way mark. Bit off more than I wanted to chew at the time, and that story ground to a halt. So after some time away from it, I’m spitting that story out, for now. I’ll return to it later, because I still believe it’s a great subject. There’s another more personal rural Minnesota story that I just started, and a quick simple Colorado abandoned bank story, specifically to finish without much effort.
All told, I’ve got five stories that are currently being written… But I keep stopping to sort cards.
Something about the start of the 2026 MLB season has driven me to work on combining the separate stacks of team-sorted Monster Boxes, into one set of team-sorted Monster Boxes. For the teams I don’t specifically collect, I still have roughly 4,000 - 9,000 cards, per team. As I combine them, I’m eliminating excess I don’t want. A final keep/sell call will be made as I set them against the perviously assembled team albums, after all the boxes are condensed. Such a slow process because few of the cards are commons. And if they are, I’ve kept them around for a reason. Wading through thousands of rookies, inserts, parallels, stars and semi-stars of the same team, gets tedious. I’ve been taking frequent breaks, lasting anywhere from a few days to a few months. So far, I’ve finished the Angels, Astros, Athletics, Blue Jays, Braves, Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs, D-Bags, Dodgers, Giants and Guardiandians.
Gives me an adequate fix for my card habit, and causes no pain on the budget.
Far better than buying any current product… I see packs and boxes on the shelves at the local WalMarts and Targets and think: “Yeah… I don’t want any of that…” Thanks for pissing all over the hobby, Fanatics… At least you made the breakers happy. And A LOT of money for yourselves.
Which makes me an absolute hypocrite when I dropped my $49.99 on a 2026 Bowman Mega Box…
$50 for 42 cards. Which works out to roughly $1.19/card. Definitely not Mega in terms of value, yet not out of line with today’s market. Which is why I’ve really dropped out of the card market… I have zero illusions of “making my money back” from what I pull. Not that I’m going to sell anything, but if I were to sell them, would what I get outpace what I paid. Well, I’ll consider this box a winner if I get a decent amount of players/teams I collect, and want to keep.
Just like with 2026 flagship brand Topps series 1, the single Mega Box was all I’d buy. So let’s see how I did with the 2026 Bowman Mega Box…
Top 42 Cards From My 2026 Bowman Mega Box Whatever…
#42 - 2026 Bowman Chrome - Alimber Santa
Soooo many easy jokes to make, and I’m not going to do any of them…
Santa came down the chimney for Houston and contributed 2 innings to the Astros combined no-hitter, against the Texas Rangers.
#41 - 2026 Bowman - Alimber Santa
Ho ho ho…. The base card ranks slightly ahead of the Chrome parallel, because I hate how base Chrome cards scan. If you want a card with a good photo, base is the way to go. If you want be sold the illusion of value, then you need the Chrome version. Refractor parallels may or may not have value, depending on the flavor of the Refractor. But they do scan better than plain Chrome cards.
#40 - 2026 Bowman Chrome - Dauri Fernandez
Dauri projects to be a weaker hitting middle infielder. Though his A ball numbers look pretty decent for a 19 year old.
#39 - 2026 Bowman - Dauri Fernandez
Same principle as believing in Santa… Dauri’s base card is much better than the Chrome parallel.
#38 - 2026 Bowman Chrome - Josue DePaula
DePaula just turned 21, and has an OPS over .900 at AA Tulsa. He’s the Dodgers top prospect, and ranked as the 8th bast prospect, according to MLB.com.
#37 - 2026 Bowman - Josue DePaula
Again, base looks nicer.
Yes, that’s right 2026 Bowman Mega Box… I’m looking for those Mega Refractors. And I’ll look for the rare Image Variations and Mega Chrome Autographs, but I see very little reason to… Not like there’s going to be something spectacular inside. However, I am hoping for a few of the “coveted” 1st Bowman Cards. Specifically, Ethan Holliday, of the Rockies. And the card I wanted most from the box, Marek Houston. Actually shocked the Twins 2025 1st Round Draft Pick gets billing on the packing. He’s doing ok in 2026, at High A Cedar Rapids, but I would have never expected him to be a key advertising point.
But you combine that “coveted” 1st Bowman Card, with the exclusive Mega Refractor version, and you might have something…
2023 Bowman Mega Box - Josue DePaula
Like back in 2023, when I pulled the 2023 Bowman Mega Refractor of Josue DePaula’s “coveted” 1st Bowman Card…
Forgot that I owned this card (not that it’s overly memorable), until I unearthed it during all the recent Monster Box sorting. While going through those boxes, I found a few cards that deserve to be storage upgraded from simple penny sleeve to Top Loader. I’ve been pulling them out as I go through each team’s boxes. So far I’ve found about 50 cards due for storage promotion. I’ll show a few mixed in with the 2026 Bowman Whatever. Just to break away from the monotony of looking at current cards.
Speaking of monotony, I’ve exhausted the three cards that came out of the Mega Box in both base and Chrome flavors.
Whatever…
#36 - 2026 Bowman Chrome - Parks Harber
Cool… Another “coveted” 1st Bowman Card!
Parks is the 14th ranked prospect in the San Francisco Giants system, though with what he’s doing this season in AA Richmond, he should be ranked higher. He’s already close to 25, a .950 OPS is always worth paying attention to.
#35 - 2026 Bowman Chrome - Enddy Azocar
Have another “coveted” 1st Bowman Card… This time it’s of Boston’s #10 prospect, Enddy Azocar, a 19 year old outfielder, recently promoted to High A. He’s also posting a .900+ OPS this season. Which is worth paying closer attention to than Parks Harber’s .950 in AA… Age makes all the difference with prospects.
#34 - 2026 Bowman - Cristopher Sanchez
Late bloomer of a prospect, Sanchez has become one of the top left-handed starting pitchers in the game.
Not named Skubal….
#33 - 2026 Bowman - Moises Chace
Currently recovering from Tommy John Surgery. Looking at his pre-injury numbers, there’s were a lot of questions if he would be able to advance. He’ll have an even tougher time after missing this much time recovering. He’s the #8 prospect in the Phillies system, but I’m not very high on his chances.
#32 - 2026 Bowman - Josuar Gonzalez
Not a “coveted” 1st Bowman Card… Josuar will play the 2026 minor league season at 18 years old, and is already the #2 prospect in the Giants system. He looks like an intriguing hitter that could stick at shortstop. If he progresses, he could be a future star for San Francisco. But that still make him a Giant…
2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites - Juan Marichal - Refractor
Found this Marichal buried in a long forgotten corner of a Giants box. The Giants being one of those teams I actively dislike, I saw little reason in flipping through it very often. However, a card like this deserves a home in a Top Loader. A check on 130 Point show four completed sales, ranging between $5-$10. Yeah, that’s worth more than a penny sleeve worth of storage. And I’m keeping it.
Blasters of 2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites were a fun rip after an overnight shift, WalMarts supply run, on my way back to the house in Littleton, CO. Bought a few of them. Never did hit an autograph, but I liked the set.
#31 - 2026 Bowman Chrome - Kade Snell
Fringe prospect at best… Ranked #26 in a weak Cubs system, and isn’t hitting much in his second year at High A. He’s about to turn 24, so time isn’t on his side either.
#30 - 2026 Bowman Mega Box - Jorge Quintana
“Coveted” 1st Whatever appearance for a 1st Mega Refractor card. Quintana is still a very young shortstop, ranked #5 in the Padres system. He hasn’t hit much, and has already been traded by the Brewers after being a fairly expensive international signing. Not sold on his potential either.
#29 - 2026 Bowman Mega Box - Andrew Tess
Tess has missed a lot of time due to injury. He is still only 19, and hit decent when he played, and will be given extra chances if he can continue to catch. Catchers are always in demand.
#28 - 2026 Bowman Chrome - Bryce Rainer
Ranked as the #45 prospect in all of MLB, and #2 in Detroit’s system. That position may be in jeopardy, as his hitting is 150 points below last seasons OPS, in A ball. This is Rainer’s 2nd Bowman card, so it’s not at all “Coveted”. Being a Detroit Tiger doesn’t help its case.
2018 Bowman Draft - Brice Turang
Speaking of Brices that are spelled differently, I was somewhat happy to find a 2018 Bowman Draft 1st of Brice Turang. He’s developed into a nice player for the Brewers over the last few years. Thought that may reflect into a little collector interest… Nope. All reported sales on 130 Point are under $2.00. In fact, a lot of 100 Turang cards like this one, sold for only $70, a couple weeks ago. Not very coveted…
I’m still going to Top Loader it, because my Milwaukee Brewers box is thin, and it will have more value once he’s a New York Yankee.
#27 - 2026 Bowman - Nolan McLean
McLean was supposed to dominate his rookie season. But just like his team, he hasn’t lived up to the hype. Nolan hasn’t been terrible, and is by no means the reason for the Mets futility, he just hasn’t taken the next step to lead the staff. Which is all unfair pressure for a young pitcher, but that’s what the Mets are putting him through…
#26 - 2026 Bowman - Francisco Lindor
You could try hitting a little better…
#25 - 2026 Bowman - Anthony Frobose
The Mets 9th Round Draft Pick in 2025. Bit of a stretch for a prospect, Bowman…. Frobose doesn’t even rank in the Mets Top 30 Prospects list, although they gave him a signing bonus worth over four times his draft slot value. So the Mets must see something in him.
#24 - 2026 Bowman Mega Box - Nolan McLean
It’s Nolan McLean in Mega Refractor form!
#23 - 2026 Bowman Mega Box - Jakob Marsee
Marsee was a pleasant surprise for the Marlins last season, and he’s been a major disappointment this season.
2018 Topps Silver Pack - Ozzie Albies
Sticking around the National League East for a bit longer, I found this Mega Refractor which isn’t called a Mega Refractor, because it isn’t Bowman. If it’s flagship Topps, it’s called Silver Pack (after the bonus silver wrapped packs inside Hobby boxes). Unlike Mega Boxes, which are sold in retail stores. Guess that’s the difference?
Given Albies reputation as an All Star level second baseman for a successful team that I really hate, I thought this card would have a little more punch on the secondary market. Not really. A majority of completed sales were for only around $2. That’s like Mets and Marlins level disappointing…
#22 - 2026 Bowman - Harry Ford
Also disappointing is how former Seattle Mariners prospect Harry Ford has fared in Washington DC… I was shocked when Seattle traded their top catching prospect to the Nationals, for a left-handed relief pitcher. But Ford didn’t hit in Spring Training, and didn’t make the Nationals opening day roster. In fact he hasn’t made any Nationals roster. He hasn’t gotten out of AAA, two months into the season. Certainly not what Washington was expecting when that trade went down.
#21 - 2026 Bowman Chrome - Gage Jump
Jump is a fast moving A’s prospect, ranked #40 in MLB, after being a Competitive Balance Draft Pick in 2024. Jump’s already made the leap (I’m funny) to Sacramento, and didn’t look awful in his first start. I don’t know how the Athletics are ever going to afford the move to Las Vegas, but they’re going to need nearly all of their top prospects to pan out.
Especially since Nick Kurtz just can’t hit…
You a big Gage Jump fan, Rob?
I think we all are…
Could always get some food?
While I was driving from work, down the business access road to the Targets for bagels, shoelaces, Men’s One a Day Multi-vitamins (the over 50 edition) and a 2026 Bowman Mega Box, I saw that La Casita had closed, after about 15 years at this building. The note on the front door implied the current state of the economy caused the cutback, and to visit one of their other locations. Access to this restaurant wasn’t easy. You could see it from the highway, but you had to drive a distance from the exit to get to it.
That distance (and other factors) contributed to the demise of Fuddruckers, in 2010. Which had its own near 15 year run, in the same building, before La Casita. The amount of boxes of Bowman cards ripped inside the Fuddruckers, when it was still that, was well above zero. So there’s some personal history with this place.
I’m very interested to see what happens to this property next.
Whatever…
#20 - 2026 Bowman - Ricardo Cova
Cova is an unranked Mariners prospect, who doesn’t appear to have much upside. He’s only 22 in High A ball, so there’s a little time to find another gear.
#19 - 2026 Bowman Chrome - Luis Cova
The Fish have their own Cova… Miami ranks Luis as their #16 prospect. He’s a few years younger than Ricardo Cova, but I don’t know if they are related in any way. Luis is a far better prospect than Ricardo, but he doesn’t appear to have any true standout skills. He’s have to develop into a well rounded player, who isn’t exceptional in any single facet. Kind of a tall order… He may be more of a soft Cova than a hard Cova.
#18 - 2026 Bowman Chrome - Gage Stanifer
Former Blue Jays 19th Round Draft Pick (2022), Stanifer has put in a lot of work to become the #5 prospect in Toronto’s system. Improved control will be key to how much further he goes. His 2026 numbers in AA aren’t that encouraging.
#17 - 2026 Bowman - Carlos Virahonda
Number 17 prospect in the Arizona D-Bags system, he has a chance at becoming a decent catcher down the line. He’s only 20, so it could go in any direction. Also like how Topps drew not only the Diamondbacks jersey, but the alternate, over his (likely) Visalia Rawhide one.Getting the snake head arm patch looking somewhat acceptable is a feat in itself.
I do think the black, teal and red alternate jersey is a good look for Arizona. I even like the all purple and teal City Connect jersey they use. For as much as I dislike the D-Bags, they have some colorful uniform combinations that actually work in a loud, garish way.
2019 Topps - Zack Grienke SP
Found mixed in with a small quantity of 15-20 2019 Topps Diamondback cards, including 2 base Grienke cards that weren’t of the SP variety. Check on 130 point shows these selling for around $4. Worthy of a Top Loader, as I always did like Grienke. And I even liked the dark grey road uniforms Arizona wore for a few seasons. They were different, and not in a bad way. I was disappointed when they went back to the lighter grey road model.
#16 - 2026 Bowman Chrome - Yojancel Cabrera - Laser Refractor
Haven’t been following Bowman close enough to know if Laser Refractors are new this year, or if they’re just new to me. Either way, I like them. The scan absolutely doesn’t do this justice. Yojancel is about to turn 18, and he’s playing rookie ball in the Arizona Complex League. So it’s understandable that he’s not ranked among the Angels Top 30 Prospects. Even though that Angels have probably the weakest farm system ion the 30 teams.
#15 - 2026 Bowman - Wehiwa Aloy
I remember the name Wehiwa Aloy from watching the 2025 MLB Draft, it stood out. So this was a card I was glad to get in the Mega Box. Because I remembered the name. That right there is what disgusts me so much about what the Bowman has become. For decades, I’d follow the draft very close, then wait for the new Bowman cards to come out so I could have cards of the recent draft picks. Between shrinking the set down from 600-700 card to 250 cards with 8 billion parallels, then charge ridiculous prices for the chance on autographed card of a 24 year old relief pitcher, stuck in Low A. Used to love Bowman, now it’s just sad with greed.
However, a look at Wehiwa’s numbers in the 2026 season, show he hit very well in his 2025 Low A debut, and is hitting even better at High A. He’s already Baltimore’s #5 prospect, and could move up to AA soon.
#14 - 2026 Bowman - Carson Benge
The Mets rushed Benge into a starting role in the major leagues, and hasn’t looked ready. His 2025 minor league season was really good, as he climbed the ladder of High A, AA and AAA, over the year. But the .634 OPS in 200 major league plate appearances say you should be back in AAA, not Citi Field.
#13 - 2026 Bowman Mega Box - Roki Sasaki
Roki also hasn’t looked ready to be a Dodger yet either. While he’s had more success than Benge (and was pretty good in the 2025 postseason), he hasn’t been what the Dodgers hoped for when they shocked the world and signed him before the 2025 season. For some reason, I really like this card. But I am a sucker for the Mega Refractor style card. And any star player’s card is deemed a keeper. Even if the term “Star” can rightfully be debated.
Speaking of star cards of Japanese players…
I knew that I still had a handful of 2018 Shohei Ohtani cards packed away in one of the Angels boxes, but I couldn’t remember which ones. Also haven’t been paying very close attention to what 2018 Shohei Ohtani cards are selling for these days. Assumed the prices were high, because Shohei Ohtani… But I had no idea…
2018 Topps Update - Shohei Ohtani - 3-Game HR Streak - Gold
Pulled from a pack of 2018 Topps Update, placed in a penny sleeve and long forgotten about. Didn’t consider this to be one of his rookie cards, just one of the many bonus Ohtani’s that Topps stacked the 2018 set with. I knew it was the serial numbered Gold Parallel, but since it wasn’t an actual rookie card, did anyone seriously care about another of like 10 Ohtani cards stuffed into the 2018 Topps set?
According to 130 Point, I couldn’t have been more wrong…
They’ve tracked four sales of this exact card (ungraded), dating back to February 2026.
May 24, 2026 - $720.00
March 30, 2026 - $760.00
March 25, 2026 - $800.00
February 23, 2026 - $560.00
Well then… This card was upgraded beyond Top Loader, all the way to One Touch. Including the value of the rest of the forgotten 2018 Ohtani’s (several Topps Archives, Allen & Ginter, and Big League, plus some more Topps fluff), I found well over $1,500 in additional Shohei Ohtani cards. Wasn’t expecting that…
#12 - 2026 Bowman Mega Box - Christian Moore
Sorry Christian Moore, there’s no way you can follow that…
#11 - 2026 Bowman Chrome - Jac Caglianone - Red Logo
I was excited to pull a card with the red RC logo. I remember that it signified something important, and possibly valuable, but I couldn’t remember what. My enthusiasm waned once I found out it was just a Fanatics gimmick. Immediately lost interest after reading about how it has to do with some reception concept, with multiple tiers, based on the player’s performance over the span of his career. Basically, the red RC logo cards can be exchanged for Fanatics Cash after they win certain awards. Whatever.
So I got a Jac Caglianone Bowman Chrome rookie card, with an attached gimmick I couldn’t care less about. And it doesn’t even look all that special. Definitely not a fan of that dingy looking powder blue Royals uniform.
Maybe I’ll get some Twins cards out of the 2026 Bowman Mega Box? That’ll help!
#10 - 2026 Bowman - Walker Jenkins
Officially starting to become concerned about Walker Jenkins injury history. He’s missed over a month of the 2026 season, with a shoulder injury caused by running into a wall. After missing a good chunk of the 2025 season with a Hamstring injury. And a bunch of time in 2024 with Hamstring and Quad problems. This organization just can’t have a healthy center field prospect. When he’s played, he looks like a potential impact bat for years to come. Had it not been for the injuries, he’d be playing for the Twins right now.
And we could really use an impact bat.
I’ve read that some look at Jenkins injuries as a positive, in regards to the upcoming offseason labor situation. If he misses a significant part of the 2026 season in AAA, the Twins will be under no pressure to promote him to the Major League roster, before the end of the season. While it’s important that it keeps his MLB service clock at zero, the biggest factor comes into play if there’s a strike or lockout situation that lasts into the 2027 season. If Jenkins hasn’t been added to the Twins 40 Man Roster, when that strike/lockout takes place, he will be eligible to play in minor league games. Worst case situation, if labor unrest cancels half -or all- of the 2027 season, Jenkins can play the full year for the Saints. And if he was healthy for that time, it really would be a positive.
So as bizarre as it is to say this, I don’t want to see Walker Jenkins with the Twins this season.
Nothing personal. It’s for the best.
After all, he already missed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles day…
Twins on-field reporter Audra Martin (no relation to right fielder Austin Martin) had earlier said that she was such a big fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, back when she was a kid, that she owned a full onesey. She said she’d wear it for the game. Indeed she did, as she went out into the stands and asked fans about the Turtles. No one was playing along, and it was kind of sad. Later in the game, she was relaying a story about interviewing Twins players in the locker room about the Turtles. All the players said they didn’t watch because it wasn’t on when they were kids. She said it just made her feel old.
I totally related to that…
Feel free to come over sometime… We can play action figures! You can be Be-Bop.
Whatever…
#9 - 2026 Bowman Mega Box Sterling - Max Clark
Really like how this card looks… Bowman Sterling used to be its own set. With five card packs selling for like $75 or something stupid like that. I’m out of touch with what Fanatics is doing, is Bowman Sterling just an insert set now?
Detroit took Max Clark with the pick just before the Twins took Walker Jenkins. Both were 5 tool centerfielders, with advanced hitting skills. Clark has stayed healthy and developed, while Jenkins has missed considerable time. Clark hasn’t exploded at AAA so far in 2026, his power is down, but his strikeouts are way down. You don’t worry about a decrease in power at this point as he’s clearly figuring things out with his swing and approach.
MLB.com currently ranks Max Clark as the #7 prospect, and Walker Jenkins at #11.
#8 - 2026 Bowman Mega Box - Roldy Brito
Brito is currently the #3 prospect in the Rockies system, and the #80 prospect in all of MLB. He’s putting up a .900 OPS at Low A as a 19 year old, playing mostly at second base, with a move to center field as most likely. When you say his name really fast, it sounds like “Roll the burrito”. So I’m now a lifelong fan of this guy. Stay with the Rockies, it’ll be awesome. Maybe someday you’ll be in Denver with your current teammate, Matt’s son, and Jackson’s brother…
#7 - 2026 Bowman - Ethan Holliday
This was the number two card I wanted from 2026 Bowman. Didn’t matter the parallel, so base is just as good as Chrome to me (slightly better, in a way). Mega Refractor would have been nice as well… Ethan Holliday had his 2026 season ended early, after a stress fracture in his foot required surgery. Sucks because he was starting to take off. His strikeouts were way down after his first season, and he had an OPS of .950, with 9 home runs through 33 games.
#6 - 2026 Bowman - Munetaka Murakami
The White Sox aren’t better than the Twins in 2026, just because the Twins have gotten worse… Murakami has come over from Japan and made the White Sox somewhat relevant again. Well, no one in the American League Central has played to any real degree of relevancy, but I have to give the White Sox credit for accomplishing so much more than was expected. The Tigers and Royals have been much worse than expected. The Twins, only slightly worse than expected. Cleveland has been pretty much what was expected. First place and boring…
Now a look at a brief Chicago White Sox DH, and what one of his other team’s cards are doing…
2009 Upper Deck Starquest - Manny Ramirez - Emerald Super Rare
According to the 2026 baseball card market, Emerald Super Rare translates into about $2… Ouch! Sorry Manny, not enough to get the Top Loader treatment, but since I still like the card, it’ll have a home in my Dodgers binder.
You know, 2026 Bowman Mega Box, I’d like to collect that 100 card Mega Refractor set if your product wasn’t so bloated on price and lean on content. Secondary market being the way to go, but it’s just not a priority. At one point in my collecting life it may have been. But not anymore. Just the way it goes… But the Mega Refractors (or Silver Pack, if it’s Topps) are still some of my favorite cards every year. And I’ll probably always keep them.
#5 - 2026 Bowman Mega Box - Aaron Judge
Which is why cards of players on teams I don’t like, that have slowly won me over, will rank so chi on the Whatever. If I’m going to have a single baseball (relatively) base card of one of the biggest stars in the game, I will always be happy with one that looks like this. I’ll even keep Alex Bregman cards of this variety…
#4 - 2026 Bowman Mega Box - Aiva Arquette
Arquette was another name from the 2025 MLB Draft that stood out. From Hawaii to Oregon State University to the 6th overall pick to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. This was a 1st Bowman card that you could almost say I coveted.
#3 - 2026 Bowman Mega Box - Konnor Griffin
As I’m writing this, I’ve just watched the Twins get swept by the Pirates in Pittsburgh. After losing 3 of 4 to the White Sox. While Griffin didn’t do anything too notable, his talent was clear, and he’s already signed long term to play with the Pirates through his 20’s. Very happy to have gotten a Griffin in Mega Refractorousity.
#2 - 2026 Bowman Chrome - Kaelin Culpepper - Laser Refractor
But this one pleased me much more, and probably should have made #1 on this Whatever…
Culpepper is ranked #2 in the Twins system, and #38 in the MLB.com Top 100 Prospects. Unlike Twins #1 prospect (Jenkins), Culpepper has stayed healthy, and is putting up some strong numbers for the the AAA St. Paul Saints. He will most likely be the Twins shortstop before too much longer, and will hopefully become a stabilizing influence on our volatile infield.
Until we know what we have in Marek Houston…
Recently, Laura’s nephew took us to a St. Paul Saints game, and we got to see Kaelin Culpepper take on the Omaha Storm Chasers. (Which will likely be a story at some point this summer.) He singled in four plate appearances, striking out in two of them. He did steal a base and score a run. But Omaha beat the Saints, 5-3.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the river…
2022 Bowman’s Best - Brooks Lee - Refractor
The Twins recently decided that Brooks Lee isn’t the answer at shortstop. Given the position after the Carlos Correa trade, last July, this was his “prove you can do it” directive. The results weren’t pretty last season. He’s hitting better this year, but defensively, he isn’t gutting it. In mid-May, Lee was shifted from short to third base.
So what happened to our third basemen?
2022 Bowman’s Best - Royce Lewis - Refractor
Also in mid-May, the Twins officially ran out of patience with 2017 1st overall MLB Draft pick, Royce Lewis, optioning him to AAA St. Paul. It had become clear watching him play that he had no clue what he doing at the plate. Going on two years of rapidly diminishing results, he had to get out of the Twins lineup. But with Lee moving to third base, he doesn’t have a clear path back in. Royce brought it on himself, he opened his mouth a few years back and said he didn’t do slumps. Since that display of arrogance, his career has been a non-stop cycle of slump, injury, slump, injury…
He did hit a home for the Saints the night we saw them play, but I really wonder what his future looks like. He may never play for the Twins again. Which is kind of sad, because of his potential and first year plus. But we couldn’t continue to watch what he’d become. Hopefully he gets it together. Same can be said for right fielder Matt Wallner. Who also found himself demoted to St. Paul in mid-May, after an extended period of playing terrible baseball.
I said before the season that whatever is going on behind the scenes with the 2026 Minnesota Twins, would be far more interesting than the product on the field. Looks like we’ll finally see some of that much needed turnover.
Whatever…
The number one card pulled from my 2026 Bowman Mega Box is…
#1 - 2026 Bowman Mega Box Electric Sluggers - Juan Soto - Orange Refractor 86/275
Very nice looking card of a future Hall of Famer, that I happen to like (despite his ridiculous 15 year, $765 million contract). Wasn’t expecting a serial numbered card as a box hit, but it’s the most common box hit you could realistically expect to see. No guarantees, but a good possibility. So I’m not only glad to have hit the realistic odds, but it is of someone I collect. Looks really cool in person too.
Whatever…
******
Let’s do a little 2026 Bowman Mega Box Wrapper wrap-up…
How do I feel about the 2026 Bowman Mega Box after writing all this?
I did okay. Nothing Earth-shattering, but I didn’t expect there to be. The box leaned fairly heavy towards teams that I like and light on teams I don’t like. I got an Ethan Holliday, but no Marek Houston. There was a really cool parallel of a Twins prospect on the doorstep of the Major Leagues. There was a serial numbered insert of a future Hall of Famer, that I actually collect.
With lowered expectations, I feel okay with the Mega Box. I wouldn’t buy another one, but I didn’t feel ripped off by this one.
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