My First Verdugo Auto

DISCLAIMER:  This is not the big thing I talked about the other day.

Well it makes sense to show a Verdugo card a day after showing Jeter Downs.  Verdugo of course was the big piece in the Betts trade.  I decided to get ahead of things and grab the first auto that came out, which leads me to this:

This is from Panini Absolute.  Verdugo has kind of an ugly signature, and honestly, the card is pretty ugly too.  But, it is my first Verdugo autograph.  

So how is that trade looking?  Well, Betts has been Betts and is a contender for the N.L. MVP for the Dodgers.  Verdugo has been the best player for the Red Sox though and is having a very good season himself.  As of today, Verdugo is hitting .318/.376/.509 with six home runs and 14 RBIs.  The RBIs are a little low because Verdugo is hitting out of the leadoff spot and, well Boston's bottom half of the order is kind of terrible this year, so there's rarely anyone on base when he comes up.  I have been really impressed with his defense.  Verdugo has a cannon for an arm and has seven assists from the outfield.  He looks like a potential Gold Glove outfielder.

There is room for improvement in Verdugo's game.  He could develop a little more power and probably walk a little bit more, but he looks like a very good, young player.  And hey, he is still 24.  Verdugo should be a player Boston builds around, as well as Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers.  And I absolutely love his fire.  He plays hard and gets excited about the game.  Teams need a guy like that.