Topps Now: August 7, 2023

As the Red Sox limp to the finish line, it is worth remembering a point in the season in which they actually looked like they were in contention.  On August 7, the Red Sox were hosting the Royals where the starting pitchers both pitched gems.  Brayan Bello only gave up one run in 6.2 innings, giving up just a run with two walks and two strikeouts.  The Royals pitcher only gave up two runs. 

The Red Sox found themselves tied with the Royals going into the bottom of the ninth inning.  In the ninth, the Red Sox loaded the bases, but also had two outs against Royals reliever Carlos Hernandez.  Up stepped Pablo Reyes, an unlikely hero.  Reyes started the 2023 season on the 40 man roster of the pathetic Oakland Athletics and was not good enough to stick around.  He was waived by the team and Boston grabbed him to try to shore up their middle infield defense.  But Reyes made the most of his opportunity and crushed a game-winning grand slam in this game.  He has continued to play well since. 

This is the sixth player this year whose first card in my collection was a Topps Now card.  He joins Masataka Yoshida, Adam Duvall, Enmanuel Valdez, Joe Jacques and Luis Urias in that category.