I also imagine that within a couple of months if not sooner he will have dozens of official RCs, not just the handful of minor league issues currently available.

I'm hoping that's the case because I really don't like that Bowman card. In reality I really don't like most Bowman cards. I'm guessing that the Topps Heritage will be Soto's nicest rookie and that's the one I'll wait for. Those sets are always my favorite.

For guys with their roots in vintage, Heritage is definitely the way to go. They have some interesting variations too if you're into that. Here's one I bought; and of course Correa has been in a major slump since I did.

Topps has really stepped it up lately in my opinion. I used to think their cards were bland like I do the Bowman sets but this new 2018 product was really cool. I bought the Andujar. I loved it:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1723/...0367ddd8d0.jpg

I also purchased an auto of him last year after seeing him have a heck of a game against a great pitcher. I believe he went 3 for 3 or 4 for 4 including a game winning homerun.
I liked what I seen and even though I don't normally purchase "modern" I thought, for the very affordable price, I'd purchase one of his cards for the heck of it.
I haven't followed him at all this year but I think long term, he is going to be a great player?

Anyone can turn into a pumpkin tomorrow. Even guys that have had success at the major league level. A bad injury can kill the career of someone that otherwise had multiple All-Star seasons. If all you care about is flipping a card I can't imagine you have much fun in the hobby. But I think for a lot of people getting in early on a player who has shown serious potential also brings fanfare. Just about everyone under 35 plays fantasy baseball and are used to rooting for players not on their favorite team because of it. It's an entirely different landscape than all the previous generations. So if someone hits a big Ozzie Albies rookie and becomes a fan of his I think that's cool in my book. As long as you're having fun and collecting within your means I say go for it.

Arthur

I posted this in the Topps Now thread but I'm also going in hard on Gleyber. Maybe it's the hype but I see him as bigger than Jeter when all is said and done and I liked this card way more than his Bowman. I've got no interest in him being in a Cubs uniform:

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/953/2...ed1d02ba5c.jpg

Here's a Gleyber for ya.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2015-Bowman...0AAOSw~U5bB2Ic

Yuck that card is horrible. The one I bought is so much nicer.

From what I've seen the modern card market is all about gambling for a lot of collectors. Buying expensive cards hoping that a players performance will exceed the hype. And breaking boxes or cases hoping for the big pull. A few guys I know break cases right when they come out and immediately post most, if not all of the big cards on Ebay.