#162 DJ LeMahieu - Colorado Rockies

Player: DJ LeMahieu (Baseball Reference) (Wikipedia)

Card Number: 162 (Trading Card Database)

Team: Colorado Rockies

Division: National League West

Position: 2B

Jersey Number: 9
RC/Future Stars/Topps Rookie Cup: No

Source Photo

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 29: DJ LeMahieu #9 of the Colorado Rockies bats against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 29, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

Game Date: July 29, 2017
Opponent: Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park
Home/Away: Away
Game Outcome: Rockies 4, Nationals 2
Win/Loss: Win
Player Game Line: 1-3, 1 BB, 1 Run
Photographer: G Fiume (More Getty Images)
New Team/Photoshopped?: No

Birthdate: July 13, 1988

Birthplace: Visalia, CA

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

MLB Service Years: 7

Social Media Handles: (Twitter)

Something I learned because of this card: Lemahieu turned out to be a good Major Leaguer. I knew the Rockies got the better end of the trade that landed LeMahieu but admittedly, I lost track of him after he left Chicago. He's a batting champ (2016), 2x All-Star (2015 & 2017) and 2x Gold Glover (2014 & 2017). Despite the batting title, he lost out on a SIlver Slugger to Daniel Murphy, who had an incredible season himself.

This is LeMahieu's second Opening Day card. He appeared in 2016 but was passed over last year.

LeMahieu was not featured in Series 1, which means this card is most likely a Series 2 preview. The same photo is used on the Factory Team Set card.

Cubs Ties?: As I touched on above, LeMahieu was a part of the Cubs organization before being traded to the Rockies following the 2011 season. A second round draft pick in 2009, LeMahieu made his MLB with the Cubs on May 30, 2011. He played in 37 games in 2011 but was position blocked by Aramis Ramirez at third base, Starlin Castro at shortstop and future Gold Glover Darwin Barney at second base.