Austin Hedges is a Major League Baseball catcher who has played his entire career thus far for the San Diego Padres. As a respected defensive catcher and solid offensive contributor, Hedges has become a staple for the Padres since debuting in 2016. His defensive prowess and career with a single franchise have made him a popular player to collect for baseball card enthusiasts.
Hedges was drafted by the Padres in the 2nd round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of Oklahoma State University. He worked his way through the Padres farm system, showing excellent skills behind the plate to earn his first MLB call up in 2016 at just 24 years old. That rookie season saw Hedges appear in 58 games for San Diego, hitting .278 with 5 home runs in limited at-bats. While his bat was still developing, his defense was MLB ready and he established himself as the Padres everyday catcher.
Hedges’ rookie card came in 2016 Topps Series 1. The base version of this card can be found for around $5 in near mint condition. As a rookie and key young piece of the Padres, this card remains one of the more popular in Hedges’ collection for those looking to start gathering his baseball cards. The photo on the front shows Hedges in his Padres road gray uniform, crouching behind the plate with catcher’s gear on. It captures his defensive identity well for fans and collectors.
In the years since, Hedges has continued to be included in the standard Topps baseball card releases each season as well as special inserts. His 2017 Topps Series 1 card carries a similar $5 price tag. Collectors can find parallels and short prints of this card that hold more value. An autographed or memorabilia version would be considerably rarer and fetch a higher secondary market price. Hedges has also appeared in Topps Heritage, Topps Chrome, and Allen & Ginter over the past half decade.
While primarily known for his defense, Hedges did show some improvements at the plate in 2017 by hitting .278 with 8 home runs in 76 games. This breakout season led to more interest from collectors and his baseball cards rose slightly in demand. Injuries would limit Hedges to just 58 games in 2018 and his production dipped back down that year. Still, the Padres maintained Hedges as their starting catcher based on his glove work behind the plate.
In 2019, Hedges had his best offensive season to date. He hit .211 but with a career-high 15 home runs in 82 games. This power surge made Hedges a more well-rounded player and increased collectors’ enthusiasm for his cards. Parallels and short prints from 2019 Topps series saw a bump in secondary market value compared to prior years. Products like Topps Chrome and Topps Update also gave collectors more Hedges cards to chase that season. The defensive stalwart was proving he could contribute at the plate as well.
Injuries and inconsistency at the plate have continued to be issues for Hedges in recent seasons. In the shortened 2020 campaign, he hit just .163 in 32 games and saw his playing time reduced. This downturn hurt the demand for his newer baseball cards on the secondary market. But defensive catchers who can hit 15 home runs are still a rarity, so dedicated Padres and Hedges collectors have maintained interest.
Looking through Hedges’ baseball card collection over the past half decade shows the evolution of his career and collecting interest. Rookie cards, parallels, autographs and more can all be found for dedicated collectors. While offensive woes have hindered his card values at times, strong defensive seasons and the occasional power surge still make Hedges a unique player for the Padres. As long as he remains with the franchise, his cards should hold relevance for San Diego fanatics and those building Padres team sets for the future.
In summary, Austin Hedges may never be a superstar offensively but his defensive prowess and long tenure with the Padres have made him a popular modern player to collect for baseball card enthusiasts. From rookies to inserts, dedicated collectors can trace his career ups and downs through the cardboard. As long as he stays in San Diego, Hedges cards should remain relevant for those following the Padres for years to come.