Nicky Lopez Baseball Cards Overview

Nick Lopez is an infielder for the Kansas City Royals who made his MLB debut in 2019. While still early in his career, Lopez has shown potential as a versatile defender and contact hitter. As a result, collectors have started to take notice of Nicky Lopez baseball cards. Let’s take a deeper look at Lopez’s career so far and explore some of his notable baseball cards.

Background on Nicky Lopez

Nicky Lopez was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 13th round of the 2016 amateur draft out of the University of New Mexico. He spent the next few years developing in the Royals minor league system. Lopez displayed excellent contact skills and plate discipline throughout his time in the minors. In 2018 with Double-A NW Arkansas, he hit .305 with an OBP of .385 while striking out just 49 times in 533 plate appearances.

Lopez earned a promotion to the majors in 2019 at the age of 25. He made his big league debut on June 25th of that year. In 87 games with the Royals in 2019, Lopez hit .250/. 324/.340 with 17 extra-base hits. While he didn’t show much power, he frequently made contact and got on base. Lopez also brought defensive versatility, spending time at second base, third base, and shortstop. His defense drew positive reviews, with scouts remarking on his footwork, range, and strong arm.

Lopez continued to see regular playing time for Kansas City in 2020 and 2021. While his offensive production dipped some in 2020 amid the pandemic-shortened season, he bounced back at the plate in 2021. Lopez hit .300/.349/.386 in 106 games last year, showcasing his ability to consistently put the bat on the ball. He remained a reliable glove at multiple infield positions as well.

Now heading into his age-27 season in 2022, Lopez is poised to be an everyday player for the Royals. He’s proven himself as a steady contact hitter who can play all over the infield. If Lopez can tap into some additional power as he gains experience, he could become a well-rounded major leaguer.

Top Nicky Lopez Baseball Cards

Let’s explore some of the top Nicky Lopez baseball cards available on the current market:

2016 Bowman Prospects #BP155: This is Nicky Lopez’s rookie card issued by Bowman when he was in the Royals system. It features a photo of Lopez in his New Mexico Lobos uniform. These cards currently sell for around $10-15 in near mint condition.

2019 Topps Baseball #590: This is Lopez’s base rookie card from his debut season with Kansas City. It captured his early success with the big league club. Mint copies trade hands for $15-20.

2019 Topps Update #US265: Also part of Lopez’s Topps rookie card run in 2019, this Update issue features crisp action photography. Near mint examples sell in the $12-15 range.

2020 Topps Series 1 #413: Topps update cards from Lopez’s sophomore season in 2020. He’s depicted making a play at second base. These routinely sell on the secondary market for $5-8.

2021 Topps Series 1 #411: This base card from last year highlights Lopez’s breakout offensive campaign. Copies are relatively affordable at $3-5.

2021 Topps Fire #114: Part of Topps’ higher-end Fire insert set, this colorful refracted parallel of Lopez’s 2021 Series 1 base places him in bright green shades. Mint copies worth $15-20.

2022 Topps Series 1 #422: The latest Topps Series 1 issue of Lopez as he enters his prime. Early season sales have it trading in the $3-5 range.

Assessing Value and Investing in Nicky Lopez Cards

While not a true star player yet, Nicky Lopez has established himself as a dependable major league cog over his first few seasons. His contact skills and defensive versatility make him a valuable role player for Kansas City moving forward.

For collectors, Lopez’s cards remain very affordable given his profile as a supporting role player rather than superstar. As he continues getting regular playing time, his cards stand to appreciate some over the long term. His earlier rookie issues from 2016 Bowman and 2019 Topps series could be worth holding onto if Lopez develops into a steady regular for years.

Lopez also remains quite young at just 27, leaving room for potential improvement offensively. If he can tap into some power to go with his contact abilities, it would elevate his standing in the game. That trajectory could also boost long-term demand for his current rookie cards.

While not huge investments, affordable Nicky Lopez cards can make for worthwhile speculative pickups given his steady MLB role and upside. Collectors following the Royals should consider snagging a few of his newest issues to document his career at its outset. Down the road, Lopez just may become a fan favorite in Kansas City worth collecting.