Corey Seager, Kenta Maeda, Julio Urias named Topps All-Star rookies

 A trio of Dodgers will have the iconic gold cup on their 2017 Topps baseball card, as shortstop Corey Seager and pitchers Kenta Maeda and Julio Urias were named to the 2016 Topps MLB Rookie All-Star team for their performances this season.

Topps began recognizing the top rookies in baseball in their annual baseball card sets in 1959, with a gold cup or trophy on the front of the card to signify the players’ status.

Seager hit .308/.365/.512 with 26 home runs and 40 doubles, was the Dodgers’ best hitter in 2016 and unanimously won the National League Rookie of the Year Award on Monday.

Maeda finished third in the Rookie of the Year vote, going 16-11 with a 3.48 ERA in his first year in the United States after an accomplished eight-year career in Japan. The 28-year-old Maeda led the Dodgers in starts (32), innings (175⅔), wins (16) and strikeouts (179) in 2016.

Urias made his debut at age 19, didn’t turn 20 until August, and showed poise beyond his years, posting a 3.39 ERA in 18 games, including 15 starts, with 84 strikeouts in 77 innings. Urias was the youngest pitcher to win a postseason game with his decision in Game 5 of the NLDS, and was the youngest starting pitcher in MLB postseason history with his outing in Game 4 of the NLCS.

The 2016 Topps MLB All-Star Rookie Team is comprised of eight position players, one right-handed starting pitcher, one left-handed starter, and one relief pitcher. The Dodgers, with three players, were the only team with multiple players so honored.

 

The team:

 

C - Gary Sanchez, Yankees
1B - Tommy Joseph, Phillies
2B - Ryan Schimpf, Padres
3B - Alex Bregman, Astros
SS - Corey Seager, Dodgers
OF - Trea Turner, Nationals
OF - Nomar Mazara, Rangers
OF - Tyler Naquin, Indians
RH SP - Kenta Maeda, Dodgers
LH SP - Julio Urias, Dodgers
RP - Seung Hwan Oh, Cardinals