Shohei Ohtani's first Topps autos arrive in 2018 Topps Heritage

The wait is over if you want to know where Shohei Ohtani's first Topps autographs will be found.

The company revealed on Tuesday that the Los Angeles Angels pitcher-designated hitter's first ink will be included in packs of 2018 Topps Heritage. 

Set to arrive on Feb. 28, the brand will be the home to a new crop of stars using the 1969 Topps design. He will be included as a short-printed base card showing him as a pitcher in addition to his ink. A card of him as a hitter will arrive in 2018 Topps Heritage High Number later this year.

The former Nippon Professional Baseball star and former Pacific League MVP signed a deal with Topps back in January after signing with the Angels in December. Earlier this month we got the first views from his first signing with Topps -- with known cards to come including Allen & Ginter, Topps Chrome and Bowman -- but his debut autographs weren't yet known.

Update (Feb. 14): According to Topps, "Ohtani's base card, which will be limited, will only be available in hobby boxes. Autographs could be found throughout all hobby and retail packs."

The overall baseball release schedule presently shows Topps Heritage on Feb. 28, Donruss on March 7 (Panini America has announced he's in there), Opening Day on March 14, Gypsy Queen and Topps Inception on March 21, Topps Tribute on March 28, Diamond Kings on April 11, Topps Definitive on April 18 and Bowman on April 25.

“Getting a deal with Shohei Ohtani was a priority for us because we want the best for our Topps fans,” said David Leiner, Topps Global GM, Sports & Entertainment, at the time of his signing2018 . “Ohtani is a dynamic two-way player who has gained a lot of attention because of his incredible talent. We are thrilled to offer his trading cards and autographed cards to baseball fans.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, nor was it noted as an exclusive — just a “trading card and long-term autograph deal.”

“He’s an incredible talent that transcends baseball and we’re exciting for him to join a long list of great baseball players who have Topps Rookie Cards,” Leiner said.

In five seasons with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, Ohtani hit .286 with 48 homers and 166 RBI in 1,035 at-bats. As a pitcher, he went 42-15 with a 2.69 ERA and 624 strikeouts in 543 innings — much more dominating marks from the mound.

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