2017 Bowman Mega Box Chrome Prospects #BCP31 Shohei Ohtani PSA 10

2017 Bowman Mega Box Chrome Prospects #BCP31 Shohei Ohtani PSA 10 - The Two-Way Unicorn’s First Appearance

Long before Shohei Ohtani became a two-time MVP, global icon, and the face of modern baseball, he appeared in the 2017 Bowman Mega Box Chrome Prospects set—his first official Bowman Chrome card, issued exclusively to the Japanese market. At the time, Ohtani was still dazzling fans overseas with his dual dominance as both a pitcher and a hitter in Japan’s NPB, and this card quickly gained legendary status among prospect collectors even before he ever threw a pitch or swung a bat in MLB.

What sets this issue apart is not just the player, but the mystique of the release itself. The 2017 Bowman Mega Box Chrome Prospects #BCP31 wasn’t widely available in the U.S. until secondary market demand skyrocketed. The card features Ohtani in his Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters uniform, presented in the sleek, high-gloss chrome finish that makes Bowman a cornerstone of modern prospecting. In PSA 10 Gem Mint, this example represents top-tier condition—offering crystal-clear gloss, sharp edges and corners, perfect centering, and stunning surface integrity.

This card is more than a pre-MLB collectible—it’s a foundational piece of Ohtani’s global legend. For modern collectors, it holds the unique distinction of being Ohtani’s first mainstream Bowman Chrome appearance, predating his MLB rookie season and serving as a true prospect-era gem.