For the older folks in our softball audience (parents and coaches, this means you!), there used to be a thing where you could buy a wrapped pack of baseball (or football, basketball and hockey cards) with the exciting possibility of finding an athlete’s “Rookie Card.”

Those suckers could be worth a LOT of money in time… here’s a sampling of some of the most expensive prices ever paid for an athlete’s Rookie Card:

• Mickey Mantle (baseball, 1952 Topps): $12.6 million
• Michael Jordan/Kobe Bryan (basketball, 2007-08 Upper Deck): $12.9 million
• Honus Wagner (baseball, 1909): $7.25 million
• Babe Ruth (baseball, 1914): $7.20 million
• Stephen Curry (basketball, 2009 Panini): $5.9 million
• LeBron James (basketball, 2003 Upper Deck): $5.2 million

More recent ones with players still competing include:

• Aaron Judge (baseball, 2013 Bowman): $5.2 million
• Luka Doncic (basketball, 2018 Panini): $4.6 million
• Patrick Mahomes (football, 2017 Panini): $4.2 million

Now… it’s pretty likely no softball player’s rookie card will enter THOSE atmospheres, but it’s still very exciting to get to “discover” rookies or young talent who will someday be players we’ll remember when they first became known to us.

With that lengthy intro behind us, here’s a “Rookie” we think already has an accomplished background with a very bright future ahead (and one to watch in the upcoming years)…

*****

Name: Alana Salotto-Rodriguez

City/ST: Yonkers, NY

Grad Year: 2033

Positions: P/IF

School: Kahlil Gibran School

Future High School: Alana have the ability to make the Yonkers Montessori Academy (YMA) varsity team as a 7th grader in 2028.

Club Team: Empire State Huskies 10u Salotto

Club Head Coach: Joe Salotto

Age Division (for club ball): 10U

Nickname: “Lights Out Lana”

Top Player Stats:

• Pitching: 1.077 ERA, 1.026 WHIP, 0.49 BAA
• Batting: .418 AVG, .576 OBP, 1.158 OPS

Coach Quotes (from Coach Joe Salotto)

“Being the only returning player for the 2025-2026 year, Alana has really shined as a leader helping to mold the culture of her team and what it means to be an Empire State Huskie.

“She loves the big stage and thrives in high pressure moments, rising to the occasion in a pitcher’s duel and wanting the assignment of facing the best teams or other talented aces.”

Scouting Report:

*** As good as Alana is in the circle, she’s just as good if not better as an infield glove. When not pitching Alana is a starting shortstop, and she was flawless in the Fall season with a 1.000 fielding percentage.

*** Her offensive output was impressive as well batting .418, with an OBP of .576, OPS of 1.158, and SLG .582.

*** She is a very smart, fast and aggressive baserunner and has a softball IQ well above her age. A well-rounded player, making her a threat in all areas of the game!

*** She is a dedicated athlete who can affect the game tremendously from the circle, in the middle infield with her glove and offensively with her bat.

Top Honors & Accomplishments:

*** Alana hit a personal milestone reaching and eclipsing 200 strikeouts at USSSA Eastern Nationals in Ocean City, Maryland last July.

*** She has more than 300 K’s as an Empire State Huskie after a strong Fall

*** The Empire State Huskies 10U – Salotto team finished the Fall ranked as the No. 1 team in New York State in both USSSA and USA Softball.

*** Alana had a dominant performance participating in the All American Games in Virginia Beach last August (2025) winning the Defensive Wizard award adding to her All American Ace award (Panama City Beach All American Games).

*** At the All-American Games Alana won 1st place in the following categories:

• • infield throwing velocity,
  • outfield throwing velocity,
  • fastest Home-to-1st time.

*** In the Fall (2025), Alana threw thrown multiple no hitters and one-hitter games including a 13K no hitter in a USSSA Border Battle Championship game win as well as an 11-strikeout one-hitter in the Halloween Bash championship game win.

*** Alana pitched a six-inning complete game one-hitter and led her All-American team in hits.

Favorite Softball Memory:

“I have a lot of great memories from softball!”

“Tournament weekends are always so much fun with the team, especially pool time and playing tag in the hotel (laughs)!”

“One of my first and best early memory was winning the All American Ace Award at the Panana City Beach All American Games. I was eight and they put me in a big game with bases loaded and no outs. I got out of the inning with no runs scored and finished the game to help us win.”

“Reaching my 200th strikeout last year at USSSA Eastern Nationals is another great memory.”

“I also loved my experience at Nationals trading pins and the whole week competing was awesome!”

Off the Field:

*** Alana is a very talented artist. She draws and creates very detailed artwork.