The 2018 Bowman’s Best baseball card set had some highly valuable rookie cards that have increased significantly in price since release. Bowman’s Best is one of the flagship Bowman brand sets released annually that focuses on top prospects and young stars in MLB. The 2018 edition contained several rookies who have since broken out, driving up demand for their rookie cards.
One of the most valuable cards from 2018 Bowman’s Best is the Juan Soto rainbow foil parallel card. Soto had a phenomenal rookie season in 2018 for the Washington Nationals, winning NL Rookie of the Year and helping lead the team to a World Series appearance. His accomplishments so early in his career marked him as a future superstar. The Soto rainbow foil is one of the scarcest parallels from the set, with experts estimating fewer than 10 copies in existence. High grade PSA 10 examples of this rare Soto rookie have sold for over $10,000, with most graded copies bringing $3,000-$5,000. Even lower grade copies still sell for $1,000 or more due to his superstar status at a young age.
Another top rookie from the 2018 set is Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. Acuña burst onto the scene with 26 home runs in only 111 games in his rookie campaign. He has continued developing into a true five-tool talent and perennial MVP candidate. The Acuña rookie base card has steadily increased in value since release, with PSA 10 copies now selling for $300-500. His refractor parallel is also highly sought after, with PSA 10 examples reaching $1,000-1,500. Even raw or lower grade Acuña rookies still sell for $50-150 due to his star power on a rising Braves team.
Pitching prospects are always in high demand as well. Walker Buehler of the Los Angeles Dodgers had a breakout 2018 season that saw him become a key member of their rotation. The Buehler rookie base card has increased to around $50-75 for a PSA 10 copy. His refractor parallel reaches $150-250 graded gem mint. Fellow young hurler Jack Flaherty of the St. Louis Cardinals also had his share of 2018 Bowman’s Best valuable cards. Flaherty has developed into an ace and cornerstone of the Cardinals staff. His base rookie sells for $30-50 graded, while the refractor parallel reaches $75-125 in PSA 10.
Beyond the headliner rookies, several other 2018 prospects have seen their cards rise in value as they progress up the minor leagues towards the MLB. One such example is Seattle Mariners outfielder Jarred Kelenic. Kelenic was one of the top international prospects from the 2018 J2 class and is considered one of the top overall prospects in baseball. Even though he has yet to reach the majors, his 2018 Bowman’s Best base rookie has surpassed $50 graded as collectors speculate on his future star potential. Fellow top prospects like Forrest Whitley (Astros), Brendan McKay (Rays), and Mitch Keller (Pirates) have also gained traction, with their rookie cards reaching $20-40 graded as they near the big leagues.
While the rookie cards take center stage, 2018 Bowman’s Best also featured several young stars who were already establishing themselves in the MLB. Reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich had an outstanding season in 2018 for the Milwaukee Brewers after being traded from the Marlins. The Yelich base card from the set has reached $15-25 in PSA 10 condition. His refractor parallel can fetch $30-50 graded gem mint as Brewers fans and collectors continue to appreciate his contributions. Other established talents like Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge, and Gleyber Torres also had 2018 Bowman’s Best cards that have steadily increased to $10-20 in a PSA 10 slab due to their on-field success at such a young age.
In addition to the main set, 2018 Bowman’s Best also had several parallels and short prints that added to the excitement. The prized purple refractor parallel was one of the most scarce, with stars like Soto, Acuña, and Buehler commanding over $500 graded for their purple refractors. The gold label parallels reached $100-250 in PSA 10. Even base short prints like the unnumbered prospects have doubled in price since release to $20-40 graded. With its focus on top prospects and rising young stars, 2018 Bowman’s Best has proven to have incredible longevity. Many of the cards have significantly outpaced main set prices from the same year as those featured players blossom into superstars. Savvy collectors who purchased boxes or individual cards at release have reaped strong returns. As the careers of Soto, Acuña, and others continue upward trajectories, their early rookie cards from the 2018 edition of Bowman’s Best should remain highly valuable for years to come.
