The 2021 Prizm Draft Picks baseball set brought a lot of excitement to the hobby with its premiere rookie cards of top draft prospects. While Prizm Draft Picks sets in previous years featured lower profile prospects, 2021 saw cards of players drafted at the very top of their respective draft classes who are expected to have bright MLB futures. With such talented rookies, there is no shortage of highly sought after rookie cards from the 2021 Prizm Draft Picks baseball set. Here are some of the best and most valuable cards collectors should be on the lookout for:
Jack Leiter Auto /75 – As the #2 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers, RHP Jack Leiter was one of the most touted amateur prospects in recent memory. Leiter put up video game numbers during his sophomore and junior seasons at Vanderbilt University while displaying four excellent pitches with command and control. His auto rookie from Prizm Draft Picks is the clear top card from the set, with the /75 parallel being extremely scarce and sought after due to Leiter’s star power and projection. Graded gem mint 10 examples of this card have already sold for over $2000, showing its star power and value potential as Leiter continues his pro career.
Jordan Lawlar Auto /99 – Taken #1 overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks, shortstop Jordan Lawlar dazzled scouts with elite bat speed, defensive skills, and baserunning ability coming out of high school in Texas. Along with Leiter, Lawlar was arguably the biggest name in the 2021 draft class. His autos from Prizm Draft Picks, especially the low-numbered parallels like /99, are must-owns for Lawlar collectors. With his five-tool skillset and high ceiling, Lawlar has the potential to be a perennial All-Star if he develops as hoped, making his rookie cards solid long-term investments.
Kumar Rocker Auto – While health concerns caused Kumar Rocker to fall all the way to the 38th overall pick in the draft by the New York Mets, the big righty was a potential top 3 pick out of Vanderbilt just a year ago. When healthy, Rocker pairs an upper-90s fastball with a hard slider and developing curve and changeup. His draft stock fall made his Prizm Draft Picks cards a discount, but Rocker still has frontline starter upside if he stays on the field. His autos in particular hold value as a potential steal for collectors due to Rocker’s past accomplishments and talent.
Marcelo Mayer Auto /99 – As the fourth overall pick by the Boston Red Sox, shortstop Marcelo Mayer drew rave reviews for his hitting ability, patience and athletic tools. Some viewed Mayer as the best pure hitter in the entire 2021 draft class. While Mayer may offer less upside than the first few picks, his bat is special enough to carry him to stardom if he develops as hoped. The /99 parallel of his Prizm Draft Picks auto is an affordable way for collectors to invest in what could be a perennial all-star at an premium position.
Brady House Auto /99 – Taken 27th overall by the Chicago Cubs, high school shortstop Brady House turned heads with slick defense, hitting skills and well-rounded tools. House has the potential for five average or better tools and draws some comparisons to Dodgers star Corey Seager. Though he may need more development time, House’s upside alone gives his Prizm Draft Picks autos strong long term appeal. The low-print /99 parallel especially stands out as a card that could pay big long term dividends for savvy collectors.
Matt McLain Auto – While he didn’t receive quite the same hype as others near the top of the draft, shortstop Matt McLain showed well-rounded offensive skills and defensive actions that made him an easy choice for the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 25th overall pick. McLain maintains hype as someone who could hit for average and power while providing versatility up the middle. His autos from Prizm Draft Picks are affordable yet hold future star potential as McLain develops further in the pros.
Harry Ford Auto /99 – Some viewed Georgia high school catcher Harry Ford as a potential top 10 pick, but his falling all the way to the LA Dodgers at 26 was somewhat surprising. However, Ford has the athleticism, arm strength, power bat and defensive chops behind the plate to be an impact player if developed properly. His tools alone give his low-print /99 Prizm Draft Picks auto sleeper appeal, especially with the Dodgers’ track record of developing talent.
Ben Brown Auto – As a 6’8” righty with an upper-90s fastball and promising offspeed stuff, Ben Brown flashed huge upside that made him an easy third round selection for the Tampa Bay Rays. Brown’s massive size alone draws comparisons to Aaron Nola and other towering hurlers. His Prizm Draft Picks cards are a solid gamble on a high-risk, high-reward arm with true ace potential if he can further refine his secondary pitches.
Teddy McGraw Auto – Somewhat lost in the shuffle of such a touted 2021 draft class overall was Teddy McGraw, an athletic high school outfielder picked 24th overall by the Boston Red Sox. However, McGraw offered intriguing raw power and athleticism that gives him a high offensive ceiling as he develops. His autos from Prizm carry strong longshot potential, especially if McGraw pans out close to his projected ability.
Will Bednar Auto – College pitchers don’t usually last until the 8th round like Bednar did to the Giants, but there were teams who saw him as a potential first round talent. The 6’3 righty worked as a closer at Mississippi State but flashed impressive swing-and-miss stuff that could profile him as a starter. His Prizm Draft Picks cards offer boom-or-bust appeal as a potential late round steal.
The 2021 Prizm Draft Picks baseball set delivered premier rookie cards for what was hailed as one of the most talented draft classes in recent memory. While multi-year careers are needed to truly gauge which prospects pan out, the class featured many aspiring stars at the tippy top. Savvy collectors would do well to hold top rookies like Leiter, Lawlar and Mayer for the long haul, as their on-field success could exponentially grow the values of their already sought-after rookie cards in the years to come.
