The 2021 baseball draft class is shaping up to be one of the most talented in recent memory. Top prospects like Jordan Lawlar, Jack Leiter, and Henry Davis are widely seen as potential franchise cornerstones at the highest level. For collectors, this class represents a golden opportunity to acquire rookie cards of future stars. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the top 2021 Prizm Draft Picks baseball rookie cards that have the highest potential long-term value.
Jordan Lawlar – No. 1 overall pick in 2021 by the Diamondbacks. Lawlar has all the tools to be a superstar shortstop with elite hitting ability and speed. His defensive instincts and arm strength also project well. Not surprisingly, Lawlar prizm rookie cards have been the hottest on the resale market. The red /249 parallel is currently fetching north of $500 with PSA 10 gems selling for over $2,000 already. As Lawlar rises through the minors and (inevitably) reaches the big leagues, these low serial parallels could appreciate significantly given his potential franchise talent profile. Even base Lawlar prizms in a PSA 10 could be a $500+ card down the road.
Jack Leiter – Selected No. 2 by the Rangers and son of former big leaguer Al Leiter. Scouts rave about Jack’s electric four-pitch mix headlined by a mid-90s fastball and biting slider. He dominated SEC hitters at Vanderbilt as a sophomore. Leiter prizm rookies have seen a nice bump in value since an impressive pro debut and his cards could have the highest long-term potential outside of Lawlar. Look for serial parallels like red /99, yellow /49 and gold /10 to be worth thousands graded in the coming years. Even base versions have a solid chance to reach the $200-300 range long-term in a PSA 10.
Henry Davis – Taken No. 1 overall by the Pirates and is the class’s top-rated catcher. Davis smashed .370 for Louisville as a sophomore while displaying above-average defensive skills behind the plate. Any catcher with his offensive profile taken that highly has immense value. The bright lights of PNC Park and Davis’ accomplishments at a young age means his prizm rookies carry massive appeal. With catchers always in demand, even small serial parallels like purple /199 could hit $1000+ in a few years if Davis makes the majors and delivers on expectations.
Brady House – A prep shortstop drafted No. 16 overall by the Rangers and one of the highest upside high-school bats in the class. House has phenomenal power potential and a loose, fluid swing to go along with defensive chops at a premium position. While considered more of a project than the top few picks, House’s offensive ceiling is immense. His prizm parallels could pay huge down the road if he develops as hoped. Even short prints graded well could net five figures for early House collectors.
Kumar Rocker – Went No. 10 to the Mets and is one of the draft’s biggest risk/reward picks. As a Vandy teammate of Leiter, Rocker owned a dazzling arsenal headlined by a 99 mph fastball and knee-buckling slider. His durability and mechanics are questions that caused him to slide on draft day. If able to stay healthy and command his stuff, the ceiling is huge. Low serial Rocker prizms could catapult in value with positive MLB performance, making him a fascinating upside selection for collectors.
Outside the top few names, keep an eye on top college bats like Sal Frelick (BOS), term Crosby (CIN) and several big-bodied prep arms as potential long shots. Players nabbed by large market clubs usually gain more attention that positively impacts cards long-term as well. Short prints and parallels of the cream of the crop like Lawlar and Leiter have the most blue-chip potential in this draft class if they pan out. Finding PSA 10s becomes key as any premium rookie cards move toward rarer, higher grades over time.
The 2021 MLB draft class looks remarkably talented with two consensus top prospects in Lawlar and Leiter headlining the way. Other elite college bats and power arms add to the intrigue. For collectors, 2021 Prizm Draft Picks offers an opportunity to get in early on the rookie cards of tomorrow’s stars. Patience will be required but holding top serial parallels of future impact major leaguers from this class could yield substantial appreciation down the road. Start tracking the progress of prospects from ’21 now and be ready when they blossom at baseball’s highest level.
