The 2021 Prizm Draft Picks baseball card set featured prospects selected in the 2020 MLB Draft. Panini released the set in November 2021, showcasing the top rookies entering professional baseball. Prizm Draft Picks has become one of the hottest modern sets in the hobby over the past few years given the autograph and memorabilia cards of future stars. While it’s still early in the careers of the 2021 picks, let’s take a look at some of the top rookies and chase cards from the latest edition.
Heading into the 2021 season, the biggest name and most valuable card from the ’21 Prizm Draft Picks set was Rocker Refractor rookie auto (#76) of Jack Leiter. Leiter was drafted second overall by the Texas Rangers in the 2020 draft after a stellar college career at Vanderbilt University. As the son of former MLB pitcher Al Leiter, Jack stepped onto the field with huge expectations. In his debut professional campaign split between High-A and Double-A, Leiter flashed immense promise by posting a 2.50 ERA with 129 strikeouts in 111 innings. With his unique arm talent and pedigree, the prized Leiter rookie auto became a must-have for collectors. PSA 10 examples regularly sold for well over $1,000 online.
Other notable RCs (rookie cards) from the first round of the 2020 draft included Austin Martin (Blue Jays), Garrett Mitchell (Brewers), Nick Gonzales (Pirates), Reid Detmers (Angels) and Emerson Hancock (Mariners). The prizm refractors of those first rounders all held valuable status. Mitchell’s auto (#99) and Gonzales’ auto (#121) especially popped due to their solid MLB organizational placement and advanced offensive skills displayed in pro ball so far. Auto RCs from proven college sluggers Robert Hassell III (Padres #8 pick) and Jordan Walker (Cardinals #21 pick) also gained traction as assets in rookie collections.
Moving past the first round, a couple second day selections started to emerge as potential gems—namely Benny Montgomery (Rockies #8 pick) and Tyler Soderstrom (Athletics #26 pick). As a toolsy five-tool center fielder, Montgomery excited scouts with his athletic abilities. His blue prizm auto (/99) evolved into a key mid-round prospect investment. Meanwhile, Soderstrom flashed impressive left-handed power as a catcher straight out of high school. Collectors pounced on his prizm auto (/75) due to the rarity of teenage sluggers behind the plate. Both players debuted professionally strong in 2021, enhancing optimism around their cardboard.
When it comes to the biggest “hit” cards from ’21 Prizm Draft Picks in the early going, two stand above the rest – Tiger stripe mem cards of Tyler Soderstrom (#86) and Benny Montgomery (#91). Numbered to only 10 copies each, these dual-game-used memorabilia autos immediately became true megahits upon release with examples crossing eBay for over $2,000. Such ultra-low serialed mem cards featuring high-profile teens are the true white whales of the modern collecting landscape. With Soderstrom and Montgomery off to such promising starts too, those double-relic Tiger stripes are solid long-term keepsakes for prosperous collections.
In addition to the coveted autos and parallels, ’21 Prizm Draft Picks supplied collectors many other intriguing prospects to follow. Gold prizm refractors (/50) of Daniel Cabrera (Reds), Carlos Collado (Rays) and Kumar Rocker (Mets #10 pick, Al Leiter’s son’s Vanderbilt teammate) entered the hobby spotlight. Plus, prizm blues (/99) of Baylor draft selections Blake Robertson and Dylan Beavers, plus Andrew Painter’s green auto (/75), added to the set’s college-heavy prospect bounty. Even deeper selections like Chuck Carr’s magenta pink auto (/25) and Kale Emshoff’s purple auto (/50) intrigued scouts and investors digging for diamonds in the later rounds.
The 2021 Prizm Draft Picks baseball set delivered a huge bounty of the best amateur talents from the 2020 MLB Draft class for collectors to chase. While still very early in the careers of these prospects, standout rookies like Leiter, Martin, Mitchell and Gonzales clearly emerged at the top of the set demand-wise based on their prospect pedigrees and quick success in the minors. Ultra-short printed memorabilia cards of Soderstrom and Montgomery took the set to new heights as true Collector’s Corner flagship pieces. With many of these rookies projecting to impact the big leagues within the next couple seasons, ’21 Prizm Draft Picks established itself as an elite investment portfolio to hold long-term in the modern card market.
