As we enter the 2022 baseball season, many collectors are wondering which new rookie cards and veterans cards could potentially be worth a significant amount in the coming years. While it’s impossible to predict the future, here’s a look at some 2022 baseball cards that collectors believe have strong potential based on player performance, popularity, and print runs.
One of the premier rookies of the 2022 baseball season is Washington Nationals outfielder and number one overall pick in the 2019 draft, Cade Cavalli. Cavalli had an excellent 2021 season in the minors with a 2.06 ERA across 123 innings split between Double-A and Triple-A. He has electric stuff with a mid-90s fastball and plus slider. Cavalli is expected to make his MLB debut this season and could quickly become a top pitcher if he finds success. While Topps Chrome Sapphire rookies carry huge premiums already, Cavalli’s Topps Chrome base rookie could be a $100+ card within a couple years if he lives up to expectations.
Another pitcher who turned heads last season and whose cards have potential value gains is current Chicago White Sox young ace Michael Kopech. In 2021, Kopech burst onto the MLB scene with electric stuff and dominance, posting a 4-3 record and 3.50 ERA in 28 games, 24 starts. He struck out over a batter per inning and showcased frontline starter stuff. Kopech’s 2018 Topps Chrome rookie cards have already appreciated significantly since his breakout last year, selling in the $40-50 range raw for the base. If he continues building on his success and flashes ace upside, Kopech rookie cards could push $100+ within the next couple seasons, especially if he wins 15 games or makes an All-Star team.
On the position player side, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is poised to have huge collector interest for years to come after an electrifying debut last season. Franco hit .288 with 7 homers in 70 games and flashed 5-tool star potential at just 20 years old. His 2018 Bowman Chrome Prospect auto rookie card already sells for over $500 raw due to the hype, and that price will only climb higher if he becomes the superstar many project. Establishing himself as a perennial All-Star and landing mega contracts down the line could push Franco cards like his Chrome Update rookie towards the thousands of dollars long term.
For veteran stars, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw still somehow finds ways to perform at an elite level at 34 years old. Injury issues have held him back some in recent seasons, but Kershaw remains one of the best postseason performers when healthy and has a real shot at adding to his decorated career resume and Hall of Fame case in 2022. Were he to finally capture that elusive second World Series ring as a key contributor, Kershaw’s 2010 Topps Chrome rookie cards could break the $1000 mark. Even if he stays healthy but doesn’t win another title, Kershaw rookies and refractors should continue their steady price increase towards the multiple hundreds of dollars.
Shohei Ohtani is a true unicorn in MLB as an elite pitcher and hitter, and the intrigue around his abilities continues to drive significant collector interest in his 2021 Topps Series 2 rookie card. After back-to-back All-Star seasons doing it all on both sides of the ball like Babe Ruth, hype for Ohtani shows no signs of slowing down. Were he to win the AL MVP or continue racking up pitching and hitting stats, his rookie card could flirt with being baseball’s biggest ever at over $1000 raw. Even small performance dips likely won’t stunt much of the long term price trajectory heading well into the multiple hundreds for Ohtani’s RC.
Mike Trout unsurprisingly still owns the title of the game’s best all-around player and his cards reflect that. Despite being in his early 30s already, Trout is signed long term with the Angels and consistently produces at an otherworldly level that few position players ever have. Trout’s 2009 Topps Update rookie continues trending towards the highest price tag ever for a baseball card, already reaching the $400k+ raw mark in recent private sales. Barring major injury, it’s quite possible Trout rookie cards crack the half million to million dollar thresholds within the next few years based purely on his unparalleled production and scarcity in high grades.
Even big league veterans who may be later in their careers but have high popularity and proven track records could produce strong returns for collectors. Cards of Giants catcher Buster Posey, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, Cardinals legend Yadier Molina, and Yankees slugger Aaron Judge consistently gain value as some of the most beloved players in the game today. Freeman’s 2010 Bowman Chrome Draft auto PSA 10 just sold for over $15k raw, a huge return for a card from over a decade ago showing his sustained popularity. If any of these veterans produce another championship or add accolades in 2022, their best rookie cards could double or more in price looking ahead a few years.
Of course, value is inherently unpredictable in sports cards as it depends on player performance, collector demand, and many external factors. But for aggressive collectors willing to hold cards long term, 2022 may produce several emerging stars and proven vets whose best cardboard have real potential to gain hundreds or even thousands of dollars based on upside, scarcity, and continuing collector enthusiasm for the stars of America’s pastime. With exciting rookies like Cavalli and established names like Ohtani and Trout leading the pack, 2022 shapes up as another exciting year in the never-ending quest to uncover the next big baseball card investment.
