The 2022 Donruss baseball set was released in February and contains a variety of rookies, stars, and parallels that have become highly sought after by collectors. While Donruss is known for its classic design aesthetic that calls back to the original 1988 set, this year’s release featured several young talents that have generated a lot of buzz in the hobby. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top cards collectors are chasing from the 2022 Donruss baseball release.
Bobby Witt Jr. Base Rookie Card – Bobby Witt Jr. had a phenomenal rookie season with the Kansas City Royals in 2022 where he slashed .254/.308/.429 with 20 home runs and 80 RBI. The top overall pick from the 2019 draft lived up to the hype and established himself as a future cornerstone for the Royals. His base rookie card from Donruss is one of the key rookie cards for the 2022 season. While it saw high initial print runs, Witt’s emerging superstardom and the Royals’ bright future could make this a long-term blue chip card in a player’s collection. Graded gem mint 10 examples have already climbed up near the $100 price point.
Spencer Strider Base Rookie Card – Spencer Strider absolutely dominated for the Atlanta Braves as a rookie in 2022, posting a 2.67 ERA with 202 strikeouts over 131.2 innings. The undrafted flamethrower shot up prospect rankings and proved he belongs in a big league rotation. His Donruss base rookie is the top card to own from one of the breakout stars of the year. Strider mania is in full force, with PSA 10 examples pushing towards $200-300 already based on his electric playoff performances and Cy Young potential down the road.
Julio Rodriguez Base Rookie Card – Julio Rodriguez took the MLB by storm as a 21-year-old for the Seattle Mariners. The toolsy outfielder slashed .284/.345/.509 with 28 home runs and 75 RBI, establishing himself as a budding superstar and 2022 AL Rookie of the Year. His base rookie from Donruss is a must-have for any collection. Graded gem mint 10 examples have reached the $400-500 price point due to J-Rod’s incredible rookie campaign and his potential to be a perennial All-Star for the Mariners and one of the faces of baseball.
Ronald Acuña Jr. Purple Refractor /499 – Ronald Acuña Jr. returned late in 2022 from the ACL tear that cost him most of the previous season and looked like his old self, showing off elite bat speed and plus defense in center. The Braves outfielder remains one of the most exciting young talents in the game when healthy. His purple refractor parallel from Donruss, limited to just 499 copies, is one of the biggest chase cards from the set for high-end Acuña PC collectors. PSA 10 examples have reached over $1,000 based on Acuña’s star power and breakout potential in 2023.
Sandy Alcantara Green Refractor /99 – Sandy Alcantara had a Cy Young caliber season for the Miami Marlins in 2022, leading the NL in innings pitched (228) and complete games (6) while posting a stellar 2.28 ERA. The dominant righty is coming into his own as an ace and is a cornerstone for the Marlins going forward. His green refractor parallel from Donruss, limited to just 99 copies, stands out as one of the premier short printed parallels from the set. PSA 10 examples have climbed up near the $500 price point based on Alcantara’s breakout 2022 campaign.
Aaron Judge Rainbow Foil /10 – Aaron Judge put together one of the greatest individual seasons in MLB history in 2022, slamming an AL record 62 home runs while winning the Triple Crown. The Yankees slugger is firmly in the conversation as the best power hitter in baseball today. His ultra-short printed rainbow foil parallel from Donruss, of which there are only 10 copies in existence, is the true crown jewel card from the entire set for Judge superfans and high-end collectors. Just a few of these rare 1/1 style parallels have changed hands, with recent PSA 10 sales reaching astronomical prices upwards of $10,000.
Sandy Koufax Blue Refractor /99 – Legendary Dodgers lefty Sandy Koufax is one of the most revered pitchers in baseball history thanks to his incredible peak in the 1960s where he won 3 Cy Youngs and a MVP in a 5 year span. The 87-year-old Koufax remains hugely popular among collectors today looking to own a piece of history. His blue refractor parallel from Donruss, limited to 99 copies, stands out as one of the most significant vintage player cards from the release. PSA 10 examples have climbed up near the $1,000 price point due to Koufax’s hallowed status in the sport.
Mike Trout Red Refractor /50 – Despite some injury issues over the past two seasons, Mike Trout remains the consensus best player in baseball when on the field thanks to his otherworldly all-around skills and production at the plate. The 30-year-old Angels star is still chasing championships in Anaheim. His red refractor parallel from Donruss, limited to a tiny run of just 50 copies, is one of the true high-end short prints from the set that Trout supercollector’s covet. PSA 10 examples have already reached the $2,000+ price level based on Trout’s unmatched star power and collecting popularity.
While Donruss saw huge print runs of its base cards in 2022, the various short printed parallels featuring stars old and new generated tremendous buzz in the hobby. From emerging rookies like Witt, Rodriguez and Strider to veterans Trout, Judge and Koufax, Donruss housed some true collector gems. With the rising popularity of the sport and increased focus on memorabilia, cards from this release of key players are sure to retain and increase in value for years to come. The 2022 Donruss baseball set truly had something for every type of collector.
