The 2022 Donruss baseball release saw tremendous interest from collectors due to strong rookie class headlined by Bobby Witt Jr. and several big name veterans. While Donruss is considered a mid-tier brand compared to companies like Topps and Bowman, certain parallels and inserts within the sets still hold fantastic value.
One of the most buzzed about rookies from the start of the 2022 season was Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., son of 16-year MLB veteran Bobby Witt. Witt Jr. did not disappoint collectors, slashing .254/.290/.480 with 20 home runs in his rookie campaign. This monster debut vaulted Witt Jr.’s rookies cards to the top of most valuable from Donruss 2022.
Witt Jr.’s standard base rookie card can be found for $20-30 in near mint condition. Low-printed parallel and short-print variations command much higher prices. Witt Jr.’s /199 purple Refractors parallel currently sells for $200-300, with some gem mint examples breaking $500. An extremely scarce /49 gold Refractor parallel recently sold on auction for over $2,000.
Witt Jr. also possessed some of the most sought after short-print rookie variations. The coveted “Black & Gold” parallel, limited to only 10 copies, has sold for upwards of $5,000. Another short-print variation, the “Gold Standard” parallel (#/25), recently traded hands for an astounding $8,000. With Witt Jr. poised for stardom, these low-numbered parallels hold great long term value potential.
Another 2022 rookie to drive prices was Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena. After an injury to Carlos Correa, Pena stepped in as the Astros everyday shortstop and never looked back. Pena’s performance in the postseason, where he was named World Series MVP, only amplified interest in his rookie cards.
Pena’s base rookie sits around $15-20, but like Witt Jr., his parallels carry a heftier premium. The /199 purple Refractor sells for $75-100, while the extremely low-numbered /49 gold Refractor has sold for over $1,000. An even lower print /25 “Gold Standard” parallel recently traded hands for just under $3,000. With Correa now in Minnesota, Pena figures to be the Astros shortstop for years to come.
Veteran superstars also drove plenty of sales from the 2022 Donruss release. Reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper had one of the best seasons of his career, slashing .286/.364/.519 with 35 homers for the Philadelphia Phillies. Harper autos, patch cards, and memorabilia relics retain strong collector demand.
Harper’s base card holds around a $10 price tag, but hit special /25 Green parallel recently sold for $600. A dual relic card featuring swatches from both Harper and 2021 ROY Kyle Schwarber traded hands for $450. An ultra-rare Black & Gold parallel auto, limited to only 5 copies, was recently listed online for a jaw-dropping $15,000 BIN price.
Another veteran star to drive Donruss value was two-way standout Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels. In 2022, Ohtani delivered arguably the greatest two-way season in MLB history, slashing .273/.356/.519 as a hitter while also posting a 2.33 ERA as a dominant pitcher. As a result, Ohtani became the first player selected on all 430 ballots for the AL MVP award.
Similar to Harper, Ohtani’s base card has settled in the $10 range. Special parallels command much higher prices. A /199 purple Refractor sold for $75, while the ultra-rare Black & Gold parallel was listed at $3,500 with no takers yet. Ohtani patch and auto cards also retain immense demand, with a /25 Green parallel patch card bringing over $450 recently. With his unprecedented two-way skills, Ohtani remains one of the hottest commodities in baseball cards.
Beyond rookies and stars, Donruss 2022 saw interest in several inserts sets including “Diamond Kings”, “Stars of the Day”, and “All-Time Greats”. The popular “Diamond Kings” insert focuses on capturing iconic stances of players, framed in shining diamond embellishments. Top grossing Diamond Kings from 2022 included Bryce Harper ($50), Juan Soto ($40), and Mike Trout ($35).
Other insert sets like “Stars of the Day” and vintage-styled “All-Time Greats” showcase significant players throughout baseball history. A Robinson Cano “All-Time Greats” sells for around $15, while a rare Sandy Koufax parallel brought $80. A Mike Piazza “Stars of the Day” insert also fetches $12-18 depending on condition. These nostalgia-themed inserts remain steady fan favorites.
While the mid-tier Donruss brand may not attract the highest prices of other companies, certain key parallels and inserts from the 2022 release demonstrated strong collector demand. Rookies Bobby Witt Jr. and Jeremy Pena anchored the set, accompanied by steady value from veterans like Harper and Ohtani. With the emergence of new stars and continued nostalgia for the game’s greats, Donruss 2022 products figure to retain long-term collecting relevance.
