The 2022 Donruss Optic baseball card set was released in March 2022 and has quickly become one of the hottest modern baseball card products on the market. With its flashy design, focus on rookies and young stars, and chance at high-value parallels and autographs, 2022 Donruss Optic has generated a ton of hype and interest from collectors. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the top cards from the set and how their values have been trending in the early going.
To start, the true crown jewel rookie cards in 2022 Donruss Optic are those of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco and Seattle Mariners rookie sensation Julio Rodriguez. Franco burst onto the scene in 2021 at just 20 years old and immediately established himself as a true five-tool superstar, while Rodriguez made his MLB debut in 2022 and showcased electric tools that have him on the fast track to stardom. Base rookie cards of Franco and Rodriguez in 2022 Donruss Optic have been selling in the $100-200 range in PSA 10 condition. Their top parallels like purple /150 and orange /75 refractor variations have traded hands for $400-800 graded PSA 10.
The real big ticket items from this set are 1/1 autographs of Franco and Rodriguez. In the earliest post-release buzz and hype, a Franco autograph 1/1 sold for a staggering $12,000 raw. More recently, a Rodriguez auto 1/1 fetched $7,500. Needless to say, pulls of the sole Franc0 or J-Rod auto from Optic packs would set collectors up very nicely. Fan-favorite rookies like Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene and Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II also feature 1/1 autos that could potentially command mid-to-high 5-figure prices down the road if/when they pan out in the big leagues.
Besides the true rookie sensations, veteran MLB stars like Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Juan Soto hold significant value in 2022 Donruss Optic as well. Base versions of their cards in PSA 10 have sold in the $50-100 range, with parallels and serial numbered cards scaling up from there. For example, an Ohtani purple refractor /150 recently traded for $350 graded gem mint. Trout’s top pink ice refractor /25 appeared on the market with an opening eBay ask of over $1,000. Top rookie year or early career parallels and serials of stars like these from Optic also tend to fetch a premium.
The design aesthetic of Donruss Optic is truly second-to-none in the modern baseball card space. With sharp photography, vivid color pops, and intricate optic designs layered throughout, the presentation alone moves significant product. This helps drive demand not just for the biggest stars and rookies either – solid major leaguers and prospects see value as well based purely on the beauty of their cards. Players like Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton, Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin and Marlins top prospect JJ Bleday all have nichey collector demand and could be worth $20-50+ in PSA 10 depending on parallel.
The true high-end chase of 2022 Donruss Optic lies within its exclusive Diamond Kings parallels. Limited to only 10 copies each, DKs feature elite photography treatment and autographs of the biggest names. Examples that have surfaced so far include a Mike Trout DK auto which sold for $5,500, and a Ronald Acuña Jr. DK that fetched north of $3,000. Pulling one of these ultra-rare parallel autos out of a pack would be a true collector’s dream come true with substantial long-term value upside.
While still very new onto the scene, 2022 Donruss Optic has lived up to its hype as one of the premier modern baseball card products at the moment. Ranging from $100 rookies to potential five-figure 1/1 pulls, Optic offers something for all levels and types of collectors. As long as the current MLB season delivers stories and performances to capture imaginations, demand for this set looks primed to remain quite strong well into the future.
