The 2022 Donruss Optic baseball card set was released in late 2022 and features some of the brightest young stars and veterans in the league. While most of the base cards in the set hold little monetary value on the secondary market, there are several parallels, inserts and rookie cards that can be worth pursuing for serious collectors and investors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the top 2022 Donruss Optic cards that are worth money.
Perhaps the most coveted and valuable card in the entire 2022 Donruss Optic set is the prized Prizm refractors parallel. These 1-in-72 pack pulls feature a stunning fractured refractory design behind the player photography that makes them instantly identifiable. Of the Prizm refractors, the undisputed kings are rookie cards of emerging superstars like Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals and Spencer Torkelson of the Detroit Tigers. Fresh off their impressive MLB debut seasons in 2022 that showed why they were top draft picks, Witt Jr. and Torkelson Prizm refractors currently fetch prices upwards of $500-600 in top grades of PSA Gem Mint 10.
The same can be said for other elite rookies that burst onto the scene like Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez and Atlanta Braves stud Michael Harris II. Their Prizm refractors command $300-400 currently but have skyrocketed in value all year long and should continue climbing as their careers progress. Beyond the rookies, superstar veterans with sustained success like Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels, Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Braves and Juan Soto of the San Diego Padres also have valuable Prizm refractors in the $100-200 range. The high end 1-of-1 Printing Plate Prizms of top players shatter records, selling for thousands.
While not quite as rare or expensive as Prizm refractors, the Optic refractors parallel in Donruss Optic also hold great value, featuring the same fractured refractory technology behind sharp player photos. The big rookie Optic refractors mirror their Prizm counterparts, with Witt Jr., Torkelson, Rodriguez and Harris II paralleling between $150-250 each currently. Superstar veterans in this parallel like Mike Trout of the Angels, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers command $50-100. Beyond base Optic refractors, color refractors like yellow, purple and pink take the parallel to another level visually and monetarily.
Another highly sought-after insert set in 2022 Donruss Optic is the Dominance parallel. Featuring aggressive fractured lightning effects behind elite players performing, Dominance parallels capture the pinnacle of on-field prowess. The top Dominance rookies like Witt Jr. and Torkelson currently sell for $150-200 in PSA 10. Acclaimed veterans in this lightning parallel push the $100 mark as well, with Trout, Judge and Ohtani leading the way. The 1-of-1 Dominance Printing Plates are truecollector treasures that fetch thousands to the right buyers.
The iconic Photo Variations parallel also holds currency in 2022 Donruss Optic. Featuring alternate action shots of players, Photo Variations showcase the athletes in memorable on-field moments. While the base cards reside around $20-50 depending on player, the top rookie Photo Variations parallel the big names. Witt Jr., Torkelson, Rodriguez and Harris II Photo Var parallels steadily sell for $75-125 each. Superstar veterans in this parallel like Trout, Judge and Betts push upwards of $50. Color Photo Variations like purple, pink and orange multiply values even further for serious collectors.
Beyond the refractors and inserts, the true jackpot cards remain the coveted autographed and memorabilia rookie cards in Donruss Optic. While much rarer pulls, landing an autograph or memorabilia card of a budding star yields a potential long-term investment piece. Fresh rookie autographs of Witt Jr., Torkelson, Rodriguez and Harris II currently sell for $300-500, with prized on-card autographs multiplying values significantly. Top veterans signees of Trout, Judge and Ohtani also hold currency around $150-300 depending on the signing. And the ultra-short printed memorabilia cards featuring uniform swatches, bats or pucks lock in history and soar to $1000+ for star rookies and all-timers.
While most 2022 Donruss Optic base cards don’t carry much individual value, it remains one of the premier modern sets thanks to its valuable refractors, inserts and coveted rookie autographs and relics. By targeting the top young stars and superstar vets in prized parallels like Prizm, Optic, Dominance and Photo Variations, savvy collectors can build collections and portfolios primed for long-term growth and profit potential. With another exciting MLB season on the horizon, the brightest Donruss Optic rookie stars will only continue rising in the years ahead. For currency collectors, it offers a stellar hunting ground for cards worth money.
