The Houston Astros are coming off another successful 2022 MLB season that saw them finish with a 106-56 record and advance to the World Series before falling to the Philadelphia Phillies. While they ultimately fell short of their goal of winning another championship, the Astros remain one of the most talented and consistent franchises in baseball. Their roster is filled with budding superstars and veteran leaders who are likely to see significant interest from collectors in the upcoming 2022 baseball card season.
Some of the top Astros players who figure to be highly sought after in the new crop of 2022 cards include slugging first baseman Yordan Alvarez, ace right-hander Justin Verlander, and dominant closer Ryan Pressly. Alvarez followed up his breakout 2021 campaign by hitting .306 with 37 home runs and 97 RBI this past season. He has quickly established himself as one of the premier power hitters in the game at just 25 years old and could end up being a future MVP candidate. Alvarez rookies and prospects cards from past years have seen huge price increases as his talent and production level have continued to rise. His 2022 cards stand to hold significant long term value if he keeps up his torrid pace at the plate.
Verlander further solidified his Hall of Fame resume in 2022 by going 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA and 185 strikeouts across 28 starts in his return from Tommy John surgery. The 39-year-old righty remains at the top of his game and helped lead Houston’s rotation to dominance all season long. He also still possesses star power and name recognition from nearly two decades in the big leagues. Verlander became the ninth pitcher in MLB history to win at least three Cy Young Awards this year and there’s a good chance his 2022 cards will end up being some of the most popular and valuable among Astros and all-time great pitchers when he eventually retires.
Pressly was practically untouchable out of Houston’s bullpen, converting all 33 of his save opportunities in 2022 and finishing with a sterling 2.98 ERA and79 strikeouts across 67.1 innings pitched. The 34-year-old continues to thrive as one of the top late-inning relievers in baseball and his 2022 cards should see interest from collectors looking to stock up on the Astros’ stellar closer. Like Verlander, Pressly’s cards carry longterm potential as a premier player at his position late into his career.
Other notable 2022 Astros players who could emerge as breakout stars or franchise cornerstones include third baseman Alex Bregman, outfielders Kyle Tucker and Chas McCormick, starting pitchers Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier, rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena, and veteran DH/OF Trey Mancini post-trade from Baltimore. The Astros largely returned their core from 2022 and have one of the deepest and most experienced rosters in the league entering 2023. They also remain a perennial playoff contender with elite young talent and veteran leadership throughout the lineup and pitching staff.
Astros prospects like outfielder Jose Siri, infielder David Hensley, and pitchers Hunter Brown and Luis Garcia will be popular targets as well for collectors seeking the team’s future stars. Siri got his first extended MLB action in 2022 and flashed five-tool potential with his blend of power, speed, and defense. The 26-year-old Dominican could jump into an everyday role next season and further establish himself as a rising star. Hensley, Brown and Garcia all made their big league debuts this year too after shining in Houston’s respected farm system. The four players give Astros collectors solid options to seek out prospect cards as potential future cornerstones.
Of course, the team’s superstars like Alvarez, Verlander, Bregman, and Tucker will remain the clear centerpieces and driving forces behind demand for 2022 Astros cards across the hobby. Their on-field production and pedigree as legitimate franchise pillars makes them blue-chip investments, especially in decorated rookie cards, prizm refractors, and other parallels that hold long term value. There’s also sure to be significant interest in star rookies like Jeremy Pena, who was named the 2022 World Series MVP after helping deliver Houston its first championship in franchise history just months after taking over as the everyday shortstop. The 25-year-old already looks like a foundational piece for the Astros and his early cards could end up being some of the most desirable of any first-year player.
Given Houston’s sustained winning ways, stockpile of young talent, and continued presence at the forefront of the pennant race each October, 2022 Astros cards shape up as a smart collecting focus in the coming year. Their stars, prospects and team parallels should see steady demand from both Astros diehards and the broader baseball card community. With this battle-tested roster primed to remain contenders for years to come, there is strong potential for Houston cards to age very well if these players keep delivering on expectations at the highest levels. The Astros are as good a franchise bet as any to produce future Hall of Famers, MVPs, and defining cards for the generation.
