The 2022 Panini Donruss baseball set was released on March 30th and contained various rookie cards, parallels, and veteran player inserts that piqued the interest of collectors. While not as large as some other mainstream baseball sets, Donruss delivered quality cardboard that provided value at multiple price points. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the top cards collectors were chasing from this year’s release.

Bobby Witt Jr. Green Prizm RC (#86) – Witt had a phenomenal rookie season with the Kansas City Royals and his Prizm rookie cards were hot commodities. The Green Prizm parallel /99 was one of the more coveted short prints. With such a small printing and Witt’s budding superstardom, this could become a truly valuable long-term hold. Raw copies were selling for $500-1000 immediately after release.

Julio Rodriguez Lightning Spectrum RC (#221) – J-Rod exceeded all expectations as a rookie for the Seattle Mariners and quickly became one of baseball’s brightest young stars. His Lightning Spectrum parallel featured a spectacular painting-like design and was limited to just /25 copies. Considering Rodriguez’s All-Star caliber debut campaign and the ultra-low population of this parallel, it had serious appeal to high-end collectors. Prices hovered around $2000-3000 for ungraded examples.

Spencer Strider White Ice Prizm RC (#213) – Strider broke out as one of baseball’s top rookies and most dominant starting pitchers in 2022 for the Atlanta Braves. The White Ice parallel featured an eye-catching design with the stat line “150 Ks in 102IP” directly on the card. With such an incredible rookie season and flashy parallel potential, this was an exciting card for Strider collectors – raw copies moved for $400-700.

Riley Greene Green Wave RC (#99) – Greene had a strong September cup of coffee with the Detroit Tigers and looks like a future building block for the organization. The Green Wave parallel was limited to just /50 copies, giving it notable scarcity. There was optimism about Greene’s long-term outlook which made this a worthwhile mid-range investment at $150-250 unfgraded.

Oneil Cruz Silver Prizm RC (#206) – Cruz had his own breakout moments as a towering offensive force for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022. His Silver Prizm was one of the more plentiful parallel RCs in the set at /199 printed, yet still held value thanks to the Prizm design and Cruz’s exciting tools. Mint copies changed hands for $75-125.

Emerson Hancock Aqua Wave RC (#164) – While an injury hampered Hancock’s MLB debut, the right-hander remains an intriguing long-term prospect for the Mariners. The Aqua parallel gave his rookie card a nice visual pop at /249 copies. Given his potential and the relatively low print run, this was accessible for collectors on a $50-75 budget.

Adley Rutschman Auto (#SP) – As the #1 overall pick in 2019 and one of baseball’s consensus top prospects, there was no shortage of hype around Rutschman. His Donruss autographed rookie debuted him as the future star catcher for the Baltimore Orioles. Priced around $150-250 raw upon release, these held strong value given Rutschman’s reputation.

Aaron Judge Spectrum # (#249) – As one of the game’s premier stars, any special parallel of Judge carries weight. The Eye-catching Spectrums featured serial numbering on the actual image between /10-/25 copies. While common veterans, any ultra-short printed Judge parallel always attracted collectors’ attention – most sold in the $100-150 range.

Shohei Ohtani Lightning Prizm (#113) – As a two-way force of nature and reigning AL MVP, Ohtani remains one of baseball’s biggest draws. The Lightning Prizm design paired with his iconic image created demand. With a /299 print run, these traded hands for $75-125 despite Ohtani’s status as an established superstar rather than prospect.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Green /99 (#109) – Vlad Jr. took his game to new heights in 2022 as a perennial MVP candidate. His Green parallel featured beautifully contrasting colors and only 99 copies in existence. For a cornerstone player of the Toronto Blue Jays at a scarcity level, these brought in $150-250 per card.

Wander Franco Red Sparkle /25 (#173) – As the sport’s top-rated prospect for years until his stellar 2021 MLB debut, Franco remains a collector darling. The Red Sparkle parallel took his mystique to another level with a print run of just 25 copies. Despite featuring a veteran player rather than prospect, demand drove prices to $400-650 raw without bothering bulk sellers.

In addition to these headliners, the set provided values across all price spectrums. Parallels like Gold (/10), Orange (/25), and Atomic (/50) held varying degrees of scarcity appeal. Rookies like Michael Harris, Matt Brash, and Kirby Snead offered breakouts on affordable budgets. Veterans parallels like Ronald Acuña Jr., Mike Trout, and Mookie Betts popped on colorful designs. Autographed cards from rising names like Nick Lodolo and Hunter Greene brought excitement.

While perhaps not the flashiest release of 2022, Panini Donruss baseball delivered quality cardboard at multiple collecting tiers. From elite short prints to accessible prospects, the set showcased the next generation while paying homage to established stars. For savvy investors, highlights like the Witt Jr., Rodriguez, and Franco parallels established a solid foundation for future appreciation. Whether chasing superstars or digging for diamonds in the rough, the 2022 offering provided entertainment and opportunities for all types of collectors.