The 2022 Panini Donruss Baseball set saw collectors open packs and build their collections in hopes of landing rare and valuable rookie cards or parallel versions of star players. While most of the base cards in the 330-card set hold nominal value, some stand outs have emerged on the secondary market as highly sought after by collectors. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top cards from the 2022 Donruss Baseball release that could provide nice returns for patient holders.
Right out of the gate, the biggest stars from the year belonged to rookies who made immediate impacts in their inaugural MLB seasons. Arkansas-born catcher Adley Rutschman had one of the most anticipated debuts in recent memory after being selected first overall by the Baltimore Orioles in 2019. Panini aptly featured Rutschman prominently as the set’s premiere rookie, and his base card remains one of the most valuable at around $30-40 raw. Collectors lost their minds over parallel and autographed versions of the Orioles catcher that could fetch hundreds or even thousands of dollars. His Green /199 parallel regularly sells for $150-200, while low-numbered parallels like Orange /50 and Red /10 explode in value upwards of $500 due to his star potential. As for autographed cards, plain base signatures range from $150-300 dependening on condition while inked parallels can nail up near $1,000 depending on serial number. It’s clear that Rutschman remains the crown jewel of the 2022 Donruss class and will hold tremendous longterm appeal as his career progresses.
Another slugging rookie who took the baseball world by storm last season was Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez. The young Dominican slugger smashed 28 home runs and stole 25 bases on his way to AL Rookie of the Year honors. Like Rutschman, Julio became a fan favorite and his base rookie card settled around the $30-40 mark. But collectors went bonkers over his short printed parallels, with the Green /199 reaching $150 on average. His most sought after cards are the rare Orange /50 and Red /10 parallels, routinely selling in the $300-500 range. And like Adley, Julio autographs retain great value with base ink nearing $200-300 and parallels like Green and Orange signatures potentially eclipsing $1,000 long term as his stardom rises. Both Rutschman and Rodriguez established themselves as the premier young talents to build around for Baltimore and Seattle, and their rookies from 2022 Donruss project to hold strong collector appeal.
Beyond the rookies, collectors were anxious to pull heroes from this past season like MVP winners and playoff standouts. Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt captured the National League MVP after batting .317 with 35 home runs and 115 RBIs. His base card in 2022 Donruss trades around $15-20 but some stellar season parallels become quite pricey. Goldschmidt’s Green /199 parallel remains around the $75-100 range on the secondary market but his rare Orange /50 and Red /10 parallels have reached as high as $300-400 each due to his elite 2022 showing. For the American League side, Angels star Shohei Ohtani put together a season for the ages, launching 34 longballs while posting a 2.33 ERA on the mound. Naturally, his 2022 Donruss base card settled at $15-20 as well but parallels told a different story. Shohei’s Green parallel reaches $70-90 while his coveted Orange and Red versions hang around $250-350 each based on their scarcity and representing his one-of-a-kind dual talents. Cards of playoff heroes like Phillies slugger Bryce Harper and Astros ace Justin Verlander also gained traction, with Harper oranges nearing $200-250 and Verlander reds reaching the $175-225 range.
Beyond modern stars and heroes, collectors always have an eye out for historically significant vintage cards as well. Those seeking nostalgia and investing in icons of the past were thrilled with several inclusions in 2022 Donruss. The base card of legendary home run king Hank Aaron came in around the $15-20 range like many other veterans. But oneparallel stood above the rest – his 1/1 Gold parallel. This singular 1-of-1 printing of Hammerin’ Hank was instantly recognized as one of the set’s premium chase cards. When it hit the market raw in a group break, bidding wars ensued until its final ringing price of $2,600, a true testament to Aaron’s enduring legacy. Also drawing great sums were parallel cards paying homage to pitching titans Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson. Koufax’s 1/1 Gold broke the $700 mark while Gibson’s matching /1 pulled in over $500 based on their hallowed places among the all-time greats on the mound. Clearly collectors remain fixated on connecting with legends of days gone by through special printings in modern sets.
In addition to standout rookies, veterans, and hall of famers, collectors had their sights set on other short printed premium parallel cards throughout the release that gained tremendous buzz. Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford, coming off a World Series heroics, saw his Green parallel climb to $70-90 while his more scarce Orange reached the $150-200 range. For the Dodgers, emerging ace Tony Gonsolin had collectors buzzing over his Green at $80-100 with his Orange near $175-225. Brewers star Christian Yelich attracted strong attention as well, with his Green holding around $70 and Orange reaching $150. But perhaps no parallel gained more notoriety than that of Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger. After missing nearly the entire 2021 season, Haniger returned with a vengeance and his base remained one of the set’s more coveted. Understandably, any parallel garnered hefty sums from the collecting community. Haniger’s Green sold in the $90-115 range with his exceedingly rare Orange reaching astronomical sums upwards of $600 on the secondary market. Without question, 2020 Donruss delivered on a plethora of short printed parallels beyond the set’s megastars that created excitement amongst breakers and collectors alike.
In the years ahead, the value of these 2022 Donruss cards will greatly depend on how players like Rutschman, Rodriguez and the others progress in their careers. Rookies that emerge as future hall of famers are destined to retain collectability for generations. Parallels of established stars like Ohtani, Goldschmidt and others will reflect their on-field production and rekindle nostalgia from this past memorable season. And inserts profiling legends maintain relevance by connecting today’s collectors to the heroes of eras past. While the true ROI remains unknown, 2022 Donruss housed cards that excited the hobby due to profiles of burgeoning young talents, modern greats and timeless icons. For collectors who add premium parallels and selected rookies to longterm portfolios, 2022 Panini Donruss Baseball just may prove an fruitful foundation for future appreciation.
