The MLB season of 2022 saw tremendous growth in the hobby of collecting trading cards. Within the broader baseball card market, the 2022 Select brand continued its ascendancy as one of the premier modern sports card products. Select provides desirable rookies, parallels and veteran stars at an affordable price point compared to more expensive brands like Treasures, Elite or Prizm. Here are some of the most valuable and sought-after 2022 Select baseball rookie cards as the hobby heads into the offseason:
Juan Soto Green Refractor /99 – Widely considered the best player in baseball today at just 24 years old, Juan Soto smashed 31 home runs and led the NL with a .362 batting average in 2022. His 2018 Bowman Chrome Green Refractor rookie card already checks in around $3,000 raw. The new 2022 Select Green parallel, limited to just 99 copies, looks primed to eventually rival or surpass that value as one of the marquee Soto cards on the market. Grading companies will no doubt crack this case hit at premium prices for years to come.
Bobby Witt Jr. Pink Wave /75 – The consensus top prospect entering 2022, Bobby Witt lived up to the hype by smashing 20 home runs and stealing 28 bases as a 21-year-old rookie for the Kansas City Royals. His primary rookie from 2021 Bowman Draft is already amongst the most expensive modern cards available. The Witt Jr. Pink Wave is the lowest serial number parallel from Select, making each of the 75 copies extremely scarce. Expect flawless PSA 10 examples of this cardcolor to climb well above $1,000 in the short term as Witt establishes himself as a budding star.
Julio Rodríguez Green Refractor /99 – Seemingly coming out of nowhere, Julio Rodríguez exploded onto the scene by slashing .262/.345/.479 with 28 homers and 25 stolen bases for the surprising Seattle Mariners. The 21-year-old’s potent five-tool skillset has earned him AL Rookie of the Year honors and cemented his status as a true franchise cornerstone. Like Soto above, Rodríguez’s flagship Green Refractor parallel from Select holds immense long term value and collectability at such a low serial number. Pristine PSA 10 copies could push $2,000+ within a year or two.
Oneil Cruz Pink Wave /75 – One of the most physically impressive players in the game today, 6’7″ shortstop Oneil Cruz wowed with his mammoth home runs for the Pirates as a 23-year-old rookie in 2022. Despite playing just 58 games, Cruz left collectors salivating for his cards after mashing 4 homers with truly eye-popping exit velocities. The Pink Wave parallel from Select is his prized rookie card color, and all 75 copies will be hotly coveted given Cruz’s unlimited upside. Look for a PSA 10 to top $500-600 relatively soon.
Rookie Auto Patch Cards – Select packs an exciting assortment of exciting rookie autograph and memorabilia cards each year. Key 2022 counterparts included Bobby Witt Jr. Blue Wave Auto /50, Oneil Cruz Green Wave Auto /99 and a Julio Rodríguez Green Refractor Auto /99. Each parallel brings a unique combination of rarity, on-card autograph and swatch relic. Flawless graded 10 examples of these so-called “case hits” could reach $1,000-2,000 with years of strong performance by the depicted rookies.
Veteran Star Parallels – Beyond rookies, Select also housed appealing parallels of established superstars like Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. Among the most valuable were Trout’s Pink Wave /75, Ohtani’s Green Refractor /99 and Acuña’s Purple Refractor /99. With guaranteed low pop reports, these one-of-a-kind parallels fetch huge sums from committed PC collectors seeking the rarest editions of their favorite players. A BGS/PSA 10 Trout Pink Wave could push $5,000 long term.
As is always the case with modern sports cards, condition and independent third-party grading will be crucial factors driving the exponential long term value appreciation of these coveted 2022 Select rookies and stars. While unchecked raw copies retain affordable accessibility for newer collectors, “chrome corners” and flawless centering will make-or-break seven-figure status ten to twenty years down the road. The intrinsic memorabilia and serial number appeal of these cards, combined with their depiction of emerging superstars, secures their place amongst the most timeless investments in the entire 2022 baseball card season. Select’s combination of rookie phenoms, veteran heroes and ultra-rare parallels continue to make it required collecting for all fans and investors across the baseball card collecting universe.
