The 2023 Bowman baseball card release is one of the most highly anticipated issues of the year. Produced by Topps, the Bowman brand is legendary among collectors for featuring prospects and young stars just starting their professional careers. With another exciting rookie class on the horizon, let’s take a closer look at what to expect from 2023 Bowman.
The biggest draw for any Bowman release is the prospect autograph and rookie cards that debut some of the game’s future stars. This year’s class is headlined by high school phenom Druw Jones, the son of former MLB star Andruw Jones. As the second overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Jones is already one of the top prospects in baseball and will have his first autograph and base rookie cards in 2023 Bowman. Other top prospects expected to make their cardboard debut include Elijah Green (Washington Nationals), Termarr Johnson (Atlanta Braves), and Brock Porter (Texas Rangers).
Bowman has a reputation for featuring some of the most visually stunning and collectible card designs in the industry. For 2023, Topps is continuing its trend of premium, high-end parallels and short-printed variants that collectors chase. In addition to the standard base cards, look for popular parallels like Refractors, Rainbow Foil, and Prism. Topps also often includes 1/1 printing plates and serial-numbered parallels /10 or /5 that drive excitement. Color-themed parallels like Green, Orange, and Purple will likely return alongside special parallels featuring unique designs, textures, and signatures.
While prospects are the main draw, Bowman also highlights rising young stars and recent MLB debuts. Expect rookie cards and autographs of players like Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals), Spencer Strider (Atlanta Braves), and Adley Rutschman (Baltimore Orioles) who graduated from prospect status in 2022. Topps may also include base cards and parallels featuring breakout stars like Julio Rodriguez (Seattle Mariners) and Michael Harris II (Atlanta Braves). For veteran collectors, Bowman is a great opportunity to grab affordable cards of current MLB standouts early in their careers.
In addition to the base set and autograph/memorabilia inserts, Bowman usually offers several exciting parallel and insert sets for collectors to chase. Past years have featured popular inserts like Green Foil, Gold Label, and Rainbow Foil parallels of top prospects. Serial-numbered parallels like Orange Refractors and Purple Refractors are also fan favorites. Bowman Chrome and Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects are usually released later in the year with their own unique inserts and parallels focusing on the previous MLB Draft class.
For multi-sport collectors, Topps also produces an annual Bowman Sterling release focused on higher-end parallels, patches, and autographs. Past Bowman Sterling issues have included 1/1 Diamond parallels, on-card autographs, and memorabilia cards with swatches from game-worn uniforms. These ultra-premium cards often feature the very best prospects and young stars in serialized, low-count parallels that command high prices. While Bowman Sterling caters more to high-end collectors, its inserts are some of the most coveted in the hobby.
In terms of product release, the main 2023 Bowman set is expected to arrive in late spring/early summer as a hobby-only release through authorized MLB/Topps dealers. Hobby boxes will feature 12 packs with 5 cards each, while jumbo boxes may include an extra pack or two along with guaranteed hits. Retail versions of Bowman featuring fewer packs and cards will likely arrive in late summer/fall at major retailers. Bowman Chrome and Bowman Draft are tentatively scheduled for August/September, with Bowman Sterling following in the fall/winter months.
As with any release focused on prospects, the thrill is trying to identify the future stars long before they reach MLB fame. While some prospects may never pan out, Bowman has a proven track record of featuring some of the best young talent in baseball years before they debut. For collectors, players, and teams alike, the 2023 Bowman release will be another exciting chance to see baseball’s next generation get their start in the card hobby. With such a talented rookie class and Topps’ reputation for premier designs, 2023 Bowman promises to be a release fans won’t want to miss.
