The 2023 Bowman baseball release is one of the most anticipated releases each year for collectors and investors alike. As one of the flagship baseball card products from Topps, Bowman is known for featuring prospects, rookies, and young stars on the rise in MLB. While it’s still early, here are some of the cards from the 2023 Bowman baseball release that could prove to be very valuable in the short and long-term.
One of the biggest rookie cards to watch is likely to be Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners. Rodriguez had a phenomenal rookie season in 2022 that saw him named to the All-Star team and finish third in AL Rookie of the Year voting. He showed five-tool talent and the ability to be a perennial All-Star for years to come. Rodriguez’s rookie cards from 2022 Topps products have already gained significant value and his Bowman Chrome rookie refractor parallel cards are likely to be some of the most sought after from the entire set. Expect any autographed or memorabilia cards of Rodriguez to fetch five figures or more.
Another top rookie to watch is Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals. After a strong debut in 2022 that saw him finish second in AL Rookie of the Year voting, Witt looks like a future star as well. His 2022 Topps Chrome rookie refractor parallel cards have already gained value and his Bowman Chrome rookie refractor parallels should be hot items. Any autographed or memorabilia cards of Witt could be worth thousands. Keep an eye as well on rookies Oneil Cruz of the Pirates and Spencer Steer of the Reds, who both had breakouts in 2022 and could be stars going forward.
Beyond the rookies, collectors will be chasing prospects like Druw Jones of the Braves, Jackson Holliday of the Orioles, and Elijah Green of the Rangers. All three were top-5 picks in the 2022 MLB Draft and are considered elite prospects. Jones is the son of five-time Gold Glover Andruw Jones while Holliday is the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday. Green has five-tool talent and big upside. Autographed or memorabilia cards of any of these elite prospects could fetch four figures or more given their pedigrees and potential.
Parallels will also be a big driver of value for certain cards. The prized parallels from Bowman are the chrome, paper, and refractor versions that are inserted at lower odds. Cards like a Julio Rodriguez or Bobby Witt Jr. rookie refractor parallel autographed or memorabilia card could reach five figures or more depending on the exact parallel. Rare 1/1 parallels that feature a top prospect could sell for tens of thousands. Even base chrome and refractor parallels of stars like Shohei Ohtani or Ronald Acuna Jr. have a chance to gain value long-term.
Prospect autographs and memorabilia cards will also be highly sought after. Top prospects like Druw Jones, Jackson Holliday, and Elijah Green could have 1/1 autographs or memorabilia cards worth tens of thousands. Multi-signed cards with two or more top prospects could reach five figures. Rare 1/1 patch cards featuring a top prospect’s uniform are absolute gems. Autographed or memorabilia cards of international prospects like Victor Victor Mesa or Roderick Arias could also gain value rapidly if they sign and produce in the pros.
The 2023 Bowman release also features prospects from the Dominican Prospect League and other international leagues. Look for prospects like Pedro Leon, Oswald Pantoja, and Yordi Francisco who could sign big bonuses and take off. Their Bowman Chrome prospects cards, especially parallels, autographs, and memorabilia could gain value exponentially with a strong pro debut. Sleeper prospects from Colombia, Venezuela, and other markets are also present who could emerge as stars.
As with any release, condition will be a major factor in long-term value. Gem Mint 10 graded cards, especially of stars and key parallels, will hold a premium. Even top prospects who don’t pan out can retain value raw or graded if the cards are preserved in pristine condition. Lesser used parallels like paper or negative refractors that grade well can become quite valuable as rarer versions. Protecting hits from even light surface scratches or dings will be important to future values.
While it’s still early, the 2023 Bowman baseball release shapes up to feature several cards that could prove to be valuable long-term investments. Rookies like Julio Rodriguez and Bobby Witt Jr. along with elite prospects like Druw Jones, Jackson Holliday, and Elijah Green are sure to have cards grow in value if they succeed in the pros. Key parallels, autographs, and memorabilia of stars and prospects are always in high demand. With baseball’s rising popularity, especially among young fans, values of top cards from the 2023 Bowman release have an excellent chance to appreciate over both the short and long-run.
