The 2023 Bowman Baseball release is one of the most highly anticipated card releases of the year. As with every year, there are certain rookie cards, parallels and autographs that are expected to be the hottest cards to chase. While it’s impossible to predict exactly which cards will take off in value, here are some of the cards from the 2023 Bowman Baseball set that are likely to be in high demand.
One of the biggest storylines heading into the 2023 Bowman Baseball release is the star-studded rookie class. Two of the top prospects in all of baseball – Druw Jones and Termarr Johnson – are expected to have 1st Bowman cards in the set that will be highly sought after. Druw Jones is the son of five-time Gold Glove winner Andruw Jones and was drafted 2nd overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2022 MLB Draft. He is considered one of the best prospects in recent memory and could move quickly through the minors. His rookie card autographs and parallels will likely be at the top of many collectors’ want lists. Termar Johnson was taken as the fifth pick in the 2022 draft by the Washington Nationals and has all the tools to be an impact player at the MLB level. Look for his rookie cards to also be hot commodities.
Two other rookies that could have cards take off are Jackson Holliday, the number one overall pick in 2022 by the Baltimore Orioles, and Elijah Green, selected third overall by the Detroit Tigers. Both Holliday and Green have five-tool potential and will generate plenty of buzz in the hobby. Top international signings like RHP Dario Lopez from the Dodgers and SS Angel Oliveras from the Pirates will also have rookie cards that collectors will be chasing.
Beyond the star rookies, any cards featuring current MLB superstars in their rookie Bowman form will remain highly sought after. Cards like Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and others from their early Bowman sets continue to rise in value as those players cement their status among the game’s elite. The 2023 Bowman set may give collectors a chance at cards featuring rookie versions of current young stars like Wander Franco, Bobby Witt Jr. or Julio Rodriguez before they broke out. These “pre-rookie” type cards could take off in a big way if those players keep developing.
When it comes to parallels and short prints, some of the most coveted cards will be the prized 1/1 variations. These ultra-rare parallel versions that are completely unique tend to generate tremendous buzz and end up in the collections of only the most well-heeled investors. Rainbow foil, gold foil, black border and other exotic parallels numbered to less than 10 copies or even serial-numbered 1/1 versions of the top rookie cards will be the white whales that everyone is chasing. Autographed parallels like gold /50 or even lower numbered to prestigious levels like /10 or /5 take desirable rookies and multiply the appeal.
On the autographed front, the hottest cards will likely be the prized on-card autographs of the top rookie prospects in the set. As mentioned, any autographed versions of Druw Jones, Termarr Johnson, Jackson Holliday or Elijah Green rookie cards would be tremendously popular. Low numbered autographs /5 or less that feature the clean, on-card signature of a top prospect are the Holy Grail for collectors. Autographs of international prospects like Lopez or Oliveras could also gain steam depending on how they develop. For veteran collectors, any autographed “hits” of current stars in their early Bowman issues may capture premium dollars as well.
When looking at past Bowman releases, many of the cards that ended up being long-term stars performed very well immediately. For example, cards like Acuña Jr., Soto, Witt Jr. and others skyrocketed in demand from the get-go. Not every hyped rookie pans out or develops as quickly as expected. There is always risk when chasing cards of prospects still making their way through the minors. For discerning collectors, focusing on cards of those with the highest floors as prospects along with a clean signature or 1/1 parallel provides the best chance of long-term appreciation.
As with any new release, there is no way to say definitively which 2023 Bowman Baseball cards will stand the test of time. If history is any guide, the lowest numbered versions of the cards featuring the most toolsy rookies like Druw Jones and Termarr Johnson along with any surprise short prints or unheralded prospects who break out could deliver tremendous returns down the road. The 2023 Bowman release is sure to create plenty of excitement in the hobby.
