The 2022 Bowman baseball card set was released on May 4th and included prospects and rookie cards of some of the top young players in baseball. While still early, some valuable cards have already emerged that collectors are targeting. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most valuable 2022 Bowman cards to date.
Perhaps the highest valued card from the set so far is the red paper /50 parallel of prospect Jack Leiter. Leiter, the #2 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers, is considered one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. His rare red paper parallel carries a significant premium due to the extremely low print run. Early PSA 10 gem mint examples of this card have already sold for over $1,000, showing its potential to climb much higher long term if Leiter develops as expected. Another extremely scarce Leiter parallel that could rival the red paper is his Green Wave (/75) auto which recently brought nearly $800 in a raw auction.
Joining Leiter among the pitcher prospects demanding top dollar is Druw Jones. The #2 overall selection in the 2022 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Jones possesses all the tools to be a true five-tool star. Like Leiter, the rarity of Jones’ parallels drive their value. His purple paper (/50) auto sold for over $700 raw, while recent PSA 10 sales of his base auto have come in around $350-400. Quality on-card autos of Jones will remain the keys to unlocking value given the interest in his offensive and defensive abilities translating as he rises through the minors.
Switching over to the position player side, high-ceiling outfielder Elijah Green has emerged as one of the hottest rookies in the 2022 Bowman set. The Washington Nationals top draft pick and #5 overall selection this year, Green has five-tool potential and already shows polish at the plate for his age. His paper /50 parallels consistently bring $300-400 raw on eBay auctions so far, with the purple running closer to $500. Even his base autos are achieving $150-200 in PSA 10 form, a testament to the buzz around Green’s future. If he develops as hoped, his cards hold blue chip status.
Staying in the Nationals system, prospect Brady House is another name collectors are keeping a close eye on. While lesser known than the top picks, House put on a show in this year’s Arizona Fall League by hitting .383 with power to bolster his prospect stock. His autos and color parallels have trended upwards as a result. The purple paper parallel in particular has sold multiple times for $250-300 raw, underscoring House’s breakout potential that makes his cards intriguing long term lottery tickets.
Wrapping up our overview of the set’s highest risers so far, a pair of special parallels deserve mention – the prizm (/25) and silver ink (/10) autos of pitcher Brock Porter. The #3 overall selection by the Texas Rangers this June whomany view as a future ace, rare Porter parallels sell out quickly online. Recent PSA 10 sales of his base auto hit $500+, while the prizm parallel cracked $2,000 and the ultra-short print silver ink brought nearly $3,000. With such low populations, these rare Porter cards represent blue chip holdings in Ranger’s collections for years to come if he fulfills expectations.
While still in the early going, the 2022 Bowman baseball release is shaping up to have rewarded collectors who targeted cards of the top draft prospects like Leiter, Jones, Green and Porter. Quality parallels and rare serial numbered versions command the strongest premiums given the ceiling of these young players. As they rise through the minors and major league careers begin unfolding, interest and values should steadily increase for many of these rookie cards staking their claim as the future stars of the game.savvy collectors who identified and acquired these prospects when the prices were lower stand to reap the long term rewards.
