The 2021 MLB season saw the debut of many talented rookies who are likely to have valuable rookie cards that will hold and gain value for collectors in the years to come. While it’s still early, here are some of the top 2021 rookie baseball cards to watch that could prove to be worthwhile long-term investments.
Wander Franco, Tampa Bay Rays: The consensus #1 prospect entering 2021 lived up to the hype with a monster season that saw him hit .288 with 7 home runs and 39 RBI in 70 games. The switch-hitting shortstop looks like a future perennial all-star and has drawn comparisons to Alex Rodriguez. While print runs haven’t been revealed, Franco’s prized Topps Chrome Refractor rookie card traded for over $1000 shortly after release and that price seems likely only to rise as he cements his status as a true superstar. With his elite talent and market playing for a competitive Rays team, Franco is arguably the safest bet of the 2021 rookie class to have a true gem mint 10 card sell for multiple thousands down the line.
Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers: Greene entered the season as MLB Pipeline’s #9 overall prospect and did nothing but impress in his 51-game debut with the Tigers, hitting .301 with 5 home runs to suggest he’ll be a core piece of their rebuilding plans. The affordable prices on his Topps Chrome rookie cards, which have seen PSA 10’s listed below $100, could prove to be a bargain a few years from now if Greene develops into the all-star caliber outfielder most scouts forecast. While Detroit isn’t typically a huge baseball card market, Greene’s talent and affordable early prices make him a worthwhile longshot prospect.
Jarred Kelenic, Seattle Mariners: After a rocky promotion led to a demotion last season, Kelenic forced his way back to Seattle in 2021 and shined, slashing .167/.282/.303 with 6 homers in 70 games before an injury ended his season. While the batting average was underwhelming, his advanced stats pointed to solid production hampered by bad luck. His tools remains enticing and he’ll have ample opportunity to start for a Mariners team on the rise. Kelenic’s flagship Topps Chrome rookie card traded hands for around $30-40 shortly after release on the strength of his pedigree as one of baseball’s top-25 prospects, leaving room for huge upside if he puts it together at the plate.
Emerson Hancock, Seattle Mariners: Hancock didn’t debut in 2021 due to injury after being the 6th pick in the 2020 draft but remains one of the highest ceiling pitching prospects in the game. After dominant strikeout stuff in the minors, he looks poised to quickly join Seattle’s rotation and could emerge as their future ace. His 2020 Bowman Draft Chrome autos have steadily gained value since release, recently seeing PSA 10’s sell for $650-800 after debuting around $200-300. As one of the few true “ace” level pitching prospects still awaiting their debut, Hancock could deliver huge returns if he realizes his frontline starter potential.
Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals: The #2 pick in the 2019 draft surprised by making his MLB debut in late April at just 21-years-old after dominating the minors. Witt hit .258 with 13 homers and 9 steals over 108 games to immediately establish himself as the future cornerstone of KC’s rebuild. The excitement around his offensive tools was evident in the rising prices for his flagship Topps Chrome rookie card, with PSA 10’s fetching $300-400 in the initial surge and likely to keep climbing through 2023-2024 as he continues developing power. With his five-tool talent and market playing for a small-market but exciting Royals team, Witt profiles as one to truly “breakout” over the next year.
MacKenzie Gore, San Diego Padres: Injuries and control struggles created doubts in Gore’s prospect status entering 2021, but the former #3 overall pick finally made his highly anticipated MLB debut and showed glimpses of the frontline stuff that made him such a blue-chip talent. Gore’s prized 2018 Bowman Chrome autos still sell in the $150-250 range for PSA 10’s as collectors remain hopeful he’ll unlock his ceiling as San Diego’s future ace once he refines his command. He has all the tools to ascend into one of baseball’s premier southpaws if he stays healthy, giving early investors potentially huge upside over the next 2-3 years.
Jack Leiter, Texas Rangers: The 2021 national college player of the year lived up to his lofty draft stock by signing for $7.9 million as the #2 overall selection by Texas. Leiter’s scouting reports raved about a mid-90s heater and plus secondary stuff that could see him carve through minor league hitters on his fast track to Arlington. His 2021 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks silver pack rookie auto traded hands for a whopping $450 shortly after his selection as collectors rushed to snap up one of the premier pitching prospects in the minors. With his elite arsenal and market playing in Texas, Leiter has huge brand building potential if he reaches his ceiling as a perennial ace, arguably moreso than even Hancock or Gore. Early adopters could be massively rewarded in just a few years.
Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers: After going #1 overall in 2020, Torkelson showed off prodigious power in his 2021 debut, mashing 5 home runs over 52 games for the Tigers. While his .267 batting average fell short of expectations, adjustments should come as he gains experience. Torkelson is another who profiles as a cornerstone first baseman for years in Detroit, giving his 2020 Bowman Chrome autos and flagship Topps Chrome rookie card steady long-term upside even after an underwhelming initial showing. With his home run power and market, even a trade to a bigger baseball market down the line could see Torkelson emerge as a true star capable of carrying expensive card valuations.
Matthew Liberatore, Tampa Bay Rays: Liberatore gave Tampa even more pitching depth by making his MLB debut after dominating AA and excelling down the stretch with a 1.50 ERA over 22.1 innings. The former 1st rounder in 2018 features a lively mid-90s fastball and plus slider that could see him ascend quickly up Tampa’s rotation behind Shane McClanahan. Liberatore’s coveted 2018 BowmanChrome Refractors trade in the $75-150 range currently on strength of talent and pedigree alone, without any track record of MLB success. If he fulfills his ceiling as a TOR starter, Liberatore could deliver huge rewards with PSA 10’s jumping well above $500 like fellow Ray Shane McClanahan the year prior.
Jose Miranda, Minnesota Twins: Miranda broke out at age 24 in 2021 with a huge season split between AA and MLB, slashing .344/.403/.548 overall with 13 homers in 97 games to claim Minnesota’s starting job at third base. His prospect status and tenure in the minors resulted in a disappointing print run for his flagship Topps Chrome card, leaving scarce PSA 10’s trading for $120-150 currently. But Miranda looks to be a well above average regular and those affordable prices on his rookie card could result in several multiples of returns within just 1-2 years as he delivers 25-plus homers annually from the hot corner for the Twins as their new cornerstone.
Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals: An unheralded 23rd round pick in 2019, Donovan was a pleasant surprise as one of the handful of rookies to earn everyday playing time down the stretch for St. Louis, showcasing surprising pop with an .826 OPS over 168 at-bats. His prospect pedigree and low draft profile meant unpopular 2019 Bowman Chrome cards that are essentially ungraded “gems” at this point. Risky as an older prospect, Donovan’s early MLB success and opportunity to play super-utility across the infield give hope he can carve out a significant career. If so, attention on his barely produced rookie cards could surge them well past the typical $50 PSA 10 prices into true “collection cornerstone” territory as a folk hero type who made good as an unlikely success story.
This covers some of the top 2021 MLB rookie cards that look primed to significantly rise in value if these talented players live up to their potential over the next few seasons. While always risky, investing relatively small amounts in the top blue-chip rookies offers a chance at massive long-term rewards if even one or two emerge as true superstars. The 2021 class looks filled with impact talent and future all-stars who could carry valuable rookie cards for years to come. For collectors, dollar cost averaging purchases of the hottest prospects provides a fairly affordable way to hold cards that stand to gain thousands as careers unfold.
