The 2021 Panini MLB baseball card set saw many new rookie stars enter the league as well as redemptions of popular veteran players. While it’s still early, certain cards from this release are showing promise and could become valuable investments long term. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top 2021 Panini rookies and parallels that may end up being worth significant money down the road.
One of the most hyped rookies of 2021 was Wander Franco of the Tampa Bay Rays. Franco had a phenomenal debut season that saw him named AL Rookie of the Year. His base Prizm and Optic rookies can currently be found for $50-100 raw butgraded gems in PSA 10 could appreciate significantly given his superstar potential. Look for his rare color parallels and autographed cards to eventually be worth thousands as his career progresses.
Another big name rookie was Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert. As the #9 overall pick in 2018, Gilbert got his first extended MLB opportunity in 2021 and impressed with a solid rookie season. His Prizm and Optic rookies are currently around $20-30 but a PSA 10 could be $100+ in a few years. Keep an eye out for rare inserts and parallels that may provide even better long term returns.
Rookie shortstop Bobby Witt Jr was one of the most anticipated prospects heading into 2021 after being the #2 pick in the 2019 draft. While he struggled some in his MLB debut, his uncommon combination of power and speed has many convinced he will develop into a top player. His base Prizm and Optic rookies trade for $30-50 currently but blue and red pans/parallels are rarer and could be worth 5x as much down the road once he pans out.
Gold prizms and 1/1s tend to appreciate significantly more than base cards due to their extreme scarcity. Some 2021 gold prizms that may be worth big money someday include Wander Franco, Jarred Kelenic, Riley Greene, and Jack Leiter. Even #’d parallels like /25 could net thousands graded gem mint in the future for star players. Redemption cards also carry risk but have massive upside—just look at Luis Robert’s 2019 playoff parallel redemptions now hovering around $10,000 raw.
In addition to top rookies, certain veteran star refractors and parallels hold great long term potential. A Christian Yelich gold parallel auto redemption could be a $5K card someday. Fernando Tatis Jr red and blue refractors in PSA 10 from 2021 Update may appreciate to four figures given his superstar performance and fan favorite status. Bo Bichette and Juan Soto have proven themselves as young core players – look for their rarer 2021 refractor/parallels to multiply in value 5-10x over the next decade as they continue producing at an elite level.
Panini also tends to include special inserts focused on milestone achievements. Cards recognizing milestones like 3,000 hits (Adrian Beltre), 300 wins (Justin Verlander), or 500 home runs (Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols) hold obvious appeal and appeal to both PC collectors and investors. These one-off parallels can garner huge sums years later when players retire, especially in top grades.
While the results are not guaranteed, certain 2021 Panini rookie cards, stars, inserts, and rare refractors/parallels profiled above have the potential to become quite valuable as time progresses and those players cement their careers. For the serious long term baseball card investor, selectively acquiring desirable rated rookies and parallels from this recent release in gem mint condition could provide strong returns matching or exceeding other investments if those players live up to expectations. Of course, there is inherent risk that injuries or performance declines could diminish returns—but for those willing to hold for 5-10+ years, the 2021 Panini baseball offerings profile here present compelling prospects.
