The 2018 MLB season saw baseball cards continue to grow in popularity as a collecting hobby. While most modern card issues are readily available and hold little monetary value a year or two after release, there are always a select few rookie cards, short printed cards, and parallels that gain value quickly. Here are some of the top 2018 baseball cards that have shown the most potential to be worth serious money in the coming years.

Perhaps the biggest storyline in baseball cards in 2018 surrounded the explosive rookie season of Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels. As a two-way player who excelled both as a pitcher and hitter, Ohtani shattered expectations and records as one of the most unique talents the sport has ever seen. Not surprisingly, his 2018 rookie cards have been some of the most sought after issues of the year. His Topps Chrome Refractor rookie card (#’d /199) has already eclipsed $200 in value raw, with gem mint 10 examples selling for over $500. His Topps Series 1 and Series 2 base rookie cards have also surged, with PSA 10 copies worth $100-150 each. Going forward, these will likely continue climbing as Ohtani continues to perform at an elite level.

Another 2018 rookie class standout, Atlanta Braves rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. had one of the finest debut seasons in recent memory. The 20-year-old outfielder made a major impact right away with his five-tool abilities, and his cards predictably became hot commodities. His Topps Series 1 base RC has risen above $40 raw, with PSA 10s now selling for $150-200. But perhaps his most valuable card so far is his Topps Chrome Refractor RC (#’d /199), valued in the $300-400 range gem mint. With Acuna locked in as a core piece of the Braves future, these cards should end up being long term blue chip holdings.

While rookie phenoms get most of the headlines, breakout seasons from established veterans can also make their cards overnight money-makers. No player exemplified that better in 2018 than Christian Yelich, who was traded from the Marlins to the Brewers in the offseason and proceeded to have an MVP caliber year. His Topps Series 1 base card value more than quadrupled since the start of the season, to around $12-15 raw now. But more scarce parallels like his Topps Fire Refractor (#/99) have shot up even higher – those sell for $75-100 in pristine condition now after being virtually worthless early in the year. Yelich’s ongoing dominance locks him in as a perennial All-Star, so these cards should retain and even build on their current value moving forward.

Short prints have long been a driving factor for high-end baseball card collectors chasing rare and valuable subsets. 2018 saw a few particularly short printed rookie cards spike in price. Cardinals prospect Dylan Carlson had one of the more notable short prints with his Topps Big League Blue Refractor rookie (#/150). With very few copies making it to collectors initially, prices exploded – raw copies have sold for over $500, with a PSA 10 recently bringing an amazing $3,100. Similarly, Dodgers prospect Keibert Ruiz saw his Topps Clearly Authentic Ruby Refractor RC (#/25) rocket past $1,000 raw and $3,000 graded mint over the summer. With these players’ futures still unwritten but potential stardom in reach, their ultra-limited rookie cards could grow exponentially with continued success.

While stars drive much of the long-term speculative potential in the hobby, oddball vintage-styled inserts can also find cult followings and appreciation over time. One 2018 standout was Topps Heritage Minor League Orange Refractors, limited to only 5 copies each for 125 prospects showcased. Some examples, like Gavin Lux (#/5), Adley Rutschman (#/5), and Nico Hoerner (#/5) hit the $300-500 raw range this year. But with low pop reports and true “relic” status in very small print runs, these ethereal rookies could explode further if any of those players blossom into impact MLBers long-term. They’re true long shots, but with so few in existence they retain an almost “phantom” irresistible allure to uber-collectors.

As 2018 wrapped and players embarked on their 2019 campaigns, postseason performances also created buzz and increased demand around certain stars’ cards. This proved especially true for rookie superlatives like Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, who smashed an NL rookie record 53 home runs. His Topps Series 1 and Series 2 rookie cards jumped up noticeably, with the base cards now $15-20 and Toppschrome refractors around $75-100. But perhaps no single card benefitted more than his prized Topps National League Breakout Prospect (/99) parallel, where examples have fetched over $500 raw and $1,000+ graded since his heroic home run derby performance and strong playoff showing. Alonso has quickly become a fan favorite, and barring any dropoff his cards look positioned very well long term.

While flashier rookie stars and big name veterans tend to drive initial hype and investment, baseball card collectors are also constantly on the hunt for deeper values at lower prices. One under-the-radar area in 2018 that showed promise were some affordable international prospects with potential upside. Japanese two-way sensation Kodai Senga saw modest interest in his Topps Series 1 and 2 rookie cards initially, but examples have doubled to $5-8 raw on raw power/stuff alone. Mexican prospect Adrian Morejon’s Topps Update Green Shimmer parallel (#/150) hovered around $30-40 over the summer but could multiply further if he reaches his ceiling with the Padres. And Cuban Alek Manoah’s Topps prospect card held its $3-5 price all season but may surge higher if he proves himself in the Jays system next year. With the growing globalization of MLB talent, the 2018 international crop could reward patient collectors.

In summary, 2018 was yet another banner year for the baseball card industry seeing explosive prospects, impact veterans, and short printed parallels drive speculation and excitement among collectors. While the cards highlighted may see further climbs or declines based on future performance on the field, the young stars, breakouts, and oddball inserts that took off last season show the types of 2018 cards with potential to deliver the biggest long-term payoffs. For savvy investors, this provides a valuable case study on the profiles to target in any given modern card year that may end up being truly ‘worth money’ down the road.