The release of 2023 Topps baseball Series 2 cards marks the halfway point of the annual baseball card season. Series 2 traditionally includes rookies and prospects who did not make the Series 1 set in addition to continuing storylines from the first series. With the 2022 MLB season in the books and the playoffs underway, Series 2 gives card collectors a new batch of players to chase and stay engaged throughout the offseason.
Some of the top rookies and prospects featured in 2023 Topps Series 2 include catcher Gabriel Moreno of the Toronto Blue Jays, outfielder Esteury Ruiz of the San Diego Padres, and pitcher Grayson Rodriguez of the Baltimore Orioles. Moreno had a breakout season in Triple-A and is expected to take over as Toronto’s starting catcher in 2023. Ruiz made his MLB debut in 2022 and will compete for regular playing time. Rodriguez is considered one of the top pitching prospects in baseball and could debut in the Baltimore rotation next season.
Veteran stars like Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Mookie Betts remain highly sought after cards as they continue their chase of career milestones and accolades. Judge is coming off a historic 62-home run season with the New York Yankees and will be on every collector’s want list as he enters free agency. Ohtani had another two-way MVP caliber year and is must-have for any Angels PC. Betts helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to the NL West title and remains one of the faces of the league.
Rookies who made their MLB debuts in 2022 and were not included in Series 1, such as Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Adrian Hernandez of the Washington Nationals, will get their Topps rookie cards in Series 2. Cruz had a breakout season showcasing his elite power and speed while Hernandez was called up late and will look to lock down a rotation spot in 2023. Others like catcher/outfielder Logan O’Hoppe of the Philadelphia Phillies and pitcher Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians will get their first Topps cards after impressive cup of coffee debuts last season.
The playoff races and results from 2022 will also be highlighted in Series 2 cards. Teams that made the postseason like the Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, and Philadelphia Phillies will see cards featuring their key contributors. Players who led their teams to playoff berths and had stellar individual years, such as Jose Altuve, Austin Riley, and Zack Wheeler respectively, will be hot commodities. Rookies and prospects who got their first taste of playoff baseball like Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider of Atlanta will gain more notoriety.
On the flip side, teams that fell short of the playoffs like the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners will have cards focusing on what went wrong in 2022 and optimism for 2023. Stars like Jacob deGrom, Pete Alonso and Julio Rodriguez who battled injuries will want to rebound. Managers like Buck Showalter and Scott Servais who took their teams to winning records but playoff exits will look to get over that hump. Relievers like Adam Ottavino and Andres Munoz who blew key games down the stretch will hope to bounce back.
The 2023 Topps Series 2 release will also give updates on big offseason storylines and trades. The Cardinals acquiring Paul Goldschmidt and signing Aaron Ashby long term. The Red Sox hiring skipper Skip Schumaker. The Cubs shipping out Willson Contreras. Injured Aces like Mike Clevinger and Chris Sale returning to health. International stars like Ozzie Albies re-signing with Atlanta and Wander Franco inking a huge extension with Tampa Bay will be highlighted.
The 2023 Topps Series 2 baseball card set provides a fun way for collectors to stay engaged throughout the offseason by providing the next chapter in storylines from 2022 and looking ahead to the 2023 season. With rookies, prospects, playoff performers and big offseason developments, there will be plenty of new cards to chase, trade and add to collections. The midway point release keeps the hobby buzzing until Spring Training rolls around.
