The 2022 Donruss baseball card set was released in March featuring current MLB players and some of the brightest young prospects. As with any new release, there are certain cards collectors will be targeting due to increased rookie or parallel value. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the top 2022 Donruss cards collectors should be scouting for.
Shohei Ohtani – The reigning AL MVP continues to capture attention in the baseball card market. Ohtani’s rookie cards from 2018 Topps products still trade for hundreds due to his unique two-way playing ability. His base red parallel from 2022 Donruss will appeal to Angels PC collectors, but premium parallels like /5 orange or /1 black could fetch thousands given Ohtani’s star power.
Rookies – Several top rookie names debuted in 2022 Donruss including Julio Rodriguez, Bobby Witt Jr., C.J. Abrams and Jeremy Peña. Rodriguez is generating the most buzz after a strong debut season with the Mariners. His paper rookie cards can be found for under $10 still, but premium parallels like Sapphire (/25) or Orange Sparkle (/5) show his potential for increased value long term. Witt and Abrams also have high long term value potential that makes their rare parallels worth targeting.
Parallels – Outside of the top rookies, collectors will want to hunt the always popular ‘86 style parallels like Grey, Purple, Orange and Red parallels numbered to 86 copies each. These stylistic nods to the classic ’86 set design usually command a premium. Super short print parallel inserts like Green Ice (/25), Orange Ice (/10) and Red Ice (/5) will also attract attention. Authentic Signatures parallel autos numbered to 99 could pop too for star players.
Ronald Acuña Jr. – After missing almost all of 2022 due to injury, Acuña is poised for a bounce back campaign. His base Donruss cards can still be found cheaply due to the time missed, but premium parallels could surprise collectors. Rare numbered parallels under 10 copies or low-numbered autograph or memorabilia cards could see increased demand if Acuña returns to MVP form in 2023.
Mike Trout – The consensus best player in baseball usually sees any of his cards hold value. Trout’s base 2022 Donruss card is readily available, but short printed parallels remain tough to track down. Autograph cards are extremely scarce pull rates. Any Trout parallel numbered under 10 copies or rare hit card could command three figures or more from Angels super collector demand.
Jacob deGrom – When healthy, deGrom is arguably the best pitcher in MLB. Injuries have limited his recent production causing his base cards to remain inexpensive. Similar to Acuña, a return to Cy Young form could increase demand for any low-numbered parallels, memorabilia, or autograph cards from 2022 Donruss as collectors speculate on a rebound season buoying values.
Baseball Legacy Signatures – A definitive hit insert dedicated to legendary MLB players who are no longer with us. Parallel versions numbered to just 5 copies each featuring the likes of Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente and Sandy Koufax are the true short prints to track down in the set. These historical archived swatches or autographs could trade in the multiple thousands given the player, parallel numbering and insert rarity.
Purple Ice Parallels – A particularly stylish parallel design from 2022 Donruss features a icy shimmering purple hue and player logo foil. Numbered to just 86 copies each, these are always popular with collectors. Keys would be star rookie parallel combos like Witt Jr. or Rodriguez alongside established veteran stars. With the lowest print runs, these tend to carry the highest premiums outside of true one-of-one cards.
Green Parallel Veterans – For player collectors of established MLB stars, hunting down the Green parallels could provide opportunity. Numbered to just 99 copies each, stars like Trout, deGrom or Juan Soto in this parallel attract extra attention. While not as short printed as other parallels mentioned, these affordable veteran parallels tend to hold steady value due to focused collector interest.
Baseball Flashback Autographs – Featuring autographs of retired MLB greats worn down to replicate an older style baseball card, these are true one-of-ones. Legends featured could include Nolan Ryan, Reggie Jackson or Cal Ripken Jr. indefinitely scarce and featuring a true game-used memorabilia swatch, a Ripken or Ryan auto in this insert could demand $1,000+ from the right collector given the uniqueness.
The 2022 Donruss release provides collectors many cards to target across the rookie, parallel, autograph and memorabilia insert spaces. Savvy collectors will know to scout the short printed parallels and hit cards of stars like Ohtani, Trout and Acuña Jr. But equally key will be tracking standout rookies like Rodriguez and Witt Jr. along with opportunities on prospects like Abrams too. With some patience, the right parallels of these young talents could yield strong long term returns.
