The baseball card market is constantly evolving as new players emerge and rookie cards are released each season. While veteran cards from decades past still hold value, the hottest modern rookie cards on the market right now feature young stars who are just beginning to make their mark in Major League Baseball. With promising futures ahead of them and the potential for tremendous growth, these rookie cards represent some of the most exciting investments for collectors. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top baseball rookie cards to watch in today’s burgeoning market.
Juan Soto, Washington Nationals (2018 Topps Chrome RC #182)
Exploding onto the scene as a 19-year-old in 2018, Juan Soto immediately announced his presence with a monster rookie season. He hit .292 with 22 home runs and 70 RBIs in only 116 games, finishing second in the Rookie of the Year voting and helping the Nationals win the World Series. Soto’s 2018 Topps Chrome refractors remain some of the most sought-after rookie cards out there right now, with PSA 10 gem mint copies regularly selling for $500-$1,000 based on recent eBay sales. As one of the brightest young stars in baseball under the age of 21, Soto’s cards are primed to gain even more value as he continues racking up All-Star appearances and hardware like MVP awards down the road.
Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves (2018 Topps Chrome RC #166)
Similar to Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr. burst onto the scene as a 20-year-old phenom with the Braves in 2018. He batted .293 with 26 homers and 64 RBIs in only 111 games played, also finishing as the NL Rookie of the Year runner-up. Acuña’s incredible blend of speed, power and defense make him one of the most exciting “five-tool” players in the league today. As a result, his 2018 Topps Chrome rookie refractor is a premier card to own. High-grade PSA 10 examples now sell for $800-$1,200, with the market for Acuña’s singles and autographs showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. His is truly one of baseball’s brightest young stars.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (2018 Topps Chrome RC #171)
While injuries slowed him in 2019, Vlad Jr. was one of the hottest prospects in baseball before debuting with the Jays. He came into the league with legendary bloodlines as the son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr. His lefty power bat drew comparisons to his father’s, and Vlad Jr. flashed that thunder in the minors. In 2018 Topps Chrome, collectors can get his first “true” rookie card before he erupted onto the MLB scene in 2019. Graded PSA 10 examples have sold for $700+, showing strong demand for this emerging star as his career really takes off.
Eloy Jiménez, Chicago White Sox (2018 Bowman Chrome RC #BCP99)
Eloy Jiménez was one of the consensus top outfield prospects heading into 2019 after mashing at every minor league stop. That power translated perfectly to the bigs, where he hit 31 home runs in his first full MLB season with the White Sox. While Topps Chrome offers the more widely recognized base rookie card design, Jiménez’s 2018 Bowman Chrome purple refractor remains one of his more scarce and sought-after issues. PSA 10 copies recently sold for $800 as Jiménez looks to build on his strong rookie year and continue developing into an elite power threat.
Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox (2019 Bowman Chrome Superfractor RC #BCP51 )
Similar to Jiménez, Luis Robert exploded onto prospect radars in 2019 as one of the game’s brightest young stars. Blessed with five-tool skills and impact potential with both the bat and glove, Robert has drawn comparisons to Mike Trout with his rare all-around abilities. While he has yet to make his MLB debut, Robert’s scarce 2019 Bowman Chrome Superfractor remains one of the Holy Grail cards to own. Only five copies are known to exist, last selling for over $20,000 in a recent auction. As Robert makes his anticipated debut sometime in 2020, this 1/1 card stands to gain tremendous value over the next few years.
Wander Franco, Tampa Bay Rays (2019 Bowman Chrome RC #BCP51)
Still just 18 years old, Wander Franco is believed by many scouts and prospect experts to have the highest ceiling of any elite minor leaguer. Already dominating at A-ball as a teenager, Franco has eerily advanced stats, plate discipline and leadership skills for his age. With frequent comparisons to Miguel Cabrera in style of play, Franco’s 2019 Bowman Chrome rookie cards are demanded with legitimate claims of him becoming a future superstar and top-5 player. PSA 10 gems already sell for $500+ in anticipation of Franco’s inevitable debut within the next 1-2 seasons. His cards could become Grail status with a few All-Star seasons under his belt.
Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees (2017 Bowman Chrome RC #BCP13)
Already a two-time All-Star at just 23 years old with All-Star and playoff pedigree, Gleyber Torres is well on his way to cementing himself as a franchise cornerstone for the Yankees. While no longer a true “rookie,” Torres still represents one of the most established young stars in baseball today. His 2017 Bowman Chrome purple refractors were a highly sought-after issue when he was among the top prospects in baseball. Now that Torres has blossomed into a consistent impact bat for the Bronx Bombers, PSA 10 versions are bringing in $800-1000 each and likely still have room for further appreciation as his career progresses.
Pete Alonso, New York Mets (2018 Bowman Chrome RC #BCP51)
In just his first full MLB season, Pete Alonso smashed an incredible 53 home runs to break the rookie record and win the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2019. Alonso’s prodigious power makes him an ideal cleanup threat for the Mets moving forward. His 2018 Bowman Chrome paper rookie remains a popular and accessible option for collectors. While not as scarce as his purple refractor parallel, PSA 10 Alonso rookies still sell in the $300-500 range – an affordable option for a slugger who looks primed to shatter numerous power records throughout his career.
Fernando Tatis Jr, San Diego Padres (2018 Topps Chrome RC #249)
A flashy defensive wizard with burgeoning star power at the plate too, Fernando Tatis Jr. broke out in a big way for the Padres in 2019 by finishing third in the National League batting race at just 20 years old. With his combination of speed, power and flair for the dramatic, Tatis is widely considered the future face of the franchise in San Diego. Graded gem mint PSA 10 copies of his 2018 Topps Chrome rookie card recently sold for over $1,000 each, showing his cards have already reached elite prospect status. Tatis Jr. seems like a sure-fire perennial All-Star for years to come.
While there are many other intriguing young stars ready to break out like Bo Bichette, Brendan Rodgers or Dustin May, the above players represent some of the safest and most exciting long-term investments for modern baseball card collectors right now. Headlined by unanimous stars in the making like Acuña Jr., Soto, Vlad Jr. and Robert, these rookies have unprecedented hype and career trajectories ahead of them. That dynamism makes their early issue rookie cards some of the hottest properties on the collectibles market today for savvy investors chasing the sport’s next generation of elite talent.
