The Philadelphia Phillies are gearing up for what hopes to be an exciting 2023 MLB season after narrowly missing the playoffs in 2022. As baseball card collectors look ahead to the new year, many will have their eyes on the rookie cards and rookie debut cards of some of the Phillies’ top prospects who could make their MLB debuts and see significant playing time. Meanwhile, established Phillies stars like Bryce Harper will continue to produce valuable cards that collectors chase. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the key Phillies players and prospects to watch for in the upcoming baseball card season.
Bryce Harper enters his sixth season with the Phillies looking to build on a strong 2022 campaign that saw him hit .286 with 18 home runs and 65 RBI in only 99 games played due to injury. When healthy, Harper remains one of the game’s true superstars and his cards consistently hold strong value. His flagship rookie card from 2012 Topps Update continues to sell for thousands, and his rare parallels and autographs fetch even bigger prices. In 2023, look for Harper’s base cards to remain steady sellers while short printed parallels and autographs could rise in value if he has another All-Star caliber season.
Another Phillie generating lots of card interest is third baseman Alec Bohm. After a rocky 2021 season, Bohm bounced back with a .280 average, 10 home runs and 56 RBI in 2022 while showing much improved defense. His rookie cards from 2019 Topps Series 1 and Bowman Chrome are solid mid-range cards on the rise. Bohm is still just 26 years old and could take another step forward next season, boosting the value of his early cards. His autographed cards in particular seem like a smart buy right now before a potential breakout year.
On the pitching side, Zack Wheeler remains the Phillies’ ace after consecutive strong seasons, and he’ll be on the hunt for his first ever All-Star appearance in 2023. The 32-year-old righty finished third in NL Cy Young voting last year, making his vintage cards more desirable for any collection. His 2012 Topps Update rookie is undervalued given his current production levels in Philadelphia. Look for Wheeler’s cards to stay steady or possibly rise if he has another top-caliber season at the front of the Phillies’ rotation.
Among prospects, catcher Logan O’Hoppe seems poised for his MLB debut after a standout 2022 minors campaign that saw him hit .268 with 30 home runs and .889 OPS combined between Double-A and Triple-A. As the Phillies’ top catching prospect, O’Hoppe should see playing time once called up, making his Bowman Chrome and Topps Series 2 rookie cards big specs to watch in ’23. Likewise, outfielder Johan Rojas had a breakthrough season in 2022 and could be up soon, highlighting his ’21 Bowman Paper prospect card.
The Phillies made a splash at the 2022 trade deadline acquiring slugging first baseman/DH Darick Hall, who then enjoyed a strong September cameo. Hall looks likely to have an everyday role in 2023, whether that’s platooning or more regular at-bats. His 2021 Topps Series 1 RC is a bargain for such a promising power bat. Elsewhere, second baseman/outfielder Nick Maton impressed as a super utilityman in limited playing time last year and could carve out a bigger role this season, raising interest in his 2020 Bowman Paper RC.
In all, the Phillies have several established veterans like Harper still producing cards of value, while a new crop of rookies like O’Hoppe and prospects like Rojas and Hall have the talent to make meaningful MLB contributions — and cards to match. With some luck and health, this Phils squad aims to contend again in 2023. Their baseball cards figure to be action-packed all season as new star RCs and breakouts emerge. Keep an eye out for short prints and autographs of Harper, Wheeler, Bohm and emerging youngsters as smart short and long term holds.
