The 2022 Bowman Chrome baseball release brought enthusiastically anticipated rookie cards and prospects to the hobby. As one of the premier modern baseball card sets each year, Bowman Chrome delivers some of the shining star rookies and biggest names in the minors. This year’s release continued that tradition with several highly coveted chase cards that created buzz around the hobby.
One of the biggest chase cards in 2022 Bowman Chrome was the prized green parallel of two-way phenom of the Texas Rangers, Joey Gallo. Gallo quickly rose through the minors with his mammoth home run power and electric arm from the mound. While injuries have sometimes slowed his progression, Gallo’s rare two-way talent alone makes any of his cards highly valuable. In the green parallel, which is limited to only /99 copies, Gallo’s card took on an eye-catching hue that amplified his status as one of baseball’s most thrilling young talents. On the secondary market, Gallo’s green parallel has sold for well over $1000, showcasing its prevalence as a true high-end hit from the set.
Another touted parallel was the red shader of future superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Like his father before him, Vlad Jr. took the baseball world by storm with his prodigious power production from a very young age. Through some early struggles adapting to MLB pitching, Guerrero has begun to live up to his immense expectations in recent years. His /249 red parallel shone brightly as both a prized prospect card capturing his early dominance in the minors and family legacy, as well as an investment in one of the game’s rising superstars. Some Guerrero Jr. red parallels have exceeded $500 in value, a true score for enthusiasts seeking out one of the year’s most desirable rookies.
A dark horse breakout star with potential to carry immense longterm value is Bobby Witt Jr., son of former big leaguer Bobby Witt. As the number two overall pick in the 2019 draft by the Kansas City Royals, Witt Jr.’s all-around abilities and famous baseball bloodlines made him an instant star in the industry. His sterling performance in the minors since being drafted only amplified excitement around hisBowman Chrome cards. The black bordered /50 parallel of Witt in particular stood out, with its sharply contrasting coloring accentuating this uber-prospect on the cusp of MLB stardom. Though not quite hitting 4-figure prices yet, the scarcity and talent attached to Witt Jr.’s black border parallel makes it a true trophy card for savvy collectors.
Breakouts don’t always come from blue chip prospects, as 22-year old Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore has demonstrated. Possibly the biggest riser in the minors in 2022, Liberatore made his long-awaited MLB debut with tremendous success, showcasing ace-caliber stuff. As a former first round pick who had only recently begun fulfilling enticing scouting reports with a breakout season, Liberatore’s prized orange refractors from Bowman Chrome took on new importance. Numbered to /50 copies, these orange parallels shine as some of the best investments around a future staff ace still years away from his prime. Some early Liberatore orange refractors have traded above the $400 range, underscoring their status as a true heater pull from the product.
No article on Bowman Chrome chase cards would be complete without mentioning the heavyweight rookies of Cincinnati’s batting order – Speedster player Tommy Pham and masher Aristides Aquino. Pham launched onto the scene with record-breaking speed and a platinum glove patrolling the outfield, while Aquino brought thunderous raw power best demonstrated by his record-tying 3 home run performance in his MLB debut. Their chrome rookie autos, particularly the short printed parallels, carry tremendous nostalgia capturing early flashes of excellence. Pham and Aquino remain viable breakout candidates who could propel these already coveted rookie cards to even greater heights.
Alongside names, Bowman Chrome also tantalizes collectors with its dazzling visual parallels. Among the most eye-catching are the elusive black ice refractors, which feature dazzling iridescent refractors numbering only /10 copies. Pulling one of these ultra-short prints is like winning the lottery, and the excitement is doubled considering they can feature any of the set’s prospect superstars. Royals two-way force Nick Pratto, Mariners’ touted prospect Julio Rodriguez, and Twins’ Triple Crown threat Alex Kirilloff are just some of the huge names that could emerge in black ice form from Bowman Chrome. At numbers that low, they ascend to the highest end of high-end within the parallel collecting world.
For decades, Bowman Chrome has delivered on its promise to showcase the game’s future stars in stunning chrome fashion. The 2022 release maintained that tradition with a bounty of parallel short prints, prized first bowman autographed cards of can’t-miss prospects, and scintillating refractive technology. Collectors will be chasing the set’s premier hits for years to come, both out of authentic fandom for the players and investment potential in cards that could end up depicting future Hall of Famers. The parallels, prospects, and perennial prospecting allure of Bowman Chrome is what makes it a cherished tradition and premier North Star for any modern card collector.
In summary, 2022 Bowman Chrome delivered an array of true chase cards between its short printed prospect parallels, transcendent rookies, and dazzling inserts. Cards like Joey Gallo’s green, Vlad Jr’s red, and Bobby Witt Jr’s black parallel captured elite talents and family legacies. Matthew Liberatore’s breakout season gave his orange refractors new lustre. And the super-short printed black ice inject spectacle to an already scintillating set. For capturing the future in chrome, few modern sets can match what Bowman continues to deliver year after year.
