The 2022 Panini Prizm baseball trading card set was highly anticipated by collectors and saw cards rise to incredible prices shortly after release due to sky-high demand. Panini Prizm has become one of the premier modern sports card brands known for its flashy color “prizm” parallels and history of early hits of star rookies that go on to superstardom. Below we analyze the top 10 most expensive 2022 Panini Prizm Baseball cards as of January 2023 based on recent eBay sales and guide price data from Beckett, PSA, and BGS pop reports.
Coming in at the #10 most expensive spot is the Prizm Sapphire parallel of Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper numbered to just 10 copies. Harper is a former MVP and one of the biggest stars in the game continuing to dominate at the plate for the Phillies playoff runs. His Prizm Sapphire pulled an average sale price of just under $2,000 in mint condition. Low numbered parallels of established stars like Harper hold strong collectible value.
At #9 is one of the top rookie cards from the set, the Seattle Mariners sensational rookie outfielder Julio Rodriguez. His standard Prizm base rookie fetched an average sale of $2,100. Rodriguez had a phenomenal debut season that saw him named an All-Star, win Rookie of the Year, and power the Mariners return to the playoffs. He has all the makings of a future MVP and his cards jumped tremendously after his stellar rookie campaign.
The #8 most expensive card might surprise some, but it’s another Mariners rookie in pitcher George Kirby. While not as hyped as some names, Kirby had a very solid first season and showed ace-like stuff on the mound. His mint Prizm rookie averaged around $2,200 after the season. As a future frontline starter, Kirby has the potential for much higher valuations down the line if he fulfills his potential.
At #7 is one of the true phenoms of the sport in Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II. Harris burst onto the scene as a 21-year-old and looked MLB ready from day one. His defense was Gold Glove caliber from the jump while showing plus power from the left side of the plate. Harris’ Prizm base rookie settled at an average of $2,350. With superstar ability, his prospects for increased value over time are immense barring any setbacks.
Moving into the top 6, we come to another Mariners Dominant force in Eugenio Suarez. Traded from Cincinnati midway through 2022, Suarez was a catalyst for Seattle’s playoff run with great defense at third base and 31 home runs at the plate. His Prizm Prizmatic parallel numbered to 99 copies averaged $2,400. For the low graded examples, some have exceeded $3,000. Suarez is under team control through 2025 and could remain a top Mariners asset.
At #5 is Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, considered the top prospect in all of baseball before finally getting his call to the majors in 2022. While he didn’t blow the doors off in his debut, Rutschman showed excellent plate discipline and abilities behind the dish. His standard Prizm rookie averaged $2,500 and PSA 10 examples breached $5,000 due to his immense potential and recognition as the future face of the Orioles franchise.
Breaking into the top four most expensive cards is Tampa Bay Rays phenomenal young shortstop Wander Franco. Already an All-Star at just 21-years-old, Franco is considered a true five-tool talents and cornerstone for Tampa’s future success. His base Prizm rookie sold for a $2,600 average. The sky is the limit for the still developing Franco who could eventually challenge for MVP awards given his all-around abilities.
Taking the #3 spot is one of the premier rookies and most hyped prospects in recent memory, the Los Angeles Dodgers phenom catcher/outfielder Mookie Betts’ little brother Mike Betts. Possessing similar talents and skills to his superstar sibling, Betts electrified in his MLB debut hitting .344 over 56 games for the Dodgers down the stretch. His brilliant play helped power LA to another division title. Betts’ standard Prizm rookie landed at an average of $2,700 due any potential for him to become a franchise pillar in Dodgertown for years to come.
At the #2 most valuable 2022 Panini Prizm Baseball card is none other than Houston Astros star shortstop Jeremy Pena. In just his first full season, Pena put together a remarkable 2022 winning AL Rookie of the Year and ALCS MVP honors while helping lead Houston back to the World Series. Along the way, he proved himself a future perennial All-Star with his slick defense and elevated October bat. Pena’s base Prizm rookie averaged an incredible $2,800 and could keep appreciating with more standout campaigns.
And finally, taking the top spot as the single most expensive card from the entire 2022 Prizm Baseball release is without question the rookie phenom that took MLB by storm – Seattle Mariners pitcher George Kirby. With his overpowering stuff and electric rookie season, Rodriguez stamped himself as a true superstar in the making from day one. His superb defense in center and elite tools showed he had what it takes to be a franchise cornerstone. Perhaps most impressively, Rodriguez smashed the rookie record for most total bases in a single season. All of this led to Rodriguez’s standard Prizm base rookie averaging a staggering $3,200 in PSA 10 condition, with some elite examples trading hands above the $5,000 range. At just 21-years-old, Rodriguez has GOAT potential and could eventually rival names like Mike Trout in value if he stays healthy and continues ascending to new heights.
The 2022 Panini Prizm Baseball set showcased a number of rookies like Rodriguez, Betts, Pena, and Harris who all immediately made their mark on the league. Established talents like Harper and Suarez also held strong secondary market value. Prizm continues to be the sporting card release each year that discovers the next generation of stars and probably will remain the hottest modern baseball card brand. Now that the 2023 season is coming, will new talents arise to surpass this year’s rookie greats? Only time will tell, but demand for Prizm remains red hot across the industry.
