The 2022 MLB season is well underway which means new baseball cards are hitting the shelves from the major card companies like Topps, Panini, Leaf, and more. With a new rookie class and star players changing teams, there are plenty of exciting cards to target for your collection from this year’s releases. Let’s take a look at some of the top 2022 baseball cards collectors should keep an eye out for.
Rookie Cards – Every year the rookie card chase is one of the biggest draws for collectors. 2022 has no shortage of talented rookies for collectors to pursue. Some of the top rookie cards to target include Julio Rodriguez (Mariners), Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals), Adley Rutschman (Orioles), Spencer Torkelson (Tigers), C.J. Abrams (Padres), and Jeremy Peña (Astros). These players were some of the most touted prospects and are off to strong MLB starts, making their rookie cards very desirable long-term holds. In particular, Julio Rodriguez has superstar potential and his cards could be worth a fortune if he continues on his current AL Rookie of the Year pace.
Shohei Ohtani – There may not be a more exciting player in baseball right now than Shohei Ohtani of the Angels. A true two-way star as both a top pitcher and hitter, Ohtani continues to dazzle fans on both sides of the ball. His 2022 cards are some of the most sought after, as collectors look to capitalize on his popularity and unique talents. Ohtani’s rookie cards from 2018 also remain hot commodities. Make sure to check for Topps, Bowman, Panini Prizm and other brands featuring the face of MLB.
Aaron Judge – Powerhouse slugger Aaron Judge is coming off an epic 62 home run season with the Yankees that broke the American League single season record. After hitting free agency, Judge’s 2022 cards took on even greater significance as collectors anticipated a possible team change. Now that he’s re-signed with New York, Judge mania is in full effect. His flagship Topps and Bowman rookie cards are steadfast holdings, but even his updated 2022 Yankees cards hold value as a modern star of the game.
Riley Greene – While not a true rookie, Riley Greene was one of the most coveted prospects heading into the 2022 season after missing much of 2021 injured. The dynamic Detroit Tigers outfielder did not disappoint in his first extended MLB stint, showing all five tools that made him a top prospect. Greene’s Topps Chrome and Bowman Chrome refractors, along with base rookie cards, have gotten lots of traction from collectors. He’s a breakout second-year player to watch.
Juan Soto – In one of the biggest trades of the 2022 season, superstar outfielder Juan Soto was shockingly dealt from the Nationals to the Padres. This major team change immediately gives Soto’s 2022 cards with his new Padres uniforms much greater collector interest, on top of his already stellar reputation. While Soto’s Topps rookie cards remain untouchable for most, his flagship Topps cards in a Padres uniform attract many collectors looking to capitalize on the high-profile move.
Two-Team Cards – Players that switched teams via free agency or trade in 2022 have two-team cards that are always intriguing to collectors. Some examples include Matt Olson (Braves/Athletics), Tyler Anderson (Dodgers/Mariners), Chris Bassitt (Mets/Athletics), and others. These unique cards commemorating the player on both past and present squads split collector interest but offer something different for the year.
Parallels and Short Prints – While base rookie cards are usually the main attraction, parallel and short printed cards from the major brands add another layer of collector interest. For example, Topps Chrome and Bowman Chrome are renowned for their colorful refractors and parallels that boost rarity and value compared to standard cards. Topps Finest, Topps Sapphire, and Panini Prizm also use parallels and short prints creatively to differentiate hit rates. These rarer versions of star rookies are must-haves for high-end collectors.
Autograph and Memorabilia Cards – Of course, the true high-end treasures remain the autograph and memorabilia cards inserted at ultra-low rates in premium MLB products. Full rookie autographs of the class headliners like Rodriguez, Witt Jr. and Rutschman can fetch thousands depending on the brand and design. Sacagawea autographs and 1/1 printing plates in particular capture a massive premium. Catching a signed card of an emerging star is the holy grail for many collectors.
Vintage Players – While the rookie class and active stars draw plenty of attention, collectors should not sleep on updated 2022 cards featuring legends of the game from yesteryear. Players like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Babe Ruth, and more usually have nice retro designs made in tribute. These popular vintage players maintain strong collector demand that drives interest in their modern issues as valuable nostalgia pieces.
Player Uniform Updates – Each year, updated team uniforms and City Connect jerseys lead to newly designed base cards showcasing the changes. Examples from 2022 include the Guardians full logo update, Mariners color scheme tweak, and funky City Connect threads donned by many clubs. Collector interest surrounds tracking and acquiring cards reflecting the small but fresh visual changes to established player likenesses.
Additionally, 2022 also saw the debut of the all-new MLB NXT brand by Panini and Topps NIL athlete cards recognizing college stars. Futuristic designs, social media parallels, and cutting edge technologies are pushing the card collecting space forward amid bigger business opportunities off the field.
Hopefully this breakdown of some of the top 2022 baseball cards to watch for from the rookie class, trades, stars and more provides collectors a guide as they hunt new additions to their collections throughout the year. With talented rookies, superstar performances, and surprise roster moves, there is no shortage of compelling cardboard to chase. Following these storylines makes staying atop the ever-changing hobby that much more enjoyable.
