Luis Robert is considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball and broke out in a huge way in 2020 as one of the bright young stars on the Chicago White Sox. Because of his immense potential and breakout rookie season, Luis Robert rookie cards have skyrocketed in value in recent years. While many of his top rookie cards now fetch huge premiums on the secondary market, it is still possible to find affordable Luis Robert rookie cards if you know where to look.
When Robert signed with the White Sox out of Cuba in 2017, there was tremendous hype surrounding the young outfielder because of his five-tool potential. As is often the case with international prospects, it took Robert some time to make his way through the minor leagues and work on his raw skills. His first baseball cards entered the market in 2018-19 in sets like Topps Chrome, Bowman Platinum, and Topps Series 1. At the time, these rookie cards had very little value since Robert had yet to reach the majors. Savvy collectors could find these early Luis Robert rookie cards for under $10 each.
All of that changed once Robert made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 2020. He immediately established himself as one of the top rookies in baseball, showing off elite contact skills, raw power, and plus defense and baserunning abilities. Robert slashed .338/.376/.646 with 11 home runs in 31 games and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. Naturally, the hobby took notice of Robert’s breakout and his early cards skyrocketed in value as a result. Flagship rookies like his 2018 Topps Chrome Refractor or 2019 Topps Series 1 now sell for hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of dollars.
While Robert’s true “flagship” rookie cards from Topps Chrome, Bowman, etc. now demand huge premiums, there are still affordable options available for collectors looking to add an Luis Robert rookie to their collection without breaking the bank. One good place to look is international Luis Robert rookie cards. Prior to signing with the White Sox, Robert starred in the Cuban National Series and participated in international tournaments as part of the Cuban National Team. As a result, he has a number of earlier rookie cards from international sets.
Cards like his 2016 Panini Cuba, 2017 World Baseball Classic Flair, or 2017 Asian Series are much more reasonably priced while still featuring Robert’s first pro cardboard. Many of these international rookie cards can be found graded or raw on eBay or through group breaks/individual sellers for $20-50. They provide an affordable entry point for collectors hoping to add a key Luis Robert piece to their PC without spending hundreds. Condition and serial numbers can still vary the prices some, but in general these earlier international issues represent some of the best Luis Robert rookie card values available.
Domestically, Robert also has a number of more reasonably priced options from his earliest minor league seasons in the White Sox system. Cards like his 2017 Bowman Chrome Prospects card or 2017 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects card popped up in affordable sets during his initial signing cycle. While not true “rookie” cards, these still showcase Robert as a top prospect and provide an early look. Many vendors still have these reasonably priced between $10-30 raw or potentially cheaper in group/hobby box random pulls.
Upper Deck also released Luis Robert in their annual Pro Debut set geared towards new draftees and signees. The 2018 Pro Debut card remains one of the more affordable standard Robert rookies available, often found for $20-40 raw or graded. Other prospects series releases like 2018 Bowman Platinum or 2018 Topps Chrome Prospects also remain within the $30-$70 range on average for graded copies. While not as hyped as his true Topps/Bowman rookies to come, these earlier pro cards represent quality options for the price.
Of course, affordable is still relative when discussing the skyrocketing prices of top MLB prospects like Luis Robert. But with some savvy shopping on the secondary market or ripping of affordable current products, collectors can still reasonably add one of Robert’s valuable rookie cards to their collections without spending many hundreds on a true “flagship” issue. Keeping an eye out for international editions, minor league prospects cards, and lesser-hyped domestic rookie issues provides Luis Robert collectors many quality options to choose from depending on budget.
While the true crown jewels of Luis Robert’s rookie card portfolio fetch enormous sums, the depth of his early issue cards means value remains for savvy collectors. With focus on his international, pre-draft, and minor league cards, collectors can still reasonably own an early Luis Robert rookie without stretching their budgets to unrealistic levels. Patience and research into the smaller parallel markets provides many affordable pathways to adding this elite young star’s first cardboard issues. As Robert’s immense potential continues coming to fruition with the White Sox, even these more affordable starting points seem poised to appreciate nicely for investors with an eye towards the future.
