One of the biggest rookie cards that is in extremely high demand right now is Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco’s 2020 Bowman Chrome Prospect Card. Franco is considered one of, if not the top prospect in all of baseball and made his highly anticipated MLB debut in 2021 at just 20 years old. He had a phenomenal rookie season that saw him hit .288 with 7 home runs and 39 RBIs in 70 games. His combination of youth, elite talent, and hype around his potential to be a perennial all-star and superstar has sent the demand for his rookie card through the roof. graded PSA 10 examples of his 2020 Bowman Chrome card have sold for over $10,000, with raw copies still fetching thousands as well. As Franco continues to produce and live up to expectations at the MLB level, his cards are only going to rise in value as one of the hottest MLB rookie cards around.

Another top prospect whose card is white hot right now is Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene. Greene was taken 5th overall in the 2019 MLB Draft and had a breakout 2021 season split between Double-A and Triple-A. He showed off all five tools with power, speed, defense and a advanced approach at the plate. Greene made his MLB debut in June 2022 and is expected to be a core member of the Tigers rebuild. His 2019 Bowman Chrome Prospect Paper Refractor Parallel rookie card has found new heights, with PSA 10 examples bringing in $3,000-$5,000. Even raw copies in good shape sell for $500-$1,000 due to the high demand. Greene looks like a future star and as he establishes himself, his rookie cards will stay very valuable for Tigers collectors and investors.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez is another rookie who made a huge splash in 2022 and has cards that are rising fast. Rodriguez was considered one of the top prospects in baseball and had a phenomenal debut season that saw him hit .262 with 28 extra-base hits and 16 stolen bases in 121 games. He immediately became a fan favorite in Seattle and is a centerpiece of their renewed competitive window. His 2018 Bowman Chrome Prospect Paper Red Refractor parallel rookie card has taken off, with PSA 10 copies selling for $2,000-$4,000 and raw copies going for $400-$800. As Rodriguez continues producing at the MLB level, that card and others from his prospect days will stay hot commodities.

Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman is another big name who debuted in 2022 and has cards on the rise. The number 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, Rutschman was arguably the top prospect in baseball prior to his MLB arrival. He showed why with an impressive debut that gave Orioles fans hope. His 2019 Bowman Chrome Prospect Paper Green Refractor parallel rookie card has seen a surge, with PSA 10 examples selling for around $1,500. Even raw copies in good condition have sold for $300-$500 recently due to high interest in Rutschman as the future catcher and leader of the O’s rebuild. As he continues performing, his cards will stay hot in the prospect and Orioles PC market.

Speaking of number 1 overall picks, Detroit Tigers pitcher Riley Greene’s 2018 Bowman Chrome Prospect Paper Orange Refractor Parallel rookie card has taken flight in recent months. Greene was phenomenal in 2021 at the minor league levels and made his MLB debut in 2022 looking the part of an ace in the making. High-end PSA 10 examples of his prized prospect refractor have eclipsed the $1,000 mark, a huge jump from just a year ago. Raw copies still fetch $200-500 due to Greene’s star potential. He will be a workhorse for the Tigers for years, keeping collector and investor attention strong on his rookie cards.

A duo of Seattle Mariners have also seen their rookie cards heat up – outfielder Jarred Kelenic and pitcher Logan Gilbert. Kelenic was one of baseball’s top prospects but struggled initially in the majors. After being sent down he returned rejuvenated in 2022 and looks like a core piece in Seattle going forward. His 2018 Bowman Chrome Prospect Paper Orange Refractor Parallel RC has hit new heights, with PSA 10’s at $1,000+. Meanwhile, Logan Gilbert broke out as one of the AL’s top rookies in 2021 and continued excelling in 2022. His 2019 Bowman Chrome Prospect Paper Green Refractor RC has followed suit, with high-end examples cracking $500 and raw copies coveted at $150-300. Both are key cogs for the Mariners and their RC’s reflect the optimism.

Staying in the AL West, Houston Astros phenom shortstop Jeremy Pena has exploded onto the scene in 2022. After Carlos Correa’s departure, Pena seamlessly slid into the role of starting shortstop and was a huge part of the team’s success. Along the way he won AL Rookie of the Year and positioned himself as the shortstop of the future in Houston. Not surprisingly, his 2018 Bowman Chrome Prospect Paper Orange Refractor Parallel RC is white hot, with high-end graded 10’s eclipsing $1,000 and raw copies consistently selling in the $300-500 range on the strong belief in Pena’s abilities. His stellar rookie campaign has super-charged collector and investor appetite for what’s widely seen as his best prospect card.

Over in the NL, Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II had an electrifying debut season and is another name whose rookie cards are surging. After a phenomenal start to his MLB career showing off five-tools, Harris looks like a budding star and core piece for the Braves moving forward. His 2021 Bowman Prospect Paper Green Refractor Parallel RC has seen a major boost, with PSA 10’s creeping up towards $800-1,000. Even raw copies sell briskly in the $250-400 range anytime one hits the market. The excitement around Harris translating his top prospect status into early MLB success bodes very well long-term for the value of his prized rookie issues.

Kansas City Royals catcher MJ Melendez is the latest top prospect to break out for KC and see his cards take off accordingly. A power-hitting backstop, Melendez made his MLB arrival in 2022 look effortless with an impressive .294 average and 12 homers in just 244 plate appearances. His 2019 Bowman Chrome Prospect Paper Green Refractor Parallel RC has already cemented itself as the card to own for Melendez PC’s and investors. PSA 10’s push $500-700, with raw copies still achieving $150-300 or more in current sales. Melendez promises to be a core piece of the Royals for years to come, fueling strong long-term collector appetite for cards like this prized rookie issue.

While established star cards will always hold value, it’s the top prospect cards of today’s newest MLB talents that are among the hottest rookie cards attracting attention right now. Whether it’s superlative debut campaigns like Wander Franco, Jarred Kelenic, Julio Rodriguez and Adley Rutschman or future stars still on the rise like Riley Greene, Jeremy Pena, Logan Gilbert and Michael Harris II – their earliest pro issue cards are what savvy collectors and investors are most eager to track down in top grades or even raw for investment potential. As these talented players etch out noteworthy MLB careers ahead, their rookie cards profiled here and others from their first seasons in the minors are set to stay highly sought after in the trading card universe for considerable time to come.