The 2020 Bowman Chrome baseball card series was highly anticipated by collectors due to an impressive rookie class headlined by prospects like Jarred Kelenic, Spencer Torkelson, and Emerson Hancock. While many of these rookies have yet to make their MLB debuts, the Chrome parallels and refractors of top prospects from the 2020 draft class have already proven to be quite valuable on the secondary market. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable 2020 Bowman Chrome cards on the resale market today.
Headed into the 2021 season, one of the most sought-after 2020 Bowman Chrome cards is theprizmrefractorautoofMarinersprospectJarred Kelenic. Kelenic enteredprofessional baseballwidely considered one of the top prospects in all of the minor leagues and has continued to dominate at the plate since being drafted 6th overall in 2018. His prizm refractor autos from the 2020 Bowman Chrome set regularly sell for $800-$1,000 raw, with high-grade PSA 10 examples recently moving for around $2,500. Kelenic’s bat-down parallels also demand a similar price tag.
Not far behind Kelenic on the hype train is Tigers first baseman prospect Spencer Torkelson, taken 1st overall out of Arizona State in the 2020 MLB Draft. Torkelson slashed .337/.443/.730 with 8 home runs in just 23 games as a pro in 2020 and is considered a future perennial All-Star. His prizm refractor autos from Bowman Chrome sell in the $650-850 range raw currently, with PSA 10 gem copies upwards of $2,000. Other short-printed Torkelson parallels like the purple ice, purple wave, and orange refractor variations have sold for over $1,000 as well.
Another 2020 draftee generating major buzz is Emerson Hancock, the projected first round talent who fell to the Mariners at #6 due to signability concerns. As with Torkelson, Bowman Chrome provided Hancock’s player collection debut. His prizm refractor autos trade in the $500-700 range raw currently, while numbered parallels like the /99 purple ice refractor pulled a recent sale north of $1,100. Reports out of Peoria during fall instrunctional league were also quite positive about Hancock’s performance.
Staying in the Pac-12 powerhouse Arizona State program, current Red Sox prospect Isaiah Greene’s top cards from Bowman Chrome also demand four-figure prices. Greene’s elite defensive skills and improving bat made him a 2nd round pick by Boston in 2020. His prizm refractor autos sell around $600 raw on average with a recent PSA 10 example bringing $1,700 at auction. Short-printed autos on parallels like the purple ice (/99) or orange refractor could easily top $1,000 as well given Greene’s prospect status.
Another highly sought-after name from the 2020 Bowman Chrome set is Dodgers catching prospect Diego Cartaya. Cartaya was considered a potential top-5 draft choice before LA snagged him at #18 in 2020 with an above-slot $2.5 million bonus. His prizm refractor autos trade for $500-$700 raw currently. Numbered parallels have done even better, with a /99 purple ice refractor auto pulling $1,025 recently. At just 18 years old, Cartaya showed impressive power and plate discipline in his pro debut season and could develop into a franchise catcher, making his top cards great long-term investments.
While many of the hottest prospects in 2020 Bowman Chrome were players just starting their pro careers, the set also featured several major leaguers looking to establish themselves as franchise cornerstones. Brewers star Christian Yelich famously struggled in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season but remains one of baseball’s most dynamic talents. His prizm refractor auto from Bowman Chrome fetches $650-$800 raw on the open market. For a PSA 10 mint version, consigners have seen values approach $2000. Yelich’s bat-down and other low-numbered parallels easily cross $1,000 as speculators bet on a bounce-back 2021 campaign.
Among the many exciting rookies that broke out in 2020 was Marlins righty Sixto Sanchez. Sanchez dominated in his debut season, posting a 3.46 ERA while showing ace-caliber stuff. As such, his prizm refractor autos from Bowman Chrome have held strong value between $500-$650 raw. Numbered parallels like the orange ice (/99) and purple ice (/99) refractor autos have each sold for $1,000 or more in PSA 10 condition thanks to Sanchez’s bright future as Miami’s #1 starter.
Rays wunderkind Wander Franco also had several valuable chrome offerings in the 2020 Bowman product. Considered a possible multi-time batting champ, Franco’s prizm refractor autos trade hands for $450-$600 raw on average. High-end parallels have done exceptionally well too, with a recent PSA 10 gold label auto fetching over $3,000 at auction. Franco is expected to take over as Tampa Bay’s everyday shortstop sooner than later, adding to the long-term potential of his top rookie cards.
While the 2020 MLB season was dramatically impacted by COVID delays and protocols, Bowman Chrome managed to be a major bright spot for collectors with its tremendous rookie class. From top draft picks to breakouts like Sanchez to future icons like Franco and Yelich, the set features many of the emerging talents that will drive the sport and the hobby moving forward. With most of these prospects and young stars still having their best seasons ahead of them on the field, their top Chrome cards should retain and grow in value in the years to follow.
