The 2022 Bowman Chrome baseball card release is one of the most highly anticipated issues each year for collectors and investors. As the flagship chrome product from Bowman, it offers investors a chance to get in early on prospects and rookie cards that could appreciate significantly in value if players pan out in the major leagues. With another strong draft class in 2022 and many top prospects getting their first chrome cards, this year’s Bowman Chrome set offers no shortage of enticing rookie cards to consider.
Some of the biggest names to watch for in the 2022 Bowman Chrome set that could end up being long-term hits include Druw Jones, Elijah Green, Termarr Johnson, and Brooks Lee. As the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Jones is already generating a ton of hype as one of the best prospects in baseball. His prospect cards from Bowman Chrome are sure to be hot commodities. Green went No. 3 overall to the Washington Nationals and has huge upside as a potential five-tool star. Johnson and Lee were also early-round draft picks by the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers respectively and offer exciting potential.
Beyond the headliners, there are always breakout prospects each year that weren’t necessarily top draft picks but end up having great pro careers. With Bowman Chrome being their true rookie card issue, those unknown players that develop into stars can provide huge returns. Some other 2022 prospects to watch in the set include Chase DeLauter, Spencer Schwellenbach, Ryan Clifford, and Robby Ahlstrom. DeLauter has plus power potential and was taken in the second round by the Baltimore Orioles. Schwellenbach offers offensive upside as a corner infielder drafted by the Brewers. Clifford and Ahlstrom are high-ceiling arms that went in the later rounds that could pan out.
Of course, when investing in prospects there is always risk since not every player develops as expected. That’s why it’s important to also consider established major leaguers in Bowman Chrome who are still early in their careers but have shown promise. Some names that fit that mold for the 2022 set include Bobby Witt Jr., Adley Rutschman, C.J. Abrams, Spencer Torkelson, and Julio Rodriguez. Witt had a strong rookie campaign for the Royals in 2022 and will be looking to build on that success. Rutschman and Rodriguez made their MLB debuts and showed why they are considered blue-chip prospects. Abrams and Torkelson had more up-and-down rookie seasons but still have star potential. Their Bowman Chrome rookie cards remain strong long-term holds.
In terms of parallels and short-prints to target in the 2022 Bowman Chrome release, the prized hits will be the coveted autos and memorabilia cards of the top prospects. Autographs of players like Jones, Green, Johnson, and Lee could be huge long-term investments if any of them develop into superstars. For established MLB players, rare parallel autos of Witt, Rutschman, Abrams and others would be big-time cards to acquire. The 1/1 parallel autos will be the true treasures of the set. On the base card side, the Chrome Orange refractors (#’d to 99 or less) and Black refractors (#’d to 10 or less) of top names provide a nice premium parallel option without the cost of an auto.
When it comes to value and grading considerations for 2022 Bowman Chrome cards, it’s important to note this set is known for its difficulties in achieving high grades like Gem Mint 10 due to the fragile nature of the chrome paper stock. Still, top rookies and parallels that can manage high grades will hold substantial premiums. For example, PSA 10 rookie cards of recent stars like Wander Franco and Julio Rodriguez from past Bowman Chrome issues currently sell for thousands. Even PSA 9s command four-figure prices. So acquiring pristine raw copies or professionally graded gems of the top 2022 names could yield big returns down the road.
The 2022 Bowman Chrome baseball release offers a wide array of investment opportunities on both prospects and young MLB stars. While not every player prospect will pan out as hoped, acquiring the best rookie cards from the set of its top draft picks and breakouts provides a solid starting point for long-term holds. Add in short-prints like autographed parallels of the same players, and savvy collectors have a chance to land cards that could grow exponentially in value if any of those prospects develop into the superstars their tools and draft pedigree suggest they could become. For baseball card investors, 2022 Bowman Chrome represents another chance to get in on the ground floor.
