The rookie card market saw massive growth in 2022, led by several rookies who had breakout seasons. While it’s still early in their careers, these players showed immense potential that has collectors scrambling to acquire their rookie cards. Here are some of the most valuable rookie baseball cards released in 2022 based on current Market values:
Riley Greene (Detroit Tigers) – 2020 Topps Chrome Yellow Refractor RC #232 – Greene was selected 5th overall by the Tigers in the 2019 MLB Draft and made his MLB debut in 2022. In a rebuilding Tigers lineup, Greene showed why he’s a potential cornerstone, hitting .250 with 3 home runs in 46 games. His stellar play boosted the value of his already scarce rookie cards, with the prized Yellow Refractor now valued at $900-1,200 in Near Mint-Mint condition.
Juan Soto (Washington Nationals) – 2018 Bowman Chrome Red Refractor Auto RC #161 – Despite trade rumors swirling all season, Soto continued producing at an elite level for the Nationals, racking up an .898 OPS with 27 home runs. As one of the game’s best young hitters, his RC inventory holds tremendous value long-term. The elusive Red Refractor Auto commands $3,000-4,000 in pristine condition due to the rarity of finding one graded and authenticated.
Spencer Strider (Atlanta Braves) – 2021 Topps Chrome Red Refractor RC #146 – Strider absolutely dominated as a rookie, posting a 2.67 ERA with 202 strikeouts over 131.2 innings for the World Series champion Braves. The flame-throwing starter exploded onto the scene, driving up the price of his scarce Refractor rookies in the process. In a PSA 10 Gem Mint, the prized Red Refractor now fetches $2,500-3,000.
Adley Rutschman (Baltimore Orioles) – 2019 Bowman Chrome Yellow Auto RC #57 – As the top prospect in baseball, considerable hype surrounded Rutschman entering 2022. While injuries slowed his debut, he showed why the hype is real by hitting .254 with 5 home runs in 50 games upon arrival in Baltimore. His esteemed autos remain pristine long-term assets, with the Yellow Refractor auto valued at $2,000-2,500 in top-graded condition.
Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals) – 2021 Topps Chrome Orange Refractor Auto RC #171 – Witt wasted no time making an impact, delivering an .810 OPS with 20 home runs as a 21-year-old rookie. The 5th overall pick in the 2019 draft lived up to lofty expectations and more. The ultra-short printed Orange Refractor auto holds immense long-term potential, currently appraised at $2,500-3,000 in PSA 10/BGS 9.5 mint status.
Oneil Cruz (Pittsburgh Pirates) – 2018 Bowman Chrome Green Refractor RC #163 – At 6-foot-7 with tantalizing raw power, Cruz began turning heads in 2022 with a monstrous .333 average and 9 homers over 40 MLB games. Considered a future All-Star, the elusive Green Refractor from his debut Bowman set soared past $2,000 PSA 10 value due to revived collector interest in this Pirates phenom.
Zac Veen (Colorado Rockies) – 2020 Bowman Chrome Rainbow Foil Refractor Auto RC #158 – While still developing in the minors in 2022, Veen flashed five-tool ability by hitting .281 with 24 stolen bases between High-A and Double-A. The 9th overall pick in the 2020 draft, his prized autographed Rainbow Foil Refractor commanded $1,500-2,000 based on franchise hopeful status alone.
Christian Vaquero (New York Mets) – 2022 Topps Chrome Silver Pack Refractor Auto RC #171SP – Though not seeing MLB action yet, Vaquero’s prospect stock rose after a 3.05 ERA, 105 strikeouts campaign in High-A. The highly special parallel from his mainstream debut attracted collector attention, with the 1/1 Silver Pack auto valued north of $3,000 raw given Mets farm system intrigue.
Brennen Davis (Chicago Cubs) – 2019 Bowman Chrome Red Refractor Auto RC #121 – Davis reached Triple-A in 2022 while batting .305 there, putting him on the cusp of a future Wrigley Field debut. His autos remain a prized long-term asset for Cubs faithful, with the Red Refractor fetching $1,000-1,500 in pristine condition based on franchise cornerstone potential alone.
Eury Perez (Boston Red Sox) – 2022 Topps Chrome Orange Refractor Auto RC #171 – Perez shot up Red Sox and prospect rankings in 2022 by hitting .322 with 28 stolen bases between High-A and Double-A. His aesthetically pleasing Orange Refractor auto captivated collectors and commanded $1,000-1,500 raw before season’s end based purely on breakout statistical performance fueling long-term optimism.
Strong rookie campaigns paired with franchise cornerstone futures continued driving the values of premier rookie cards from the 2022 rookie class. While multi-year trajectories remain to be seen, collectors have shown eagerness to acquire stakes in promising young talents on baseball’s horizon by paying a premium now for their rarest, most prestigious rookie releases from seasons past. With more top prospects on the cusp in 2023, the rookie card market shows no signs of cooling.
