The 2022 edition of Panini Prizm Baseball was released in October 2022 amid high excitement from collectors. Panini Prizm has become one of the premier modern sports card brands known for producing some of the most valuable rookie cards and short prints each year. The 2022 version was no exception, featuring several rookie cards that are already deemed future stars and valuable parallels that become hotly pursued by collectors.
One of the top rookies in 2022 Prizm is Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez. Considered a future superstar, Rodriguez had a breakout rookie season that saw him selected for the All-Star game and finish second in AL Rookie of the Year voting. His base Prizm rookie card quickly became a sought-after item, but collectors were eager to find Parallel and Autograph versions that hold premium value. Some early eBay sales of Rodriguez’s Emerald Prizm parallel rookie card reached over $1000, showing how beloved his cards already are. As Rodriguez’s career progresses and he potentially wins awards, these early rookie cards stand to become quite valuable long term.
Another prized rookie in 2022 Prizm is Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena. As a rookie, Pena helped lead the Astros to a World Series title while also winning World Series MVP. This instantly elevated interest in his rookie cards from Panini Prizm, which were still being pulled from packs during and after the World Series run. The Base Prizm Jeremy Pena rookie has sold for $100-200 currently, but his colorful parallels command much more. An early Green Prizm variation sold for around $500 and his much rarer 1/1 Rainbow Foil Prizm Autograph could fetch tens of thousands given Pena’s successful rookie year capping with a championship.
One of the most popular veterans in 2022 Prizm is New York Yankees star Aaron Judge. Having a career year that saw him break the AL single season home run record, Judge mania was in full effect during the baseball season and extends to the card market. While Judge has had numerous impressive seasons and playoff appearances before, 2022 truly cemented him as a modern great of the game. As a result, collectors are chasing any version of Aaron Judge’s 2022 Prizm card they can find. Even basic Prism Base cards have sold in the $30-50 range online. Parallel cards like Velocity Red Prizm and Orange Prizm often surpass $100 due to Judge’s newfound legendary status. Autographs and rare memorabilia card variations could potential reach four figures for this singular season in Judge’s career.
Short prints are always a major factor when it comes to valuable Prizm cards. Some of the biggest hits tend to be low numbered parallels and inserts. Two such examples from 2022 Prizm are Luis Robert’s Green Prizm /50 and Bo Bichette’s Orange Prizm /99. As young All-Stars for their respective clubs, Robert and Bichette enjoy strong collector demand for any scarce parallels from this release. Early sales saw the Robert Green bring over $400 and the Bichette Orange reach $250 due to their ultra-limited print runs. Other short prints that could potentially emerge as future steals include Jazz Chisholm Jr. Pink Prizm /199 and Oneil Cruz Purple Prizm /150. With these types of variations numbering less than 200 copies in existence, scarcity alone ensures strong future value.
As the 2022 season winds down and baseball’s postseason begins to unfold, collector interest in Prizm rookies and stars from this past year will remain vibrant. How far teams like Seattle, Houston, or New York go in October could boost certain players like Rodriguez, Pena, or Judge to even greater popularity and demand. In the meantime, box breaks and group case breaks continue to fuel the hunt for the abovementioned top rookie cards, short prints, and parallels that 2022 Panini Prizm offers. While prices may settle for a bit, the long term potential of cards forged during impactful rookie seasons or historic individual campaigns make 2022 Prizm a prime release to watch as those storylines play out in the future.
In conclusion, Panini Prizm’s 2022 baseball offering has proven to house many valuable rookie cards and parallels that enthralled collectors from the product’s initial release through the remainder of the year. Julio Rodriguez, Jeremy Pena, Aaron Judge, Luis Robert, and Bo Bichette feature cards with promising long term futures depending on how their careers progress from here. Short prints like Robert’s Green Prizm and limited autographs also ensure scarcity encourages higher prices as the years pass. Overall, 2022 Panini Prizm established itself as a classic modern issue thanks to tremendous rookie classes and standout individual performances commemorated within its packs and boxes.
