The 2022 baseball season brought with it another exciting rookie class that collectors chased after throughout the year. As the official MLB licensed trading card company, Topps was right there to capture all the top rookies in its flagship products. Some of the most coveted rookie cards from 2022 Topps sets included Seattle Mariners pitcher George Kirby, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jonathan Aranda, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman and Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena.
With immense talent and hype surrounding each of these players heading into their debut MLB campaigns, their Topps rookie cards skyrocketed in demand from collectors. George Kirby, selected 15th overall in the 2019 draft, made his MLB debut on April 18th and showed dazzling control while hitting triple digits on the radar gun. As one of the highest draft picks to make his big league debut that year, Kirby’s base Topps Chrome rookie card jumped up over $100 shortly into the season. While he experienced some ups and downs across 19 starts, Kirby left scouts and fans anxious to see his continued development.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay provided a feel good story with Jonathan Aranda. Going undrafted out of high school, Aranda played two seasons at Fordham before being selected by the Rays in the 16th round of the 2018 draft. He became just the 10th player from Fordham to reach the majors and delivered in his first extended chance, slashing .333/.438/.481 over 31 games. Aranda only had a handful of base Topps cards issued but the buzz around his play elevated them near the $100 mark as well by year’s end. Scouts see his advanced approach and bat-to-ball skills as ideal for sticking in an MLB lineup.
No rookie entered 2022 with higher expectations than Adley Rutschman after being the top pick of the 2019 draft by Baltimore. Long touted as a can’t-miss prospect with elite talents both offensively and defensively, Rutschman received the call to the show in late May and didn’t disappoint. He showed plus power with an .826 OPS across 85 games and helped spark a turnaround for the Orioles in the second half of the season. As the consensus top prospect in baseball, Rutschman’s Topps Chrome rookie fetched $400-500 right out of the gates. Strong defensive metrics as a catcher and left-handed bat only added to his allure for both the Orioles and collectors long-term.
Over in Houston, many were eagerly awaiting the MLB debut of Jeremy Pena after Carlos Correa signed with Minnesota in free agency. As the primary shortstop replacement, Pena exceeded all expectations by winning American League Championship Series MVP and helping lead the Astros to a World Series title. Along the way, he flashed premium defense, speed, and just enough pop toProfilemake an immediate impact offensively. With the added cachet of a championship under his belt so early in his career, Pena saw his Topps Chrome rookie listed well over $1000 by the end of the 2022 season. At just 25 years old, he looks to be Houston’s shortstop of the future.
Those were far from the only rookies that generated buzz in 2022 Topps products however. Here are some other notable rookie cards that took off over the course of the season:
Seiya Suzuki, Chicago Cubs: The Japanese star impressed in his first MLB campaign with an .882 OPS in 113 games. His Topps Chrome listed around $100-150 throughout the year.
Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves: Strider emerged as one of the game’s hardest throwers, averaging 98+ MPH and racking up 202 strikeouts across 131.2 innings pitched. His Topps rookie shown around $75-100 most of the season.
Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals: Long hailed as a future superstar, Witt lived up to the hype by slashing .250/.290/.440 with 20 home runs as one of baseball’s youngest players. His Topps rookie traded for $150-300.
Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners: Rodriguez nearly won AL Rookie of the Year behind a .284/.345/.509 line with 28 stolen bases. A true five-tool talent, his Topps Chrome reached up to $400 by season’s end.
Bryson Stott, Philadelphia Phillies: Stott settled in as the Phillies everyday shortstop in the second half, slashing .234/.305/.368. His Topps rookies showed around $50-75.
Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians: Nicknamed “Mr. Consistent”, Kwan became an everyday player and never looked back while hitting .298. His Topps rookies reached the $50-75 range.
Of course, prospects and prospects-to-be also saw collector interest in 2022 Topps products. Top cards included the base rookie cards of Dodgers lefty Ryan Pepiot, Marlins outfielder JJ Bleday, Blue Jays third baseman Jordan Groshans and Red Sox shortstop Marcelo Mayer among many others. Collected carefully right out of pack openings and stored properly, these cards represent potential long term investments as those careers develop further in the coming seasons.
As always, Topps delivered the goods for both investors and fans chasing the game’s next great stars in their rookie cards. 2022 saw immense breakouts and performances that made collectors eager to add these phenomenal rookie talents to their collections. With another wave of elite prospects set to arrive in 2023, the chase will start all over again for chasing the next Kirby, Rutschman, Witt Jr. and beyond in their first Topps cardboard.
