The 2022 baseball season brought several standout rookie performers and milestone career achievements that have translated to some of the hottest baseball cards on the collecting market. Whether it’s rookies like Bobby Witt Jr. or veterans chasing history like Albert Pujols, here are some of the most desirable 2022 baseball cards to consider adding to your collection:
Bobby Witt Jr. Rookie Cards: The top prospect in baseball entering 2022 lived up to the hype with his debut for the Kansas City Royals. Witt showed five-tool abilities and established himself as a franchise cornerstone. His Topps Chrome refractors and autograph cards in particular hold substantial value in the rapidly growing Bobby Witt Jr. PC (personal collection) market. The long-term potential of such a young star continues to drive interest here.
Julio Rodriguez Rookie Cards: J-Rod electrified Seattle fans and the league with an outstanding debut campaign that saw him selected to the All-Star team. Like Witt, Rodriguez has that special combination of tools and intangibles that suggest future superstardom. His Topps Chrome autographs and parallels consistently attract robust bids. The Rodriguez hype train left the station and shows no signs of slowing.
Adley Rutschman Rookie Cards: Once considered the top prospect in all of baseball, Rutschman needed time in the minors to adjust but has looked the part of a future All-Star catcher since debuting with the Orioles. His elite defensive abilities paired with a mature approach at the plate give hope that he can be a cornerstone for the rebuilding O’s. Rutschman’s rookies carry strong long-term value.
Spencer Strider Rookie Cards: A surprise breakout fourth round pick just a few years ago, Strider dominated as a starter and reliever for the Braves debuting in late 2022. With a 103 MPH fastball and plus slider, Strider proved capable of overpowering big league hitters and became an overnight star. His Topps rookies are still affordable now but value figures to skyrocket if Strider continues establishing himself.
Oneil Cruz Rookie Cards: “El Quetzal” stole the show with a mammoth 498-foot home run, representing one of the longest ever measured. At 6-foot-7 with elite tools and athleticism, Cruz looks the part of a future star for the Pirates. His autographed and numbered parallels from high-end products like Topps Chrome carry a hefty premium price tag. Cruz’s long-term star potential remains a major allure.
Albert Pujols Chase for 700 Home Runs: Pujols joined the 700 home run club with two long balls in September, a true baseball milestone. Pujols already held legend status for his exceptional 21-year career in St. Louis and Los Angeles but reached new heights with this mark. Pujols’ 2022 Topps flagship and update cards saw a boost with the chase and milestone completion. His Topps Chrome autos and parallels carry the highest premiums.
Aaron Judge Pursuit of AL Single-Season Home Run Record: Judge captivated the sports world with his chase of Roger Maris’ AL home run record of 61. His prodigious power was on full display nightly, culminating with homers #60 and #61 in Toronto. Judge’s 2022 Topps series one flagship rookie debuted at the perfect time to capture this historical season. Cards from high-end products like Topps Transcendent hold immense collector value given Judge’s place as arguably the premiere slugger in baseball.
Sandy Alcantara Triple Crown Qualifier: The Marlins ace put together a true Cy Young caliber campaign, qualifying for the NL Triple Crown with a sub-2.00 ERA to go with 200+ innings pitched and six shutouts. While he ultimately fell short of the pitching Triple Crown, Alcantara established himself as one the game’s premier workhorses. His flagship rookie cards in particular hold strong long-term value for such an under-the-radar star.
Michael Harris II Rookie Cards: The Braves’ surprising rookie center fielder provided outstanding defense and power at just 21 years old. Harris looked right at home playing alongside Acuña and Olson while slashing .297/.336/.514 over his debut season. His rookie cardboard is still affordable but given Harris’ all-around skills and strong organizational support, big upside remains here.
Jose Miranda Rookie Cards: Miranda made Minnesota’s roster out of spring training and steadily produced with good power as the Twins’ first baseman down the stretch. At just 25 years old, Miranda looks capable of being a long-term middle-of-the-order cornerstone for the Twins if he continues tapping into that raw power. His flagship rookies present solid risk/reward as an older but proven prospect.
Other notables from the 2022 season with ascending baseball card values include rookie sluggers like Oneil Cruz, Brennen Davis, Jeremy Peña, and Rhys Hoskins update cards capturing his breakout season. On the pitching side, rookies like Jack Leiter, George Kirby, and Hunter Greene hold promise. Veterans like Pujols, Judge, Alcantara and Astros ace Justin Verlander enjoying career years also bolster the appeal of their 2022 cardboard issues. With strong rookie classes and compelling storylines, the 2022 season provided no shortage of cards primed to rise in collector demand for years to come. The crop profiles as one of the deeper vintages for baseball cards in recent memory.
