The 2023 Bowman baseball card set was released in April and contains a variety of exciting rookie cards and prospects to collect. With the emergence of stars like Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Ronald Acuña Jr. in recent years after debuting in Bowman sets, collectors are always on the hunt for the next big thing in each year’s crop of rookie cards. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most desirable cards to chase from the 2023 Bowman release.
Druw Jones – Undoubtedly the prized card of the set is Jones’ Chrome Yellow Refractor autograph. As the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Jones has immense hype and potential after being considered one of the best prep prospects of the last decade. His father Andruw played in the big leagues for 17 seasons and won 10 Gold Gloves, so Druw has elite bloodlines as well. Expect his Bowman Chrome Yellow autos to fetch prices well over $1,000 once he makes his professional debut in 2023.
Termarr Johnson – Another top draft pick with a bright future, Johnson was selected No. 4 overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022 out of high school in Georgia. He possesses five-tool talent and draws comparisons to Ronald Acuña Jr. with his left-handed swing and athleticism in center field. His Bowman Chrome autographs could appreciate significantly if he starts strong in the minors next season. Look for refractor and rainbow foil parallels of his auto to be the most valuable.
Brock Porter – As the No. 3 overall selection by the Texas Rangers, Porter generated huge buzz as one of the hardest throwers among prep arms in the 2022 class. With a fastball that sits in the upper-90s and a sharp slider, he has the makings of a future ace if he continues developing. His Bowman Chrome autographs will be hotly pursued, especially in blue refractor /150 or yellow /75 parallels.
Daniel Susac – A third-round pick by the Oakland A’s out of the University of Arizona, Susac had a monster junior season with 20 home runs and an impressive .366 batting average. He’s an advanced hitter for his age with good power potential. Susac’s autographed rookie cards will be must-haves for A’s and catcher collectors.
Elijah Green – Green fell to the Dodgers at No. 18 in the 2022 draft but was considered by some scouts to have the highest upside of any prep bat available. The left-handed hitting outfielder has 70-grade raw power and runs well for his size. His autographed Bowman cards could take off if he starts mashing homers in the minors next year.
Brooks Lee – The No. 8 overall selection by the Minnesota Twins, Lee was a star at Cal Poly with excellent hitting mechanics and feel for the game. He has the potential to hit for both power and average at higher levels. Lee’s autographed rookie cards will attract Twins fans and those hoping he develops into an all-around offensive force.
Jackson Holliday – Though taken No. 1 overall by the Orioles in 2022, Holliday slipped behind some of the other top prospects in terms of Bowman hype after an underwhelming pro debut. But he has the pedigree as the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday and was a highly touted prep bat. His autographed rookie cards are still worth adding in case he takes off in 2023.
Ethan Murray – Murray generated a lot of late buzz leading up to the 2022 draft as one of the fastest risers. He has a projectable 6’6 frame, a live arm, and hits upper-90s on the mound already in his development. The Red Sox snatched him up with the No. 26 pick. Murray’s autographed Bowman cards could pay off if his raw talents blossom in the Boston system.
Jace Jung – The younger brother of Rangers infielder Josh Jung, Jace was a second-round selection by the Padres in 2022 out of Texas Tech where he was the Big 12 Player of the Year. He has a polished all-fields approach at the plate and should hit for average. Jung’s signed rookie cards are solid long-term investments.
Other notable names to watch out for include second-rounder Chase DeLauter (Orioles), third-rounder Dylan Beavers (Twins), fourth-rounder Brock Jones (Rangers), and international signings Manny Machado Jr. and Roderick Arias. With so much young talent in the 2023 Bowman set, it will be fun to see which prospects emerge as stars over the next few seasons. For collectors, hunting these players’ rookie cards now presents opportunities to potentially acquire valuable assets before they break out.
