The 2023 Panini USA Baseball trading card season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent history with several highly anticipated rookie cards and additional inserts that are creating a buzz among collectors. While the full checklist won’t be revealed until closer to the product release dates throughout 2023, there are already some big names and potential gems that collectors are keeping a close eye on.
One of the most anticipated sets of the upcoming year will be 2023 Panini USA Baseball Diamond Kings, which is expected to feature rookie cards of several top prospects expected to make their MLB debuts in 2023 or have breakout seasons. At the top of many collectors’ want lists are cards featuring Seattle Mariners pitching phenom George Kirby, Detroit Tigers slugger Spencer Torkelson, and Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Xavier Edwards. All three were top-10 picks in their respective draft classes who have excelled in the minors and appear MLB-ready. Their rookie cards in Diamond Kings are likely to receive a lot of attention.
Another big name to watch is Dodgers outfielder Miguel Vargas. The 21-year-old had a strong 2022 season splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A, slashing .319/.382/.496 with 15 home runs and an .878 OPS over 116 games. He made his MLB debut in September and is expected to compete for a roster spot in 2023. His first MLB card release will be highly sought after. Additional rookies that could debut in 2023 like Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson and Toronto’s Gabriel Moreno also have the chance at valuable rookie releases.
Of course, collectors will also be on the hunt for rookie cards from the stacked 2023 MLB Draft class headlined by prospects like Druw Jones, Brock Porter, and Jackson Holliday. While those won’t arrive until late in 2023 or 2024, nabbing their first cardboard could pay dividends down the road. Jones in particular has drawn comparisons to his father, five-time All-Star Andruw Jones, and possesses a rare mix of tools that could make him a true five-tool star.
In addition to rookies, Panini USA Baseball is known to include popular parallels, short prints, autographs, and memorabilia cards that add to the excitement. Memorable inserts from previous years like Franchise Feats, Diamond Icons, and Diamond Club have become fan favorites. For 2023, collectors are hopeful Panini will produce new, creative inserts highlighting the sports’ legends, top performances, and more. With the abundance of talented young players emerging, there is no shortage of possibilities.
Retired player cards also remain popular targets. This could bode well for 2023 releases featuring stars wrapping up their careers like Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, and Yadier Molina. Even veterans who don’t officially retire could receive increased attention as collectors anticipate their final season, such as Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander. Nostalgic collectors may seek out hits of all-time greats too, whether contemporary legends like Mike Trout, max Scherzer, or career milestone chasers like Adrian Beltre, Ichiro Suzuki, and Adam Wainwright.
The Memorabilia side of USA Baseball also delivers excitement. Rare 1/1 patches and autographs of star players constantly draw high prices in the secondary market. A true game-used jersey piece of a current All-Star or Hall of Famer can easily fetch hundreds or thousands. Even promo or on-card autos hold value long-term. New uniforms and special event patches from the World Baseball Classic, MLB All-Star Game, or playoff runs create memorable relic cards each year too.
Last but not least, the year’s big non-sport releases like 2023 Archives and Topps Finest are always destinations for the most desirable parallels, autographs, and memorabilia hits. Archives in particular shines with its vintage-style design paying homage to retired greats, while Finest flexes the ‘hit or miss’ mantra with its lavish refractors, 1/1s, and dual-signed memorabilia cards that break the bank. Both sets serve as high-end hunting grounds that potentially yield career-definers.
The 2023 Panini USA Baseball season offers a wealth of potential gems for collectors across the spectrum. With a new crop of elite prospects breaking out, star veterans wrapping up careers, and the ever-popular inserts, parallels, and serial numbered hits – there will be no shortage of intriguing chase cards. For those able to crack highly-touted products like Diamond Kings, Archives, and Finest, the rewards of landing a true future blue-chip rookie or one-of-one relic could make for memories to last a lifetime. The combinations are endless, making it one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory.
