Adley Rutschman is widely considered to be one of the top prospects in all of baseball. The catching prospect was selected with the number one overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles out of Oregon State University. Given his status as a blue chip prospect and future star, Rutschman’s rookie cards have become highly sought after by collectors. Let’s take a deeper look at Adley Rutschman’s baseball cards and examine what collectors should know.
Rutschman made his professional debut in 2019 playing for the Aberdeen IronBirds, a short season Class A affiliate of the Orioles. That season he slashed .254/.396/.439 with 5 home runs and 22 RBI in 51 games. While the stats themselves were not eye popping, scouts were impressed with his advanced plate approach and defense behind the plate. This led to Bowman Chrome being the first card company to release cards of Rutschman as a professional that year.
The 2019 Bowman Chrome Adley Rutschman rookie card is one of the key early Rutschman cards for collectors to pursue. With a print run believed to be around 10,000 copies, the card has steadily increased in value since its release. Near mint copies in a PSA 10 gem mint condition have recently sold for over $1000, showing the strong demand for one of the first mass produced cards featuring Rutschman in an Orioles uniform. The 2019 Bowman Chrome card remains the most affordable way to add an early Rutschman rookie to a collection.
Rutschman took his game to another level in 2020 before lost season due to COVID-19 pandemic. In the Arizona Fall League that year, he slashed .356/.455/.611 with 4 home runs over 17 games, showcasing his advanced hit tool and power potential many scouts had raved about. This breakout performance increased anticipation for Topps to release Rutschman’s first flagship rookie card in their 2021 Series 1 release when the regular season began.
The 2021 Topps Adley Rutschman baseball card is considered the true rookie card for the top prospect by most collectors and has unsurprisingly gained immense popularity. With a print run estimated at under 10,000 copies for the base card, PSA 10 gem mint examples have eclipsed $1000 in secondary market value already. The card features a clean photo of Rutschman from his Oregon State playing days in an ideal rookie card design. For Orioles fans and collectors prioritizing on-card autographs, the 2021 Topps Chrome Adley Rutschman Auto /50 parallel remains one of the premier Rutschman cards available, with PSA 10 examples reaching over $10,000.
Rutschman was added to the Orioles 40-man roster in November 2020 but missed the entire 2021 season due to a triceps injury sustained during spring training. This kept him from potentially having additional mainstream rookie cards released in 2021 products and maintained high demand for his initial 2021 Topps card throughout the year. With no major injuries sustained in 2022, Rutschman was primed to make his long awaited MLB debut and fans hoped for more cards to be released.
Topps did not disappoint collectors, including Rutschman in their 2022 Series 1 release and 2022 Topps Chrome products upon his March call up to the Orioles. While production numbers remain relatively low, the base 2022 Topps Rutschman rookie has sold in the $100-200 range in PSA 10 condition. The chrome and parallel versions carry premiums over the flagship card due to the product’s popularity. Perhaps the most desirable Rutschman card from the 2022 release so far is the Topps Chrome Adley Rutschman Auto Green /99 parallel, with a PSA 10 example recently selling for over $12,000 on eBay.
In his early MLB career, Rutschman has shown why he was considered the top prospect in baseball, slashing .257/.368/.440 with 5 home runs in 53 games so far. This on-field production and MLB debut has further amplified interest in his existing rookie cards and demand for any new releases featuring the budding Orioles star. Several additional Rutschman cards are expected to be released throughout the remainder of 2022 in products like Triple Threads, Ginter, and Allen & Ginter. With continued strong play in Baltimore, Rutschman’s cards stand to appreciate substantially given his future superstar potential.
For collectors looking to invest in one of the game’s brightest young talents, Adley Rutschman’s rookie cards provide an exciting opportunity. Cards from his debut releases like 2019 Bowman Chrome, 2021 Topps, and 2022 Topps remain relatively affordable compared to past top prospect rookies. With each passing month showcasing Rutschman’s 5-tool skillset in Charm City, his cards will become increasingly difficult to acquire in high grade. Savvy investors would be wise to secure PSA 10 examples of Rutschman’s premier rookies now before his inevitable ascent to stardom sends values skyrocketing. The future is bright for Adley Rutschman both on and off the field, making his baseball cards a collection centerpiece for years to come.
