Austin Riley has quickly become one of the most exciting young players in Major League Baseball. Since making his debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2019, Riley has showcased prodigious power at the plate along with solid defense at third base. Not surprisingly, interest in Austin Riley baseball cards has skyrocketed among collectors in recent years. Let’s take a deeper look at Riley’s career so far and explore some of the top cards from this rising star.
Riley was drafted by the Braves in the 15th round of the 2015 MLB June Amateur Draft out of DeSoto Central High School in Southaven, Mississippi. He worked his way through the Braves’ farm system over the next few seasons, showing impressive power while also cutting down on strikeouts. Riley started to gain national attention in 2018 when he slugged 27 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A. This breakout performance created early buzz around Riley as a future MLB player and prospect.
The Braves added Riley to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. He began 2019 with Triple-A Gwinnett but was called up to the big leagues in mid-May when slugger Johan Camargo landed on the injured list. Riley made his MLB debut on May 15, 2019 against the San Diego Padres. In his first career at-bat, he blasted a home run off left-hander Eric Lauer. This provided an early glimpse of Riley’s prodigious power potential. He went on to hit .289 with 11 home runs over his first 30 games, showcasing his five-tool abilities.
Riley’s strong rookie season performance in 2019 helped drive interest in his rookie cards. Some of the top rookie issues include:
2019 Topps Base: This is Riley’s main flagship rookie card. Prices have risen from around $10-15 upon release to $25-40 graded gem mint.
2019 Topps Chrome Refractor RC #142: The prized refractors from Topps Chrome hold significant value. PSA 10 examples now sell for $150-250.
2019 Bowman Draft Purple Refractor Auto RC BDA-AR: Extremely rare, with PSA 10 copies reaching $1,000-1,500.
2019 Bowman Chrome Refractor Auto RC: Still scarce in high grades. A PSA 10 sold for $750 this year.
2019 Topps Chrome Green Refractor RC #142: Another scarce parallel, with a PSA 10 recently fetching $450.
While Riley showed promise in his rookie season, he took his game to an elite level in 2021. He smashed 27 home runs in only 108 games played and slashed .303/.367/.531 overall. This breakout season cemented Riley’s status as a true star player and further spiked collector demand.
Some of Riley’s top cards from 2021 include:
2021 Topps Base: Prices have doubled+ from initial release to $50-75 raw or $150+ graded.
2021 Topps Chrome Refractor RC #149: A true flagship refractor. PSA 10s sell for $300-500.
2021 Topps Chrome Green Refractor RC #149: Extremely rare, with a PSA 10 recently auctioning for $1,300.
2021 Topps Chrome Rainbow Foil Refractor RC #149: Another scarce parallel. PSA 10s trade hands for $800-1,000.
2021 Topps Fire Refractor Auto RC: Low pop with a PSA 10 recently selling for $1,500.
2021 Topps Opening Day Blue Refractor Auto RC: Only /99 made, with a PSA 10 reaching $1,250.
Riley carried his momentum into the 2022 season, slugging 27 home runs before the All-Star break. He was selected to his first Midsummer Classic and also won the Home Run Derby, showcasing his incredible raw power. This breakout season further increased the value of all Riley cards from prior years as collectors rushed to acquire any issues they could find.
Looking ahead, Riley is under team control with the Braves through the 2027 season. Barring any major injuries or declines in production, he is poised to be one of the top third basemen in baseball for many years to come. As Riley continues producing at an MVP level, the sky is the limit for how valuable his rookie cards and top parallels could become long-term. With each new season, Austin Riley further cements his status as a true superstar player – and collector interest in his cards will surely remain strong for years to come as well. Whether you’re looking for flagship rookies, prized parallels, or autographed RCs, Austin Riley cards offer a great investment opportunity for any baseball card portfolio.
