The 2021 baseball season is in full swing which means it’s time for collectors to start scouting out valuable rookie cards and prospects to target for their collections. With a fresh crop of rookies making their debuts this year and established stars continuing to produce, there are plenty of exciting cards hitting the market. Let’s take a look at some of the top baseball cards collectors should keep an eye out for from the 2021 season.
Wander Franco, Tampa Bay Rays: Widely considered the top prospect in all of baseball, Franco lived up to the hype by tearing it up in his rookie season. The 20-year old shortstop hit .288 with 7 home runs and 39 RBI in just 70 games. Franco’s autographed rookie cards from Topps Series 1 and Bowman Chrome are already selling for hundreds of dollars and that price will likely only rise as he establishes himself as a perennial all-star. Any Franco cards from 2021, especially autographed or numbered parallels, should hold tremendous long term value.
Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves: Acuña bounced back strong from a torn ACL that ended his 2021 season early by hitting .281 with 24 home runs in just 82 games played. The 24-year old is already a two-time all-star and silver slugger winner and will likely continue producing at an elite level for years to come. His 2021 Topps Series 1 and Bowman Chrome rookie cards remain affordable for now but could appreciate significantly if he adds MVP awards to his resume. Acuña also has a strong chance to reach the 500 home run milestone making any of his modern cards a worthwhile investment.
Juan Soto, Washington Nationals: At just 23 years old, Soto has already established himself as one of the best hitters in baseball. In 2021 he hit .313 with 29 home runs and 95 RBI despite playing through a shoulder injury. Soto’s rookie cards from 2018 Bowman Chrome and Topps Series 1 remain some of the most coveted on the market today. With a career OPS well over 1.000 already, he has a real shot at breaking records for career on-base percentage. Any Soto cards, especially autographed, from the last few seasons are primed to increase in value as he continues producing at an elite level.
Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres: Tatis missed much of the 2021 season with injury but still managed to hit .282 with 42 RBI in just 130 at-bats. The 22-year old shortstop has already racked up numerous accolades in just three seasons including a silver slugger award and all-star appearance. Tatis’ explosive offensive and defensive skills make him one of the most exciting players in the game today. His 2019 Topps Series 1 and Bowman Chrome rookie cards remain hot commodities and will likely continue climbing as he stays healthy and puts up MVP caliber numbers.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays: Vladdy Jr. broke out in a huge way in 2021 by hitting .311 with 48 home runs and 111 RBI to finish second in AL MVP voting. The 23-year old third baseman looks primed to be an offensive force for years to come. His 2019 Topps Series 1 and Bowman Chrome rookie cards are some of the most valuable on the modern market today and should maintain their strong upward trajectory. Any Guerrero Jr. cards, especially autographed, from the last few seasons are a safe bet to increase substantially in value long term.
Shane Bieber, Cleveland Indians: Bieber struggled with injury in 2021 but was dominant when on the mound, posting a 3.17 ERA in 16 starts. The 26-year old righty continues to be one of the best pitchers in baseball when healthy as evidenced by his 2020 Cy Young award season. Bieber’s 2018 Topps Series 1 and Bowman Chrome rookie cards remain affordable for now but are primed to appreciate significantly if he can stay on the mound and put together another dominant season or two. His modern autographed cards in particular hold strong long term potential.
Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers: Greene had a strong showing in his MLB debut season in 2021 by hitting .301 with 5 home runs in just 46 games. The 21-year old outfielder is considered Detroit’s top prospect and the future centerpiece of their rebuild. Greene’s 2021 Topps Series 1 and Bowman Chrome rookie cards are still relatively affordable but should see steady increases in value as he establishes himself as an everyday player for the Tigers. Any autographed Greene cards from this past season are especially worth targeting as long term holds.
Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox: Robert missed much of 2021 with injury but showed in 2020 why he’s such an exciting talent by hitting .338 with 11 home runs and 31 RBI in just 56 games played. The 24-year old center fielder has legitimate five-tool potential and will be a cornerstone for the White Sox for years to come if he can stay healthy. Robert’s 2020 Topps Series 1 and Bowman Chrome rookie cards have held their value well and are primed to climb higher as he gets back to producing at an all-star caliber level.
Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles: Widely considered the top catching prospect in baseball, Rutschman made his MLB debut in 2022 and hit .222 in 35 games while showing promising defense behind the plate. The 24-year old has all the tools to be an offensive and defensive force for the rebuilding Orioles. Rutschman’s 2021 Topps Series 1 and Bowman Chrome rookie cards are still quite affordable but should see steady increases in value over the coming years as he establishes himself as the future face of the franchise in Baltimore.
This covers just a sampling of some of the most exciting young players who had rookie cards in recent years that collectors should be targeting. With such a talented new crop of stars continuing to emerge each season, there will always be valuable baseball cards worth pursuing from both the current year and recent past. Doing research on prospects and following players’ statistical progress is key to identifying cards poised for long term appreciation.
