The 2023 Panini Prizm baseball set is one of the most highly anticipated releases each year. Panini Prizm has become the premiere modern baseball card product known for its flashy refractors and prospects that can take the hobby by storm. With the 2023 season on the horizon, here are some of the top rookies, stars, and parallels to hunt for in the upcoming Prizm release.
One of the biggest storylines entering the 2023 season will be the debut of catcher Adley Rutschman with the Baltimore Orioles. As the top prospect in baseball for several years, Rutschman is poised to take the league by storm and potentially win Rookie of the Year. His Prizm rookie cards will be hot commodities upon release. Look for his standard rookie, along with colorful parallels like orange, green, and blue prizms to carry a premium. Rutschman prizms could end up being the top baseball card of 2023.
Another exciting rookie class is headlined by Druw Jones of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The son of former MLB star Andruw Jones, Druw was taken second overall in the 2022 draft and is one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory. His blend of tools makes him a five-tool talent with superstar potential. Jones prizm rookies will be must-haves, especially if he gets off to a strong start in the majors. Orange and blue prizm parallels of Jones could yield huge returns further down the road.
Two other rookies to watch out for are shortstop Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates and outfielder Estevan Florial of the New York Yankees. Cruz wowed with his towering home runs and elite speed in his rookie campaign. Florial has long been considered one of the Yankees’ top prospects and could break out in his first extended MLB opportunity in 2023. Their standard and colored prizm rookies will attract plenty of attention.
On the veteran side, look for stars like Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Ronald Acuña Jr. to have some of the most coveted base and parallel prizm cards. As two-way talents, collectors adore Ohtani cards across all sports brands. A blue prizm of the AL MVP would command a high price. Soto was just traded to the Padres and will be under the spotlight as he looks to lead his new club to October. Acuña is one of the most exciting players in baseball and his return from injury makes him a top storyline.
Superfractors are some of the rarest and most valuable parallels found in Prizm sets each year. Only a handful exist for each player featured. Some past examples that sold for big money include a Mike Trout superfractor that went for over $400,000 and a Fernando Tatis Jr. rookie superfractor that topped $100,000. While the odds of pulling a superfractor are miniscule, they represent the pinnacle prizm parallel to hunt for.
In terms of team-centric cards, look for prizms featuring emerging clubs like the Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, and others who made postseason runs in 2022. Rookie stars for playoff teams like Julio Rodriguez for the Mariners and Michael Harris II of the Braves will be hot. Veterans for pennant contenders like Jose Altuve, Justin Verlander, and Austin Riley on their respective teams will attract collectors as well.
When it comes to parallels, the most coveted are typically the lower numbered versions. Orange prizms, which usually number around /49, are highly sought after. Green prizms around /25 are extremely rare pulls. Numbered to 10 or less, black prizms are some of the most valuable parallels available. For the true high-end hunter, white prizms numbered to just 3 copies exist as the pinnacle parallel. Of course, the standard refractors also hold value as the core prizm parallel found in every box.
Release date rumors point to Prizm baseball hitting shelves sometime in late winter or early spring of 2023. As with every year, release timing and print runs can fluctuate. When the new set does arrive, it’s sure to create a buzz within the hobby. With another exciting MLB season on deck featuring top rookies and veterans, 2023 Panini Prizm is poised to be one of the hottest releases of the upcoming year. For collectors, it will be prime time to hunt for the next big star or ultra-rare parallel that could gain value for years to come.
