The new year brings with it a fresh baseball season and a new crop of rookie cards and prospects to target. With the rise of new stars like Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto in recent years, the baseball card market is as hot as ever. Top rookies can see their cards skyrocket in value if they find success at the major league level. As we look ahead to 2023, here are some of the most promising young players and sets to keep an eye on:
2022 Topps Chrome Update Series – This set features the top prospects and rookies from the 2022 season, including many who made their MLB debuts. Names like Bobby Witt Jr, Spencer Torkelson, and Julio Rodriguez saw huge jumps in the rookie card market after strong debut campaigns. Their base rookies from Update Series remain some of the best modern rookie cards to acquire. Other top names like Adley Rutschman and Riley Greene also debuted in this set and should be targeted.
2023 Topps Series 1 – As the flagship release of the new year, Series 1 is always one to watch. This set will feature the rookie cards of the top prospects expected to debut in 2023, headlined by catcher Druw Jones. The son of former MLB star Andruw Jones, Druw was the #2 overall pick in the 2022 draft and is one of the highest-rated prospects in recent memory. His Topps rookie card is sure to be a hot commodity. Other top prospects like Jackson Holliday, Termarr Johnson, and Elijah Green will also have their rookie debuts here and could explode in value with strong MLB starts.
2023 Bowman Draft – The annual Bowman Draft set focuses exclusively on the newest draft class and is the first chance to acquire cards of newly drafted players. This year’s class was headlined by Jones at #2, but other top picks like Holliday (#1), Johnson (#3), and Green (#5) will all have their true rookie cards in this set. Acquiring their base rookies from Bowman Draft before they debut in the majors could yield big returns if they pan out as stars. Keep an eye out for later round “diamond in the rough” picks too who may surprise.
2023 Topps Chrome – As the premier refractors release of the year, Topps Chrome is a must-watch set for rookie cards. It will feature the same top prospects debuting their cards as the base Topps Series 1 set, but Chrome parallels and refractors command a premium. Landing the prized colored parallels of top rookies like Jones, Holliday, and Johnson in their rookie year could yield a goldmine down the road. Even base refractors hold their value well and the set is a fun rip for prospects.
2023 Bowman Chrome – Like Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome focuses on the shiny refractors and parallels collectors love. This set debuts the rookie cards of the top prospects from the previous draft year, so 2023 Bowman Chrome will include the top picks from 2022 like Brooks Lee, Elijah Green, and Termarr Johnson. Their most sought-after refractors and parallels from their true rookie year will be found here.
2023 Topps Series 2 – While Series 1 gets all the hype, Series 2 often features rookie debuts of players who made their MLB debuts later in the previous season. Names like Oneil Cruz, Bobby Miller, and Michael Harris II popped up here in 2022 after breakouts. This set is one to watch not just for top prospects on the cusp of the majors, but also under-the-radar players who could emerge as values after proving themselves at the highest level.
Top MLB Rookies of 2023 – While prospects are the main draw of new card releases, keep an eye on which young players make their MLB debuts and set the league on fire in 2023. Names like Gunnar Henderson, Emerson Hancock, and Anthony Volpe could all graduate from top prospects to true impact rookies this year. Their rookie cards across Topps, Bowman, and Chrome from 2022 and 2023 releases could take off if they produce at the plate and on the mound. Players who establish themselves as future stars right away tend to see their cards appreciate the most.
Prospect Parallels – While base rookie cards are always the most accessible, the true gems are often the short-printed parallel and autograph cards inserted at ultra-low odds. Landing prized parallels like Topps Chrome color refractors, Bowman Chrome autographs, or 1/1 printing plates of top prospects in their first pro seasons could yield enormous returns with minimal investment if those players deliver. It’s risky, but the rewards of identifying “the one” can be life-changing for collectors. Always check odds and be willing to rip multiple boxes to hunt these big-ticket rookie parallels.
Vintage & Investment Cards – While the hottest modern cards get all the hype, don’t sleep on proven investments from the past either. Sets like 1957 Topps, 1952 Topps, and 1969 Topps are still reasonably priced for their historic significance and can appreciate steadily over time. Individual vintage rookies of established stars also offer a lower risk way to build portfolio value. High-grade examples of legends like Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, and Willie Mays will always retain interest and demand.
As the above options show, there are plenty of intriguing places to invest in the booming baseball card market heading into 2023. By doing research on the top prospects, following prospects’ minor league stats, and targeting rookie cards both modern and vintage, savvy collectors have a good chance to acquire cards that appreciate significantly with even a single great MLB season. With another exciting baseball year on the horizon, 2023 looks primed to uncover the next generation of star players to chase on cardboard.
