The 2021 Panini Prizm Draft Picks baseball set had many highly sought after rookie cards for players drafted in the 2021 MLB Draft. While the long-term value of these cards remains to be seen as the players progress in their careers, there are already some clear standouts that have generated a lot of buzz in the hobby. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the best cards collectors were chasing from this year’s Prizm Draft Picks baseball release.
Perhaps the biggest star of the 2021 draft class was Vanderbilt pitcher Jack Leiter, who was selected second overall by the Texas Rangers. As the son of former big leaguer Al Leiter, Jack generated plenty of hype leading up to the draft. His rookie cards have unsurprisingly been some of the most popular from Prizm Draft Picks. The Leiter prizm parallel cards in particular hold premium value, as prizms are widely considered the top parallel set in the hobby. Of Leiter’s prizm cards, the red prizm /25 is the true short-print chase card due to the extremely low print run. Even his base prizm and silver prizms command big money due to the combination of his pedigree, draft slot, and on-field potential. Leiter’s autos, especially low-numbered versions, are also at the top of most collectors’ want lists for 2021 Prizm Draft Picks.
Another pitcher generating a ton of buzz is Jordan Lawlar, who the Arizona Diamondbacks selected at #1 overall. Like Leiter, Lawlar possesses all the tools to become a true difference maker at the MLB level in the coming years. His rookie cards have followed a similar hype trajectory, with the prizm and auto parallels leading the way in terms of value. Of Lawlar’s cards, the prizm black gold /10 is the true big ticket item, as black golds are notoriously difficult to pull. Even his base prizms and lower-numbered autos can fetch five-figure prices on the current market. Lawlar is considered a true blue-chip talent, so his cards hold long-term value upside as well.
While pitchers Leiter and Lawlar garnered the most pre-draft attention, a position player has emerged as another top rookie to collect from 2021 Prizm Draft Picks – high school shortstop Marcelo Mayer. The Boston Red Sox selected Mayer with the fourth overall pick, and his tools-filled profile has collectors excited about his future. Mayer’s prizm and auto parallels follow a similar value hierarchy to Leiter and Lawlar, with the prizm black gold /10 at the very top. However, Mayer’s base prizm is also highly sought after due to his huge upside. His low-numbered autos are hot commodities as well. Mayer has all the makings of a perennial all-star, so his cards hold value as a long-term investment for patient collectors.
Outside the top few picks, there are still several other rookies from 2021 Prizm Draft Picks producing big card values. Colton Cowser (Baltimore Orioles pick 5) and Brady House (Los Angeles Dodgers pick 23) have seen strong early demand for their prizm and auto parallels as well. Shortstop Sal Frelick (Milwaukee Brewers pick 15) also has collectors chasing his prizms and low-numbered autos. Pitcher Andrew Painter (Philadelphia Phillies pick 13) is a breakout star to watch, with his prizms and autos rising in secondary market value. For lower-numbered cards of the top college arms like Painter, Jack Leiter and Jordan Lawlar prizm blacks remain the true seven-figure big ticket cards in the set at the moment.
In terms of overall product, hobby boxes of 2021 Panini Prizm Draft Picks baseball remain some of the most sought after unopened wax on the market today. With only a few hundred boxes produced, they retain an extremely limited print run. Each box contains 12 packs with 4 cards per pack. The odds of pulling the top short-printed parallels are extremely low, which adds to the box break excitement. On the current secondary market, Prizm Draft Picks hobby boxes can command prices up to $10,000 unopened. For high-end individual cards, comp sales of Leiter, Lawlar and Mayer prizm blacks and low-numbered autos have cracked six-figures already.
As the 2021 draft class begins their professional careers and we get a better sense of who may become true stars, the cards of top performers like Leiter, Lawlar and Mayer will likely only increase in value if they live up to expectations on the field. For patient collectors, 2021 Prizm Draft Picks offers a chance to acquire rookie cards of players who could develop into future MVPs, Cy Young winners and batting champions. While results remain unseen, the combination of elite prospects, flashy Prizm designs and extremely limited print runs have cemented this set as one of the premier modern release in the baseball card world today. For high-end collectors chasing the next big stars, 2021 Panini Prizm Draft Picks remains one of the single-best sets from which to find those investments.
The 2021 Panini Prizm Draft Picks baseball release introduced the rookie cards of a draft class with huge upside, led by the prized cards of top picks Jack Leiter, Jordan Lawlar and Marcelo Mayer. Between the star prospects, flashy Prizm parallels and extremely limited supply, this set offers collectors and investors the chance to acquire what could develop into true blue-chip memorabilia from one of the most exciting drafts in recent memory. While results on the field will determine long-term value, the 2021 Prizm Draft Picks cards of elite talents like Leiter, Lawlar and Mayer are already being crowned modern classics in the hobby.
