The 2023 Topps Baseball set is set to release in February 2023, and as with every new Topps release, there will be several highly coveted rookie cards and parallels to chase. With rookies like Adley Rutschman, Bobby Witt Jr., and Julio Rodriguez having breakout seasons in 2022, their rookie cards will be hot commodities. Stars like Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. always have desirable parallels and short prints.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the top cards to watch for in the upcoming 2023 Topps Baseball release:
Adley Rutschman Rookie Card (#RC) – As the top prospect in baseball who finally broke through with the Orioles in 2022, Rutschman’s rookie card will be one of the most sought after in the set. Look for his base rookie to be a strong long-term hold, while parallels and autographs could carry big premiums. His /5 and /1 parallels would be true chase cards.
Bobby Witt Jr. Rookie Card (#RC) – Witt made an instant impact for the Royals in his debut season, showing why he was a former #2 overall pick. His rookie card will be another hot ticket, with the low-numbered parallels holding monster value. An on-card auto would be the Witt card to own.
Julio Rodriguez Rookie Card (#RC) – J-Rod broke out as one of baseball’s brightest young stars for Seattle in 2022, and collectors will be hunting his rookie. His base may not carry the hype of Rutschman or Witt, but parallels and autographs could still fetch a high price given his budding superstar status.
Riley Greene Rookie Card (#RC) – The Tigers’ top prospect made his MLB debut late in 2022 and should have an everyday role in 2023. His rookie card won’t generate the buzz of some others but remains a solid long-term prospecting option, especially for Detroit collectors.
Oneil Cruz Rookie Card (#RC) – Cruz brought excitement to Pittsburgh with his elite tools in a late-season callup. At 6-foot-7 with incredible power and speed, collectors will want his rookie card. Short prints and autographs could see nice returns.
Shohei Ohtani Short Prints – As the best all-around player in baseball, Ohtani’s base card won’t be too tough to find. But parallel and short print versions, especially low-numbered, are always in high demand. A /5 would be a true prize.
Ronald Acuña Jr. Short Prints – When healthy, Acuña is one of the game’s most exciting talents. Like Ohtani, his base card won’t be rare but parallel versions are must-owns for Braves PC collectors and high-end investors.
Yordan Alvarez Short Prints – Alvarez established himself as one of MLB’s premier power hitters in 2022. While not a rookie, parallels of the Astros slugger will appeal to Houston collectors and those seeking big bat investments.
Wander Franco Short Prints – Franco had a breakout sophomore campaign and looks poised for superstardom. Low-numbered parallels of the Rays young star would be solid long-term prospects.
Mike Trout / Clayton Kershaw / Jacob deGrom RCs – While not new RCs, the base cards for these all-time greats will remain popular for collectors. But rare early career parallels could carry enormous price tags as long as the players stay healthy and productive.
Autograph Cards – On-card autographs of rookies, prospects and stars always demand big money. Top rookie autos to watch for include Rutschman, Witt, Rodriguez, Greene and Cruz. Stars like Ohtani, Acuña, Alvarez and Trout also hold tremendous value.
That covers some of the headliners to watch for as the 2023 Topps Baseball release approaches. As with any new set, the checklist and parallel structure won’t be fully revealed until closer to release date. But based on this year’s rookies and the continued popularity of stars, those cards profiled here have the best chance to be true chase cards that could gain significant value with time. For collectors and investors, keeping an eye out for these types of cards at release is highly recommended.
