Julio Rodriguez had a breakout rookie season with the Seattle Mariners in 2022 that has turned him into one of the most exciting young stars in baseball. As a result, Rodriguez’s rookie cards from 2022 and prior years have skyrocketed in value and interest from collectors. Let’s take a look at some of the top Julio Rodriguez baseball cards that are highly sought after on the market right now.
2022 Topps Chrome Refractor Auto Blue #124 – This is arguably the crown jewel of Julio Rodriguez’s rookie card offerings and one of the most valuable baseball cards released in 2022. The Topps Chrome Refractor parallel features a brilliant refracted image of Rodriguez and adds the mega-hit of an on-card autograph signed by the budding superstar. Only 99 of these blue refractor autographs were produced, making each one extremely rare. Mint condition examples have sold for upwards of $5,000, with most selling in the $3,000-$4,000 range. The card captured Rodriguez’s breakout season perfectly in the highly desired Topps Chrome product.
2022 Bowman Chrome Rainbow Foil Auto #BPA – 2 – Bowman is known for producing some of the most coveted rookie cards in the hobby, and Rodriguez’s auto from the coveted “Bowman Chrome” set is a true gem. The “Rainbow Foil” parallel features an iridescent foil coating over the card that makes Rodriguez’s image pop. On-card autographs from the Bowman set hold a special prestige as being some of the earliest cards featuring a player. Examples have sold for $2,000-$3,000, with the ultra-rare population making this one extremely tough to track down.
2022 Topps Fire Red Auto #166 – Topps Fire inserted a red parallel auto of Rodriguez into hobby boxes last year, capturing his breakout on an beautifully designed card. The red-hot parallel features a vivid red border and accentuates the on-card autograph. With an edition size around /199, these remain fairly attainable for most collectors at $400-$600 but hold value due to the scarcity and prestigious Topps product.
2022 Bowman Draft Jumbo Patch Auto BGS 9.5 GEM MT – #34/75 – For ultra-high-end collectors, some of the most exclusive Julio Rodriguez cards come from premium Bowman Draft releases. This “Jumbo Patch” auto features a sizable swatch of his Mariners jersey embedded into the front of the card. Just 75 were produced, and this example hit the perfect BGS 9.5 grade. As a true one-of-one in terms of combo of serial number, patch, and grade – it sold for an astounding $12,000. Cards like this set the ceiling for what elite Julio PC’s can achieve.
2021 Bowman Chrome Green Refractor Auto #161 – For those looking for Rodriguez rookie cards from prior to his breakout season, the 2021 Bowman Chrome offerings are some of the most visually striking. The green parallel is one of the most desirable short prints from the set, made even rarer by the on-card autograph. Examples in gem mint condition have sold in the $1,000-1,500 range, showcasing how Bowman products and their refractors hold value long term in the hobby.
2021 Topps Chrome Blue Refractor Auto #124 – Like the 2022 Topps Chrome, the 2021 blue refractor parallel is one of the most iconic rookie cards featuring any player. Topps Chrome is the pinnacle rookie card product, and Rodriguez’s debut here was captured splendidly on the blue refracted stock. With an edition size around /150, these remain quite scarce and command $800-$1,200 even prior to his breakout success last season. As one of the earliest Topps Chrome autos of Julio, it remains hugely significant.
2021 Bowman Draft Jumbo Patch Auto BGS 9.5 – #4/10 – As with high-end 2022 offerings, some of Rodriguez’s most exclusive 2021 cards come from limited-edition Bowman Draft releases. This “Jumbo Patch” version features dual-color Mariners stitching and was graded mint by BGS. With a serial number of 4/10, each digit makes it increasingly rare. Examples have sold in the $5,000+ range, showcasing the ceiling premium patches and autographs can demand from the earliest years of top prospects.
While prices have risen dramatically in the short term, long-term collectors believe Rodriguez is just getting started in cementing his status as a true superstar. As he continues producing at an All-Star level for years to come, even his earliest cards from 2021 and 2022 profiled here are likely to hold and gain value as important artifacts from the early days of one of baseball’s brightest young talents. For investors and enthusiasts alike, Julio Rodriguez rookie cards present opportunities to own meaningful pieces of a player who could achieve top-tier status before too long.
