Bobby Witt Jr. had one of the most anticipated rookie seasons in baseball in 2022 after being selected as the number two overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals. As a result, Witt Jr.’s rookie cards generated enormous interest from collectors prior to and during his debut season in the major leagues.
Witt Jr. was considered a true five-tool prospect coming up through the Royals’ farm system, showing elite skills with the bat, arm, fielding abilities, speed, and power potential. This led to many collectors believing Witt Jr. had the talent to become a true superstar, driving strong early demand for his rookie cards. Some of Witt Jr.’s top rookie cards include his 2019 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Auto Refractor, 2019 Bowman Draft Chrome Green Auto, and 2022 Topps Series 1 card.
The 2019 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Auto Refractor is widely considered Witt Jr.’s top rookie card. It features his autograph on the front in colored refractors of green, orange, and blue parallels. Due to Witt Jr.’s status as the second overall pick and top prospect in the 2019 draft class, this card shot up collector lists and gained value quickly. Near-mint copies of the base refractor now sell for $500-800, with the more rare color parallels reaching $1,000-2,000 each based on grade and parallel.
Another highly sought-after Witt Jr. rookie is the 2019 Bowman Draft Chrome Green Auto parallel, limited to only 5 copies produced. It is the rarest of his Bowman Chrome autos and has seen some incredible price appreciation over the past few years. Just a year after Witt Jr. was drafted, PSA 10 examples were selling for $3,000-5,000. Now, mint condition copies in a PSA 10 grade are valued around $15,000-20,000 or more due to Witt Jr.’s breakout 2022 MLB season.
Witt Jr.’s first true “rookie card” as a big leaguer came in 2022 Topps Series 1. While not featuring an autograph like his Bowman cards, the 2022 Topps card was the first widely available card showing Witt Jr. in a Royals uniform after making his MLB debut. Near-mint PSA 9 copies have sold in the $50-100 range, with flawless PSA 10 examples reaching up to $150-250 based on the ever-changing card market. As Witt Jr. continues developing, this card stands to gain more value as a key piece in any Bobby Witt Jr. PC.
To live up to the hype, Witt Jr. had an outstanding rookie season in 2022. He slashed .254/.307/.428 with 20 home runs and 80 RBI in 150 games while playing stellar defense at third base and shortstop. Witt Jr. also flashed elite speed and base running skills. His combination of five-tool talents and production immediately in the majors further cemented his status as a future superstar. This led to increased demand and higher prices for all of his top rookie cards on the secondary market.
Looking ahead, if Witt Jr. continues on his current trajectory and becomes a perennial all-star and MVP candidate, his cards from the 2019 Bowman set could reach astronomical prices. The Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Auto Refractor in a PSA 10 could potentially sell for $5,000-10,000 down the road. And the ultra-rare Green Auto parallel might trade hands for $50,000 or more one day. Even his 2022 Topps rookie card could appreciate significantly, with a true gem mint PSA 10 example valued at $500-1,000 long term.
For collectors who missed the initial boom in Witt Jr. cards prior to his debut, now is still a great time to acquire some of his key rookies at reasonable prices compared to what they may be worth in five to ten years. And for those sitting on a stockpile from 2019 Bowman, now is the perfect time to enjoy the profit realized from an astute early investment in one of baseball’s brightest young stars. Either way, Bobby Witt Jr.’s cards are some of the most intriguing investments in the hobby and figure to gain tremendous value as his career progresses.
In summary, Bobby Witt Jr.’s rookie cards generated huge buzz as he rose through the Royals’ system. His 2019 Bowman Chrome cards, especially the rare parallels, have already appreciated substantially and have $10,000+ potential long term if he maintains superstar performance. Witt Jr. also had a phenomenal MLB rookie season in 2022 to live up to expectations, further raising values for all of his cards going forward. Collectors would be wise to hold Witt Jr.’s best rookies, as he looks primed to become a true generational talent and his cards a superb long term hobby investment.
