Bowman 2023 Baseball Cards Release Date Announced
Topps has officially announced that the highly anticipated Bowman 2023 baseball card release will take place on April 5, 2023. This marks the typical early spring release date for the annual Bowman set that baseball card collectors and investors eagerly await each year.
The Bowman brand is renowned in the hobby for featuring the sport’s top prospects and rookie cards of future MLB stars long before they make their major league debuts. With the 2023 edition now on the horizon, here’s a more in-depth look at what collectors can expect from next year’s flagship Bowman release.
Prospect Heavy Roster
As with every Bowman set, the 2023 version will showcase a loaded roster of the best up-and-coming prospects in baseball according to industry scouting reports and prospect rankings. Names like Druw Jones, Termarr Johnson, Elijah Green and Jackson Holliday are almost guaranteed to receive prized chrome rookie cards after being selected near the top of the 2022 MLB Draft.
International signees like Roderick Arias, Adriel Bastardo and Angel Martínez who are lighting up the minor leagues will also debut in the set. Bowman has a reputation for being the first chance to obtain the cards of future All-Stars long before their MLB arrival. With another highly touted crop of prospects on the rise, the 2023 edition looks primed to continue delivering on that front.
Parallels and Short Prints
In addition to the base rookie cards, collectors can expect an assortment of parallel and short printed variations that add to the excitement of each Bowman release. Rainbow foil, green refractor, black border and gold border parallels are standard inclusions that increase sets in different rarities. Limited numbered parallels like Orange Refractors (/25), Gold Refractors (/50) and 1/1 Platinum parallels will also be present.
Serialized short prints have become a staple of modern Bowman as well. SP variants offer a tougher chase and hold greater long-term value. Past SP classes have included Future Phenoms, Stars of the Future and more that spotlight certain prospects in a scarcer format. With technology advancing, autographed and memorabilia cards tend to make appearances in Bowman too for an added layer of high-end hits.
International Flavor
While the domestic draft class and top U.S. prospects take center stage as usual, Bowman also provides a valuable international perspective. The set allocates significant checklist space to top amateurs from other countries that signed with MLB clubs. Prospect-rich nations like the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba and others are well-represented with rookie cards of emerging talents.
This global visibility and the first cards of many international stars are a big part of Bowman’s appeal. As the player development pipeline continues expanding overseas, the 2023 edition figures to serve as an early introduction to the next wave of impact international rookies heading for The Show.
Retail and Hobby Availability
When the official release date of April 5th arrives, Bowman 2023 will be available for purchase in both the retail and hobby channels. Like recent years, expect to find retail blaster and hanger packs on shelves at major retailers with a $20-30 MSRP. These offer a fun way for casual collectors to participate while discovering the next generation of players.
Meanwhile, hobby shops and online distributors will carry higher-end hobby boxes available for pre-order now at a suggested price of $85-100. These boxes contain 10-12 packs and are the preferred way for serious collectors to maximize their chances at prized parallels, autographs and big rookie pulls. Breakers will also showcase individual hobby packs, boxes and cases on YouTube in the weeks after release.
As one of the most anticipated new releases each year, Bowman 2023 is sure to generate plenty of buzz and excitement leading up to its arrival date in April. Between another loaded prospect class and all the hit potential, it has all the makings of a highly successful set that livens up the spring collecting season. Mark your calendars now for April 5th to join in on the fun of chasing the cards of baseball’s next stars in their earliest cardboard form.
