The 2023 Donruss baseball card set is one of the most anticipated releases of the new year. While Donruss cards have long been a staple in the hobby, recent years have seen renewed interest in the brand. This is largely due to Donruss focusing on producing affordable sets while still maintaining quality card designs and photography.
Donruss has also done a great job in recent years of securing licenses for major rookies and stars. This helps give their products longevity and ensures certain cards hold value. The 2023 set is no exception, with several highly sought-after rookies and veterans that are driving early interest and speculation about potential card values.
Let’s take a deeper look at some of the top cards from the 2023 Donruss set and analyze what their potential values might be in the short and long-term. Keep in mind that predicting exact card values is impossible, as the hobby is subjective. We can make educated guesses based on similar past examples and player performances.
Top Rookie Cards:
Adley Rutschman – The Orioles catcher broke out in 2022 and looks like a future star. His Donruss Chrome rookie refractor parallel could fetch $100-200 graded. The base is $20-30 in a PSA 10.
Bobby Witt Jr. – Arguably the top rookie from 2022, Witt’s Donruss Chrome rookie cards settled around $50-75 raw after an initial spike. Expect a PSA 10 to reach $150-250 long term.
Julio Rodriguez – J-Rod took the MLB by storm and won AL Rookie of the Year. His Donruss Chrome rookie could reach $150-250 graded in a PSA 10 after debuting around $75-100 raw.
Spencer Strider – The Braves flamethrower had a breakout season and will be one of the most popular Braves cards. A PSA 10 Chrome rookie could sell for $75-125.
Oneil Cruz – The 6’7″ Pirates shortstop has immense tools and his cards took off after a September call up. A PSA 10 Chrome rookie may reach $50-75.
Top Veteran Cards:
Shohei Ohtani – As one of the game’s brightest stars, Ohtani’s base Donruss card will hold steady value of $10-15 raw. Parallels could reach $50-75 graded.
Aaron Judge – After breaking the AL home run record, Judge mania is in full effect. His base card may reach $15-20 while parallels could sell for $75-150 graded.
Mike Trout – The consensus best player, Trout remains a steady investment. Even his base card should retain $10-15 of value long term. Parallels reach $50-100.
Ronald Acuña Jr. – Set to return from injury in 2023, Acuña’s star power keeps his cards highly sought after. Base is $10-15, with parallels at $50-75 graded.
Mookie Betts – A consistent superstar and recent World Series champion boosts the value of Betts cards. Base around $8-12, with parallels reaching the $40-75 range.
Rookies and stars aside, certain parallels and autograph/memorabilia cards from Donruss hold tremendous long term potential. The prized 1/1 parallel autos could sell for thousands of dollars to the right collectors. Even base autographs of top players may retain $50-150 of value over time.
For investors, Donruss provides an affordable entry point into the high-end card market. While base cards won’t make you rich, holding graded parallels of future stars is a relatively low-risk approach. And with Donruss continuing to sign major licensing deals, their products remain a staple of the hobby.
The 2023 Donruss release offers several cards poised to appreciate nicely in the coming years. For collectors and investors alike, targeting the top rookies and stars in the set provides an opportunity to build a portfolio with long term upside. Of course, there are no guarantees – but Donruss cards have proven time and again to hold significant value based on player performance and career arcs.
