The 2022 Donruss baseball card set was released in February and contained a wide variety of rookie cards, parallels, and stars from the 2021 MLB season. While Donruss is not considered one of the top modern brands like Topps or Bowman, it still offers collectors affordable cards of current players. A select few 2022 Donruss cards have already started to gain significant value due to player performance and scarcity factors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable and desirable 2022 Donruss baseball cards on the current market.
Ronald Acuña Jr. Green Parallel /99 – At just /99 printed, the Ronald Acuña Jr. Green parallel is one of the scarcest base cards in the entire set. Acuña is also one of the biggest stars in the game when healthy, making his parallels highly sought after. This parallel frequently sells in the $50-75 range on the secondary market, which is quite high for a standard Donruss base card. Acuña’s talent and limited printing ensure this will remain one of the set’s premier short prints.
Juan Soto Rainbow Foil /25 – As one of the game’s best young hitters, Juan Soto’s cards always hold strong value. His Rainbow Foil parallel from Donruss ’22 takes it a step further with an ultra-low print run of only /25 copies. This parallel commands some of the highest prices in the set, often selling in the $100-150 range. With Soto still just 23 years old, his cards will likely continue appreciating over the long run.
Bobby Witt Jr. Pink Refractor /50 – As the #2 overall pick in the 2019 draft and top Royals prospect, Bobby Witt Jr. was one of the most hyped rookies in ’22. His Pink Refractor parallel from Donruss holds added appeal with a print run of only /50. Witt’s rookie season exceeded expectations as he established himself as a future star. This key parallel routinely fetches $75-100 and should rise further if Witt continues developing into the all-around talent most scouts forecast.
Riley Greene Pink Ice /10 – The #5 overall pick in 2019, Riley Greene had a solid debut for the Tigers in ’22 after injuries delayed his arrival. His scarcest parallel, the Pink Ice at /10 printed, captures maximum attention. Greene is a potential franchise cornerstone, making his low-print rookie cards especially collectible. Most Pink Ice parallels sell in the $150-200 range currently but have plenty of upside as Greene’s career progresses.
Julio Rodríguez Rainbow Foil Auto /10 – As the AL Rookie of the Year in 2022 and new face of the Mariners, Julio Rodríguez had one of the best rookie campaigns in recent memory. His Rainbow Foil Auto parallel from Donruss at an edition of just /10 is the true holy grail from this product. Rodríguez is a budding superstar, so this rare on-card auto will likely appreciate significantly with time. Most sell in the $500-750 range currently but could reach $1,000+ within a few years.
Sandy Alcantara Green Ice Auto /5 – Sandy Alcantara emerged as the ace of the Marlins staff in 2022, posting a 2.28 ERA while leading MLB in innings pitched. The ultra-rare Green Ice Auto parallel of his Donruss rookie card is limited to a print run of only /5 worldwide. Alcantara is still just 26 and signed long-term, giving this card a very strong long-term outlook. Few have even been listed for sale, but expect a card of this caliber and scarcity to command well over $1,000 when offered.
Aaron Judge Rainbow Foil /25 – As the new single-season American League home run king, Aaron Judge had a historic 2022 season for the Yankees. His Rainbow Foil parallel captured the height of his fame with an edition of just /25. Judge is a modern day Yankee icon, so rare parallels like this will hold incredible value long-term. The few that have sold have commanded $500-750, but this price tag seems poised to grow exponentially in the years ahead.
While Donruss may not carry the same brand power as some other modern sets, it still offers affordable access to today’s stars. For savvy collectors, the true gems are the short printed parallels and autographs, which capture maximum scarcity and often gain significant value quickly. The 2022 Donruss set housed some true gems, headlined by the ultrarare Julio Rodríguez and Sandy Alcantara parallels. For years to come, these select few cards seem primed to retain strong collectible appeal in the high-end baseball card market.
