Fernando Tatis Jr. has quickly become one of the most exciting young stars in Major League Baseball. As a budding superstar and budding superstar for the San Diego Padres, Tatis’ rookie cards have skyrocketed in value in recent years. Let’s take a deeper look at some of Tatis’ notable rookie cards and examine how his incredible play has impacted the baseball card market.
Tatis first burst onto the MLB scene in 2019 at just 20 years old. That season he slashed .317/.379/.590 with 22 home runs and 16 stolen bases in only 84 games. His electrifying debut immediately drew attention from collectors. One of his key rookie cards from 2019 is the Topps Chrome Fernando Tatis Jr. Orange Refractor rookie card. Printed to only /199 copies, this rare parallel fetched prices around $100-200 upon release but has since skyrocketed to over $2,000 in mint condition as Tatis’ star has continued to rise.
Another highly sought after Tatis rookie from 2019 is the Topps Big League Fernando Tatis Jr. Clearly Autographed rookie card. As one of Tatis’ few signed rookie cards from his debut season, prices for this card jumped from around $300 upon release to over $1,000 today. The card’s clear autographed window and on-card signature add to its appeal for Tatis collectors.
Tatis’ breakout season in 2020 took his cards to new heights. That year he led the NL with 17 home runs in the pandemic-shortened season. He finished third in NL MVP voting as well. One of his defining 2020 rookie cards is the Topps Chrome Fernando Tatis Jr. Gold Refractor rookie. Printed to only /50 copies, mint examples of this ultra-rare parallel currently sell for $5,000-$7,500 depending on condition.
Another hugely valuable Tatis 2020 rookie is the Topps Chrome Fernando Tatis Jr. Black Refractor rookie. Limited to an extremely low print run of just /5 copies, this is considered the crown jewel among Tatis rookie cards. Incredibly, one gem mint example was recently privately sold for a staggering $30,000, showing just how much his cards have appreciated.
Tatis continued building on his breakout in 2021 by slashing .282/.364/.611 with 42 home runs and 25 stolen bases. He finished third in NL MVP voting once again and helped lead the Padres to the NLCS. His spectacular all-around play that year is best encapsulated in his 2021 Topps Series 2 Fernando Tatis Jr. SP Variation rookie card. Featuring a photo of Tatis making an acrobatic catch and throw, this card has gained steady value and now sells for $300-500 in top condition.
Unfortunately, Tatis’ 2022 season was cut short due to injury and PED suspension. The time off has not slowed interest in his rookie cards. Many see 2023 as a bounce back year where Tatis can reassert himself as a true superstar. As a result, prices for even his common rookie cards from 2019-2021 have held firm or continued creeping up slowly. For example – his 2019 Topps Base rookie card still sells for $50-75 despite wide availability, a big jump from its initial $5 price tag.
In summary – Fernando Tatis Jr. has proven himself as one of the most dynamic young talents in baseball today. His highlight-reel plays and prodigious talent have made his rookie cards some of the hottest and most valuable commodities on the trading card market. As long as Tatis stays healthy and performs at an elite level going forward, demand for his early career cards will likely remain very strong. Serious Tatis collectors will want to secure copies of his ultra-rare parallels and autographs before they potentially reach five or even six figures in the years ahead. At just 23 years old, Fernando Tatis Jr. has put his stamp on the game – and his rookie cards reflect that in a big way.
