The 2021 baseball rookie card market produced several highly sought after rookies that have already exploded in value. As more collectors pursue these coveted cards, prices continue rising rapidly for the top rookies from last season. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the hottest 2021 baseball rookie cards on the secondary market today.
Perhaps the hottest baseball card from 2021 is the Bowman Chrome 1st Refractor autographed card of Tampa Bay Rays super prospect Wander Franco. Franco had a phenomenal debut season in 2021 where he slashed .288/.347/.462 with 7 home runs and 39 RBI in 70 games. Scouts have raved about Franco’s bat speed, plate discipline, and baseball IQ since he was a teenager in the Rays system. With his combination of tools and production already at the major league level at just 20 years old, Franco is widely considered a future superstar. Not surprisingly, his autographed rookie cards have skyrocketed in secondary market value since last season. PSA 10 examples of the prized Bowman Chrome Refractor auto routinely sell for over $10,000 now, with some bringing upwards of $15,000-20,000. Even PSA 9 copies command $4,000-6,000. Franco’s paper rookie cards from Topps, Bowman, etc. have also exploded and are going for $500-1,000 or more per graded PSA 10 copy. Any Wander Franco card from 2021 is coveted by collectors and considered the true crown jewel from last year’s rookie class.
Another incredibly hot 2021 baseball rookie is 2021 AL Rookie of the Year Randy Arozarena of the Tampa Bay Rays. Arozarena exploded onto the scene last postseason with a scorching playoff run that included 10 home runs, 20 RBI and a dominant ALCS MVP performance to power the Rays to the World Series. While he cooled off a bit in his first full MLB season in 2021, slashing .274/.351/.459 with 20 home runs and 69 RBI, Arozarena proved he can perform on the biggest stages. Naturally, his Topps flagship rookie card has skyrocketed in the past year. PSA 10 copies now sell for $400-600 on average, with true gem mint 10.5 graded cards fetching well over $1,000. Even raw, ungraded Arozarena rookies pull $100-200 each due to red hot collector demand.
Another member of the powerful 2021 Tampa Bay Rays rookie class seeing huge demand is shortstop phenom and Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Wander Franco. At just 19 years old in 2021, Franco put on a show in his MLB debut by slashing .288/.347/.462 with 7 homers and 39 RBI in only 70 games. Widely considered a future superstar, Franco’s flagship Topps Chrome rookie auto refractor has become the key trophy card from 2021. PSA 10 examples have exploded upwards of $15,000-20,000 in recent sales, while PSA 9 copies still command $4,000-6,000. Even Franco’s basic paper rookie cards from Topps, Bowman, etc. have shot up, with PSA 10s selling anywhere from $500-1,000. Franco is arguably the hottest rookie commodity in baseball cards today, and his autos and flagship rookies are some of the most expensive modern cards on the market right now.
The Chicago White Sox had a pair of impressive rookies break out in 2021 as well in outfielders Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets. Vaughn was the 3rd overall pick in the 2019 draft and slashed .235/.309/.411 with 10 home runs in his first season. Meanwhile, Sheets was even more productive at the plate by batting .267/.336/.503 with 11 homers in just 112 at-bats. Both Vaughn and Sheets debuted Topps Chrome autographed rookie cards in 2021 that are rapidly increasing in value on the resale market. PSA 10 Vaughn autos have reached $1,500-2,000, while Sheets hover around $800-1,200 for top grade. Even their basic Topps flagship rookie cards are selling for $75-150 in PSA 10 condition with increasing long term potential as these two continue developing in the White Sox organization and lineup.
One of the most surprising breakouts of 2021 was Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran. An unheralded 7th round pick in 2018, Duran put himself on the map last season by slashing .287/.369/.462 with 5 homers and 15 stolen bases in just 46 games. His blazing speed and improved discipline at the plate have raised his stock tremendously and collectors have taken notice. Duran’s Topps Chrome rookie auto refractor is one of the hottest new commons on the market, with PSA 10 examples selling in the $400-600 range. Even raw, ungraded copies command $100-200 due to high demand. His standard Topps rookie has reached $50-75 in PSA 10 condition as well. Duran has a chance to emerge as an everyday player for Boston in 2022, making his cards prime candidates to continue increasing further in the years ahead.
Beyond these top stars, rookie cards are also flying off shelves for other up-and-coming young players that debuted in 2021 like Royals catcher MJ Melendez, Reds 2B Jonathan India, Blue Jays 3B/OF Austin Martin, Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Tigers OF Riley Greene. All of these prospects had strong major league showings last season and could be future stars themselves in the making. Even collecting their basic flagship Topps rookie cards presents an affordable opportunity to get in early before prices potentially climb over the coming seasons if these guys blossom into long term impact players. While the 2021 rookie class may have been topped by a few elite talents, collecting cards of even the middle-to-bottom prospects provides avenues for gains down the line if any of them exceed expectations in their careers.
The 2021 baseball rookie card market has delivered several transcendent talents and investment opportunities that have already paid off enormously for collectors. Led by phenoms like Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena, and Jarren Duran, this class holds immense potential for further price spikes if these young stars continue ascending. But beyond the surefire MVP contenders, bargain hunting also exists for middle tier prospects that could unexpectedly emerge in the coming seasons. Between immediate gratification of Franco superstar cards, upside upside plays on prospects rising up rosters, and middle-range commodities primed for potential boom, the 2021 baseball rookie crop delivers diverse avenues for building a portfolio positioned for gains stretching several years into the future.
