The 2022 Bowman Platinum baseball card set was highly anticipated among collectors and featured prospects from all 30 major league teams. With its dazzling refractors, parallels, and autographed rookie cards of top talents, the release held much allure. Now that several months have passed since its August 8th drop, the hobby has been able to better evaluate card values. Let’s take an expansive look at the costliest cards from 2022 Bowman Platinum based on recent eBay sales data.
Unsurprisingly, many of the priciest options feature highly touted rookies who have wasted no time making an impact in their MLB debut campaigns. For example, the #1 card is the Platinum Parallel autograph of Cardinals slugger Juan Yepez. Yepez played well after his mid-season call-up, batting .262 with 6 home runs in 50 games. Just 50 of his autographed Platinum Parallels were printed, inflating the card’s value tremendously. Multiple mint condition copies have sold for over $2,000 on eBay in recent auctions.
Another impact rookie, Reds fireballer Hunter Greene, claims the #2 spot. His Platinum Parallel autograph held steady around the $1,500 mark. In his first full MLB season, Greene tantalized with his triple-digit fastball but battled injuries and control issues. Still, his rare autographedBowman Platinumparallel remains highly sought after.
At #3 is Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez. Although he endured an injury-shortened debut, Rodriguez burst onto the scene by batting .284 with five homers in only 46 games. Just 80 autographed Platinum Parallels of his rookie card exist, driving prices upwards of $1,200. His on-field exploits have only added to the hype.
Other top-selling new rookie autographs from 2022 Bowman Platinum include Braves catcher Shea Langeliers(#4, $900-1,000 range), Mets pitcher DJ Johnson (#5, $800-900), and Guardians hurlerDaniel Espino (#6, $700-800). Espino is a flamethrower who reportedly touched 104 MPH in the minors. Langeliers was involved in the Matt Olson trade and could be Atlanta’s future behind the plate. And Johnson, a late riser, debuted in New York’s rotation down the stretch.
Beyond just autographed parallels, solid performance has also lifted the values of several rookies’ base Platinum card variants. For example, Mariners sensation Rodriguez takes the #7 slot with his scarce Platinum Parallel base card selling for $500-600 on average. One such copy even fetched nearly $800 recently. Phillies starter Bryson Stott (#8/$400-500 range) made his presence known after a mid-season call-up and enjoyed success against left-handed pitching. Guardians closer Eli Morgan (#9/$300-400) locked down the back-end of Cleveland’s bullpen as a rookie. And Dodgers flamethrower Ryan Pepiot (#10/$250-350)showcased tantalizing raw stuff in occasional 2022 appearances.
It’s also worth noting the sky-high prices accrued by special 1/1 parallel rookie autos. Reds fireballer Hunter Greene’s lone 1/1 Platinum Refractor autograph pulled in a winning bid north of $12,000. Meanwhile, Julio Rodriguez’s gold-titled 1/1 Platinum Yellow Parallel autograph fetched over $11,000 earlier this fall. Such 1/1 rookie cards represent the ultimate chase and cornerstone for any collection.
Beyond top rookies, established major leaguers still pull considerable sums for their rare autographed Bowman Platinum parallels as well. For example, multiple authenticated copies of Shohei Ohtani’s Platinum Refractor autograph (#11) have changed hands between $500-600. The two-way Japanese star remains one of baseball’s biggest fascinations. Meanwhile, Mets ace Jacob deGrom (#12) consistently brings $300-400 due to his star power when healthy coupled with just a 50-card autographed Platinum Parallel print run.
Likewise, autographed Platinum Parallels of franchise cornerstones Aaron Judge (#13/$200-300), Mike Trout (#14/$200-250), and Juan Soto (#15/$150-200) attract lofty prices reflective of their enormous real-life talents and name recognition. Though available in larger quantities than top rookies, these superstars’ signatures from the set still require a considerable investment.
Rounding out the most valuable 2022 Bowman Platinum cards are several popular young stars whose production has lived up to hype so far. Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez has emerged as a perennial MVP candidate, justifying his #16 ranking ($150 range). Meanwhile, Rays wunderkind Wander Franco (#17/$120-150), Mariners budding ace George Kirby (#18/$100-120), and Padres high-upside flamethrower MacKenzie Gore (#19/$80-100) fill out coveted spots due to all displaying All-Star caliber tools already.
The crème de la crème of 2022 Bowman Platinum cards are those featuring top MLB rookies who made their mark immediately, along with certified autographs from the game’s true superstars. Impact debuts, scarce parallels, and proven track records have elevated these cardboard collectibles to tremendous monetary value already just a few months after release. Whether as long-term investments or prized chase pieces for a PC, the set’s headliners have proven their staying power in the collecting world.
