Topps Series 2 is one of the most anticipated baseball card releases each year as it offers fans the chance to find rookies and stars from the current season. The 2022 Topps Series 2 cards saw strong buyer interest with several rookies establishing themselves as key pieces for contending teams. While most packs and boxes of Series 2 won’t yield major profits, savvy collectors who get lucky or spend big in breaks and on the resale market can find gems worth far more than the cost of a hobby box. Here are some of the most valuable rookie and star cards expected to emerge from the 2022 Topps Series 2 set in the coming years.
Juan Soto – At just 23 years old, Juan Soto has already established himself as one of the sport’s true superstars and face of the game talents. As the best young hitter in baseball, Soto isalways in high demand from collectors. His base rookies in Series 1 are steadily climbing towards the $100 mark and his refractors and parallels command upwards of $500-1000 raw already. The Soto rookie refractor parallel from Series 2 /499 seems poised to ultimately rival or surpass the 2018 Bowman Chromeicolor refractor which recently sold for over $3000 in PSA 10 condition. Even the Soto base card from Series 2 has immediate value and staying power.
Madison Bumgarner – Bumgarner is no longer in his prime with the Giants but the 2014 World Series MVP still collects a strong fanbase. His rare retro styled ’90s design sketch variation parallel from Series 2 /70 is remarkably low in pop reports and still remains ungraded examples. Given the scarcity and Bumgarner’s legendary postseason resume, this parallel sketch variation could easily bring $1000+ graded and may prove to be the most coveted Bumgarner card uncovered from retail in years.
Rookies: Bobby Witt Jr – The #2 overall pick from 2019 lived up to the hype in his rookie campaign with the Royals. Witt showed five-tool star potential while immediately making an impact for a surprise playoff team. His base rookie from Series 2 is a hot commodity, already pushing $50 raw and certain to reach $100+ in the grades 9s and 10s once supply dries up. Witt’s prizm and optic rookies from 2021 are already $200-300, so this Topps flagship rookie could easily follow suit long term.
Adley Rutschman – After dominating the minors, Rutschman debuted with the Orioles in late May and quickly established himself as the future franchise cornerstone catcher. His base Series 2 rookie is primed to be one of the biggest Baltimore rookie cards in many years. Raw copies fetch $20-30 already and PSA 10s may reach $100+ in just a year or two as Rutschman’s star continues rising. The Rutschman rookie paper from this set could have similar long term gains to legendary flagsip RC’s like Griffey Jr, Chipper Jones and Vladimir Guerrero.
Spencer Strider – The Braves’ flamethrowing rookie got better as the season progressed and looks like a future ace. Strider rookie cards from Series 1 still linger around $15-20 raw thanks to his breakout campaign. His Series 2 rookie seems poised to eventually surpass even that as he establishes himself atop Atlanta’s rotation for years. PSA 10 examples could reach $50+ within a couple seasons.
Julio Rodriguez – Despite missing time due to injury, J-Rod electrified Seattle with his combination of five tools and joie de vivre. As one of the game’s most exciting rookies this season, his flagship Series 2 rookie has great inherent buzz. This card could easily follow the upwards trajectories of fellow Mariners star rookie cards like Griffey Jr. and Ichiro over the long haul. Pristine PSA 10s should eventually be $100-200 cards.
Oneil Cruz – The hulking Pirates shortstop tantalized with prodigious raw power. Cruz’s prospect pedigree and huge upside could make this a key Pittsburgh rookie card in coming years. Though he struggled at times in his initial MLB audition, keep an eye on this likely breakout candidate. PSA 10s of his Series 2 base RC could reach $50-75 within 2-3 years.
Nate Pearson – Once a blue chip prospect, Pearson battled injuries that stunted his development with the Blue Jays. When healthy he still showed the electric stuff that made him a top prospect. This Series 2 rookie could regain value if he puts it together at the MLB level. Even just as a future speculative purchase, PSA 10s could be $25-40 cards down the line.
Established Stars: Ronald Acuña Jr. – Coming off a torn ACL, Acuña dominated in his return for 2nd half MVP caliber numbers as the Braves repeated. Any Acuña cards from his injury return season could gain future nostalgia value. His low-printed parallel cards here especially, like the /50 Printing Plates, seem primed to reach $1000+ PSA 10s long term.
Sandy Alcantara – A Cy Young contender all season long, Alcantara emerged as Miami’s undisputed ace at just 26 years old. His refractors and color parallels from Series 2 have a chance to retrospectively gain esteem as documentation of a breakout year that put him on the elite pitcher map. Look for PSA 10 parallels to reach $100-500 in the years ahead.
Devers/Bogaerts – As the Red Sox’ current core, short prints, refractors, and parallels of Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers will hold Boston collection value for years to come. Their low-numbered parallels here like the /50 or /25 could reach $200-500 PSA 10s each long term.
Trea Turner – A perennial MVP candidate and October star with the Dodgers now, Turner’s high-gloss refractors and color parallels from this set stand to gain steady esteem encapsulating a transition year into LA’s lineup. PSA 10 examples could reach $100-300 in several years.
While most 2022 Topps Series 2 packs won’t yield future fortunes, savvy collectors who strategically purchase or pull the precise rookies, stars and short prints discussed above stand to realize six-figure returns in many cases a decade or more down the line as these young talents’ careers blossom or classic parallels gain retrospectively in a vintage context. Patience will be rewarded for buyers securing pristine copies of the top cards before mainstream awareness sends their prices skyward.
