Riley Greene is one of the top prospects in all of baseball and his cards have become some of the most sought after on the modern baseball card market. The Detroit Tigers outfielder was selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft out of high school in Florida. Due to his elite prospect status and playing for a major market team like the Tigers, Greene’s rookie cards have generated a ton of hype and value since he entered the pro ranks.
As an 18-year-old in his first full professional season in 2019, Greene tore up the Midwest League with the Lakeland Flying Tigers, hitting .272 with eight home runs and 29 RBI in just 58 games. His impressive pro debut that year led to him receiving some of his earliest and most valuable cards in Topps Chrome and Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects. The 2019 Topps Chrome Green Refractor #66 card has become one of the premier Greene rookies, with PSA 10 examples selling for over $300 regularly.
The 2019 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects set also featured multiple Greene cards, including parallels and autographs. Among the most sought after are the yellow parallel /50, green parallel /99, and red parallel /25. Autograph cards from that set tend to sell for $200-300 graded a PSA 10. Those early issues showed collectors Greene had the tools and talent to become one of the game’s best prospects.
As the 2020 season began to unfold, Greene started to get some hype as a potential top overall prospect in baseball. He continued to rake in spring training games before the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This breakout propelled the value of those early Greene cards even higher. Collectors were anxious for new images and cards featuring his progress as one of the top prospects eligible for the 2020 draft.
Thankfully for collectors, Greene’s prospect status earned him prominent inclusion in flagship products like 2020 Topps Chrome, 2020 Bowman, and 2020 Topps Series 2. The Topps Chrome Green Shimmer Refractor parallel #66 became another must-have Greene card, while various autographs and parallels from Bowman sold for hundreds. Topps Series 2 featured even more Greene base cards that sold for $20-30 graded raw. It was clear his stock was rising rapidly on the baseball card market alongside his prospect rankings.
When the delayed 2020 minor league season finally began in May 2021, Greene picked up where he left off by slashing .301/.383/.534 with 10 home runs and 49 RBI in 93 games split between Double-A and Triple-A. He continued to tantalize scouts with his advanced hit tool and five-tool potential. This breakout campaign resulted in Greene earning even more valuable cards through 2021 sets like Bowman Chrome, Bowman Draft, Topps Chrome Update Series, and Topps Series 2.
By the middle of the 2021 season, Greene had elevated to the top overall prospect status in all of baseball according to multiple scouting publications. This only added to the demand for his cards, especially from traders and investors anticipating his MLB debut. During this time period, many of Greene’s autograph and parallel cards from 2019-2021 runs were trading hands for thousands of dollars per card graded PSA/BGS 10. It was clear his once affordable rookie issues had reached the stratosphere in just a couple years.
When the Tigers called Greene up to the big leagues for his major league debut on August 10, 2022, it fully cemented his status as a star in the collectibles world. His first MLB cards immediately took off in value as a true “rookie card.” Some of his earliest MLB cards, like 2022 Topps Home Run Challenge #44 and 2022 Topps Big League #195, shot up over $100 raw upon his debut. Even base rookies from flagship products like 2022 Topps Series 2 and 2022 Bowman traded for $50-100.
Looking ahead, Greene figures to be one of the top prospects to watch in the 2023 baseball card season as he looks to make an impact on the Tigers. New releases like Bowman Draft, Topps Series 1, Topps Series 2, and Topps Chrome are sure to feature more Greene cards. Autographs and short printed parallels will command huge prices. His prospect hype may be in the rear view, but Greene appears poised to become a true superstar – and that will only drive more collectors to hunt his cards. From affordable rookie issues to treasures graded PSA/BGS 10, Riley Greene’s collection of baseball cards have certainly established him as one of the premier young names in the hobby.
