Baseball cards have long been a way for fans to connect with their favorite players through collecting, trading, and appreciating the history of the game. For Dominican outfield prospect Elly De La Cruz, his baseball cards are starting to gain attention from collectors as he rises through the minor league ranks of the Cincinnati Reds organization.

De La Cruz signed with the Reds as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in July 2019. Considered one of the top international prospects of that signing period, the Reds gave De La Cruz a $2.7 million signing bonus, showing how highly they valued his athleticism and potential. Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing around 180 pounds as a teenager, De La Cruz possessed an ideal frame that was still filling out. Scouts were impressed with his raw power potential at the plate along with his speed, defensive abilities, and strong arm in the outfield.

While signing bonus figures can provide early hype for prospects, De La Cruz still had a long road ahead of developing his skills in the minor leagues. His first baseball cards started hitting the market in 2020 as part of international prospect sets. In these early cards from brands like Bowman, Topps, and Panini, De La Cruz’s stats are blank as he had yet to make his professional debut. The cards offered the first glimpses of his potential and established him in the collecting world before he had played a single game.

De La Cruz got his first taste of on-field action in 2021 as he joined the Reds rookie-level affiliate in the Arizona Complex League. In just 34 games, he slashed .296/.354/.479 with 5 home runs and 26 RBI, showing off the tools that made him such an intriguing prospect. This breakout season led to De La Cruz receiving wider distribution in sets like Topps Series 2 and Bowman Draft from that year, as collectors started taking notice of his abilities. While the sample size was small, his cards from 2021 provided early stats to match the tools-filled scouting reports.

In 2022, De La Cruz took another step in his development by getting assigned to Low-A Daytona in the Florida State League at age 19. Though he struggled at times adjusting to full-season affiliated ball, De La Cruz still flashed a high ceiling. Across two levels totaling 93 games, he hit .297 with 17 home runs, 68 RBI, and 21 stolen bases. These impressive stats, combined with more experience under his belt, made De La Cruz one of the most sought-after prospects in the minors. As a result, his baseball cards skyrocketed in demand from collectors.

Prized rookie cards from De La Cruz’s 2022 season include standouts from Topps Series 1, Bowman Draft, Bowman Chrome, and Topps Opening Day. With vibrant photos showcasing his tools and statistics reflecting his breakout campaign, these cards established De La Cruz as a star in the making. On the secondary market, PSA 10 and BGS 9.5 gem mint examples of his prized rookies now sell for hundreds of dollars, a massive rise in value from just a few years prior. The demand shows how collectors recognize De La Cruz’s elite talents and want to get in early before he potentially reaches the majors.

Heading into 2023, De La Cruz is listed as the Reds’ top overall prospect and one of the best in all of baseball according to scouting publications. After holding his own in full-season ball as a teenager, expectations are high that he will continue developing at an accelerated rate. De La Cruz was assigned to High-A Dayton to start the season, where he will face older competition but in a less grueling environment than jumping straight to Double-A. If he produces like many expect, a midseason promotion could be in store.

As De La Cruz takes the next step forward in his career, collectors and fans will be tracking his progress closely. His baseball cards provide a tangible way to connect to a rising star. Should he continue developing and reach the majors on schedule, early cards from his minor league days will gain immense nostalgia and value in retrospect. For now, as De La Cruz looks to further validate his status as one of the game’s top prospects, his cards remain some of the most sought-after on the hunt lists of savvy collectors. With the talent and hype surrounding him, Elly De La Cruz has all the tools to one day become a household name – and his early cardboard could prove to be shrewd long-term investments.

Elly de la Cruz is considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball and his rookie cards have become highly sought after by collectors in recent years. De la Cruz, who just turned 21 years old in January, was signed by the Boston Red Sox out of the Dominican Republic in 2018 and has risen through their farm system at an incredible rate. Now playing for the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, de la Cruz is poised for a debut in Boston’s lineup in 2023 and could become a franchise cornerstone for years to come.

Due to his rising star status in the game, de la Cruz’s rookie cards have gained significant value since he first appeared in sets in 2020. Perhaps the most iconic and valuable de la Cruz card is his 2020 Bowman Chrome Prospects Autograph Refractor card. These ultra-rare refractors featuring de la Cruz’s autograph were inserted at an incredibly low rate in Bowman Chrome jumbo boxes that year. With his prospect hype beginning to build, savvy collectors snatched up these cards knowing they held a potential superstar. Now, PSA 10 gem mint versions of this iconic rookie card routinely sell for $3,000 or more, with some bringing in upwards of $5,000. For a player who had yet to play above A-ball at that point, those prices show just how much belief there was in de la Cruz’s future.

Another hugely valuable de la Cruz card is his 2021 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autograph card. Like the 2020 version, these autographed prospect cards came at an extremely low print run. But by 2021, de la Cruz was tearing the cover off the ball in High-A and building significant prospect buzz. As a result, PSA 10 examples of this rookie autograph card now sell for $1,500-2,000, showing strong sustained demand. Perhaps the card’s rarity combined with de la Cruz’s rising star power made it an almost perfect storm on the secondary market. For collectors who got in early, these cards have proven to be an incredibly profitable long-term investment.

While the autographed rookie cards understandably get much of the attention due to their scarcity, de la Cruz’s base rookie cards have also held strong value. His 2020 Topps Chrome Prospects card, which features a photo from de la Cruz’s 2019 Dominican Summer League campaign, has remained quite popular. Higher graded PSA/BGS 9 or 10 versions can be found in the $100-200 range. Even raw copies in excellent condition still pull in $30-50. For a prospect who had yet to play above rookie ball when the card was issued, those numbers are impressive. It’s a testament to how much hype was surrounding de la Cruz so early in his career.

De la Cruz’s 2021 Topps Chrome Prospects card has followed a similar trajectory. As he broke out with a monster 2021 season split between Low-A and High-A ball, demand for this shiny prospect card grew. In PSA 10 condition, examples now sell in the $75-125 range. Even raw near-mint copies can be had for $20-30. The affordability of these shiny base cards has made them accessible for fans and collectors looking to get in early on one of the game’s brightest young stars. For a player who may soon achieve superstardom, holding any of his early flagship rookie issues could prove very prescient in the long run.

While the flagship Topps Chrome and Bowman Chrome cards understandably get much attention, de la Cruz has also appeared in numerous international sets over the past few years that collectors are starting to appreciate. His 2019 Leaf Metal Draft Jumbos card shows a handsome photo of the smooth-swinging prospect in his first official issue after signing. PSA 10 examples of this short printed parallel have reached $150 due to strong foreign market demand. Even raw copies in great condition can be acquired for $30-50 by patient collectors. De la Cruz’s 2019 Topps International card also has its adherents. Higher graded versions regularly sell for $75-125 depending on the market.

Perhaps most intriguing are some of de la Cruz’s earliest Dominican issue cards. His 2018 Top Prospects Dominican Summer League card was one of the first widely distributed issues featuring the budding star. In PSA 10 condition, mint copies have reached $250 due to their scarcity and status as one of the first cards showing the toolsy teenager. Even worn raw copies can be found for $50-75. Some collectors also love de la Cruz’s 2018 Dominican Prospects League All-Star card, which honors his status as a top prospect after just a summer in the DSL. PSA 10 examples have reached $200 due to the set’s ultra-limited print run.

As de la Cruz’s prospect status has grown, so too has demand for all of his early issue cards. Savvy collectors who recognized his talent early and purchased affordable copies now have the chance to realize significant gains. With de la Cruz poised for a 2023 debut and superstardom potentially on the horizon, it’s hard to envision his rookie cards losing value anytime soon. For fans and investors alike, hunting down pristine early issues of this budding phenom is a quest sure to pay long-term dividends. Where de la Cruz’s career may lead to is anyone’s guess, but one thing is for certain – his vibrant rookie card market is here to stay.