The hobby of baseball card collecting has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, and with that comes questions about which individual cards hold significant monetary value. While vintage cards from the 1950s and 60s will always be at the top in terms of price tags, there are plenty of modern issues that can be quite valuable as well, especially rookie cards of star players. The 2020 season saw the emergence of several young stars who are likely to have valuable rookie cards for years to come. Let’s take a look at some of the top baseball cards from 2020 that collectors should be on the lookout for and consider adding to their collections.

One of the most highly anticipated baseball card releases each year is the Panini Prizm set due to its flashy refractors and parallels. The 2020 Prizm baseball offering was no exception, as it featured rookie cards and parallels of many of the game’s brightest young talents. Chief among these is Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani, who has quickly become one of MLB’s most exciting players. His base Prizm rookie card can be found for $30-50, but it’s some of the parallel and autograph versions that really catch collectors’ eyes. His Prizm Silver Prizm rookie sells for $150-250, while a 1/1 Gold Prizm rookie card fetched over $2,000 on eBay. With Ohtani’s unique talents and growing popularity, his 2020 Prizm cards appear poised to retain and potentially increase in value in the coming years.

Another Angels player who made his debut in 2020 and featured prominently in Prizm is outfielder Jo Adell. While injuries limited his MLB playing time, Adell is still considered a future star and his rookie cards have found an eager collector base. His base Prizm rookie card trades for $15-25, with parallels like the Orange Prizm and Green Prizm in the $50-100 range. Autographed cards have brought over $400. Given Adell’s tools and pedigree as a former top prospect, his rookie cards could appreciate well if he breaks out in 2021 and beyond. For Angels collectors, the Ohtani and Adell Prizm rookies make for indispensable additions.

No rookie class was deeper in talent or more touted than the 2018 draft class, and several of those players made their MLB debuts in 2020 including a couple of American League Rookie of the Year candidates. One was Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Vidal Brujan, who showed elite speed and contact skills after a September callup. While he didn’t play enough to qualify for the ROY award, Brujan’s prospect status and debut have collectors high on his 2020 Prizm rookie card. The base sells for $15-25 with parallels like the Orange Prizm around $50-75. Another 2018 draftee was Miami Marlins pitcher Sixto Sanchez, who dazzled with an electric fastball-changeup combo after his own September callup. His base Prizm rookie trades for $10-15 with the Orange Prizm near $40-60 based on his outstanding potential. Both Brujan and Sanchez are poised for bigger roles in 2021, which could send their rookie card values soaring.

While the 2018 class was heralded, the 2019 draft class might not be far behind and two of its members had memorable MLB debuts in 2020. First was Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker, who had been traded from the Phillies in 2018 and lit up Triple-A before getting called up. Tucker showed prodigious power and hit over .270 in his rookie season to finish third in AL ROY voting. His base Prizm rookie trades for $15-25 with colorful parallels like the Orange and Green versions reaching $50-100. Another 2019 draftee was Miami Marlins pitcher Sixto Sanchez, who dazzled with an electric fastball-changeup combo after his own September callup. His base Prizm rookie trades for $10-15 with the Orange Prizm near $40-60 based on his outstanding potential. Both Tucker and Sanchez have All-Star ceilings and their rookie cards could climb even higher if they continue developing.

While the rookies get much of the hype in the hobby, breakout seasons from established veterans can also create valuable modern cards. One such player was Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres. Already one of baseball’s most exciting young stars, Tatis took his game to an MVP level in 2020 by hitting .277 with 17 homers and 45 RBI in 59 games. His performance has collectors flocking to his 2020 cards, including his base Topps Chrome RC which has reached over $100. But it’s his 2020 Prizm cards, like the Silver Prizm parallel, that have really captured attention, selling for $300-400 raw so far. With Tatis’ all-around skills and flair for the highlight play, he seems a sure bet to continue improving and his cards a sound investment, especially from his 2020 standout campaign.

Another veteran who broke out in a big way was Marlins outfielder Monte Harrison. Long a highly-regarded prospect, Harrison finally started to put it all together in his first extended MLB action in 2020. In 49 games he hit .230 but showed elite speed and power with 6 homers and 7 steals. The breakout has collectors high on Harrison’s rookie cards from 2017-2019 issues like Bowman, but also his 2020 Prizm cards which feature his newfound success. The base sells for $15-25 with parallels like the Orange Prizm reaching $50-75 based on renewed hope for Harrison’s star potential. If he builds on his 2020 with a full breakout season in 2021, his cards from this past year stand to gain the most.

While rookies and breakouts drive much of the hobby’s excitement, superstar seasons from perennial MVP candidates always hold value as well. One such player was Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. who took his game to new heights in 2020. In just 59 games, Tatis hit .277 with 17 homers and 45 RBIs while showing off elite defense, speed and flair. His performance has collectors flocking to his 2020 cards, with his base Topps Chrome RC reaching over $100. But it’s his 2020 Prizm cards like the Silver Prizm parallel that have really captured attention, selling for $300-400 so far raw. With Tatis’ all-around skillset and magnetic personality, he seems a lock to continue improving and his cards from what could be a landmark 2020 season appear a sound investment.

While vintage cards will always have cachet, the 2020 season saw the emergence of several young stars like Ohtani, Adell, Brujan and Sanchez whose rookie cards from issues like 2020 Prizm hold great potential. Breakouts from veterans like Tatis Jr. and Harrison have also created valuable modern cards chronicling their success. With many of these players likely to be starring for years to come, their cards from 2020 that spotlighted their arrival or breakthrough campaigns stand to appreciate steadily. For collectors, focusing on high-quality examples of these types of meaningful rookie cards and standout season issues provides an engaging way to participate in the hobby while making sound financial wagers on the future success of some of the game’s brightest young talents.

The 2021 Prizm baseball set was one of the more hyped releases of the year for sports card collectors. While 2020 saw the pandemic pause much of the sports world, 2021 saw a return to normalcy that reignited interest in the hobby. Prizm has consistently been one of the hottest brands in modern sports cards due to its flashy designs and parallel variants that give collectors plenty of chase cards to hunt. Let’s take a look at some of the top rookies and parallels from the 2021 Prizm baseball set that are worth keeping an eye on and could earn you some money down the road.

Rookies are often the best long term investments in modern card sets since early career cards of future stars tend to appreciate the most. The headliner rookie in 2021 Prizm was Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco. Considered a true five-tool player and future superstar, Franco’s prizm rookie cards have unsurprisingly been some of the set’s most sought after. The standard Franco rookie is still readily available but could be a solid hold. Low serial number parallels like white prizm, orange prizm, and especially red prizm could really take off in value if Franco lives up to the hype. Another top rookie to watch is Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez. While not as heralded as Franco coming into the season, Rodriguez’s monster season has turned him into a rising star. His prizm rookies have jumped in price and grading well could yield a nice return. Keep an eye also on rookies of Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals), Bryson Stott (Phillies), and Adley Rutschman (Orioles) as they continue to develop.

While rookies get most of the attention, stars and short prints can be very valuable as well. Anything featuring LA Dodgers star Mookie Betts, SF Giants slugger Brandon Belt, or Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. will hold value long term. Parallels like white, orange, green, and pink prizm of established stars always have collector demand. Perhaps the biggest star card in the set though is a pink prizm parallel of Shohei Ohtani numbered to /10 copies. Very few of these ultra-short printed cards of the two-way Angels phenom have hit the market. Grading a gem mint copy could yield a sale in the thousands of dollars given Ohtani’s status. Base cards of franchise legends like Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, and Albert Pujols will also maintain value in high grades as collectors look to build sets of all-time greats.

Speaking of parallels, there are always steady gains to be had by pulling low numbered prizm variations. The odds on these can be as low as 1:3 packs for some colors. White prizms (/399), orange prizms (/249), and especially green (/99), pink (/75), and red prizms (/10) hold fantastic long term potential if they feature stars, rookies, or serial numbers under /50. Top rookies like Franco and Rodriguez in short printed colors could be true jewels. Even base stars in these ultra-short prints are very collectible. Beyond base prizm parallels, the box topper memorabilia cards also come in a wide array of colors and serial numbers. Low numbered auto or memorabilia cards of top names will retain value as authenticated game used pieces. The 1/1 printing plate parallels that come one per case are the true crown jewels though and could net you thousands depending on the player featured.

Condition is always important when evaluating the value of sports cards long term. Cards that grade gem mint 10 with PSA or BGS bring huge premiums. This is why it’s worthwhile to consider sending in higher end hits for professional grading once the market settles post-release. Properly stored in tamper-proof holders, graded cards maintain their condition verifiably. While raw ungraded cards still have collectors, graded gems hold multifold value. Anything noteworthy pulled from 2021 Prizm like the short printed parallel big rookies or stars mentioned above would be solid submissions. A PSA 10 red prizm Franco for example could net a huge profit down the line.

While 2021 Prizm Baseball hobby boxes were expensive upon release, savvy collectors who pulled the right short printed parallels, rookie gems, or memorabilia hits could have valuable long term holdings. Anything featuring superstars like Ohtani, Trout, or top prospects like Franco, Witt Jr. that grade well have great potential to appreciate nicely down the road. Continued success from the big name rookies will only drive more collector demand for their prized rookie cards in the years ahead too. By holding elite 2021 Prizm pulls in a graded collection, patient investors stand to profit handsomely.