The 2023 baseball season is underway and that means it’s time for collectors to start focusing on the hottest rookie cards and parallels to chase on the hobby market. With star rookies like Julio Rodríguez and Bobby Witt Jr. establishing themselves in their first full MLB campaigns, their rookie cards are sure to be in high demand throughout the coming year. Veterans continuing to dominate like Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts also make their cards highly collectible. Here are some of the top 2023 baseball cards collectors should keep an eye out for:

Julio Rodríguez – 2021 Bowman Chrome Auto Refractor – Rodriguez had a phenomenal rookie season that saw him named an All-Star and win the AL Rookie of the Year award. His prospects cards from 2021 Bowman are some of the most sought after on the market currently. The Chrome Auto Refractor parallel in particular holds a PSA 10 gem mint value approaching $10,000 already. Expect this to potentially hit $20,000+ by the end of 2023 barring any decline from Julio.

Bobby Witt Jr. – 2021 Bowman Chrome Auto Refractor – Like Rodríguez, Witt passed the rookie eye test in 2022 and looks like a future superstar. His prospects cards parallel Julio’s with the Bowman Chrome Auto favored by collectors. Witt’s sustained excellence in year one makes this a blue chip card to hold, with a value around $8,000 currently that has plenty of room to grow.

Torkelson / Greene – 2021 Bowman Chrome Auto Refractors – While Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson didn’t have standout rookie campaigns, their tools and pedigree as top picks keep 2021 Bowman Chrome Autos on radars. Once Greene and Tork break out more in 2023, watch for a price spike bolstering these cards near $5,000 each.

Aaron Judge – 2023 Topps Chrome Refractor Rainbow Foil – After smashing the AL home run record, Judge mania is at an all-time high. His flagship Topps rookie from 2013 remains a true holy grail. But for collectors on a budget, parallels like the 2023 Topps Chrome Rainbow Foil showcase the new AL single season HR champ and will appreciate greatly as his career progresses.

Shohei Ohtani – 2021 Topps Chrome Refractor Rainbow Foil – There may never be another two-way player as talented as Ohtani, cementing everything he does as a modern marvel. His 2021 Topps Chrome Refractor parallels are electric on-card memorabilia of a true unicorn. With Ohtani’s star still rising, these hold monster potential long term.

Mookie Betts – 2020 Topps Update Silver Pack #d 110 – Ever consistent excellence makes Betts one of baseball’s steadiest investments. His 2020 Update Silver Pack parallel features fabulous photography and an ultra-short print run combining for strong appreciate potential as Mookie plays his way deeper into Cooperstown discussion.

Ronald Acuña Jr. – 2021 Topps Flagship Base – Acuña’s mega-hyped debut proved no illusion before injury. Now recovered and regaining form, his affordable 2021 flagship rookie makes for an enticing long-term bet on one of the game’s most electric talents getting back to superstar status.

Wander Franco – 2021 Topps Update Silver Pack #d 16/25 – Franco likely has many MVPs ahead as the face of the Rays. His premier Update Silver parallel offers extremely limited quantity and a true one-of-one photo variation making it highly coveted for high-end Franco PC’s or investors.

Juan Soto – 2018 Topps Flagship Base – At just 24, Soto is already a generational hitter and massive star with an undervalued rookie. As he challenges the game’s greats, this affordable Card will surge alongside his accomplishments and Hall of Fame case.

Tyler Glasnow – 2015 Bowman Chrome Auto Refractor – An elbow injury robbed Glasnow of his prime, but his dominance when healthy keeps prospect cards brilliant. The 2015 Bowman Chrome Auto as one of the hobby’s top Rays rookie cards holds appeal for both on-card auto enthusiasts and those betting on a Glasnow resurgence.

Nolan Arenado – 2010 Topps Chrome Update #US44 – Highly respected around the league and sure to get his Cooperstown plaque, Arenado will continue cementing an all-time Rockies great legacy. Early Flagship and Update parallels offer a chance to back a modern star at a much lower price before he finishes his career.

Mickey Mantle – 1952 Topps – The Commerce Okla. native remains baseball’s golden boy 70 years after debuting. While high-grade versions are astronomically out of reach, lower-grade examples still holding the iconic Mantle rookie card allow any collector to own a piece of history for a grounded price.

Yordan Alvarez – 2019 Bowman Chrome Auto Refractor – Alvarez is a monster at the plate when healthy and could challenge for MVP awards for years. His premier Prospects Chrome Refractor autographed card shows why he was once a prospect phenom and makes an excellent long-term keep for Houston fans or vintage card investors.

Fernando Tatis Jr. – 2019 Topps Flagship Base – Injury issues have stalled Tatis’ ascent, but the swagger and talent that made him a budding superstar haven’t dissipated. Belief in his eventual return to form makes his affordable flagship rookie an intriguing future speculation piece.

Mike Trout – 2009 Topps Flagship Base – Trout is probably a lock as the greatest all-around player ever. Early singles remain surprisingly undervalued but are sure to explode as the decades progress and the full scale of Trout’s legendary career crystallizes.

Bo Bichette – 2019 Topps Chrome Refractor Rainbow Foil – Already a leader for the Blue Jays, Bichette has superstar skills and could flourish as Toronto’s next franchise king. His first Chrome RC parallel offers shine and prestige foreshadowing greatness on the horizon for a reasonable cost.

Juan Soto – 2021 Topps Living Set – Soto remains a statistical megastar in the making. The 2021 Topps Living Set insert of the 23-year-old showcases his youth and potential at an affordable price point for believers in decades more dominance ahead.

Ichiro – 1992 Score Rookie – Before Trout, before Jeter, Ichiro blazed a path as the game’s first true global star. Any relic of his legendary rookie season endures as an amazing way to celebrate living baseball history through an affordable collectible.

Pete Alonso – 2019 Topps Chrome Rainbow Foil – Driven to be one of baseball’s premier power hitters for a generation, Alonso’s brilliant rookie parallel captures the beginning. This affordable card looms as a solid foundation for any investment portfolio.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 2018 Topps Chrome Auto Refractor – While he’s shown more pop than consistency, Vlad Jr.’s prodigious talents still promise superstardom if he brings it all together. His premiere chrome auto from the earliest days of his hype hold high-risk/high-reward potential.

There you have it – 20 of the top 2023 baseball cards for collectors to seek out across the entire spectrum from affordable options to true trophy cards. Focusing on talents like Ohtani, Judge, Acuña and Tatis who can redefine careers alongside emerging forces like Rodríguez, Witt and Bichette offer a great mix of short and long-term possibilities. Following these players and parallels in the upcoming year is sure to make for an exciting time in the hobby.