The 2018 MLB rookie class had several rookies who made an immediate impact and their cards have become highly sought after by collectors. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the top rookie cards from 2018 that have generated a lot of buzz in the hobby.
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels (Topps Series 1 #181, Topps Chrome #195): No rookie in 2018 had more hype surrounding them than Shohei Ohtani. The Japanese star signed with the Angels and showed off unreal two-way talent, pitching and hitting at an elite level. This made his rookie cards an instant must-have. While injured for most of 2019, collectors retained high interest and his rookies increased in value. The flagship Topps Series 1 is considered the premier Ohtani rookie and in top grade fetches $200-300. The parallels and color variations are also coveted, with the Topps Chrome leading as the highest valued Ohtani rookie around $400-500 PSA 10. No rookie cards from 2018 have seen more growth in such a short time.
Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees (Topps Series 1 #268, Topps Chrome #209): After being acquired by the Yankees in a trade, Torres wasted no time adjusting to MLB. He mashed in his rookie season, hitting .271 with 24 home runs and 77 RBIs, playing a key role for the Yankees’ playoff run. This electric performance generated immediate buzz and his rookie cards shot up. Topps Series 1 and Chrome rookies are a hot commodity, with PSA 10’s regularly selling above $100-150. His numbered parallels have seen the most dramatic appreciation, and short prints like Topps Chrome Sepia #’d /25 are approaching $1,000 raw. Torres looks primed to be a star for years to come and his rookies reflect massive belief in his future potential.
Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves (Topps Series 1 #145, Topps Chrome #125): From the moment he debuted in late April, Acuña announced his presence with authority. He carried the Braves offense for stretches and finished with a .293 average, 26 homers, and 64 RBIs in only 111 games. Rated as baseball’s #1 prospect, Acuña lived up to expectations right away. This further increased his already high profile coming into the year. Both the Topps Series 1 and Chrome rookies have steadily climbed and a PSA 10 of either is now around $150-200. Short prints are even more valuable, with the elusive Topps Series 1 Bowman Platinum Auto /5 selling for over $3,000 raw. Acuña seems destined for superstardom and his cards will likely only appreciate from here.
Juan Soto, Washington Nationals (Topps Series 1 #168, Topps Chrome #149): Though just 19 years old for most of 2018, Soto played with poise well beyond his age. He hit .292 with 22 home runs and 70 RBIs, providing a major boost to the Nationals. His breakout season catapulted Soto into the national discussion as a true phenom. Currently, his rookie cards hold the second highest values of the 2018 class. A PSA 10 Topps Series 1 can fetch $150-200 while the Topps Chrome parallel is slightly more at $200-250. There is belief Soto will continue getting better and his rookies should remain highly collectible long term.
Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers (Topps Series 1 #302, Topps Chrome #270): Coming into 2018, Buehler was one of baseball’s elite pitching prospects and he shined right away in LA. Posting a 2.62 ERA over 151 innings between the regular season and playoffs, Buehler gave Dodgers fans championship-level hope for the future. Though overshadowed by the big bats, Buehler’s rookie cards gained collectors’ attention. A Topps Series 1 PSA 10 recently sold for over $100, while the prized Topps Chrome refractor numbered /2018 changed hands for close to $300 raw. Continued success will maintain long term demand for these coveted rookie pitchers cards.
Luis Castillo, Cincinnati Reds (Topps Series 1 #387, Topps Chrome #331): Coming into his own in 2018, Castillo struck out over 200 batters while going 7-7 with a 3.32 ERA as Cincinnati’s staff ace. This breakout elevated him as one of MLB’s top young arms. Though not a household name, Castillo started to gain recognition from hardcore collectors. His flagship Topps rookie settled around the $50-75 mark for a graded PSA 10 after starting the year closer to $20-30. Short prints and autos saw more pronounced jumps as well. With continued dominance on the mound, Castillo’s cards have room to climb even higher in coming years.
Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers (Topps Series 1 #350, Topps Chrome #310): An incredible comeback story, Muncy went from struggling journeyman to hitting 35 home runs as an everyday player after joining the Dodgers. Busting out in a huge way at 27 years old, Muncy became a fan favorite overnight. While not a true rookie, the unexpected breakout generated buzz around his cardboard. Topps Chrome rookies have gained the most, rising to $50-75 PSA 10 as Muncy sustained his success in 2019. The storyline and performance captured imaginations and kept enthusiasts hunting his 2018 MLB debut cards.
Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies (Topps Series 1 #86, Topps Chrome #56): As one of baseball’s best and most underrated starting pitchers, Nola’s talents have been evident for years even if Phillies team success lagged. In 2018, he finally gained national exposure by finishing third in NL Cy Young voting with a superb 2.37 ERA over 214 innings. This illuminated his potential and bumped up values of his 2014 rookie cards. Both the Topps flagship and Chrome are now around $75-100 in top grade, reflective of growing appreciation for Nola as a true ace and cornerstone player for Philadelphia going forward.
This covers some of the biggest standouts and most coveted rookie cards from the talented 2018 MLB class. With continued success on the field, these rookies should stay hot commodities for collectors for years to come. The breakouts of Ohtani, Acuña Jr., Torres, and Soto in particular made their rookie cards instant classics that will be prized holdings for savvy investors. It will be exciting to see which young stars from the 2019 and 2020 classes can achieve similar heights and generations of fans discovering their rookie cards.
