One of the most highly anticipated rookie cards set to release in 2023 is that of Los Angeles Angels pitcher and presumed American League Rookie of the Year winner, Shohei Ohtani. As one of the modern game’s greatest talents, Ohtani’s rookie cards from his first few seasons in MLB have risen dramatically in value in recent years. His 2021 Topps Chrome Update Blue Refractor Parallel rookie card in particular has become a highly coveted card among investors. Ohtani’s 2023 cards will most likely be in high demand given another excellent season he is expected to have.
Another rookie pitcher who had a breakout year in 2022 and will have interesting cards to follow is Miami Marlins righty Sandy Alcantara. His changeup made him one of the most dominant starters in baseball and he is poised to become the future ace of that team. Alcantara’s 2023 cards, especially Topps and Bowman Chrome rookie parallels, could take off in price if he continues putting up Cy Young caliber numbers. His collection from 2022 would also be a solid investment.
Top MLB prospects who should make their big league debuts in 2023 and have promising rookie cards include Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler, Boston Red Sox shortstop Marcelo Mayer, Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Taj Bradley. Many consider Dingler and Mayer to be future All-Stars and their Topps Chrome rookie autos could appreciate nicely with strong MLB performances.
Veteran superstar cards are usually safer bets than rookies in terms of retaining value. Players like Mike Trout, Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acuña Jr., Mookie Betts and Juan Soto will always be in demand. While their base rookies or recent flagship releases may be pricey, parallels, relic cards and autographs from their past couple seasons could see jumps in value if 2023 is another MVP caliber year. Any rare Trout or Tatis rookie finds would be truly impressive centerpieces to a collection.
There will be plenty of new sets to search for stars like Aaron Judge, who captured the single season American League home run record in 2022. Products like Topps Opening Day, Topps Chrome, Bowman and Topps Finest feature aesthetically pleasing designs and offer the potential for hitting lucrative short prints and serially numbered cards. Judge’s 2023 edition cards of any type will likely be hotly pursued.
Historic baseball anniversaries in 2023 also provide investing opportunities. Sets commemorating the 150th anniversary of the first fully professional team (Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1869) and 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking MLB’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers could feature valuable retrospective or “throwback” style cards and inserts focusing on those eras.
When considering what types of 2023 baseball cards to buy for investment purposes, it’s wise to focus on rookies of future star players, elite veterans still in their primes, cards from anniversary sets and products from the major brands like Topps, Bowman and Panini that have proven track records. Diversifying among different levels of rarity, including parallels and autographs along with base rookies, also hedges risk. With patience and some luck researching the prospects, 2023 could be a great year to build a collection with long-term potential
