With the 2023 Topps Series 1 Flagship product coming out in a few short weeks, it’s time to see who the big Rookies will be having those “chase” cards this upcoming season. We’ll go over the obvious players who made a mark in the 2022 season, but didn’t have an official rookie card with Topps, and name a few who may have a Rookie Card in later Topps and Panini products.
This list can’t start without naming the two players who, without question, have their faces plastered on Baseball products throughout 2023.
Starting in the American League, we have Adley Rutschman (whom Topps gave us a look at the 2023 Series 1 design with), who gave a boost of energy and a hopeful look at the Orioles’ future at making the Playoffs. Placing Second behind the red hot Julio Rodriguez for Rookie of the Year voting, Adley put up a strong Rookie campaign with an OPS of over .800, hitting for an average of .254 with 13HR and 35 Doubles in 113 Games played. His Rookie Card will obviously be in Series 1, and one of the top young players to search for when the product releases. His teammate, Gunnar Henderson, who got a taste of the Majors in the last month of the season, will most likely have a Rookie Card to search for later on in the year, if the Orioles decide to keep him up with the big club (His OPS+ of 123 in 34 Games tells me that he will probably be on the Opening Day Roster).
Over in the National League, you have to look no further than the powerhouse of a team, the Atlanta Braves. With Michael Harris sweeping the NL ROY voting (His teammate, Spencer Strider right behind him) in 2022, he will also most likely have a Rookie Card to look for in the 2023 Topps Series 1 product to start the year. His year of hitting nearly .300, 19HR and having a ridiculous 5.3 fWAR in his age-21 season, Michael Harris has solidified himself in the Atlanta franchise after signing an eight year extension with the team. You can be sure to look out for his cards in a Braves uniform for years to come. Both of these players will definitely be highly sought after starting in mid-February as Series 1 should release around that time.
Other very notable players to have their Rookie Cards in the product will be players such as Riley Greene of the Tigers, Gabriel Moreno of the Blue Jays, and Vaughn Grissom of the Braves. Names that we can look forward to in Series 1 or later products would definitely be Oswaldo Cabrera of the Yankees, Brett Baty of the Mets, and Shea Langeliers of the A’s.
Honorable Mentions:
- JJ Bleday
- Cade Cavalli
- Corbin Carroll
- Triston Casas
- Josh Jung
- Logan O’Hoppe
