Series 2 Rookies to Chase
In the realm of Major League Baseball collectibles, there’s an undeniable thrill that comes with discovering rookie cards. As avid collectors eagerly open packs, the anticipation builds, knowing that the potential gems within these packs will capture the budding careers of baseball’s brightest prospects. With each flip of a card, the possibility of unearthing a future superstar becomes a reality. The 2023 Topps Series 2 Rookie Cards hold immense value in their significance as a player’s debut card and their potential to appreciate in value as their careers flourish. Let’s get into some of the 2023 Topps Series 2 Rookie Cards with the most potential on the market.
Jordan Walker OF/3B, St. Louis Cardinals
MLB.com ranked Jordan Walker the No. 1 prospect in 2023. That’s lofty talk, given the slew of talent waiting on their Major League opportunities. The 21st pick in the 2020 draft has built quite a buzz after dominating Double-A and the Arizona Fall League, where he routinely cooked pitchers and posted the four highest exit velocities according to statcast in 2022. In his first 20 games in the Bigs, the 21-year-old continued his rise, totaling 20 hits, 11 RBIs, and a pair of homers. Scouts see Walker as a potential superstar who should reach the 30-homer threshold several times in his career. Cardinals fans and card collectors alike are hoping that comes to fruition.
Masataka Yoshida OF, Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are currently on a roller coaster of a 2023 season. Masataka Yoshida has nothing to do with that. Boston signed the steady Japanese star and four-time Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star to a five-year deal this past offseason, and he has since lived up to the billing, ballin’ like his name was Mookie Betts. Through the Sox’s first 55 games, he leads the team in wRC+ (145), batting average (.317), on-base percentage (.391), and slugging percentage (.508). His trading card value should only skyrocket as he continues tearing up the Bigs.
Corbin Carroll OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
As of now (early June), Carroll is in line for his first All-Star appearance. We don’t want to jinx it. So this will be brief. But the 22-year-old stud is on fire right now, putting together one of the best rookie seasons in Diamondbacks’ history. He’s on pace for at least 25 homers and 25 SBs — 9 and 16, respectively, at this point –, is a human-highlight reel in the outfield, and boasts two outings with at least two bag swipes and a long ball — something that only Mike Trout and Alex Rodriguez have done in the same season since 1997. If Carroll makes the All-Star Game this year, he’d be the first Arizona rookie to do so since Wade Miley in 2012. Collectors are collectively crossing their fingers.
Kodai Senga P, New York Mets
Enter the batter’s box against Kodai Senga, and you better be prepared for some heat and a wicked “ghost fork” that’ll leave you swinging at thin air. With a mind-boggling 59.1 percent whiff rate on his “ghost fork” — the highest of any pitch as of May 31 — Senga’s pitch is the stuff of nightmares for hitters, repeatedly making them look foolish. This five-time Japanese Series champion and two-time Pacific League strikeout leader took his talents to the Big Apple this offseason, and he’s wasted no time making a name for himself. Armed with a blazing fastball that touches the mid-90s, Senga has been an absolute menace on the mound for New York. Already racking up five wins in his first 10 appearances, he’s become an integral part of the team’s rotation, leaving opponents shaking in their cleats. With his NPB pedigree and rising star status, it’s safe to say that a Kodai Senga rookie card has the potential to become a prized possession for collectors, skyrocketing in value as he continues sitting batters down. This pitcher is one to watch, and his pitches are downright nasty.
Anthony Volpe SS, New York Yankees
Anthony Volpe, the highly touted prospect from New Jersey, finds himself in a position where comparisons to the legendary Derek Jeter are thrown around. The weight of playing in the iconic city of New York is already immense, but likening him to The Captain, arguably the greatest Yankee of all time, raises expectations to astronomical heights. Nevertheless, Volpe has shown tremendous promise, dominating in the Minor Leagues and impressing during Spring Training, which earned him the starting shortstop role. It remains to be seen how his career will unfold. Still, if he lives up to the hype, the Anthony Volpe trading card market could one day rival Jeter’s, solidifying his place among baseball’s elite (find out more about Jeter’s RCs).
Check out our list of All-Time Great Topps Series 2 Rookie Cards.
