Chase Early Cards of 2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball’s Top Rookies

Jac Caglianone, Roman Anthony, and More

2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball has a number of elite rookies to chase in the Flagship release. Of course, a young star’s first-ever official Topps rookie card is a huge moment in both their career and in The Hobby. Just as Series 1 starts the story of the season, those players who have their RC’s in this set begin to tell their tale in Topps Baseball.

This year’s rookies to chase include Jac Caglianone, Roman Anthony, Jacob Misorowski, Samuel Basallo, and Colson Montgomery. And, while the RC is the thing, The Hobby has already gravitated to these potential superstars, with chases for their early Bowman cards and early Topps NOW releases already in motion. As we celebrate the rite of passage that is the Topps Baseball Rookie Card, let’s look at some of the earlier offerings of these players on the rise.

Jac Caglianone: Kansas City Royals, OF

Caglianone garnered plenty of attention from prospecting collectors as he entered the Minor Leagues after launching 68 home runs in his last two years in Florida. In 2025, an incredible start to the season saw him hit 20 dingers in 72 games at AA and AAA levels.

His 2024 Bowman Draft Superfractor Auto sold for $80,000 in March 2025. This brilliant color-matched Blue Refractor is numbered to /150 and is a gem for Royals collectors who are hoping Caglianone’s power profile will transfer to the MLB level.

The Hobby interest in Caglinone was made clear when his first Topps NOW card, commemorating his first MLB hit, had a print run of almost 34,000. The release included a 1-of-1 inscribed by the young star with “1st MLB Hit – 6.5.25”.

Roman Anthony: Boston Red Sox, OF

Boston Red Sox fans and collectors hope that Roman Anthony will build his Roman Empire in Beantown. The remarkably talented player wowed the Fenway Faithful and The Hobby at large with incredible skill, poise, and savvy in his first run in The Show — one that saw him help key a midseason Red Sox turnaround that led to the postseason, and one that saw Anthony takeover the leadoff spot in the order (a spot he may just hold for years).

A former No. 1 Prospect on MLB Pipeline, the expectations for Anthony in Boston and in The Hobby have been sky-high. Per Card Ladder, Anthony’s coveted 2023 1st Bowman Red Refractor Chrome Prospect Auto card numbered to five sold for $69,000 in September 2025. Anthony is clearly one of the major chases in 2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball.

Anthony’s debut in Boston came with much fanfare, and Topps NOW was there to capture the career highlight with this card, which saw a print run of over 11,000.

Jacob Misiorowski: Milwaukee Brewers, P

This flame-throwing right-hander exploded onto the scene at the MLB level last year, with ridiculous velocity and impressive performances in big moments. His fastball has been clocked as high as 103 MPH, and he projects as a frontline starter.

The Hobby was incredibly impressed with the early returns; the seven biggest sales of his Bowman cards of all-time came between June 23 and July 3 of 2025. He would go on to become an All-Star just a month after an incredible debut that saw him go 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA to start his MLB career.

While his first-ever start saw him go five hitless innings in a winning effort, his duel with young superstar Paul Skenes was also one of the greatest moments of the whirlwind start to his MLB career — five scoreless innings to go along with eight strikeouts as he got the win. The Topps NOW card documenting the first (potentially of many) divisional battle between these hurlers saw a print run of over 8,500.

Samuel Basallo: Baltimore Orioles, C

Currently ranked No. 8 on the MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects, Basallo is expected to be a contributor for a rejuvenated Baltimore Orioles team. Per Pipeline’s scouting report: “It’s pretty clear Basallo’s left-handed bat is ready for the big leagues. The 6-foot-4 masher routinely finds the barrel and has some of the best exit velocity data of any prospect in the Minors, with numbers like a max EV of 115.9 mph and his 90th percentile EV (108.2 mph) particularly standing out.” Orioles fans and collectors have plenty of reason to be excited.

Basallo’s 2023 Bowman Chrome Red Refractor Auto numbered to five sold for over $10,000 in August 2025. His potential, power, and production in the Minors — including a 23 home-run campaign in AAA in only 76 games. More recently, on October 19, 2025, a Gold Refractor Auto version of the card numbered to 50 fetched $2,880 through Fanatics Collect.

Basallo made his MLB debut on August 17, 2025, putting up two RBI in a 12-0 win over Houston. Topps NOW was there to mark the moment, with this card that had a print run of almost 4,000.

Colson Montgomery: Chicago White Sox, SS

The rebuilding White Sox may just have a franchise cornerstone in elite shortstop prospect Colson Montgomery. Slated to start the season in The Show, the 23-year old has been on the radar of Bowman collectors for years.

As early as May 2022 a Red Refractor Auto numbered to /5 of his 1st Bowman had sold for almost $6,000, and as recently as January 18, 2026, a Sapphire Edition Purple version of the card numbered to only /10 sold for almost $4,000.

Montgomery’s impressive build and frame have drawn comparisons to some of the game’s most powerful shortstops, and hopes are high that he can help push the White Sox forward. Unsurprisingly for a prospect of his stature, Topps NOW released a card upon his debut as well, on July 4, 2025.

2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball Rookies to Chase FAQ

• Why are the rookies in 2026 Topps Series 1 such a big chase?
  • Series 1 is the Flagship “start of the year,” so the rookies’ first Topps Flagship RCs often become some of their most collected mainstream rookie cards.
• What’s the difference between a 1st Bowman and a Topps Series 1 RC?
  • A 1st Bowman is typically the earliest widely collected prospect card, while a Series 1 RC is the player’s Flagship Topps rookie card — often The Hobby’s long-term reference.
• What should I chase first: base RCs or parallels?
  • Base RCs are the easiest “must-own” foundation. Parallels add scarcity and are often the next step once you’ve identified which rookies you believe in.
• What’s a smart, simple rookie-chasing approach for Series 1?
  • Pick 2–3 rookies you’re most confident in, secure their base RCs, then selectively upgrade to one scarcity play (a numbered parallel or premium variation) per player.

Key Facts:

• Series 1 = First Flagship RCs: For many players, this is their first official Topps rookie card in the main annual baseball set.
• Rookies Drive Excitement: New names and fresh storylines are a major reason collectors look forward to Series 1 each year.
• Multiple Ways to Collect: Base cards, color parallels, inserts, and variations give collectors options at different interest levels.
• Player Types Vary: Power hitters, speed threats, elite defenders, and young pitchers all appear, appealing to different collector preferences.
• Team Fandom Matters: Collectors often start with rookies from their favorite MLB teams.
• Setting the Tone: Series 1 typically establishes the visual design and rookie class identity for the entire Topps baseball year.

---

More 2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball

---