Check our Daily Auctions page to see some of the best sports card auctions ending daily! And listen to our podcast Cards To The Moon!
Even in a down year in 2022, Juan Soto is projected to be one of the best in the game, which is why many collectors remain bullish on Juan Soto rookie cards.
Starting in his rookie year, the Washington Nationals outfielder followed up his strong rookie campaign by booking himself to the World Series.
If it hadn’t been for another NL rookie sensation Ronald Acuna of the Atlanta Braves last season, Soto might have very well been the rookie of the year.
But this baseball phenom who has been making waves in the big leagues since his debut in 2018 has already established himself as one of the most talented players.
However, after a down year in 2022, some fans and collectors may be wondering if it is still a good time to invest in his rookie cards. We’re still believers here.
First, look at what Soto brings to the field. As a left-handed hitting outfielder, Soto has a powerful swing and a very impressive eye at the plate.
In just four seasons, he has already compiled a .291 career batting average and has hit 86 home runs. Additionally, Soto has a keen sense of the strike zone, allowing him to draw walks at an impressive rate.
In his MVP-worthy performance in 2021, he hit .357 with 16 home runs in just 48 games, helping lead the Washington Nationals to the playoffs.
Yes, Soto had a down year in 2022, hitting just .261 with 20 home runs. While this was still a solid performance, it was a step down from his dominant 2021 campaign.
If you see the value of his cards decreased, it may be a good time to purchase them at a more affordable price especially playing in 2023 for a stacked San Diego Padres team that includes Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts.
Don’t forget, Soto, entering the season in 2023, is still in his early 20s and has yet to enter his prime years. As he continues to mature and develop as a player, it is likely that he will only get better.
Here’s our selection for his 3 best Juan Soto rookie cards to collect and/or invest in with links to find them on eBay (as well as an honorable mention). Tell us what do you think is Juan Soto’s best rookie card?
1. 2016 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autograph Card #CPA-JS
As usual, any prospect or rookie sensation with an autograph baseball card in the Bowman Chrome prospect set will most likely be his most valuable rookie card.
Prices have continued to climb since Soto’s breakout year and if his career continues on its current projection, expect this card value to go even higher.
His more rare refractor parallels are already at incredible prices.
2. 2018 Topps Heritage Real One Autograph Card #ROAJSO
The Topps Heritage is another fan favorite set for rookie card collectors especially if the player in question is included in the “Real One Autograph” subset.
Fortunately for Soto fans, there is.
Plus the red ink autograph variation is only numbered to 69 making it more valuable than the regular autograph cards.
3. 2018 Topps Chrome Update Autograph Card #HMT55
You can find Soto’s autograph rookie card in the updated 2018 Topps Chrome set.
While it’s a sticker autograph, the values are more affordable than the two other rookie cards aforementioned.
BONUS: 2018 Topps Chrome Update Rookie Card #HMT55
Unlike a lot of current rookies and prospects who have many, many parallels to collect (ie. Julio Rodriguez), Juan Soto doesn’t really.
So even his non-autograph cards are relatively limited such as his Topps Chrome Update (the chrome parallel of his 2018 Topps Update) and especially with his refractor parallels like the gold and xfractor.
It’s a somewhat sneaky play if you’re a big believer in Soto.
Listen to our weekly podcast Cards To The Moon every Tuesday and every other Friday!