In the past 30 days, several post-2010 MLB stars have dominated raw card sales on eBay. As a result, delivering top baseball card values for collectors. In particular, Shohei Ohtani leads the pack. His cards “continue to captivate the sports collectibles market, with prices soaring and collectors scrambling to secure key pieces. Collectors are especially chasing his 2018 rookie cards (e.g. Topps Update and Chrome) and rare inserts. High volumes of sales were also seen for other modern stars:
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Top Selling MLB Star Baseball Card Values
Aaron Judge – The Yankees slugger’s 2017 rookies (Topps Update, Bowman Chrome) remain in heavy demand following his record-breaking 2022 season. His raw base rookies often sell in the mid double-digits, with parallel versions higher.
Bobby Witt Jr. – The 2022 rookie’s cards have surprisingly high transaction volume, reflecting growing interest. Witt’s flagship rookie and parallels (e.g. 2022 Topps SPs and numbered inserts) are frequent mid-range sellers as collectors bet on his upside.
Elly De La Cruz – The electrifying Reds prospect’s baseball card values exploded in 2023, and it remains hot. His 2023 rookie cards and 1st Bowman(eBay) prospect cards are among the most frequently sold raw cards. Hence, often in the $50–$200 range for parallels. This high volume underscores the hobby’s speculation on his star potential.
Julio Rodríguez – Last year’s AL Rookie of the Year is another top seller. Many of his 2022 rookies (Topps Chrome, Flagship, etc.) trade hands, with interest strong in short-prints and inserts. For example, his “Home Field Advantage” case-hit insert has been popular, with raw copies around $100 and climbing.
Other notable modern players with strong raw sales include Ronald Acuña Jr., Mike Trout(eBay), Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, and Mookie Betts. These players’ base rookie cards (and their parallels) are continually among the most frequently sold items, indicating sustained collector demand. In short, current superstars and recent rookies drive the mid-range raw card market on eBay.
Pricing Trends (30-Day Increases & Decreases)
Overall, the last month showed mixed price trends in the $20–$500 raw card segment. Several cards saw notable appreciation, while others cooled off:
Rising Baseball Card Values
Ronald Acuña(eBay) Jr. – 2018 “Bat Down” SP Rookie: This coveted short-print rookie card baseball card values have spiked alongside Acuña’s MVP-caliber performance. In the last 30 days its price increased ~8–9%, with a PSA 10 up to ~$725 and a raw copy recently selling for about $239. The uptick reflects renewed confidence after his 40–70 season.
Julio Rodríguez – 2022 Home Field Advantage Insert: Mid-range inserts of star rookies are gaining traction. Julio’s case-hit “Home Field Advantage” rookie insert jumped +34.5% in the past month, with raw sales around $110 now. This surge suggests rising demand for rare but affordable Julio cards as he enters his sophomore season.
Falling Baseball Card Values
Shohei Ohtani – Rare Inserts: While Ohtani’s market is broadly strong, some of his newer cards have cooled slightly after an offseason spike. For example, his 2025 Topps All Aces insert (a tougher pull) in raw form dropped about –27% in price over 30 days, recently selling around $500. This correction may be due to initial hype settling down. Conversely, many Ohtani 2018 rookies and parallels hold steady or gradually rise given his historic two-way play.
Fernando Tatis Jr. – 2019 Topps Base Rookie: Tatis Jr.’s flagship rookie has stagnated at a low price point. Raw base copies sell for roughly $5–$10 today, reflecting the market’s cooled enthusiasm after his suspension. Despite his return to solid play, his card values have yet to rebound – an indicator of lingering caution among collectors.
Wander Franco: Once a hobby darling, Franco’s cards have plummeted amid off-field issues. Many of his raw rookies now fall well under $20 as buyers shy away. (For instance, base Topps rookies that were $30+ a year ago can now be found in the low teens or less.) This notable decrease shows how quickly demand can evaporate in response to bad news.
Overall, flagship base rookie cards of top players have been relatively stable (with small swings), while scarcer parallels/variations show bigger movements. In-demand short prints and low-numbered parallels are seeing price rises, whereas players facing setbacks have seen raw prices dip.
Rookie Cards, Parallels & Serials Gaining Traction
Collectors are gravitating toward rookie-year parallels and serial-numbered cards in the mid-range segment. Some trends to note:
Short-Printed Flagship Rookies: Unique photo variations and short-prints of flagship rookies are hot. Acuña’s “Bat Down” and other SP rookies (e.g. Juan Soto’s 2018 Topps Update SSP, or Shohei Ohtani’s 2018 Heritage action variation) are increasingly sought-after, often pushing toward the upper end of the $20–$500 range. These cards combine rarity and iconic rookie status, driving prices upward.
Colored Parallels / Serial-Numbered: Serial-numbered rookie parallels (like Topps Gold /2018 or /2022, Rainbow Foils, and colored refractors) are showing strong liquidity. For instance, Ohtani’s 2018 Update Rainbow Foil raw last sold around $100, and Tatis’s 2019 Update Rainbow in PSA 10 is up modestly (+4.8%) to about $63 (indicating raw in the ~$15–20 range. Collectors are targeting these limited versions for their upside if graded or if the player breaks out.
Case-Hit Inserts and SSPs: As seen with Julio’s Home Field Advantage, case-hit inserts from flagship products are rising in popularity. Likewise, inserts like Downtown/Whammy cards, Topps Ultra Short Prints (SSPs), and rare pack inserts of emerging stars are gaining value as alternative rookie-year pieces. Many of these fall in the mid-triple-figure prices and have shown upward momentum due to their relative scarcity (e.g. Ohtani’s 2018 Ultra SSPs routinely fetch a few hundred dollars raw).
Autographs in Raw Form: While many high-end autographs get graded, there’s a segment of raw rookie autos (especially from products like Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome) in the $200–$500 range doing brisk business. For example, a raw Adley Rutschman Bowman Chrome autograph or a Julio Rodríguez Topps Chrome rookie auto can sell in mid-hundreds. These have strong demand from collectors who either trust the condition or plan to grade for upside.
Rookie Cards with a Twist Head Up Increasing Baseball Card Values
In summary, rookie cards with a twist – be it a parallel, serial number, or autograph – are the ones gaining the most traction. Collectors appear willing to pay a premium for these more unique items of star players, anticipating future value especially if the player’s performance soars.
Cards & Players to Watch for Baseball Card Values Upside
Based on recent sales data, demand signals, and on-field performance, a few modern players and cards stand out as poised for baseball card values growth in the near future:
MLB Stars Poised for Growth
Ronald Acuña Jr.: Fresh off an MVP season, Acuña is re-entering the hobby spotlight. His key rookies (2018 Topps updates, Chrome, autos) are trending up, and continued elite performance could push them higher. Notably, his rarer cards like the #698 “Bat Down” SP have momentum, indicating broader upside for his market.
Julio Rodríguez: As Julio matures in his second MLB season, a surge in his team or stats could elevate his card values further. We already saw certain Julio inserts jump ~35% this month. His flagship SP rookie and serial-numbered parallels (e.g. Gold /2022) are good mid-range targets that could appreciate if he becomes an MVP-caliber player.
Bobby Witt Jr.: Witt’s hobby interest is high (evidenced by enormous sales volume on eBay) even though his card prices haven’t exploded…yet. Given his across-the-board talent (30+ HR/30+ SB potential), his 2022 rookie cards (especially parallels like refractors, SPs, and autos) appear undervalued. Any breakout or broader recognition could translate into quick price gains for his mid-tier cards.
Adley Rutschman & Corbin Carroll: Among 2023’s new stars, Adley (a standout young catcher) and Carroll (2023 NL ROY) have strong collector followings. Currently, many of their base rookies are very affordable (under $10), but their higher-end raw cards (short-print rookies, numbered refractors, etc.) in the $20–$100 range could rise if they continue to excel. For instance, a raw Carroll Topps Chrome Refractor rookie has been one of his biggest 7-day gainers. These two have performance on their side, suggesting room for market growth.
Shohei Ohtani (continuing): Ohtani’s market is already high, but certain cards could see further bumps. With his move to Los Angeles, expect increased demand for his Angels-era rookies and any new Dodgers-themed cards. Even mid-range inserts or parallels of Ohtani remain a “winning bet” for collectors – any historic feats (like a potential MVP or postseason run) could cause another surge in his card values.
Prospect Call-ups and Rookie Debuts
Finally, it’s worth keeping an eye on prospect call-ups and rookie debuts through the season. Often, a young player’s MLB debut (and initial hype) causes a spike in raw card sales and prices. Recent examples include Elly De La Cruz’s frenzy in 2023 and the anticipation for prospects like Jackson Chourio or Jordan Lawlar. Those who spot rising demand early – evidenced by a jump in eBay sold listings or increasing prices week-over-week – may capitalize on the next big breakout.
Summary
Modern baseball cards (2010s to today) are a vibrant segment on eBay, with raw cards of current stars and rookies fueling the market. In the last 30 days, Shohei Ohtani has been the undisputed leader in popularity, followed by the likes of Judge, Rodríguez, Acuña, and others, each with specific cards that collectors chase. We observed that while many base rookie cards have stable values, the market rewards rarity and performance: short-printed and serial-numbered rookies of in-form players saw significant price upticks (some 5–35% increases), whereas cards of players with controversies or stagnating performance have dipped or flatlined.
Enthusiasts looking for upcoming opportunities might focus on the mid-range, raw copies of key rookie parallels for players on the rise. These cards, often in the $50–$300 sweet spot, have shown the ability to appreciate quickly with on-field success. As always, the combination of player performance, hobby demand, and card scarcity will dictate which modern raw cards climb in value. The past month’s data suggests that those holding cards of the game’s brightest young stars (and the savviest parallels of those cards) are well-positioned to benefit from the next surge in the baseball card market.
