If you’re a fan of baseball -- and there’s a very good chance you are if you’re reading this article -- there’s a very good chance that at some point in your life, you collected baseball cards. Whether you were a serious collector or someone who just picked up a pack or two, we all had our hands on those cardboard beauties; hoping to score that rookie card of our favorite player or that ever-so-rare autographed card.
And just in case you haven’t been paying attention, card popularity has not gone away. On the contrary. The industry is booming for a wide variety of reasons, and doesn’t appear to be slowing down -- relatively, anyway -- anytime soon.
One of the most popular card-collecting sets every year is Topps Chrome, as it generally offers the majority of the top rookies from the year, and also a chance to collect some serial-numbered cards along with autographs. Everyone likes autographs, right?
Let’s take a look at my favorite rookies from the 2021 Topps Chrome Set. A special thank you to Topps for helping put this list together.
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1. Jazz Chisholm, SS, Miami Marlins
Chisholm may not be the player I view was the best in that rookie class, but he’s the card I’d most want from this rookie group. He’s a 23-year-old who flashed significant power in his left-handed bat in 2021, and also stole 18 bases to go with his 23 roundtrippers. There are serious concerns about the swing-and-miss and he may be a second baseman long-term, but there’s no denying Chisholm is one of -- if not the -- most exciting rookies in the class.
2. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates
Hayes lit the world on fire in his brief time in 2020 and homered in his first game of 2021, but he suffered a hand injury that caused him to miss significant time, and wasn’t the same type of player after he returned from said injury. Still, the talent with Hayes is obvious; he’s a third baseman who can make hard contact all over and there’s significant power potential -- even if we haven’t always seen it show in games. Add in terrific defense, and Hayes has a very, very bright future.
3. Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels
It’s understandable if folks are skeptical about Adell; he was awful in 2020 and then posted just a .703 OPS before picking up a season-ending surgery. I’m certainly not giving up, as there is just too much potential in his right-handed bat. The ball jumps off said bat, and there’s easy plus-plus power potential with a chance to still hit for average if he can just keep the strikeouts to a dull roar. There are also defensive issues with Adell, but again, there’s a reason this was a top five prospect at one point, and we’ve seen plenty of players live up to their potential after poor starts to their career.
4. Dylan Carlson, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Carlson was not included in the original list because the image is unavailable. After consideration, it’s still worth putting him on this list. The 23-year-old -- 22 for the 2021 season -- had a bit of an up-and-down season, but the overall numbers of .266/.343/.437 with 18 homers are solid for a first-year player, and a big improvement on his brief cup of coffee in 2020 (.616 OPS). There’s a chance to hit for average and power from both sides of the plate from the former first-round pick, and while he stole just two bases in 2021, he has the speed to suggest more should come in the coming years. He’s more high-floor than high-ceiling, but there’s plenty of both, and he could be in for a breakout year in 2022.
5. Alec Bohm, INF/OF, Philadelphia Phillies
Again, it’s understandable if people look at this ranking and scratch their head, as Bohm posted just a .647 OPS with seven homers in 117 games with the Phillies, and was sent down in large part due to absolutely atrocious defense at the hot corner. The defense is going to be an issue going forward. I don’t think the bat will. This was a player the was drafted with the third-overall pick because of his offensive prowess, and he hit .338 with an .881 OPS in his truncated campaign in 2020 while finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting. Bohm has some work to do, but he’s a potential .280 hitter with 20-25 homers -- maybe more on both ends -- and shouldn’t be discounted just yet.
6. Ryan Mountcastle, 1B/OF, Baltimore Orioles
Mountcastle set a record for homers by a Baltimore rookie in 2021 -- breaking the record of some guy named Cal -- and drove in 89 runs despite playing for the worst team in baseball. The 24-year-old also hit just .255 while striking out 161 times in 144 games, so there’s no guarantee that he’s going to be able to hit for average. The power is ever-so-legit, however, and there’s a very good chance that Mountcastle has a 40-plus homer season or two, and there is a chance to hit for a decent average if the approach improves.
7. Jake Cronenworth, INF, San Diego Padres
Cronenworth had a bit of a late-season scuffle, but still finished the year with an even .800 OPS along with 21 homers while being one of the few Padres that was able to get in a full season (152 games) in a disappointing year for San Diego. Acquired in the Tommy Pham trade from the Rays, Cronenworth can sting the baseball all over the park, and has tapped into above-average power as well. He’s a versatile player that can handled any position in the infield, and he should be a regular -- and a good one -- for the foreseeable future.
8. Sixto Sanchez, RHP, Miami Marlins
Pitchers don’t have the same type of value as hitters do on the market, but Sánchez is one of those rookie hurlers who is worth holding onto. He missed 2021 because of shoulder troubles -- and it’s worth pointing out that he’s had trouble staying on the mound as a prospect -- but anyone who saw the right-hander pitch in 2020 knows what he’s capable of. Sánchez can miss bats with three pitches, and he commands them well for the most part, as well. Some volatility, but if he can remain healthy, he has a chance to be a legitimate ace.
9. Alex Kirilloff, OF, Minnesota Twins
Kirilloff became the first position player to ever pick up his first hit in a postseason game last year against the Astros, and expectations were high for the 23-year-old coming into 2021. He didn’t live up to those expectations, however, hitting just .251 with a .722 OPS in 51 games while dealing with injuries. The injury bug -- like Sánchez -- has been an issue in the past, but when he’s on the field he’s shown legitimate power in his left-handed bat, with a solid -- albeit not guaranteed -- chance to hit for average, as well. The Twins will give Kirilloff an opportunity to play everyday in 2022 as long as he can stay on the field, and expect much better results from the former first-round pick.
10. Keibert Ruiz, C, Washington Nationals
There were things to like about Ruiz even while he was a member of the Dodgers’ organization, but there’s no doubt his stock in the short-term, at least, improved after his trade to the Nats. Acquired in the deal that sent Trea Turner and Max Scherzer to the Dodgers, Ruiz has above-average tools in both his hit and power, and he swings the bat well from both sides of the plate. He’s not an elite defender, but he should stick behind the plate, as well, which certainly helps. Ruiz may not be a star, but it’s very easy to see him being an above-average regular, and it’s also possible there’s another gear here we haven’t seen.
Others to look for: Cristian Pache, OF, Atlanta Braves; Casey Mize, RHP, Detroit Tigers; Nate Pearson, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays; Tyler Stephenson, C, Cincinnati Reds; Ian Anderson, RHP, Atlanta Braves; Daulton Varsho, C, Arizona Diamondbacks; Nick Madrigal, 2B, Chicago Cubs