Juan Soto’s rookie cards are a top-rated investment and are a solid option for long-term investors looking for huge profits. Soto is only 22 years old, already considered one of the best players in the league, and has a World Series ring.
SHOP THE BEST JUAN SOTO ROOKIE CARDS ON EBAY
Soto (10/25/98) is a Dominican outfielder who plays for the Washington Nationals. He spent a couple of years in the minor leagues after signing for the Nats, making his MLB breakthrough in 2018.
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Juan Soto Rookie Year Stats: .292 Batting Average | 22 Homers | 70 RBIs | 77 Runs… if not for Ronald Acuna Jr.’s phenom, Soto would have won rookie of the year honors in 2018… but Acuna Jr. is a freak of nature. Soto immediately impacted the Nationals and helped guide them to the team’s first-ever World Series, ironically the 1st year after Bryce Harper departed for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Investment Rating: Buy (4.5 out of 5)
Best Card: 2018 Juan Soto Topps Update (Shop eBay)
Ownership Disclosure: 2018 Topps Heritage Real One PSA 10
The grass isn’t always greener.
A number of his rookie cards are already going up in price, likely because of how quickly he was able to make an impact in the big leagues. Here’s a rundown of five of the best Soto rookie cards to look out for, along with some rookie card investment advice.
2016 Juan Soto Bowman Chrome #JS
There’s no better place to start than with Soto’s 2016 Bowman Chrome RC. It’s his first-ever rookie card, identified by the Bowman 1st logo on the top left corner. You’ll find an image of Soto standing tall as the card’s focal point and a prominent signature at the bottom.
The reverse is packed with information, including scouting notes about his dangerous left-handed swing. Despite being the oldest card on the list, it still comes with several expensive colored parallels.
2016 Chrome Prospect Auto Parallels: Refractor (/499), Purple Refractor (/250), Blue Refractor (/150), Green Refractor (/99), Gold Refractor (/50), Orange Refractor (/25), Orange Shimmer (/10), Red Shimmer (/10), Red Refractor (/5), SuperFractor (1/1), Printing Plates (1/1)
2018 Juan Soto Topps Update #US300
Soto’s 2018 Topps Update is up next. The card features a large action shot of the player, ready to swing, while an RC logo is on the top left-hand side. The reverse includes many stats, extra info, and his minor-league batting record.
It’s pricey, considering the lack of a patch or signature, but there’s a lot of hype surrounding Soto’s rookie cards.
2018 Topps Update Parallels: Rainbow Foil, Gold (/2018), Vintage Stock (/99), Independence Day (/76), Black (/67), Mother’s Day Hot Pink (/50), Father’s Day Powder Blue (/50), Memorial Day Camo (/25), Platinum (1/1), Printing Plates (1/1)
2018 Juan Soto Topps Heritage Real One Autograph #JSO
An autographed card, 2018 Real One, features Soto posing for a photo while seated in the dressing room. He has his bat in hand, and you can see his All-Star Game shoulder patch in the image. There’s an RC logo located on the top, adding additional value. It’s a great card packed full of color, and it looks like a throwback to past editions.
The back has a list of his minor league batting records and info about his debut at 19 years of age. A red ink version also exists, although it’s limited to just 69 copies.
2018 Topps Heritage Parallels: Special Edition Red Ink (/69)
2018 Juan Soto Bowman Draft Chrome #BDC162
There seem to be one hundred and one Bowman Chrome Soto rookie cards; all are great-looking investments. The 2018 Soto Bowman Draft Chrome RC is no different.
The 2017 Soto Bowman Draft Chrome RC is another attractive option if you’re looking for investment pieces. Numbered #BDC162, the card shows Soto taking a lead off first base with the hopes of swiping a bag or two. A great card at a fair price point, we feel this Bowman card gets overlooked in the Soto rookie card shuffle.
2017 Bowman Paper Parallels: Silver (/499), Purple (/250), Blue (/150), Green (/99), Gold (/50), Orange (/25), Red (/5), Black (1/1), Printing Plates (1/1)
2017 Bowman Chrome Refractor Parallels: Base Refractor, Sky Blue (/399), Purple (/250), Bowman 70th Logo (/200), Blue (/150), Green (/99), Gold (/50), Orange (/25), Red (/5), SuperFractor (1/1), Printing Plates (1/1)
2019 Juan Soto Topps Heritage Chrome #481
The 2019 Soto Heritage Chrome All-Star RC is a solid option if you want something more affordable. Considered a short print, the card is #481 and shows Soto with a laser focus and a bat in hand.
An excellent card for a smaller fee, we see it as a viable entry-level Soto card for moderate investors. There are also some rare refractor parallels, including a Black version limited to 70 copies.
2019 Topps Heritage Parallels: Purple Hot Box, Refractor (/570), Black (/70), Gold (/5), SuperFractor (1/1)
Juan Soto Rookie Card Value
The most expensive Juan Soto rookie card is the 2016 Bowman Chrome Refractor Juan Soto RC Rookie Card #CPAJS. The blue refractor parallel of this card sold for $29,878 via eBay auctions on 3/8/2021.
Soto’s rookie card values should soar for the next few years. If he wins another World Series ring, the value of his cards will take off.
Juan Soto Most Valuable RC? The most valuable Juan Soto RC is the 2016 Bowman Chrome Refractor RCs at high grades (i.e., 2016 Bowman Chrome Blue Refractor PSA 10).
If you want to receive an estimated value of your Juan Soto rookie card, please post it in the comments section below (assuming it’s graded). If the card is not graded, please email us at least two photos to value@goldcardauctions.com.
If you are on the fence about buying a high-end Soto rookie card and would like advice, please email us at advice@goldcardauctions.com, and we will help.
Checklist
- 2018 Bowman’s Best Juan Soto RC #29
- 2018 Panini Chronicles Juan Soto RC
- 2018 Panini Flawless Juan Soto RC #20 Diamond #/20
- 2018 National Treasures Juan Soto RC #64 Autograph Relic #/75
- 2018 Topps Gallery Juan Soto RC #126
- 2018 Topps Transcendent ’52 Superfractor Juan Soto RC #52SJSO
- 2018 Topps Update Series Juan Soto RC #US300
- 2018 Topps Baseball Silver Pack 1983 Chrome Juan Soto RC #134
- 2018 Topps Chrome Update Series Juan Soto RC #HMT55
- 2018 Topps Brooklyn Collection Juan Soto RC Autograph #BC1/BC2-JSO
- 2018 Topps Dynasty Autograph Patch Juan Soto RC #AP-JS (3 versions)
- 2018 Topps Fire Juan Soto RC #181
- 2018 Topps Five Star Juan Soto RC #FSA-JSO Autograph (Redemption)
- 2018 Topps Archives Juan Soto RC #73
- 2018 Topps Heritage High Number Juan Soto RC #502
- 2018 Topps Holiday Bowman Juan Soto RC #TH-JSO
- 2018 Topps Living Set Juan Soto RC #43 (PR=28,572)
- 2018 Topps Now Juan Soto RC #235 (PR=6,815)
- 2018 Topps Transcendent Collection Juan Soto RC #TCA-JS Autograph #/25 (2 versions)
- 2018 Topps Gold Label Framed Autograph Juan Soto RC #FA-JSO (Redemption)
- 2018 Topps Triple Threads Juan Soto RC #RA-JS Autograph #/99
- 2018 Leaf Juan Soto Autographs
- 2017 Bowman Chrome Prospects RC #BCP-180
- 2017 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospects Juan Soto RC #BDC-162
- 2017 Bowman Chrome Scouts’ Top 100 Juan Soto RC #BTP-60 Autograph #/50
- 2017 Bowman Platinum Top Prospects Autographs Juan Soto RC #TP-JS
- 2016 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs Juan Soto RC #CPA-JS
- 2016 Bowman International Ink Juan Soto RC #II-JS Autograph #/99
- 2016 Panini Elite Extra Edition Juan Soto RC #165 #/999
Guide and Investment Outlook
He was always seen as a solid prospect, but Soto transformed into a phenom before he was legally allowed to drink alcohol.
His incredible 2019 season had a knock-on effect, causing many of his earlier rookie cards to increase in price drastically. He hits the ball well, confusing pitchers as he stands ready in a pose that has already become a signature stance.
The “Soto Shuffle” might be a bit of a meme, but it does help to psyche out opponents, making him even more popular with casual fans.
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Soto looks to be the real deal, and while it would have been more prudent to grab his older cards in 2018, there’s still room for profit if he manages to keep it up for the next few years.