Why this checklist looks stronger every season—and still offers opportunity for patient collectors
One of the most enjoyable parts of revisiting older Bowman releases is seeing which names actually developed into real major league impact players. Time has a way of reshaping how a checklist is viewed, and 2022 Bowman flagship has quietly become one of those sets that looks stronger with every passing season, and remains one of my personal favorites whenever I can get my hands on it.
Four years removed from release, several of the headliners are now producing at the MLB level, validating early collector confidence and reinforcing why Bowman remains the foundation of prospect collecting. While my personal chase has always been Elly De La Cruz, the depth of this checklist continues to stand out. It’s a product I still enjoy ripping whenever the opportunity comes up because the names inside now carry real major league relevance.
The Three Stars Who Have Validated the Class
Elly De La Cruz (Cincinnati Reds)
Elly is exactly why many of us rip Bowman in the first place. The tools were always elite, but what we’re seeing now at the MLB level is confirmation that the upside was real. The switch-hitting power, top-of-the-scale speed, and elite arm strength have translated into immediate impact, and he’s already shown the ability to change a game in a single inning — something very few players in the league can do consistently.
Through his first three MLB seasons, De La Cruz has already accumulated roughly 9–10 career WAR, highlighted by a breakout sophomore season where he established himself as one of the most dynamic players in the National League. His combination of power and speed has placed him among the most productive young shortstops in baseball, and his durability and everyday usage have allowed value to stack quickly.
From a historical perspective, players who reach roughly 8–10 WAR before age 24 put themselves on an early trajectory that keeps Hall of Fame conversations open, though it’s far from guaranteed. Research into Hall of Fame outcomes shows that early-career WAR accumulation dramatically increases long-term odds, but sustained peak seasons are what ultimately separate stars from Cooperstown players. At this stage, De La Cruz profiles as a player whose Hall of Fame probability is highly dependent on whether his offensive consistency catches up to his physical tools.
2026 Projection:
If the strikeout rate continues to stabilize and on-base skills improve even marginally, De La Cruz has realistic MVP-level upside. A 5–6 WAR season in 2026 is well within reach, which would move him firmly into the tier of franchise cornerstone players both on the field and in the hobby.
From a collector’s standpoint, his 2022 Bowman cards have already transitioned from speculative prospect holds to modern cornerstone pieces.
Jackson Chourio (Milwaukee Brewers)
Chourio’s development has been less explosive but arguably just as impressive. His rise has been defined by polish, maturity, and the ability to make adjustments quickly against advanced pitching. What stands out most is how comfortable he looks at a young age — something that historically separates long-term stars from early hype.
Early in his MLB career, Chourio has already produced multiple wins above replacement, showing value across the board with contact ability, defense, and emerging power. Players who produce positive WAR seasons before age 22 historically have strong odds of sustaining long major league careers, particularly when their value isn’t tied exclusively to power production.
When comparing to historical age curves, players with early-career WAR in this range often fall into one of two outcomes: steady All-Star level contributors or eventual superstar breakouts once power fully develops. The hit tool gives him a high floor, which is something collectors increasingly value as volatility in prospect markets increases.
2026 Projection:
The next step for Chourio is power growth. If his home run output climbs into the 25+ range while maintaining contact quality, he projects as a 4–5 WAR annual player. That type of production doesn’t immediately signal Hall of Fame trajectory, but it keeps the door open if he strings together a long prime.
For collectors, this is the type of player whose Bowman cards age well as résumé builds rather than exploding overnight.
James Wood (Washington Nationals)
James Wood brings a different profile but one that modern baseball increasingly rewards. The size, patience, and power combination has already started to translate at the major league level, and his ability to control the strike zone has accelerated his adjustment period compared to many young power hitters.
Early returns at the MLB level show a player capable of generating value through both on-base ability and impact contact, which is a strong foundation for long-term WAR accumulation. Players with Wood’s combination of walk rate and power historically age well because their offensive value doesn’t rely solely on bat speed or athleticism.
While his career WAR total is still in the early stages, the underlying profile resembles several past middle-of-the-order hitters who saw steady value growth rather than immediate superstardom. Those players often see their biggest hobby jumps once they string together consecutive 30+ home run seasons.
2026 Projection:
If Wood continues refining pitch recognition and lifts the ball consistently, a breakout season in the 3–4 WAR range is realistic in 2026, with upside beyond that as his power matures. The ceiling outcome is a perennial All-Star corner bat; the floor remains relatively stable because of his plate discipline.
From a collecting standpoint, this is exactly the type of player whose Bowman cards can climb gradually as performance catches up with physical projection.
A Quick Note on Hall of Fame Context and WAR
For perspective, most Hall of Fame position players finish their careers in the 60–70+ WAR range, with elite inner-circle players well above that mark. Early career WAR doesn’t guarantee induction, but players who accumulate double-digit WAR before their mid-20s historically give themselves a realistic path if they sustain production through their late 20s and early 30s. The key separator is peak value — MVP-level seasons — not just longevity.
Bowman 1st Auto Value Trends: 2022–Present
One of the most interesting parts of revisiting a Bowman release several years later is seeing how the market prices talent as performance becomes real rather than projected. The 2022 Bowman class provides a strong example of how quickly prospect pricing can transition once players reach the major leagues and begin producing.
Below is a broad market view of base Bowman 1st Chrome Autograph values for Elly De La Cruz, Jackson Chourio, and James Wood from release year through today. These ranges reflect typical raw or mid-grade market averages at the time rather than individual peak sales or low outliers.
Estimated Bowman 1st Base Auto Price Trend
| Player | 2022 (Release Year) | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Present (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elly De La Cruz | $125–$175 | $250–$350 | $600–$800 | $900–$1,200 | $1,100–$1,400 |
| Jackson Chourio | $75–$110 | $150–$225 | $350–$500 | $500–$700 | $650–$850 |
| James Wood | $60–$90 | $120–$180 | $250–$350 | $400–$550 | $500–$700 |
Market Interpretation
Elly De La Cruz represents the classic Bowman outcome collectors chase. Early speculation was driven by tools, but the largest price jump occurred once MLB production validated the upside. His cards transitioned from prospect pricing to star pricing, which historically leads to slower but steadier long-term growth rather than explosive spikes.
Jackson Chourio has followed a more traditional elite prospect curve. His values rose steadily as his development timeline stayed intact and collectors gained confidence in the hit tool translating at the highest level. Players who debut young and perform competently tend to see sustained hobby support rather than volatile swings.
James Wood has been the slowest climber of the three, but in many ways represents the most typical long-term investment path. Power hitters with strong on-base profiles often see gradual appreciation as counting stats accumulate and national exposure increases.
What This Tells Collectors About 2022 Bowman
The key takeaway is that the market has largely rewarded patience. None of these players required immediate superstardom for their Bowman 1st autos to appreciate. Instead, incremental MLB success, playing time security, and continued projection stability allowed values to compound over time.
This is ultimately why Bowman remains the backbone of modern prospect collecting. The best outcomes rarely come from chasing short-term hype spikes. They come from identifying players with real tools, real opportunity, and enough development runway for the market to adjust as performance catches up to projection.
Underrated From the Class (2026 Impact Window)
Not every valuable Bowman card peaks immediately. One of the consistent lessons from past Bowman classes is that value often returns to players who take a slower development path but retain underlying tools and opportunity. These two names from 2022 Bowman still sit in that category, players whose prices cooled, but whose long-term outlook remains intact.
Colson Montgomery (Chicago White Sox)
Montgomery represents the classic late-adjustment prospect that the hobby often gives up on too early. His transition to the majors has already shown flashes of why evaluators remained patient with his development.
In his early MLB sample, Montgomery produced a 3.3 WAR season, supported by legitimate power output and above-average offensive production for a young shortstop. His .840 OPS and 130 OPS+ indicate that when he makes contact, the impact is real and already playing above league average.
What makes Montgomery particularly interesting from a collector standpoint is how his underlying profile aligns with players who often break out in years two and three:
- Above-average exit velocity for a middle infielder
- Natural leverage and pull-side power
- Strong walk rates dating back to the minors
- Physical profile that allows power growth without sacrificing positional value
Young hitters with power and patience frequently experience early swing-and-miss issues before stabilizing. The White Sox giving him everyday opportunity matters more than short-term volatility. From a hobby perspective, consistent at-bats alone can shift perception quickly.
Entering 2026, Montgomery projects less as a star and more as a potential 4–5 WAR peak player if the hit tool stabilizes. That level of production historically creates sustained collector interest, especially for players who remain at premium defensive positions.
His 2022 Bowman cards remain priced closer to uncertainty than outcome, which is typically where long-term value begins.
Max Muncy (Oakland Athletics)
The Max Muncy in the 2022 Bowman set that collectors should be paying attention to is the Oakland Athletics infielder, not the established Dodgers veteran. The younger Muncy represents a very different type of investment profile: a player whose early professional career has been uneven, but whose underlying indicators still suggest upside.
Muncy debuted in the majors in 2025 and posted modest surface numbers, hitting .214 with a .638 OPS across his first exposure to big league pitching. On paper, those numbers don’t immediately stand out, but context matters. Many young infielders struggle during their first adjustment period, particularly those transitioning from upper-minors pitching where they previously showed strong offensive production.
Looking back at his minor league performance provides more optimism. In 2024, he hit .292 with a .903 OPS across minor league levels while showing improved on-base ability and power development. That season represented a meaningful step forward in approach and offensive maturity after earlier swing-and-miss concerns.
From an underlying metrics perspective, there are a few reasons collectors continue to watch closely:
- Walk rates and plate discipline have been consistently strong relative to age level during his development, suggesting a hitter who can adjust rather than one reliant purely on raw power.
- Positional versatility, with experience at shortstop, second, and third base, increases the likelihood of sustained playing time even if offensive development comes gradually.
- Age-relative development still works in his favor. At just 23 years old, he remains younger than many players establishing themselves at the MLB level.
The breakout case for Muncy is not immediate star-level production but incremental improvement: better contact rates, stabilized defensive positioning, and everyday at-bats on a rebuilding Athletics roster. That combination often leads to hobby rediscovery, particularly when collectors revisit older Bowman checklists looking for late developers.
From a collector standpoint, this is exactly the type of player whose Bowman 1st autos remain affordable during the uncertainty phase. If the hit tool progresses even modestly, the combination of pedigree, opportunity, and positional value could allow his cards to age much better than current pricing suggests.
Bowman 1st Auto Value Trends: 2022–Present
| Player | 2022 (Release) | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Present (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colson Montgomery | $75–$110 | $90–$140 | $100–$160 | $120–$200 | $150–$250 |
| Max Muncy (A’s) | $50–$80 | $60–$100 | $75–$120 | $90–$150 | $110–$180 |
Collector Perspective on the Underrated Tier
The underrated section of a Bowman class is often where long-term value actually emerges. The market tends to overreact to early success and underreact to slow development curves. Players like Montgomery and Muncy sit squarely in that window, not headline names today, but still carrying enough skill and opportunity to matter in future hobby cycles.
For collectors who enjoy playing the long game, these are the profiles worth monitoring as 2026 approaches. Early struggles tend to suppress prices, but they also create buying windows before adjustments and opportunity change perception.
Rookie Autographs That Add Unexpected Value to 2022 Bowman
While Bowman is traditionally viewed as a prospect-driven product built around future upside, the 2022 release also benefits from a small group of rookie autographs that have aged extremely well. As the product matures, these rookies help stabilize long-term collector interest because they offer proven MLB production rather than projection alone.
The most significant example is Cal Raleigh, whose performance since reaching the majors has elevated his rookie autos from secondary chase pieces into legitimate cornerstone cards within the set. Jarren Duran also represents an interesting case study — a player whose MLB production and athletic profile have created hobby relevance even without traditional superstar expectations.
Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners)
Cal Raleigh’s emergence has been one of the most important developments for the long-term strength of the 2022 Bowman checklist. What began as a power-first catcher profile has evolved into one of the most valuable overall players in baseball.
His 2025 season was historically significant, not just for a catcher but across the league. Raleigh finished the year with 60 home runs, 125 RBIs, a .948 OPS, and roughly 7+ WAR, placing him among the most valuable players in the sport and putting him in MVP-level territory.
From a historical perspective, seasons approaching or exceeding eight WAR at catcher are extraordinarily rare, placing Raleigh’s performance in the same conversation as elite peak seasons from names like Johnny Bench and Mike Piazza.
What separates Raleigh from many offensive catchers of the past is durability combined with impact. He has demonstrated the ability to carry middle-of-the-order production while maintaining everyday workload behind the plate — something that historically accelerates both player legacy and hobby demand.
Entering 2026, there is now argument that Raleigh has cemented himself as the best catcher in baseball. The combination of elite power, improving on-base skills, defensive value, and positional scarcity gives his rookie autographs an unusually strong long-term foundation. In a hobby that often prioritizes projection, Raleigh represents the rare Bowman rookie auto that has already delivered full MLB validation.
For collectors revisiting 2022 Bowman, his presence significantly raises the floor of the product. Even if prospect outcomes vary over time, having a historically productive catcher anchored in the checklist ensures lasting relevance.
Jarren Duran (Boston Red Sox)
Jarren Duran represents a different kind of rookie value within the product. His appeal is less about traditional power upside and more about how modern analytics increasingly value speed, versatility, and run creation.
Duran’s breakout stretch across 2024 and 2025 showed just how impactful his skill set can be when everything is working. He produced a near 9-WAR season in 2024, combining extra-base hit ability with elite speed and run scoring, before settling into another productive campaign in 2025.
One of the most unique aspects of Duran’s profile is his gap power and ability to generate triples. At one point during his recent run, he recorded more triples over a multi-season stretch than several entire teams combined — a reflection of both speed and aggressive baserunning that translates directly into real on-field value.
He also made history by becoming the first player since the All-Star Game era began to reach 25 doubles, 10 triples, and 15 stolen bases before the All-Star break in consecutive seasons.
From a collector standpoint, Duran’s rookie autos benefit from consistency rather than hype cycles. Players who provide everyday value through speed, defense, and extra-base production tend to maintain steady hobby interest, especially when they remain lineup fixtures on competitive teams. While he may not carry the ceiling of elite power hitters, his all-around production keeps his rookie cards relevant within the set.
Why Rookie Autos Matter in a Prospect Product
The inclusion of productive rookie autographs adds an important layer to 2022 Bowman. Prospect autos drive initial excitement, but proven MLB performance is what sustains long-term collector confidence. Raleigh provides star-level validation at a premium defensive position, while Duran offers a modern example of how athleticism and versatility translate into sustained value.
As the checklist continues to age, these rookie autos help bridge the gap between projection and production — one of the reasons 2022 Bowman continues to look stronger with each passing season.
Final Collector Perspective
Looking back at 2022 Bowman now, the product has clearly moved beyond prospect speculation. Elly De La Cruz, Jackson Chourio, and James Wood have already provided MLB validation at the top of the checklist, while names like Montgomery and Muncy keep the long-term intrigue alive. This is a set that I always keep an eye out for, since is it full of established value with still room to grow in the future.
That balance is what makes certain Bowman releases age well. Some stars emerge early. Others take longer to reveal their value.
For collectors willing to play the long game, that second group is often where the best opportunities still exist.
Is there anyone from the 2022 Bowman class you’re still holding heading into 2026 and do you think they have yet to break out? Or have they not even reached their ceiling yet?
Leave a Reply