The 2026 rookie class has already produced a rare kind of hobby heat, with three names clearing the 30-homer mark and sending their cards into the spotlight.
Konnor Griffin’s arrival came early in the season, as the Pirates called him up on April 3 at their home opener. From there, the more eye-catching story has been what Munetaka Murakami, Sal Stewart, and Kazuma Okamoto have done with the bat. All three have reached at least 30 home runs in their rookie seasons, and each has a card market that reflects the surge.
Murakami entered the season with plenty of attention after his international breakout in 2023, when he made his World Baseball Classic debut and helped Team Japan win the tournament with a walk-off double against Mexico in the semifinals and a home run in the finals against Team USA. The White Sox signed the power hitter, now called the Southside Samurai, to a two-year deal, and both sides appear happy enough that a longer extension could be next.
He sits at 31 home runs in his rookie campaign. The biggest sale tied to one of his cards came on August 15, 2026, when his Superfractor Bowman Chrome Anime insert brought $92,720.
For collectors who aren’t chasing the ultra-rare stuff, Murakami’s market still has a more reachable lane. His Topps Chrome Radiating Rookie insert is going for around $160. The pull rates are steep either way, at 1:480 hobby packs and 1:192 jumbo packs.
Okamoto has pushed even farther, leading all rookies with 32 home runs. He and Murakami have both moved past Shohei Ohtani for the most rookie home runs by a Japanese-born player, with Ohtani previously at 22.
Okamoto’s Kanji Anime insert sold for $7,500 on June 4, 2026. His rookie autograph cards are mostly redemptions, though 2026 Panini Prizm autographs are available for roughly $50.
Stewart has carved out a major role in the Reds’ lineup, pairing 31 home runs with 107 runs batted in, which ranks second in all of baseball. His top card sale came when a PSA 8 1st Bowman Chrome Superfractor sold for $20,000 on April 15, 2026.
That price has been matched, too: his Topps Chrome Superfractor autograph also sold for $20,000 on August 20, 2026. Not every Stewart card lives in that range, of course.
A Topps Tribute numbered to 199 can be had for about $100 right now.
In Other News...
Chris Getz Hinted At A White Sox Draft Reset Fans Should Watch
The White Soxs scouting operation is in the spotlight again after amateur scouting director Mike Shirley resigned amid an internal investigation tied to allegations of verbal harassment involving inappropriate racial and sexist comments. Shirley had been placed on administrative leave in August after an anonymous tip, and his departure came after an HR investigation, leaving another significant change at a department that plays a major role in the clubs long-term rebuild.
General manager Chris Getz has already hinted that the scouting setup may not look the same going forward, though he has not gone into detail about Shirleys exit. For a team trying to reshape its pipeline and restore some stability, the next move in that department matters almost as much as the departure itself, because the White Sox are now left to decide how they want to structure the group responsible for finding the next wave of talent. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Prospects Headed To Arizona Could Shape Chicagos Next Wave
The White Sox have settled on the group headed to the Arizona Fall League, and it gives a useful snapshot of where some of the organizations next interesting names stand. Pitchers Nick Altermatt, Jonathan Clark, Pierce George, Mathias LaCombe and Garrett Wright will be joined by catcher Grant Magill, infielders Anthony DePino and Colby Shelton and outfielder Caleb Bonemer, a mix that reflects both depth and a few players pushing to separate themselves from the pack.
For Chicago, the Fall League is less about the standings than the stage. Relievers Pierce George and Mathias LaCombe, along with Bonemer in the outfield, are among the prospects worth tracking after recent minor league showings, and this next stretch will let them test themselves against other top young talent. It is the kind of assignment that can quietly shape how a farm system is viewed, especially for a club still building its next wave. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Get A Colson Montgomery Scare At The Worst Time
Colson Montgomery gave the White Sox a scare in the middle of a game against the Guardians when he was hit on the forearm by a pitch and later left with a left wrist contusion. The good news came quickly after the game, when Chicago announced that X-rays were negative and Montgomery was listed day-to-day, but anytime a young player exits with a wrist issue, it tends to hang over the clubhouse for a bit.
Montgomerys timing hardly could be worse for a White Sox team trying to keep its playoff hopes alive, especially with the infielder already having a tough season at the plate. Chicago has been trying to piece together offense wherever it can find it, and now it has to wait and see how much time Montgomery might miss before figuring out what his absence could mean in the days ahead. [Read more 🡒]