Bowman Draft Sapphire sits in a sweet spot for collectors: it’s the first pro card platform for top prospects, but with the crystal-like chrome finish and hobby-exclusive setup, the cards can climb into serious money fast. Each box comes with eight packs of four cards apiece, and on average collectors get one autograph and three numbered cards per box, plus a 200-player checklist and Sapphire Selection inserts.
At the top of the market, Paul Skenes owns the biggest sale on the board. His first Bowman Sapphire, numbered to five and graded PSA 10, brought in $53,680 on Nov.
1, 2025. The 2023 draftee and 2024 Rookie of the Year has since gone on to unanimously win the National League Cy Young Award in 2025, though his third season has been shaky.
His ERA from last season is up to almost four, his hits per nine are rising, and his strikeouts are on pace for his last season’s total.
Skenes shows up again with the second-highest sale, another card that sold for $38,000 on Mar. 31, 2026. The Sapphire Selections insert Superfractor is about as elusive as it gets, with odds of 1-in-8,044 packs.
The one-of-one status in Sapphire products belongs to the Padparadscha, the rare pinkish sapphire that carries the kind of value hobbyists chase. Cam Smith’s 2024 autograph, graded PSA 10, sold for $37,332 on Mar.
29, 2025. Smith was traded to the Houston Astros for Kyle Tucker before making an MLB start, and once he arrived in Houston, the club brought him up to the Majors.
He flashed in his rookie campaign, then cooled off a bit in his sophomore season, but at 23 he still looks like a player with star upside.
That same card tells the grading story in a big way. A PSA 10 version sold for $21,000 more than the PSA 9 copy, which went for $32,400 on Dec. 19, 2025.
Wyatt Langford’s Padparadscha also cracked the list. The Texas Rangers outfielder is in his third season and, while he’s not stacking superstar numbers, he remains an important piece for the club.
His autographed Padparadscha, graded SGC 10, sold for $32,000 on Jun. 15, 2025.
The Pirates, meanwhile, have two names to watch in Skenes and Konnor Griffin. Griffin, the 20-year-old shortstop, is coming off an injury in his rookie season, which takes Rookie of the Year off the table.
His Red Sapphire autograph, graded PSA 9, sold for $25,000 on Apr. 17, 2026.
In Other News...
Pirates Closing In On Two Veteran Returns At The Perfect Time
The Pirates are getting closer to having two experienced pieces back at a time when every healthy bat and arm matters. Ryan OHearn is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis as he works his way back from a left quad strain, a sign that his return to the lineup is moving into its next phase. For a club trying to stabilize its roster down the stretch, getting a veteran contributor through that final ramp-up is a welcome development.
In the bullpen, the outlook for Kirby Yates is also trending in the right direction. General manager Ben Cherington said the veteran reliever could be back from the injured list around September 15 after dealing with a right shoulder impingement, giving Pittsburgh a target to circle as it looks to shore up late-game depth. Both players have already mattered to the Pirates this season, and their returns would come at exactly the kind of moment the team can use a boost. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates May Be Telling Fans Exactly How They View Nick Gonzales
Nick Gonzales has been one of the more interesting lineup puzzles for the Pirates lately, and the way they are handling him says plenty about where they think his value lies right now. His bat has stayed loud, with a batting average over .300 and production that has stacked up well by advanced measures, but Pittsburgh has also been careful not to overexpose him in the field after defensive metrics have painted a rough picture, especially at third base.
So the compromise has been to lean on him at designated hitter more often while mixing in infield reps based on matchups and rest needs elsewhere. It is a practical approach, and one that helps the Pirates keep his offense in the lineup without forcing him into every defensive spot, which makes the arrangement feel less like a temporary shuffle and more like a clear indicator of how the club is viewing him for now. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates May Have Found A Catcher Who Changes Their Timeline
Axiel Plaz spent the summer turning heads at High-A Greensboro, where the Pirates catching prospect not only earned South Atlantic League Player of the Week honors but also backed it up with a run of strong at-bats. The production stood out because it was not limited to one setting or one hot streak, with Plaz showing steady performance at home and on the road while taking a clear step forward from earlier seasons.
For a Pirates system always hunting for impact talent, that kind of progress can matter as much as the raw numbers. Plaz is already viewed as one of the organizations top power-hitting catching prospects, and the development path now points toward a start to 2027 in Double-A, a sign that his rise could move faster than expected if this level of offense keeps holding. [Read more 🡒]