Three rookies are making noise in the National League, and their cards are already drawing plenty of attention from collectors. JJ Wetherholt, Sal Stewart, and Nolan McLean have each pushed themselves into the Rookie of the Year conversation while giving fans and hobbyists a few chase-worthy cardboard options along the way.
Wetherholt, the St. Louis Cardinals infielder, has wasted no time making his presence felt.
Taken No. 7 in the first round of the 2024 MLB draft out of West Virginia, he opened the 2026 season with a home run in his first game and then followed that with a walk-off home run in his third big league game. He has kept rolling since then and is currently the favorite for NL ROY.
His strongest card market is built around 2025 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autograph versions. The biggest sale tied to Wetherholt is a Red Refractor Auto /5 in a BGS 9, which sold for $14,989 according to Card Ladder.
For collectors looking for something a little more reachable, the 2026 Topps Baseball Series 2 short print has already shown up on the market, with one copy selling for $26.95 on July 16, 2026 through eBay according to Card Ladder. That same set also includes a super short print version, and one sold for $137.50 on July 15, per Card Ladder information.
Stewart’s rise has been just as notable for Cincinnati. The Reds selected the infielder No. 32 overall in the 2022 MLB draft, brought him up to the majors in September of 2025, and then watched him earn his first MLB All-Star Game selection in 2026.
His top card sale so far comes from the 2022 Bowman Draft Chrome Superfractor, a 1-of-1 that brought in $20,000 on April 15. For the Reds, Stewart has become another important young name to watch, and his card market reflects that momentum.
McLean gives the Mets a different kind of bright spot. While New York’s season has not delivered what they hoped for, their young pitcher has stood out anyway.
Drafted in the third round of the 2023 draft by the Mets as a two-way player, McLean is now a full-time pitcher, and collectors have taken notice. His top sale is a 2023 Bowman Chrome Draft Superfractor Auto 1-of-1 BGS 9.5, which sold for $50,400 according to Card Ladder.
The card even shows McLean at the plate, a reminder of the two-way profile that helped make him such an intriguing prospect in the first place.
With the All-Star Game now in the rearview mirror and the 2026 season settling into its final stretch, rookies like these are the ones giving teams and collectors a reason to look ahead.
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