As the winter months draw to a close, baseball fans around the world eagerly anticipate the start of Spring Training. This annual tradition marks the beginning of a new season, as players from all 30 Major League Baseball (MLB) teams gather in sunny locations across Florida and Arizona to prepare for the grueling six-month marathon ahead. From rookies vying for a roster spot to veterans honing their skills, Spring Training provides an opportunity for players to fine-tune their abilities, build camaraderie with teammates, and showcase their talents before the regular season begins. For fans, Spring Training offers a chance to catch a glimpse of their favorite players in a more relaxed, intimate setting, and to soak up the excitement and anticipation that comes with the start of a new baseball season.
Corbin Carroll has the potential to be a standout rookie for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the upcoming 2023 MLB season. As a first-round draft pick in 2019, Carroll has emerged as one of the top prospects in the Diamondbacks’ farm system. His impressive skill set includes a combination of speed, power, and excellent defensive skills. Carroll has already showcased his speed and base-running abilities, stealing 18 bases in the minor leagues in 2019. He is also a strong outfielder with a powerful arm, making him a valuable asset to the team. Carroll’s advanced approach at the plate and good eye for pitches give him the potential to be a dynamic force in the MLB for years to come. Corbin doesn’t have an official rookie card yet but his 1/1 Superfractor did sell for $9,812 in July of 2022 for his biggest card to date.
Gunner Henderson is a favorite for the AL Rookie of the Year in the 2023 MLB season as a shortstop in the Baltimore Orioles organization. Drafted in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft, Henderson has quickly become one of the top prospects in the Orioles’ farm system and made his debut in 2023 Topps Series 1 release. His remarkable combination of hitting ability, power, and defensive skills make him stand out from the rest. Henderson has a smooth, compact swing, and the ability to make consistent contact with the ball. He also has good power potential and excellent defensive skills, with good range, soft hands, and a strong arm. If he continues to develop his abilities, Henderson has the potential to be a key contributor for the Orioles in the upcoming season and beyond.
Francisco Álvarez, a catcher in the New York Mets organization, has the potential to be a standout rookie in the 2023 MLB season. Álvarez was signed as an international free agent in 2018 and has quickly risen to become one of the top prospects in the Mets’ farm system. In 42 games with the Brooklyn Cyclones of the Single-A Short Season New York-Penn League, Alvarez hit an impressive .312 with 7 home runs and 26 RBI. He also showed excellent plate discipline, walking 18 times while striking out just 23 times. Alvarez’s strong performance earned him a promotion to the Full-Season Single-A Columbia Fireflies, where he continued to impress, hitting .250 with 2 home runs and 9 RBI in just 18 games before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 21-year-old catcher has already shown tremendous promise and looks poised to become one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball.
Jordan Walker, a third baseman in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, is expected to be an exciting rookie to watch in the 2023 MLB season. Drafted in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft, Walker has quickly emerged as one of the top prospects in the Cardinals’ farm system. In 2021, he played in 39 games across two levels, hitting an impressive .284 with a .902 OPS. He showed his power potential by smashing nine home runs and driving in 26 RBIs in just 146 plate appearances. Despite being only 19 years old, he demonstrated patience at the plate, walking 16 times and striking out 39 times. In the field, he displayed his range and strong arm, committing only four errors in 122 chances at third base. Walker’s impressive stats suggest he has the potential to be a star in the MLB and Cardinals fans have much to look forward to in his rookie season.
Anthony Volpe, a shortstop in the New York Yankees organization, is set to make his debut as an exciting rookie to watch in the 2023 MLB season. Volpe was a first-round draft pick in 2019 and has quickly risen through the Yankees’ farm system, showcasing impressive skills on both sides of the ball. Competing for the starting shortstop job with incumbent Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Oswald Peraza, and Oswaldo Cabrera, 21-year-old Anthony Volpe faces a tough challenge. While the other three candidates ended last season in the big leagues, with each earning at least one playoff start at shortstop, Volpe finished his year by playing 22 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Despite his delayed arrival to the big leagues, Volpe’s potential remains high, making him an intriguing player to watch this spring. With his on-field abilities and strong character, Volpe is regarded as Baseball America’s No. 14-overall prospect. Last season, Volpe primarily played at Double-A Somerset, amassing 21 home runs, 50 stolen bases, and a .802 OPS over 132 games, hitting .249. Although his readiness for the major leagues is still in question, the Yankees remain optimistic about Volpe’s future in the sport.
Collecting rookie cards is a fun and exciting hobby for baseball fans and collectors alike. It allows you to own a piece of history and potentially invest in a player’s future success. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of discovering a hidden gem or watching a rookie player become a star. So whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting out, be sure to keep an eye out for those coveted rookie cards and enjoy the thrill of the chase!