2024’s Most Graded MLB Rookie and Prospect Baseball Cards

• Posted: November 24, 2024, 1:58 pm
• in Sports Card News
• by bionic

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Baseball card grading offers a fascinating glimpse into the players capturing the hearts of collectors. Through the first 10 months of 2024, Elly De La Cruz has dominated as the most-graded rookie, reflecting his meteoric rise in the hobby. Behind him, National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes and top prospect Jackson Holliday have also drawn significant attention, according to data from Gemrate.com analyzed by Baseball America.

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Rookie Grading Trends​

“Elly was the big chase in 2024, and his supply highlights that,” said Ryan Stuczynski, founder of Gemrate. By November 4, 93,194 Elly De La Cruz cards had been graded, placing him well ahead of most of his peers. Meanwhile, American League MVP Aaron Judge saw 75,545 cards graded, a testament to his continued appeal.
But no one has come close to matching the dominance of National League MVP Shohei Ohtani, who saw a staggering 231,783 cards graded in just the first 10 months of 2024. Ohtani’s incredible popularity has propelled him to the second spot in all-time baseball card grading with 740,000 graded cards, trailing only Ken Griffey Jr.
“Grading activity for Ohtani is unlike anything we’ve seen in the baseball category,” Stuczynski explained. If only 2024’s grading numbers were considered, Ohtani would still rank as the 15th most-graded baseball player of all time.

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Top Prospects Making Waves​

Among Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects, Jasson Dominguez led the pack in total cards graded, followed by Dylan Crews and Walker Jenkins. These numbers underscore the growing anticipation around baseball’s next generation of stars. The card market’s responsiveness to top prospects suggests strong demand for players who could shape the future of the game.

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Grading Data Sources​

The statistics come from the hobby’s four leading grading companies:

• PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator)
• ISA (International Sports Authentication)
• BGS (Beckett Grading Services)
• SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corporation)
• CGC (Certified Guaranty Company)

Each company contributes to the growing database of graded cards, which provides collectors and investors with valuable insights into market trends.

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Why Grading Trends Matter​

Grading activity is a key indicator of player popularity and market potential. Rookies like Elly De La Cruz and Paul Skenes, alongside prospects such as Jasson Dominguez, are prime examples of players whose performance and hype are driving interest among collectors. Meanwhile, established stars like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge continue to anchor the market, setting benchmarks for card value and demand.
For collectors, staying informed about grading trends can help identify investment opportunities and predict the players who might dominate the hobby in the years to come. As 2024 unfolds, the data shows a clear hierarchy of rookies, prospects, and MVPs shaping the future of baseball card collecting.