Which 2026 MLB Debut Patches will be worth the most?
Jacob Misiorowski is our pick for the top card, most likely $600K, with Cam Schlittler a close second. The twenty cards below are our call on the leaders of the 198-card set, made before the boxes open; together they come to $3.56M most likely, $2.42M to $5.50M. Every range is tied to one of the 10 recorded MLB Debut Patch sales; the method is under the table.
The top 20
In our order. Click a column to re-sort. The six factor scores are out of 10; the weighted total is out of 10. The range is what we expect the card to bring at its first public sale, graded, at auction.
| # | Player | Score | Most likely | Low | High | Factors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob MisiorowskiMilwaukee Brewers · RDPA-JMI | 8.2 | $600K | $400K | $900K | Season 10 · Market 4 · Reach 7 · Hobby 8 · Card 9 · Postseason 10 Comp: Nick Kurtz $516K (ROY) and above. 15-5, 1.86 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 13.1 K/9; NL Cy Young case. Four postseason starts, 2-0, 1.89 ERA, and the scoreless World Series Game 5 clincher for the first title in Brewers history. His 2026 Chrome Red Design Variation /5 lists at $2,999.99, the most expensive card in Chrome Black. |
| 2 | Cam SchlittlerNew York Yankees · RDPA-CSC | 8.2 | $500K | $350K | $800K | Season 10 · Market 10 · Reach 6 · Hobby 7 · Card 9 · Postseason 4 Comp: Nick Kurtz $516K (ROY) with the Yankees premium. 14-6, 1.94 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 11.0 K/9 by one count, 16-9, 2.36 with 285 K by another; AL Cy Young case either way. All-Star. Yankees swept in the ALDS. Highest-priced base in 2026 Chrome Black at $15.50; Gold /50 at $310. |
| 3 | Roman AnthonyBoston Red Sox · RDPA-RA | 7.3 | $375K | $250K | $600K | Season 5 · Market 9 · Reach 9 · Hobby 10 · Card 8 · Postseason 3 Comp: Jackson Holliday $198K to Nick Kurtz $516K. The set's headline name coming in. Torn finger ligament May 4 cost three months; 12 HR, .272 through mid-September. All-WBC team with the semifinal-winning homer. $10 base in Chrome Black on a lost season. A healthy spring moves this up fast. |
| 4 | Kevin McGonigleDetroit Tigers · RDPA-KM | 7.1 | $350K | $250K | $500K | Season 9 · Market 6 · Reach 5 · Hobby 9 · Card 9 · Postseason 1 Comp: Nick Kurtz $516K without the four-homer night. .276/.376/.425, 17 HR, 12 SB, 6.7 bWAR, the AL Rookie of the Year favorite and Baseball America's number one rookie. Second-priciest rookie base in 2026 Chrome at $2.88. Tigers missed the postseason. |
| 5 | Munetaka MurakamiChicago White Sox · RDPA-MM | 6.5 | $225K | $150K | $350K | Season 6 · Market 5 · Reach 10 · Hobby 8 · Card 6 · Postseason 4 Comp: Shota Imanaga $83K scaled for a far bigger name. 35 HR and 92 walks against .207 and 196 strikeouts. The only household name in Japan in this set, which is a second bidder pool the stats do not describe. Wild Card win, ALDS exit. No base figure found for the card market. |
| 6 | Konnor GriffinPittsburgh Pirates · RDPA-KG | 6.3 | $225K | $150K | $350K | Season 5 · Market 4 · Reach 7 · Hobby 9 · Card 10 · Postseason 1 Comp: Jackson Holliday $198K. Debuted April 3 at 19 and signed a nine-year deal days later; .272/.324/.404, 6 HR, 23 SB in 80 games. Priciest rookie base in 2026 Chrome at $3.23 despite the half season. The hobby has already decided he is next. |
| 7 | Sal StewartCincinnati Reds · RDPA-SS | 6.2 | $250K | $150K | $400K | Season 10 · Market 4 · Reach 5 · Hobby 7 · Card 6 · Postseason 1 Comp: James Wood $162K to Wyatt Langford $183K today; McGonigle's range if he wins ROY. 32 HR, 110 RBI (led MLB), 164 hits, all 162 games; NL Rookie of the Year favorite. Base card $1.60, eighth among the set's rookies: the market has not caught up to the season. The widest gap between production and price on this list. |
| 8 | JJ WetherholtSt. Louis Cardinals · RDPA-WE | 6.0 | $130K | $90K | $200K | Season 7 · Market 6 · Reach 4 · Hobby 7 · Card 8 · Postseason 1 Comp: Wyatt Langford $183K. .240/.339/.365, 17 HR, 14 SB, 4.6 bWAR; NL ROY runner-up. Third-priciest rookie base at $2.73. |
| 9 | Nolan McLeanNew York Mets · RDPA-NM | 5.8 | $120K | $80K | $180K | Season 8 · Market 9 · Reach 4 · Hobby 5 · Card 5 · Postseason 1 Comp: James Wood $162K. About 200 strikeouts; 2.16 ERA over his last 13 starts. Mets market. Base card past the Sportlots cutoff, no figure. |
| 10 | Jac CaglianoneKansas City Royals · RDPA-JCA | 5.7 | $140K | $100K | $200K | Season 6 · Market 4 · Reach 8 · Hobby 7 · Card 6 · Postseason 1 Comp: James Wood $162K. .289/.340/.494, 23 HR in 143 games. The following from his Florida days outruns the season. Base $1.85, Chrome Black $5.25. |
| 11 | Trey YesavageToronto Blue Jays · RDPA-TY | 5.2 | $100K | $70K | $150K | Season 5 · Market 7 · Reach 5 · Hobby 6 · Card 6 · Postseason 1 Comp: Jackson Chourio $105K. 3.69 ERA in 20 starts, 97 K, knee surgery in September. The October 2025 run is still what people remember. Rose Gold Mini-Diamond /10 at $850 shows the low-numbered demand. |
| 12 | Parker MessickCleveland Guardians · RDPA-PM | 5.2 | $75K | $50K | $120K | Season 9 · Market 4 · Reach 3 · Hobby 4 · Card 3 · Postseason 7 Comp: Junior Caminero $66K. 12-9, 2.55 ERA, 183 IP, 6.2 bWAR; AL ROY runner-up. Started Game 1 of the ALDS and Game 2 of the ALCS. Base card $0.94: the best season in this band and the least hobby interest. |
| 13 | Kazuma OkamotoToronto Blue Jays · RDPA-KO | 5.2 | $90K | $60K | $150K | Season 6 · Market 7 · Reach 8 · Hobby 5 · Card 3 · Postseason 1 Comp: Shota Imanaga $83K. 33 HR, .232, .762 OPS, the Blue Jays' lone power source. Japanese demand with a dead card market: base $0.72. |
| 14 | Carson BengeNew York Mets · RDPA-CA | 5.0 | $70K | $50K | $110K | Season 7 · Market 9 · Reach 3 · Hobby 4 · Card 4 · Postseason 1 Comp: Junior Caminero $66K. 16 HR, 19 SB, .296/.352/.444 over his last 100 games; NL ROY contender. Base $1.11. |
| 15 | Bryce EldridgeSan Francisco Giants · RDPA-BE | 4.8 | $70K | $50K | $110K | Season 5 · Market 7 · Reach 5 · Hobby 6 · Card 4 · Postseason 1 Comp: Junior Caminero $66K. 15 HR in 93 games, 26% K rate. No base figure found. |
| 16 | Chase DeLauterCleveland Guardians · RDPA-CDL | 4.5 | $50K | $35K | $80K | Season 7 · Market 4 · Reach 3 · Hobby 3 · Card 3 · Postseason 6 Comp: Marcelo Mayer $54K. 125 hits, 60 RBI, .812 OPS; ALCS with Cleveland. |
| 17 | Tatsuya ImaiHouston Astros · RDPA-TI | 4.2 | $55K | $40K | $90K | Season 3 · Market 6 · Reach 8 · Hobby 3 · Card 3 · Postseason 3 Comp: Shota Imanaga $83K discounted for the season. 6-4, 4.93 ERA, 97 K in 76.2 IP; moved to the bullpen. Wild Card exit. |
| 18 | Samuel BasalloBaltimore Orioles · RDPA-SB | 3.9 | $55K | $40K | $90K | Season 3 · Market 6 · Reach 4 · Hobby 6 · Card 3 · Postseason 1 Comp: Marcelo Mayer $54K. .212 career average through September 8; shoulder inflammation IL stint. Extension signed; the pedigree is intact, the season was not. |
| 19 | Bubba ChandlerPittsburgh Pirates · RDPA-BC | 3.8 | $50K | $35K | $75K | Season 4 · Market 4 · Reach 5 · Hobby 6 · Card 2 · Postseason 1 Comp: Marcelo Mayer $54K. 8-10, 4.62 ERA over 154 IP in 30 starts. Base $0.45. |
| 20 | TJ RumfieldColorado Rockies · RDPA-TJR | 3.0 | $30K | $20K | $45K | Season 7 · Market 2 · Reach 2 · Hobby 2 · Card 1 · Postseason 1 Comp: Below any recorded MLB comp; NBA second-round range. 120 wRC+ through August, 14 HR, 63 RBI. Base $0.32. A name nobody expected on a rookie list. |
The comps: every recorded MLB Debut Patch sale
From the sales ledger. The shape is what sets the ranges: a Rookie of the Year with a story is $500K to $1.1M, a top prospect with a real season is $150K to $200K, a top prospect with a quiet season is $50K to $100K, and the floor for a name anyone knows has been about $50K.
| Card | Set | Price | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Skenes | 2024 Chrome Update | $1.11M | 2025-03-21 | Fanatics Collect |
| Pete Crow-Armstrong | 2024 Chrome Update | $1.10M | 2026-09-29 | Goldin |
| Nick Kurtz | 2025 Chrome Update | $516K | 2026-01-23 | Fanatics Collect |
| Jackson Holliday | 2024 Chrome Update | $198K | 2025-03-21 | Fanatics Collect |
| Wyatt Langford | 2024 Chrome Update | $183K | 2025-06 | Goldin |
| James Wood | 2025 Chrome Update | $162K | 2026-04-17 | Fanatics Collect |
| Jackson Chourio | 2024 Chrome Update | $105K | 2024-12 | Private sale |
| Shota Imanaga | 2024 Chrome Update | $83K | 2025-04 | Goldin |
| Junior Caminero | 2024 Chrome Update | $66K | 2024-12-20 | Fanatics Collect |
| Marcelo Mayer | 2025 Chrome Update | $54K | 2026-01-22 | Fanatics Collect |
How the ranking is built
Six factors, scored 1 to 10, weighted: season 25%, team market 15%, reach 15%, hobby demand 15%, card market 20%, postseason 10%.
Season is the 2026 line and the awards case. Team market is the size of the fan base that buys the team’s cards; the Yankees are a 10. Reach is the player’s following beyond his team, including the Japanese market for Murakami, Okamoto and Imai. Hobby demand is how collectors treated the player before the set, anchored on Cardlines’ August guide to this set’s rookies and the chase lists. Card market is what his 2026 Topps Chrome cards list for today (Sportlots base values, SportsCardsPro for the Chrome Black parallels). Postseason is how far his team went and whether he mattered when it did.
The price range is not computed from the score. Each card is matched to the recorded MLB sale it most resembles, named in its row, and the range is set around that comp: low is what a quiet first sale would bring, high is what a graded card at a major auction after a strong offseason could reach.
This page is written before the set is out, so it is a prediction, not a measurement. When a 2026 card sells, it goes on the ledger and this page notes it against the call. Nothing in the table is adjusted after the fact; the point is to be checkable.
What this leaves out
Timing. Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 2024 card sold for $1.1M in September 2026, after a breakout year, not the week it was pulled; a Stewart or Griffin card held for a season could double. Grading: the biggest MLB sales were PSA 9s at auction with a buyer’s premium, and a raw card sells below these ranges until it is slabbed. The awards: Rookie of the Year is announced in November and will move the Stewart, McGonigle, Messick and Wetherholt rows. And the 178 cards not on this list: several will surprise, as Kurtz did last year.
The MLB Debut Patch trackerWhich ones are still out thereEvery recorded saleThe NBA estimates
These are predictions from public results and public sales, nothing more: not an appraisal, not an offer, not advice on what to pay or accept. A one-of-one sells for what one buyer will pay on one day. Spotted a sale that should be in the ledger? Tell me and the next build will use it.