Jackson Holliday, Jackson Chourio, Paul Skenes highlight top 2024 MLB prospects, rookie cards to watch

Another baseball season is in full swing. Once again, there are plenty of exciting prospects and rookies that can potentially make a name for themselves over the course of the year.

The player who has garnered the most attention in baseball circles coming into the 2024 season has been Baltimore Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday.

The 20-year-old Texas native—son of seven-time MLB All-Star Matt Holliday and nephew to Oklahoma State baseball coach Josh Holliday—is the latest budding star to emerge from the Orioles minor-league system. In fact, Holliday sets the trend for another season where power hitting and speed are again highly valued when it comes to the biggest MLB rookies.

Also See: Top MLB rookie cards to chase in 2024 

“Holliday does a lot of things well, but it's his advanced hitting ability that stands out the most and is the primary reason he ranks No. 1 on our Top 100 Prospects list,” said MLB Pipeline/MLB.com senior writer Jim Callis. “He also has plus power and plus speed and will provide solid defense at a middle-infield position. He's one of the more impressive young players I've seen, especially with his ability to make quality contact at such a young age.”

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This is the time of year when rookie cards of players can appreciate significantly in value depending on how they perform on the field. A combination of statistical brilliance and a dose of hype can help card prices skyrocket in a short amount of time.

Unlike those who collect vintage cards, these newer cards feature volatile prices and plenty of speculation. This season, Holliday comes after the Orioles unleashed stars Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, two of the biggest rookies to emerge last year. Henderson was named AL Rookie of the Year. But Holliday’s quick ascent—from a high school star just a few years ago on USA Baseball’s Under-18 team to AAA star—led him to be named Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year. It all bodes well for the Orioles and hobbyists looking to add Holliday to their collections.

Holliday, chosen No. 1 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, hit .267 with a .796 OPS for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides in 2023, capping a remarkable season where he played at four levels and overall hit .323/.442/.499/.941 with 30 doubles, nine triples, 12 homers, 24 steals, 154 hits, 101 walks, 113 runs and 75 RBIs.

UPDATE: After another hot start in Triple-A, Holliday was called up to the majors in mid-April but was sent back down after collecting just one hit in his first 34 big-league at-bats. 

“The Orioles have hit on their top-five draft picks like Adley Rutschman and Holliday, but they've also done a great job of finding players later in the draft and developing them to maximize their potential,” Callis said.

Also See: Collecting autographs and watching baseball at 2024 Spring Training 

Jackson Chourio, part of another emerging trend featuring Brewers prospects, is the other big name, especially if hitting and speed is your thing. Chourio, a hulking center fielder, put up some big numbers in the minors last year. In 122 games with the Biloxi Shuckers, the AA Brewers affiliate, Chourio blasted 22 home runs with 89 RBIs. He also stole 41 bases thanks to his speed, becoming the first AA player to hit 20 home runs and steal 40 bases since 2005.

“Holliday is our No. 1 prospect and has more pure hitting ability, but Chourio at No. 2 is a more electric talent,” Callis said. “He's going to wow you with his power/speed combination, and he's also an advanced hitter and a fine center fielder. He's a potential 30-30 center fielder who's going to make his big-league debut just after turning 20.”

Also See: Shohei rookie cards, 2024 MLB prospects highlight eBay Marquee Auction

At No. 3, according to Callis, is pitching phenom and Pittsburgh Pirates’ right-hander Paul Skenes, the only hurler to crack the list’s first 22 spots. Like the hobby, pitchers are not getting much love entering the 2024 season.

“That wasn't a conscious decision to prioritize hitters over pitchers. I think it just speaks to where the talent in the minors is at right now,” Callis said. “There are so many gifted young position players, while so many of the best pitching prospects have dealt with injuries in the last year or so. The last two drafts have been much deeper in hitters than healthy pitchers.”

But Skenes—a college standout with Air Force and later LSU—helped the Tigers win the 2023 College World Series. Skenes was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player. His recent performances, coupled with his time in the minors last season, have earned him widespread praise and hype.

“That said, Skenes ranks with Stephen Strasburg as the best pitching prospect in the draft since it began in 1965,” Callis added.

Also See: 2024 Topps Series 1 kicks off baseball with electric, new design 

At No. 4, Callis said there is more hitting power—and one collectors may be familiar with. Indeed, Junior Caminero could very well be this season’s breakout star. He made his MLB debut last season, following a strong year in the minors, and brings to the Tampa Bay Rays plenty of hitting power. In 34 at-bats in the majors, Caminero showed promise with his eight hits and one homer.

“Caminero might have more power than any player on our Top 100 Prospects list,” Callis said. “He has incredible bat speed as well as precocious feel for hitting. He didn't look overmatched in the big leagues during his age-19 season and that experience should help him make an impact in 2024.”

While Holliday, Chourio, Skenes and Caminero have Bowman cards in their minor-league uniforms, they have yet to appear in Topps flagship baseball sets in their MLB colors. In all, Series 1, released on Valentine’s Day, had plenty of rookie love. It featured 66 base rookies in the 350-card set.

David Gonos, a collector who writes about the hobby at DavidGonos.com and runs his own YouTube channel, said Elly de la Cruz is the biggest rookie card to chase this spring from Topps Series 1. The Cincinnati Reds third-baseman made his debut in 2023, hitting .235 with 67 runs and 13 home runs in 388 at-bats.

Also See: Elly De La Cruz cards soared on eBay in 2023 

De La Cruz finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year race, behind winner Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll. New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga finished second in the voting. But it was De La Cruz’s prodigious power, speed and strong arm in the field that have many already comparing him to Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna, Jr.

“It’s unfair of me to say he could be Ronald Acuna Jr., but what I mean is he ranks among the biggest bats, in terms of exit velocity and fleetest feet, regarding sprint speed, in the game,” Gonos said. “So, if he works at his craft, and the Reds continue to build around him, great things could be on the horizon.”

The other rookie in Series 1 not to overlook is Jasson Dominguez. The New York Yankees prospect has been much talked about in the collecting community for a few years now.

After his Bowman cards saw price increases during the pandemic boom, his rookie cards could very well follow the same pattern should his hitting power return. The big question for the center fielder, however, is whether he can regain his mojo following this winter’s Tommy John surgery.

“Bryce Harper showed that hitters have life after TJS, and relatively quickly,” Gonos said. “I’m sure the Yankees will take their time with Dominguez, but I’m not buying him to flip this year. We’re just hoping to see a healthy hitter after the surgery, and we’re hoping his batting eye remains strong. The power potential is probably something that returns next year.” 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto may not be in Series 1, but collectors are looking forward to getting more cardboard featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers ace. Could the Japanese star emulate Shohei Ohtani, whose 2018 rookie cards have risen immensely in value over the last five years?

Gonos said Yamamoto has “the benefit of several things Ohtani didn’t have”—including a talented Dodgers roster and “not needing to concentrate on hitting.” Gonos said Yamamoto also has Ohtani as a teammate, another difference that should help the new arrival succeed.

“Yamamoto is a top-15 pitcher before stepping on an MLB mound,” he added. “Pitchers aren’t hugely collectible, but he’s going to be fun, and everyone will be excited when they pull his card. However, it will be impossible—I said it—for him to come close to Ohtani’s collectability since he’s just a pitcher.”

Like Senga, Yamamoto was a standout in the Nippon Professional Baseball league. While Japanese pitchers coming to the major leagues is nothing new, Yamamoto’s average four-seam fastball velocity last season was 95.1 mph, higher than that of the average MLB starter in 2023 at 93.5 mph. As a result, Yamamoto could very well dominate in the big leagues right away.

Gonos said Series 1 may be packed with rookies, but predicted Series 2 could be even better with the possible additions of players like Yamamoto, Chourio and Caminero.

“We love Series 1, but Series 2 could be massive,” he added. “My guess is Yamamoto gets the same No. 700 card as Ohtani did in 2018.”